Cedarville Magazine, Fall 2018

Throughout its rich 131-year history, Cedarville University has been committed to equipping young people for a lifetime of Gospel impact. Countless alumni have left the comforts of home and security of family to fulfill Christ’s commands to go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). Cedarville’s priority on the Gospel can be seen in the sampling of alumni from each of the past six decades who are serving in full-time missions. WILLING HEARTS TO SERVE JIM ’61 AND ESTHER ’61 How do you sum up 50 years of service? How do you encapsulate 50 years of God’s blessings? God has richly blessed His work, and we are so thankful that He has allowed us to have a small part of it. Jim was born in Africa, where his parents were doing medical missions work. He accepted his father’s offer — “If you go to Cedarville, I’ll pay your way” — rather than accept an athletic or academic scholarship at a secular university. He planned on becoming a medical doctor and supporting missions. At Cedarville, he was stirred to a deep love for God’s Word and a desire to serve, even if he was not admitted to medical school. But God was gracious, and Jim became the first Cedarville College student to be accepted to medical school. Cedarville prepared him well academically and spiritually for the work God would call him to. And it was at Cedarville that he met me (Esther). God had previously called me to missions as a junior high student. God led us to the Philippines in 1968, where we served until 1998. Jim served as a medical doctor in four hospitals and as a mentor to hospital evangelists. I taught missionary kids — including our own three sons — and assisted hospital outreach workers and led Bible studies with staff members. We saw God’s hand of blessing on His work in so many ways. He providentially allowed four hospitals to be built, from providing the land, finances, workers in remote regions, and even providing a lumber company just down the road when it was desperately needed. We felt his constant presence and care during challenging medical emergencies (often as Jimwas the only medical doctor around), bouts with malaria, storms at sea, destructive typhoons, and a robbery during a taxi ride. But, mostly, we have been awed to see God’s wonderful work in the hearts of the people! Since our “retirement,” God has provided interesting ways and places to continue serving Him. In a West African village, Jim temporarily replaced the only doctor from 2002–2004. In Outer Mongolia from 2004–2008, God changed our roles to teaching English and Bible. And now these past 10 years we have been together with our son and daughter-in-law (both Cedarville grads in the ’90s) in China, where it has been a delightful adventure to witness the awesome work the Father is doing in people’s lives. For the past 50 years, we have delighted in God’s guidance, blessing, and care, and He has guided us and poured out his blessing on us. It has truly been our privilege to experience the faithfulness of our Lord in all aspects of life and to see firsthand that His amazing ways are “best” (Isa.48:17), “perfect” (Ps. 18:30), and —may we add — exciting! LIFETIME OF MINISTRY AS TOLD TO MICHELE (CUMMINGS) SOLOMON ’91 22 | Cedarville Magazine