As Congress continues to debate President Bush’s proposal to allow expanded access to federal funds for religious organizations providing needed social services in their communities, one church and one small community right here in Maine have gone beyond debating to actual doing. The China Lake Conference Center is a faith-based initiative with the emphasis on initiative.

The CLCC was created in 1961 by the American Baptist Churches of Maine, starting out as a camp with use restricted to members of that faith. In 1986, the Dillon Center was built, other buildings at the camp were renovated and the doors were opened wide to provide facilities to myriad organizations – service clubs, Head Start, government agencies, charities, schools and a host of faith-based endeavors, Jewish, Roman Catholic and Protestant alike.

Now, CLCC is in the midst of a major capital campaign. The objective is the Doug and Rita Sukeforth Center, with a 400-seat auditorium for the performing arts, a full indoor gymnasium complex to provide four-season exercise and athletics for residents of the China region, and more meeting suites.

The goal is not just to give the people of this rural Maine community something to do and a place to do it, but to provide an engine for economic renewal. R. Michael Mara II, CLCC’s development director, says the auditorium, for example, will do more than provide a venue for local performers: “We want to bring in major national orchestras, theater touring companies, opera, art exhibitions, readings. Small communities like ours can’t just hope a business will move in – we have to make our community an interesting place for people to live.”

That’s a daunting task, but one well begun. Some $1.2 million is needed, of which $770,000 already has been raised, including substantial support from the American Baptist Church. The Sukeforths, owners of Mid-State Machine, have pledged $400,000 as a challenge grant – they’ll double any contribution made by local residents and groups. Fred Boucher, owner of Waterville Vending, has contributed $50,000. It often takes a few acts of remarkable philanthropy to get big initiatives started; it almost always takes many smaller supporting acts to get them finished. The China Lake Development Office, Sanderson House, P.O. Box 6149, China Village 04926 is the address for those wanting to join in.