THE HEARTBEAT OF CEDARVILLE: 70 YEARS OF DAILY CHAPEL Chapel is the heartbeat of Cedarville University. The daily program is what unites the campus community around common themes of biblical truth and joyful worship. With the start of the 2023–24 academic year on August 21, Cedarville marked its 70th year of having daily chapel programs. During the 70 years, chapel was held in various locations across campus, including Alford Auditorium, Milner, and the Apple Technology Resource Center before moving in 1996 to the Dixon Ministry Center’s James T. Jeremiah Chapel. The size of the venue has increased from 2,000 seats to nearly 4,000. The 50-minute chapel program features worship music led by student musicians. The president speaks weekly, and School of Biblical and Theological Studies faculty present a yearly series from a book of the Bible. Biblical scholars from across the country speak, including David Jeremiah, pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church and the teaching leader for Turning Point ministry in San Diego, California; Alistair Begg, senior pastor of Cleveland's Parkside Church, and the voice of Truth For Life Christian radio preaching and teaching ministry; Albert Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Shai Linne, Christian recording artist and church planter. “Daily chapel sets Cedarville apart as a school committed to the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ,” said Thomas White, President. “It is the heartbeat of campus because Jesus is the center, and He truly is our life.” Although the chapel program was a part of Cedarville’s founding, it did not become part of the daily schedule until 1953, when Cedarville College merged with the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland. From its founding, Cedarville has focused on educating students from a biblical perspective, and teaching Scripture each morning in chapel at 10 a.m. only deepened students’ opportunities for growth. Even during COVID, Cedarville offered chapel programs, moving from online to outdoor services. James T. Jeremiah, President from 1954–1978, once stated, “We must never lose the preaching in chapel as that has something to say about Christian living, salvation. Never, and if we do, we have lost the whole thing.” Jeremiah set the precedent that has made chapel what it is today. During its 70 years, the chapel program has evolved from a capella hymns to full worship bands. Regardless of worship style, the teaching from the Word of God has remained the same. “Cedarville wouldn’t be what it is today without daily chapel,” said White. “We are blessed to hear the Word preached every weekday at 10 a.m. and all worship the Lord together.” CAMPUS NEWS 30 KEEP UP WITH CEDARVILLE facebook.com/cedarville twitter.com/cedarville instagram.com/cedarville linkedin.com/school/cedarville-university youtube.com/CedarvilleUniversity tiktok.com/@cedarville cedarville.edu CEDARVILLE STORIES PODCAST cedarville.edu/CedarvilleStories SUBSCRIBE TO INSIDE VIEW E-NEWSLETTER cedarville.edu/InsideView
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