Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2016

30 | Cedarville Magazine DeWitt Leads Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity Dan DeWitt joined the Cedar ville faculty this summer as the inaugural Director of the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity. Cedarville Magazine visited with DeWitt to learn more about him, his passion for apologetics, and his hopes for the new Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity. What’s something readers should know about you? A: My wife, April, and I have four children: Isaiah, Micah, Josiah, and Addilynn Joy. Our kids have grown up in an academic setting, so they think it’s very normal to spend most of their time with 18–22-year-olds. I want people to get to know my family, and we look forward to serving here in the community. Tell us a little about your background. A: I grew up in a conservative Baptist church, but rebelled from the Lord through middle school. My parents put me in a Christian high school, but that didn’t go very well. Then I attended a LIFT youth camp in Miamisburg, Ohio, and I heard the Gospel in a very powerful way. The Lord opened my eyes to my need for Christ, and I was converted at age 15. My dad moved out the day after I graduated high school, so that really affected my first year of college. I experienced a lot of doubts about my faith, and apologetics became a great tool for discipleship inmy life. Now I love apologetics, not just because it’s a cool thing in Christian subculture, but because it has helpedme grow inmy faith. Why are you so interested in worldview and culture? A: I took an apologetics coursemy junior year of college and realized the Gospel is something to take into the broader community. It’s not just about sharing with non-Christians for their conversion, but the Gospel sheds light on everything around us. What are your hopes for the Center for Biblical Apologetics and Public Christianity? A: To be a resource for students struggling to respond to skeptic friends, family members, and co-workers. Beyond that, I hope the Center is a place they can come for resources when they’re struggling with their own questions. What are your hopes for Cedarville and your role here? A: That the Center will be a resource for the Cedarville community, and for churches around the state and around the nation. I would also love to see our influence go beyond Cedarville to surrounding universities in central Ohio. But the Lord will have to open those doors. Any parting thoughts? A: What attracted us here was Dr. White’s leadership at the University and Dr. Jason Lee’s vision for the School of Biblical and Theological Studies. While serving in a Bible college context for several years, we sensed a desire to serve in a liberal arts university that is totally committed to the Bible. We began praying that the Lord would open a door of ministry for us, and we are thrilled to be here. Campus News Refer a Friend Receive a T-shirt Provide the name of a prospective undergraduate or graduate student now: cedarville.edu / names