2005-2006 Annual Report

11 This is the passion of Cedarville’s forensics team and its coach, Matt Moore. Through a wide array of competitive events, members of the forensics team grapple with the critical issues of our day. Forensics hones communication skills and produces students who are poised, confident, and ready to adapt to any communication environment. But Moore has a much greater mission for the program. “Cedarville University forensics is in a unique position to be ‘salt and light’ to the greater forensics community. As one of the only evangelical institutions with a top-ranked team, the responsibility of being Jesus to forensics competitors has fallen to us.” With this in mind, Moore’s forensics team is a ministry team. Believing that most people come to trust Jesus Christ because of a relationship rather than a one-time event, Moore and the other coaches encourage students to build authentic relationships with competitors. A team goal is for every member to have a significant spiritual conversation with a competitor at each tournament. Because forensics deals with the world of ideas, team members become experts in the critical issues of the day. They are required to read the news on a daily basis and conduct in-depth research on pressing topics. Using their research, team members support their convictions on issues like homosexuality, pornography, and euthanasia. They must then order their research and conclusions in a logical way and convince evaluators that their ideas are sound and sure. During competition, team members must also process the ideas of others, most of which are outside the biblical worldview. with today’s critical issues Moore works diligently to build the lives of his students while encouraging them to model Christ with excellence. Last year the forensics team was the top-ranked Christian university at the national tournament. The team’s successes and students’ communication training are all important, but for Moore, the ultimate benefit of forensics is watching graduates who have entered careers in law, media, education, ministry, medicine, and so many other fields living out and defending the biblical worldview in a thoughtful and insightful manner. “…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…” I Peter 3:15 (NKJV) www.cedarville.edu/commarts