McPHERSON, Kan. — Central Christian College of Kansas (CCCK) welcomed students, faculty, alumni, and community members to a Dedication of The Sower sculpture and Legacy Garden on Saturday, Nov. 7, during Central’s Homecoming weekend.
The sculpture, inspired by Jesus’ Parable of the Sower, was created by nationally recognized sculptor and Central College alumnus John Collier.
According to Rev. Jason Rains, director of advancement at Central Christian, the Legacy Garden is a place that honors those who came before and will inspire generations to come as it continues to grow through the care and generosity of those who tend to it.
“Each year, Central discounts millions of dollars in tuition in order to make a Christ-centered education affordable for our students and their families,” Rains said. “Currently, that amount far exceeds what we ultimately collect in tuition revenue.”
Rains shared that the generosity of donors helps Central try to bridge the gap through the needs, which remain greater than the gifts they receive.
“That is what makes the generosity of the families we honor today so extraordinary,” Rains added. “Through their gifts, they have made possible something our ordinary resources could not. A lasting expression of faith, remembrance, and inspiration for generations to come.”
The Legacy Garden honors five individuals whose contributions helped shape Central’s history and features commemorative bricks recognizing alumni, families and friends of the College.
Dr. David Ferrell with the CCC Foundation recognized the five honorees who, through significant gifts, have helped bring The Sower to life:
- Dr. Jerry Alexander (1967-2010)
- John Ferrell (1956-1993)
- Dr. Calvin Hawkins (1967-1980/1986-2015)
- President Bruce Kline (1959-1980)
- Ellis (Oats) Odermann (1968-2000)
“Like the Sower, they [the honorees] lived lives of faithfulness, embodying the spirit of those who plant seeds for generations to come. But their stories are not theirs alone,” Dr. Ferrell said. “Alongside each of these individuals were spouses who shared in both the joys and sacrifices of service. While their names may not be engraved among those we formally recognize today, their contributions are no less a part of the legacy we celebrate. Through encouragement, sacrifice, prayer, and callous acts of faithfulness that often went unseen, they too, helped cultivate the ground from which so much has grown.”
The story of the Legacy Garden and sculpture began back in 2023 with a vision and prompt from Director of National Christian College Athletic Association Dan Wood.
Wood visited Central Christian’s campus as part of a coach’s training. Following the visit, he had a vision as he left the college, that he had seen a visual centerpiece, a focal point illustrating the transformational goals of Central Christian College.
“He said as he walked around campus, he was impressed by a lot of things that were happening, a lot of stories, but he said there’s no object on campus that tells that story,” CCCK President and Reverend, Dr. Leonard Favara said.
Wood believed his vision was God telling him to do something, so he wrote a check for $5,000 to Dr. Favara, not knowing how far it would go.
“Dr. Ferrell and I sat down and we began to think, and really, that was the seed that he had planted, trusting that somehow something good might grow from it,” Dr. Favara said.
As they began exploring possibilities and what the center piece should look like, Dr. Favara said their thoughts turned to a friend of the college, gifted artist, and Central College alum, John Collier.
“I knew, and Dave [Dr. Ferrell] told me, John possessed that rare ability to take an idea and breathe life into it, through artistic expression,” Dr. Favara said. “So we reached out. And to our amazement, John was available. And not just available, but genuinely inspired by the opportunity to create something meaningful, something that would bless the campus and serve as a visual centerpiece. And from that shared vision, The Sower was born, an original work conceived and created by John specifically for the college.”
Dr. Favara shared a story of a student named Michelle Shreffler, who in the late nineties, would come to the place in front of the old sign to pray. She would gather stones, (the very stones that are at the foot of the statue) and use them as reminders of fellow students and concerns, and she would stack them as she prayed.
Following Michelle’s untimely passing, the place was recognized as a memorial. A plaque can be found on the back of the McPherson College sign, in the same place it was when it was dedicated on the old sign.
“As we considered where this sculpture might find its home, it became increasingly clear to me that this was the place that it needed to happen,” Dr. Favara said. “For what better location to tell the story of faithful sowing than the very ground where a student had quietly prayed for others?”
Dr. Favara invited guests after the ceremony to get a closer look at the sculpture, to look at the details and really think about the meaning behind them.
“For The Sower does not stand here simply as a figure to be admired, but as an example to which we all might aspire. He represents both a calling, embraced, and a calling to be unbraced. And embracing that calling, we accept that faithfulness does not promise an easy journey or a certain harvest,” Dr. Favara said. “The ground may be difficult. The journey may be long. The harvest may remain unseen. The way may sometimes be unclear, and yet, we sow.”
In giving the artist introduction and dedication, Rains shared that what he finds most compelling about John Collier’s work is “his desire to connect ordinary experiences of human life with the transcendent realities of faith.”
“His art does more than invite us to look at something beautiful, but invites us to look within ourselves to consider what we believe, how we live, and what it means to follow Christ,” Rains said. “I believe that The Sower does all of those extraordinarily well.”
Rains echoed something that Dr. Favara said about Collier being one of Central’s own.
“There’s something meaningful about an extraordinary work touching lives across the country, being a part of Central’s story. Because Central was a part of John’s story,” Rains said. “I don’t want that to be missed in this garden. Because today he returns his work to a place that was part of his own journey. A work that will speak to generations of students yet to come.”
Rains added that the Legacy Garden was just finished this week and they have already had students spending time there.
“I can only imagine the students that are going to spend time reflecting, pondering, praying in this space, because of John’s work,” Rains said. “In many ways, John himself embodies the very story that this garden seeks to tell.”
Before closing the ceremony, Rains encouraged those in attendance to look around and take in the environment.
“Behind us is history of faithfulness. Before us are bricks to remind us of the lives who shaped generations and continue shaping generations,” Rains said. “And before us is a world waiting for us to keep living out the mission that God has called us to.”
About Sculptor John Collier (Info Courtesy of Central Christian College of Kansas)
John Collier (Class of ‘68) is an acclaimed American artist and sculptor whose work explores the intersection of faith, humanity, and the sacred. Born and raised in Dallas, Texas, Collier began his career as an illustrator before turning his attention increasingly toward religious painting and sculpture. His work has been exhibited in museums, galleries, and religious institutions throughout the United States. Among his most notable commissions are four bronze sculptures created for the Catholic Memorial at ground Xero in New York City, honoring those affected by the September 11 attacks.
Known for bringing biblical narratives to life through expressive, deeply human imagery, Collier invites viewers to discover spiritual meaning in familiar experiences. His sculpture The Sower continues this tradition, offering a powerful reflection on faith, stewardship, and the lasting significance of the seeds we sow.
About Michelle Shreffler (Info Courtesy of Central Christian College of Kansas)
Michelle Shreffler (1977-1999) was a student at Central College, remembered for her energy, joy, and creativity. She was an artist – often painting or using photography to capture her inspiration. She was also a member of the Flying tigers and yearbook staff.
During her time at Central, Michelle often found a quiet place behind the College’s front sign. She developed a personal practice of engraving names and thoughts upon the stones, offering them as expressions of prayer for the needs of others. Following her passing in 1999, a bench, stones, and commemorative plaque were dedicated in her memory at this special place. These elements have been thoughtfully incorporated into the new design, preserving both Michelle’s memory and the spirit of the space she cherished.
