CLC began as a church in 1969. “Love Inn” (the original name) was begun as a coffeehouse and resident program, a ministry directed primarily toward helping the young people of the late 60’s drug culture.
Scott Ross, founder and first pastor of CLC, had a radio program on the CBN station then located in Ithaca. This unique program played rock music and used it as a vehicle to discuss the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
One evening as Scott began sharing his thoughts he mentioned the need for a facility for young people to meet and share together.
Peg Hardesty, a widow, had been listening to the Scott Ross Show when she was healed of arthritis as Scott prayed over the radio.
Soon after that healing she offered her old dairy barn in Freeville to this newly developing ministry. The barn was over 100 years old and needed a lot of work.
Young people began to arrive and started volunteering to convert it into a facility where meetings and events could be held. Many of those who helped gave their lives to Jesus.
The ministry has grown from those few believers into a mature church with many families and individuals influencing our area with the Word of God.
The name of the church was changed to Covenant Love Community in 1982 to reflect our growth and development. Today CLC supports Willow Glen Christian School and Hardesty Hope House (a ministry to support single women).