1993-1994 Academic Catalog

One-on-one interaction, serving food, maintaining facilities, preaching, and singing represent the minis– tries of students who work in area gospel missions. Area hospitals invite Cedarville students to encourage patients or their loved ones. Specific tasks include encouragement, answering phones, and general patient or staff assistance. Students who minister in this area seek to provide comfort and strength through listening, Bible study, and directing recreational activities. There are many opportunities to share the hope of the Gospel with people who face difficult problems. One-on-one and group contact special people involves teaching fundamental learning and motor skills, playing simple games, and just being a friend. Students who participate in nursing home ministries seek to bring joy to residents while being sensitive to what these residents can teach them. Times of personal interaction, singing, playing instruments, preaching, leading Bible studies, and directing Sunday services characterize these ministries. A variety of opportunities await students who wish to invest in the lives of youth. Types of ministries include big brother/big sister programs, Bible clubs, latch-key children programs, tutoring, and a variety of other youth-oriented activities. The College's own Missionary Internship Service (MIS) provides unique opportunities for students to experience missions first-hand. Each year, particularly in the summer, approximately 100 students minister around the globe through team and individual minis– tries. This involvement in missions aids missionaries in their work and helps students discern God's direc– tion in their own lives. Participants raise their own financial and prayer support and report on their minis– tries upon returning. Some students choose to earn academic credit for their experiences. Nearly 50 countries on every continent of the globe have been served by MIS participants since it started in 1970. For specific information concerning potential ministries and selection procedures, students should contact the MIS director in the Christian ministries office. Students considering missions as a vocation often use to gain missions experience. Working with veteran missionaries anywhere in the world, students use and develop important ministry skills, gain cross-cultural insights, and discern God's leading concerning missions as a career. Some, by working with their academic advisors, earn academic internship credit for their experiences. Those interested should contact their academic advisors and missionaries on the fields on which they wish to serve. Students international careers in educa- tion often take advantage of the program to gain cross-cultural experience while completing the student teaching segment of their education requirements. Students interested in this option should contact the Education Department for information and approval. The majority of students who participate in the MIS program do so as members of teams. Formed to perform a particular service such as singing, drama, puppets, medical assistance, technical assistance or physical labor, teams are typically selected each fall. Students interested in team ministries should contact the MIS director for details. Students who enjoy horses and worldng with handicapped children often volunteer at the Yellow Springs Riding Center.