Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2018

For those lacking confidence in their ability to share the Gospel, Dellaperute offered himself as an example. “I’m not that good at keeping conversations going or even that great at giving explanations,” he said. “But through my experience, I’ve seen God work.” Being available is the key. “God prepares the people and puts us in the right place at the right time,” he said. “It will force you to develop really good listening skills and see things from their perspective. It will also develop your ability to explain your faith to someone who comes from a very different background than you.” CAMPUS OUTREACH Chloie Benton ’20, an adolescent and young adult language arts major, has been part of Campus Outreach since her sophomore year. Benton serves on a team that attends the Secular Student Alliance (SSA) on the campus of The Ohio State University (OSU). In addition to OSU, Campus Outreach also sends teams to Wright State University in Fairborn, Ohio; Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio; and the University of Cincinnati. Comprised of atheists and agnostics, the SSA provides a weekly forum for debatable secular topics. “The questions are often very difficult, as the members consider morality, faith, and current events,” Benton said. Cedarville’s connection with SSA began when Michaela Ruhlmann ’16 struck up a friendship with an SSA member during an OSU campus visit in 2015, and she was invited to attend the group on a regular basis. After Ruhlmann graduated, Kurtis De Pree ’18, took over and began attending the meetings. Benton began attending SSA meetings with De Pree in spring 2018. During his time at Cedarville, De Pree had multiple Gospel conversations with students at area universities, including Central State and Ohio State. Although he sometimes encountered hostility, he remained undaunted. “I gave them a proper presentation of what Christians believe by asking questions that forced them to think about their beliefs,” he noted. Building relationships that provide a safe place for SSA members to ask questions about faith is the goal. “By forming relationships with the SSA group, they feel valued and loved, and they know they can ask me life questions at any time,” Benton said. “Inevitably, these life questions are often rooted in the Gospel, opening the door for evangelism.” She finds the experience invigorating and meaningful, even when there may be difficult conversations. “Although the meetings can be wearying, Galatians 6:9 encourages me: ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up,’” she said. “We faithfully endeavor to ‘give a defense for the faith which is in us’ and trust the Lord to do the work,” she added. “This is what makes presence and engagement valuable. The Lord will reward faithful obedience in His timing, and in His way.” Benton has seen the way God has opened doors just because she made herself available to His service. “My primary focus is simply to be present and engaged,” she said. “My teammates and I are present for relationships and conversations, both within the context of SSA and outside. I am continually amazed at the Gospel opportunities we have with college students.” Cedarville Magazine | 13