Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2013

Crash Course 6 | Cedarville Magazine C r a s h Course e A test drive of the classroom experience (without the final exam) Campus News PROGRAM TITLE Au Sable Institute of Environmental Studies INSTRUCTORS Dr. Mark Gathany, Assistant Professor of Biology DESCRIPTION Au Sable is a Christian institute of environmental studies with campuses in Michigan, Washington, India, and Costa Rica. Its mission is to bring both the Christian community and the public at large to a deeper understanding of the Creator and the best means to steward His creation. BIG IDEA Because Cedarville is a sustaining partner of the Institute, qualified Cedarville students receive preferred entrance to the summer program. Students choose from 24 field courses including aquatic/marine biology, animal ecology, land resources, environmental chemistry, ecological agriculture, watershed stewardship, and more. This summer, Dr. Mark Gathany, Assistant Professor of Biology, is teaching Applied Geographic Information Systems, a course that teaches students to use mapping software and Global Positioning System data to research land use planning, land management, and water issues. LEARN MORE ausable.org “Active care of God’s creation came alive to me last summer. I specifically developed a love of vertebrates in both marine and aquatic environments, and I have consequently applied for graduate programs studying these creatures. I was unsure how God could use me in my major; now I am firmly convinced that my time at Au Sable and at Cedarville prepared me for a life of environmental stewardship.” Christian Hayes ’13 B.S., Environmental Science OneVoice Sings at D.C. Immigration Rally Nearly 50 students and several staff in Cedarville’s OneVoice Gospel Choir traveled to Washington, D.C., to lead worship at the Evangelical Day of Prayer and Action for Immigration Reform. The April 17, 2013, event, hosted by the Evangelical Immigration Table, drew numerous pastors and national evangelical groups — including World Relief, The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference — in support of bipartisan and comprehensive immigration reform. The event occurred days before Senate hearings beganon an 844-page bill called the “Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.” OneVoice led worship at a morning gathering before event participants, including Cedarville students, attended afternoon meetings with their state representatives. According to Justin Spann, Director of Multicultural Enrollment and OneVoice, the goal of these meetings was to reinforce the need for immigration reform and urge bipartisan cooperation rather than swaying lawmakers to a particular point of view on the issue. Spannmet withCongresswomanMarcia Fudge’s Chief Legislative Aide. Fudge is a representative for Spann’s Cleveland, Ohio, hometown and Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. “Her aide assured me that immigration is one of the top issues in her caucus,” said Spann. “It was an interesting conversation because I hadn’t thought about immigration as such a high priority among African-American issues.” The day concluded with a time of prayer and worship at the Church of the Reformation, just two blocks from the Capitol. Spann, along with Sandra Van Opstal from InterVarsity’s Urbana Missions Conference, organized a time of multicultural worship featuring songs in English, French, and Spanish. “The concert was a powerful outpouring of love, faith, and prayer,” said OneVoice member Layna Lange ’14. “It was wonderful to worship our Father God with many cultures and tongues.” “It was eye-opening to be part of this unique event,” said Spann. “It wasn’t about Democrats, Republicans, or Independents. We don’t agree on everything, but this group of people came together on what we do agree on: keeping Jesus as the focus as we seek a God-honoring solution to the immigration issue.” Victory in Worship, OneVoice Gospel Choir’s upcoming two-disc album, will be released this fall and will feature two hours of praise and worship, gospel, and original music. Watch for albumupdates on Facebook and Twitter.