Cedarville Magazine, Spring 2019

happens because God provides His grace through the means of ordinary people who are willing and capable of speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). Follow below a few everyday student experiences for a picture of how chapel fuels community beyond the auditorium. Academics – Faculty and students alike gather to worship. When they land in the same classroom, discussions naturally arise from both directions regarding the content of chapel and what God is doing in each other’s lives. Further, not only in the classroom, but mentorship-based faculty-to- student advising provides a forum for students to grow even deeper. Is it not amazing that students in disciplines from history to pharmacy have the opportunity to fellowship over the Word of God with faculty dedicated to their maturity in Christ? Residence Life – It is a wonderful thing when discipleship comes to your doorstep. That is precisely our aim through Residence Life at Cedarville. Resident Directors and Resident Assistants invest in the residents of their hall intentionally. Just about every year, the administration learns of students who heard the Gospel preached in chapel only to return to their residence halls to then give their lives to Christ as they talk with others. Discipleship Groups – Chapel provides the ideal launching point for discipleship groups (d-groups) to share in building friendship and rich fellowship in Christ. Sometimes it begins simply as d-groups sit together in chapel. Yet it deepens when d-groups meet, and the common inflow of teaching in their lives serves as a unifying factor for developing relationships and encouraging each other in pursuit of Christlikeness. Athletics – The unity of the student body is strengthened by the fact that all participate in chapel together. Cedarville University student-athletes worship alongside every other student (not to mention their coaches!) and then take that experience into their team chemistry. The student- athlete experience is a unique combination of athletic rigor, intercollegiate competition, academic excellence, and spiritual discipleship. Coaches equip athletes in each of these facets of life, and chapel provides the foundation for team chemistry and spiritual growth. Organizations and Student Groups – Followers of Christ have the privilege of truly enjoying the good gifts God has given to them. This includes friendship, fun, and a dizzying variety of interests across the student body. The influence of chapel goes both ways with student activities. Organizations and student groups often provide moments of community and camaraderie through celebrating victories and sharing opportunities for involvement from the chapel stage. At the same time, the shared experiences of chapel likewise bring cohesion and unity to relationships as members of organizations live life together. Missions and Evangelism – Christian community goes hand in hand with serving others. As Cedarville students pursue many different vocational directions through their studies, they likewise gain a vision to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The truth of God’s Word proclaimed in chapel provides the teaching that students bring as they serve on evangelism and ministry teams. These are a mere sampling to demonstrate that, just as a thermostat sets the temperature in a room, chapel sets the climate for all community on campus. The best part is that when 10 a.m. arrives the next morning, all the scattered communities gather yet again for the common experience of learning, worshipping, and fellowshipping. Over 1,000 days of sharing life together, our students experience a rhythm that we hope is the beginning of a lifetime of deep fellowship with other believers wherever God takes them. Jon Wood is Vice President for Student Life and Christian Ministries and Assistant Professor of Theological Studies. He earned his Ph.D. in systematic theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.