Construction Journey
Sam & Gwen Stone
Chaplain David Ray
Email: david.ray@christianvillages.org
Phone: (513) 701- 3406
The heart of any organization is its culture, and the culture at Christian Village Communities is Christ centered and God honoring. Nowhere is this more evident than during our Sunday worship service.
You are invited to join us for Sunday morning worship in the beautiful Stone Worship Center and Auditorium (SWCA). Dedicated in December of 2021, the SWCA is a place where God is lifted above all else. The auditorium was built in honor of the humble life-long Christian service of Sam and Gwen Stone. We invite you to watch a video that explains the history of the project and why construction was undertaken to transform a dream into a reality.
Each Sunday Chaplain David Ray shares relevant messages from God’s word. Director of Music, Dave Lautzenheiser leads the assembly in a Spirit filled worship service, with the singing of hymns, special music, and the taking of the Lord’s Supper.
The one-hour service starts at 10:15 am each Sunday morning. The SWCA main entrance is located on the east side of the main healthcare center (backside) located in the heart of The Christian Village at Mason campus.
All are welcome!
For many years, The Christian Village at Mason held one Sunday evening chapel service. Growing attendance at this evening service required the addition of a morning service. Soon that morning service was nearly always full, limiting future growth and making it increasingly difficult to seat everyone who wants to worship, especially those with wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters.
In addition to the needed expansion for our Sunday worship services, additional space was needed for other resident activities and special events. The previous chapel venue, our only non-dining meeting space had an official seating capacity of just 99. The Christian Village at Mason has an independent living and assisted living resident population of over 300, and there simply was not adequate event space for special banquets, concerts, and other resident programming.
The Stone Worship Center and Auditorium helps us better serve our residents and reach more in the name of Christ. With a total cost estimated at $2.9M, the Stone Center is a beautiful and practical addition to our Christian retirement community.
To help us reach our goal of paying for the Stone Center through fundraising, we invite you to mail your designated Stone Center gift to Christian Village Communities, in care of Larry Monroe, at 411 Western Row Rd., Mason, OH 45040. For assistance with gifts involving RMDs (Required Minimum Distribution) from an IRA, gifts of life insurance and property, or for information needed for employer-matched gifts, please contact Mr. Monroe at larry.monroe@christianvillages.org, or 513-701-3448. Christian Village Communities is a 501 (c) 3 not for profit.
Stone Center Construction Journey
Stone Center Completed
In December 2021, the Stone Worship Center and Auditorium was officially completed. We welcomed residents and donors for a self-guided tour and dedication ceremony to honor Sam and Gwen Stone. At the time of completion, we had surpassed $2.6M raised for the project and are in the final leg of our fundraising journey with a goal of $2.9M. The SWCA is a welcomed addition to our community for church services, resident activities, and will help us reach more in the name of Christ.
Stone Center Begins to Take Shape
Even in the middle of a pandemic, there was steady progress on the construction of the Stone Center Auditorium.
The week following our groundbreaking ceremony in August, earthmoving equipment arrived to clear the area to make way for the concrete slab and foundation. Soon steel arrived for the 11,000 square foot structure. The steel went up quickly as the building began to take shape. Interior stud walls and HVAC ductwork are nearly complete.
Groundbreaking Ceremony, August 19, 2020
After raising $2M of our $2.9M fundraising goal, we started construction on the auditorium and celebrated with a groundbreaking ceremony held on August 19th, 2020. Check out this video recap that captures some highlights of the event.
Honoring Sam and Gwen Stone
The Stone Center honors Sam and Gwen Stone for their lifelong Christian service. Sam was Editor of Standard Publishing for many years. He also ministered to the Western Hills Church of Christ in Cincinnati and was a part of the teaching staff of Bright Christian Church in Harrison, Indiana. For decades, he served Cincinnati Christian University as Professor and Dean of the Graduate School. He was also an author and national convention speaker.
Gwen loved everyone with whom she came into contact, and served alongside Sam. Shortly after Gwen’s passing in 2015, Sam became a resident at The Christian Village at Mason and passed in 2021. Sam and Gwen Stone lived a life-legacy of Christian love and leadership, impacting the lives of others in Jesus’ name. The legacy of Sam and Gwen Stone lives on in the Stone Worship Center and Auditorium.