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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1,1994 RELIGION PAGE 9 PRESS-REPUBLICAN t x 1 Wood and the cloth Bennett answers dual calling to ministry, woodworking By STACEY HUDECEK Lifestyles Intern KOPflrt BMIIMtt PLATTSBURGH - The Rev. Robert Bennett doesn't feel the need to run to the mirror to primp for photos anymore. Clad in jeans and Birkenstocks, Bennett seems to have sur- rendered the more formal attire of man of the cloth for the laid- back look of retirement. Seated behind a beautifully crafted desk, the 70-something-year- old man told his story of religion and woodworking. His wife, Norma, sat in a chair op- posite him, comfortably inter- jecting to clarify dates and details as if she has been finishing his sentences for years. Bennett built his single-story home in Peru about four years ago. His original paintings, are scattered all over the house, as . are clocks, tables and hutch cabinets that he designed. Bennett happened upon his woodworking vocation 50 years ago in Pontiac, Mich. Working as the display director for the Boston Store, his, first-ever project was one that was not included in his job description. \The store owner couldn't find a carpenter to build curved showcases for the women's department, so I did it,\ he said. Teaching themselves as they progressed, Bennett and the store owner's son took on the job. The team soon became ex- perienced woodworkers and w.ere eventually given a cabinet shop to run. After working at this shop and various design jobs in Michigan for over a decade, he then moved to the Plattsburgh area in 1954 to join the largest architectural firm outside of New York City at the time, Sargeant, Webster, Crenshaw and Folley. Photo/Stacey Hudecek The Rev. Robert Bennett works at his hand-crafted desk. Moving on to work for Bill Prescott of Keeseville, Bennett worked in the area for a total of six years before his interest in the ministry inspired a family move back to Michigan, where . he became ordained as a Bap- tist minister. It was 20 years later, when the Bennetts returned to the Northeast, that John Swaim, owner of the prominent Lake Placid Club, enlisted Bennett's help on the extensive restora- tion and development project he was starting on the club. At this point, however, Ben- nett was deeply involved in his pastoring career, but he ac- cepted the position as head of the design team with the fringe benefit of acting as minister of the chapel at the club as well. This move made for an ideal situation, while it lasted. It provided an outlet for both of Bennett's passions, and at the same time put order and ease into his family life. The Ben- netts recall this as a time when they had the best of both worlds: They lived in one of the 20-bedroom \cottages\ on the Lake Placid Club's grounds; ate fine food as prepared by the club's kitchen staff; and were part of a small, friendly, spiritual, parish. \It was one of the best\ assignments the Ben- netts had, according to Norma. Once the .restoration plans were under way, Bennett's team, operated out of a wood- working . shop in Lake Placid and established a mini-mall in the expansive club, designing store fronts and doing specialty mill work. Unfortunately, Swaim went bankrupt, putting an end to both restoration and the Ben- netts' life at the club. Now, 10 years later, the in- corporation of furniture design into his architectural work has transpired, and the Bennetts -have opened a furniture shop, Country Corners, with their son and son-in-law. Although retired, Bennett is a busy man designing pilot pieces to add to his line of reproduction fur- niture. He also works at the Lake Placid Hilton supervising on-going design, redecoration and renovation at the hotel; does free-lance architectural design work;.is the pastor of the Trinity Chapel Church in Lake Placid; and is an artist. \A professional artist would probably turn his nose up at my husband's paintings, but I like them,\ Norma said. Sermons not the only things Bennett finds moving By STACEY HUDECEK Lifestyles Intern PLATTSBURGH - The Rev. Robert Bennett not only moves spirits; he moves churches. In 1988, Bennett moved his parish's newly acquired church building from the site of the Olympic Training Center in dldhdh it now stands. That's not all that is unusual about Bennett's religious history. His start in the ministry stems from.\a.r situation as well. As devout Baptists living in the area during the 1950s, Bennett and his wife found no comfortable place in which to practice their religion. The First Baptist Church, which was defined by the same general beliefs of the scriptures and the Bible as their old parish in Michigan, was their only option in this area. But where the Bennetts were conservative, First Bap- tist was liberal. In answer to this dilemma, the Bennetts and some other families with similar be- liefs formed the Independent Baptist Church in 1956. \There were a couple of families like my own,\ Bennett said. \I somehow, became the teacher. I didn't know any more than they did, so I just read the Bible, trying to stay one step ahead of everyone.\ It was this experience that inspired the Bennetts to return to Michigan__in_1958_, where Robert was ordainedas aT3aptist minister at the First Baptist Church. Bennett and his family moved around after he was ordained; he worked for two years in Ottawa and eight years in Toronto before being named Director of Home Mis- sions for Independent Fundamental Chur- ches of America, in Philadelphia. \We were a non-denominational conservative group believing in the inspiration of scripture, the need for salvation through grace by faith and the Bible,\ said Bennett, describing the organization that worked to establish churches throughout the Nor- theast. Bennett started a new church in Dan- ville, Pa., next; then moved to Faith Bible Church for 10 years. Upon recieving a call from John Swaim to head the restoration team for the Lake Placid Club and become pastor of the hotel chapel, Bennett headed north. The hotel chapel prospered for three years, attended by Lake Placid locals and transient guests. \When the hotel went defunct, people wanted me to stay. The Mirror Lake Inn gave us space to have our meetings.\ The Old White Church, a historic ' building in Lake Placid dating back to 1875, was soon acquired as a permanent home for the parish that called itself Trini- ty Chapel. Bennett proposed to purchase the building, which was on the Olympic Training Center's site, and move it down the road a mile. Bennett is still pastoring in that build- ing today. Although he is retired, Bennett is still an active preacher and is involved in counseling and making sick calls. He is also a TV star of sorts: His service is taped each week and can be seen at 2 p.m. each Sunday in the Tri-Lakes area. HARVEST DINNERS PLATTSBURGH - Here is a roundup of public harvest din- ners in parishes throughout the three counties: . Our Lady of Victory, Platt- tburgh: Sunday Oct. 2, noon-6 p<m. in Our Lady of Victory Academy gym. The cost is $6 for .adults, $3 for children anj| free •for children under five. -• St. Mary's Academy, Cham- • plain: Sunday, Oct. 2, noon-4 p.m. ! Featured are a roast beef dinner, Jail the trimmings and homemade »pies. The cost is $6 for adults, $5 «for senior citizens, and free for \ children under 5* ; St. Ann's Church, St. Regis • Falls: Sunday Oct. 9, 12:30 to 4 •p.nh^Turkey with all the trimm- iings, cost for adults, $5.50; ^children under age 12, $3; and under 5, free. Family tickets are available. St. Augustine's St Edward's, North Bangor: Sunday, Oct. 9, noon-4 p.m. A home-cooked turkey dinner with all the trim- mings will be served. Tickets are $6 for adults, $4 senior citizens, $3 ages 12 and under, and under age 5, free. Family tickets are $20. St. Anne's Shrine, Isle la Motte, Vt.: Sunday, Oct. 9, 11:30 a.m. until all are served, in the new all-purpose building at the shrine. Turkey with all the trimmings will be served to benefit the building fund. Dona- tions are $7 minimum and $3.50 for children. Sacred Heart Church, Crown Point: Sunday, Oct. 9, 1-6 p.m. in the parish hall. The price will be $6 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under and free for children 5 and under. The menu will in- clude turkey with all the trimm- ings and homemade pies. St. Patrick's Church, Chatedugay: Sunday. Oct. 16 at noon, 2:30 and 5 p.m. with home deliveries and take-out service available at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Din- ner features a Yankee pot roast, potatoes, squash and coleslaw. Cost is $6 for adults, children 6- 12 $3, and under 5 free. Call 497-6954 or 497-6014 for reser- vations or 497-6165 for take out. FIRST PRESBYTERIAN --- CHURCH S Se \NOBODY?\ 9:00am Church .School aVCfifiarerCTeens & Adults fifiarerCTeens Worship 10:00 (Nurseiy Provided) Fellowship 11:00 Adult Education 11:30 (3 Pastor: Rev. Pill Jl Heller 34 Brtntertwff St. Plattsfatrgli 561-3140 FIRST ASSEMBLY OF GOD 164 Prospect Ave. Plattsburgh, NY 563-5799 Pastor Michael San Soucie » • A Full Gospel Church SUNDAY SERVICES Sunday School - Nurttry thru iduH 9:30 am Proi>«& Worship 10:30 om Children'! Church < 10:30 om Pralt* & Worship 6:00 pm \Y«dn«dny Sarvicu 7:00 pm CHURCH OF THE N&ARENE 187 Brood St., Plattsburgh, NY 561-1960 Pastor Russell Long. A Christ centered church with a family oriented ministry. y > ' tS 4!>i it! Early Sirviot 9:30 am Sunday School 9:30 am 111:00 am Worship Smic« 11:00 am , Sunday Ei •nine SH-VICW 6:00 pm Widnttday S»mo» 7:00 pm Peru Community Church World Communion Sunday Services 8:00AM and 10:30AM Sunday School for all ages 9:00 AM The Rev. Dr. Ken Parker Preaching United Methodist Presbyterian Stephen Ministry Hearing Loop 10th ANNUAL JAMACIAN SERVICE AT 7:30 PM IN PERU COMMUNITY CHURCH FELLOWSHIP CENTER GOSPEL MUSIC & JAMACIAN HYMNS ALL ARE WELCOME ETHICS & RELIGION Businesspeople form 'Company for Christ' ASPEN, Colo. - This week I attended a remarkable meeting of the Fellowship of Companies for Christ International (FCCI) at which 300 Chief Executive Of- ficers of corporations and many of their wives were challenged \to operate their businesses and conduct their personal lives ac- cording to biblical principles in pursuit of Christ's eternal objec- tives.\ Ray Miller, CEO of the Fellowship, explains: \Once you are really committed to Christ, you are a citizen of heaven and you look at life in a different way. You are making a pilgrimage in which you.are a steward, not an owner. Everything focuses on how you can make-a difference eternally for theKingdom. \Profit is necessary, but the true bottom line is changed lives. Every company is a platform for ministry. Every CEO is a priest.\ Kay Creech, 38, purchased the Carl S. Akey company from her father in 1988. She readily con- fesses that at that time \I was a career minded, liberated woman, aggressive and very worldly. I was an alcoholic who partied all the time, traveled, and I was divorced.\ She \was saved\ in the sum- mer of 1990, and became con- vinced her company needed to change. The firm, w^ich makes nutritional products for feed manufacturers, had a guest house for customers with a fully stocked bar. She concluded \The alcohol had to go, and we no longer will accept alcohol on ex- pense reports.\ Terry Prince, her vice presi- dent, opposed her decision: \How will we entertain customers and not have alcohol?\ he asked. But today he says, \This has turned out positive. Many of our cus- tomers have told us they are pleased. They were not comfor- table with our party atmosphere. This has allowed more business to take place at our business meetings. And our example has been followed by a number of our customers.\ The guest house is now a Christian retreat and training center. The company's truck drivers were told they could no longer keep two sets of log books — one that pretended they were driving only 8-10 hours a day, and the real one. \We said the drivers had to run legally. We had to buy additional equipment and had to have more drivers. \If you run a Christian com- pany, you have to be honest,\ she said. Result: The firm is more trusted, and business has boom- ed. It did $120 million worth of sales this year and now has 250 employees — twice its size in T 1990. A footnote: In 1991, Kay married Randy Creech, her exec- utive vice president, and now is a happy, full-time mother. Every CEO I interviewed told \• a similar story. One said, \CEO is not Chief Executive Officer, but Christian Executive Officer.*' What does that mean in practical terms? • Many FCCI firms encourage employees to strengthen their marriages by paying for them to attend a \Marriage Encounter.\ • \The most important thing in running a Christian company is integrity' of the people who run it and excellence in the product,\ says Bob Ochs, retired CEO of a firm which makes computer covers for IBM with less than 1.5 defects out of a million. • \We need to treat our ven- dors as God would treat our ven- dors.\ said Ken White, owner of Black Electric, Inc. \When they say, 'Why are you so good to us?' I can say, 'Because we serve the King of Kings. We take an eter- nal-perspective that there are only two things that count: peo- ple and-the Word of God.\ • The mission statements of FCCI companies include God. Bobby Mitchell's Applied Ce- - ramies, Inc., which helps make catalytic converters, has the mis- sion \to maximize business ex- cellence under the plumb line of Scripture.\ General Motors was so impressed, it bought a minori- ty interest in the firm and com- - missioned it to build factories in ten different countries. Who do such deeply committed businessmen listen to at their convention? David Rae, a former president of Apple Canada, created a start-up firm that went from zero to $50 million in sales. His message was on how to achieve balance in one's life. \God is at the core of my life,\ he saye to explain why he spends two hours a day in reading the Bible and memorizing key passages. His next priorities in life are his wife and family. And work is his fourth priority, at which he will spend no more than eight hours a day. He used to spend \an inor- dinate amount of time\ working because it was so much fun. But his life was out of balance, with too little time for God and family. So he learned to delegate more responsibility to others. To learn more, write FCCI, 4201 N. Peachtree, Atlanta, GA 30341. MIk* McManui ii a Chri«t4an layman, author of \Moirlog* Savon,\ and columnlrt for over 100 iMwtpapora nationwide. RELIGION BRIEFS Rummage sale CHAZY - The annual fall rummage sale, sponsored by the Chazy Presbyterian Church Friendship Club, will be held Saturday, Oct. 1, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the church. Clothing in good condition may be left at the church until Sept. 29. For information contact Gwen Waranis at 846-8834 or Barb Riggs at 846-7971. Methodist meeting SARANAC - The annual fall meeting of the United Methodist Women of the Adirondack District of the Troy Conference, United Methodist Church will be fid from 9:15 a.m. to .2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at the Saranac United Methodist Church. Presiding at the session will be Hah Walser of Balston Spa. A worship service will be led by Ann Goodrich of Hudson Falls, followed by a business meeting. • A luncheon will be provided for $4 (includes registration) or you may bring your own lunch (regis- tration $1); coffee and dessert will be provided. Babysitting will be available. Send registration by Sept. 28 to Phyllis Gardephe, 3161 Route 3, Cadyville, N.Y. 12918. For more information call 293-8311. Retreats PLATTSBURGH - The Regina Maria Retreat HoilSe has planned the following retreats: Oct. 4, \Way of Peace: A Guide to Nonviolence\ — 7-9 p.m.; Oct. 5, \Understanding Anger and Forgiveness,\ follows 5:30 p.m. supper; and Oct. 7-9, \Retreat Weekend: -St. Therese de Liseux, a Guided Path to Her Writings.\ Call 561-3421 for information. Continued Pag* 14 Catch the Spirit Sunday Morning Worship 11:00 Community Methodist Church 82 Clark Street Dannemora Pastor Fred Gilbert \ American Baptist- Plattsburgh First Baptist Church Comer of Court 'n Oak Street* Pastor: Rev. Dorothy Domeille Worship: HfcOOam NurwryAvdlobU Parsonage: 561-7852 Church: Didl-A-Messoge: 563-2793 5634094 Trinity Episcopal Church 18 Trinity Place, Platteburgh (Next to City Hall) Holy Eucharist & Sermon: Sat. 5:00 PM Sunday 8:00 & 10:00 AM FT. Sorensen Preaching: \Jesus and Divorce\ Childcare Provided 561-2244 The United Church Beekman St. at Bailey Ave. Tele. 563-2992 ' October 2nd, 1994 World Communion Sunday 8:00am Eucharist 9:00 Church School 10:00am Service of the Word and Table with The Baptismal Covenate Sacred Covenate Childcarv^yailoble
