or group basis. This was an aspect of the ministry that he truly enjoyed. "1 have done that with a great deal of joy ... seeing the kids that graduated and what they are doing and rejoicing in what the Lord has led them to do."IS He also continued his daily radio ministry, concluding it in 1985 after 18 years and 4,770 messages broadcast over many stations nationwide. Meanwhile, Dixon settled into the task of being president. As he met with the Administrative Committee for the first time, Dixon had his trusty "seven-star diary" and his lengthy list of goals and objectives. However, he realized that he was dealing with men who had muc!'t greater experience in the educational community. Consequently, he encouraged them to give him their at:l.vice and judgment. He urged them to point out areas of weakness in his plans. It was the committee's responsibility to gather information and data, and seek a consensus on how to handle problems or opportunities, but Dixon made it clear from the beginning that he would accept responsibility for ultimate decisions. He indicated to the administrators that his administration would be characterized by a heavy emphasis on evangelism and discipleship. There would be a stress on the local church, the Word of God, and prayer. Some literature on being a college president contended that a new executive should have the opportunity to start with a fresh administrative team. In reflecting on that concept, Dixon responded: I was just a novice ... It would have killed me if I would have lost that team. I drew upon their strength. Overall that team has stayed pretty intact, and I think part of the genius of what God has done has been the whole team, including the past president, taking this novice president and nurturing him. The faculty has been patient with me until I could find out what it was all about. Then, as changes needed to be made, they were made. It gave, I think, stability to the institution. I6 As he familiarized himself with every aspect of the institution, Dixon discovered that Cedarville's strength did not lie in millions of dollars worth of buildings or ever-increasing budgets but in its people: "Vice presidents, middle managers, faculty, staff. Few corporate organizations, let alone colleges or universities, have the strong people that Cedarville has. That, along with a clearly defined mission, is what makes Cedarville strong.'0I7 One of Dixon's first priorities as president was the chapel service. He viewed this as the primary responsibility for a Christian college 152/Chapter XVIII president. "Historically the direction you give the chapel ministry determines the future of the institution. The heartbeat of every Christian college is what happens in chapel."18 Dixon immediately set aside Monday as President's Day in the chapel. He then arranged for three-day series to run Tuesday through Thursday and invited speakers who could have a dynamic impact on the Cedarville College family. Friday was for student body chapel or class meetings, and faculty or academic department meetings. A second priority for Dixon was the result of an impending North Central review. When Cedarville College was accredited in 1975, it was placed on the five-year review cycle, which was normal for newly accredited institutions. Consequently, by the time Dixon entered the presidency, the Cedarville College family, under the direction of Clifford Johnson, was already beginning preparations for their review. Conveniently, by November 1979, a carefully prepared self-study provided an institutional profile which gave everyone in the college community a good grasp of where the institution stood. Through the years self– study had become an integral part of the Cedarville college community. An honest evaluation of the institution's strengths and weaknesses was necessary to maintain excellence where it existed, and strengthen weaknesses when they were uncovered. From April 21 to April 23, 1980, a team of four North Central examiners visited the Cedarville campus. They met with all the major administrative officers of the institution as well as the department chairpersons. A representative group from the Board of Trustees came to campus to meet with them. In addition, the committee circulated throughout the campus, visiting with faculty and students in the cafeteria, the library, faculty offices, or classrooms. The result of their visit was a 21-page report, which included the recommendation that Cedarville continue to receive full accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The report listed two major reasons for this recommendation: 1. Cedarville College is effectively meeting its stated objectives and purposes as a coeducation– al, undergraduate, residential, Christian, liberal arts college. 2. It is currently organized, staffed, and sup– ported so that it is reasonable to expect that these objectives and purposes will continue to be met in a substantial way in the years ahead. I9 While the recommendation was very