Christian Student Fellowship (CSF) is making its presence known at the University of Kentucky as the construction of a nearly $19 million dollar building nears its end.
CSF is a ministry on campus located just outside the dorms near Columbia Avenue. Its temporary home in the Lewis House, might be easy to miss because of the distraction caused by the construction site on the corner.
“I think the new building will be more noticeable on campus for sure,” Daniel Bak said. Bak is a leader for one of the “50+ weekly Bible studies” that CSF holds according to their website.
The need for more space is evident for the nearly 60-year-old ministry. Consistent showings of more than 500 students show up for the weekly events that CSF holds. Lack of parking, room for hospitality, and space for students to sit have been the driving force behind the wanting to expand.
“The heart behind creating the new building was the former building just didn’t have enough room to welcome in more students and it was just so packed and crammed at all of our weekly events,” staff member Pearson Shafer said.
The new three-story building will include more space and parking, an industrial kitchen, a basketball court, and residences for students who want to live at the building. According to their website, students living at the building “provides income to offset the cost of the building as well as provide around the-clock building management.”
With four times the space at 40,000 square feet compared to the current location, the central goal will always be outreach.
“It’s something new to offer a campus that needs the outreach of God,” junior Pierce Bergin said.
Students and staff will continue to wait for the nearly three-year-long project to be completed by the end of this spring. Shafer said the hope was to have it “done by the end of the summer.”
CSF is ready and excited to continue outreach at UK. Shafer emphasized the goal of reaching students “with the good news and the Gospel.”
More updates and information about the new building can be found at ukscsf.org, including a livestream of the building’s construction site.
