When Catawba's chaplain and senior vice-president, the Rev. Dr. Ken Clapp, traveled to Maiden, N.C. on September 2 to preach the sermon for the Homecoming service at St. Matthews United Church of Christ, it was not just another homecoming.
The service took place under 'the arbor' in the same location where the founders of Catawba College had gathered 158 years ago and birthed the institution. He also was preaching from the same pulpit from which his ancestor, the Rev. Dr. Jacob Clapp, had preached on numerous occasions during his 40 year tenure as president of Catawba. Ken Clapp noted that from that original meeting in that place a college was established that has educated hundreds of men and women who have gone into the Christian ministry, hundreds more who have become educators, hundreds who have become leaders and business persons in local communities … all who have positively impacted their communities and the world in positive and worthwhile ways.
In addition to thanking those gathered under the arbor for their historical and continuing support of Catawba College, he challenged them to 'come home, but don't stay' explaining the importance of their continued efforts to use their strong base of faith to reach out and be a witness to the larger world just as their ancestors had done in that place in the support of the formation of Catawba College. A number of Catawba alumni were present for the worship service.
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