From 1997 to 2001, my extraordinary experience as a Cedarville student was primarily shaped by 2 Timothy’s “ordinary means.” My heart and mind were shaped by the ordinary teaching of God’s Word I received daily in chapel and the classroom. Recently, I was privileged to participate in my church’s 100-year anniversary. As part of the worship service, the pastor spoke from 2 Timothy 1 about “fanning into flame” the gift of God. The pastor encouraged us to remain faithful because we each have a part to play in that process. When he dug into the context of Paul’s message, he showed us that God uses the “ordinary means of His Word” and the “ordinary means of relationships” to fan into flame the gift of God. As I listened, I was struck by how this truth resonates with my own life story and my reason for returning to Cedarville. God has used ordinary relationships and the ordinary teaching of His Word to change and grow me in extraordinary ways. ORDINARY BEGINNINGS There was nothing extraordinary about my experience. I grew up in Central Indiana as a pastor’s son in a small church that weekly explained the Gospel to me and taught me about the character of God. I spent years of my childhood trying to “show” that I was a good Christian, but frankly, I was just being a good hypocrite. At 16, that all changed when I heard Isaiah 53 faithfully preached. I realized what it meant that I had gone astray and that my iniquity was laid on Christ. I knew I needed to repent and seek Christ as my salvation. In that moment, I found peace, and my life began to transform with Christ as my Savior. Enter Cedarville. Months after my salvation, I began looking at colleges. I visited my brother for a Lil’ Sibs Weekend on Cedarville’s campus and stayed in Brock Hall. I was amazed at how crazy his friends were, yet I was equally impressed with how much they cared about God and each other, and I was struck by how powerful the teaching was in the classroom and in chapel. From 1997 to 2001, my extraordinary experience as a Cedarville student was primarily shaped by 2 Timothy’s “ordinary means.” My heart and mind were shaped by the ordinary teaching of God’s Word I received daily in chapel and the classroom. I was challenged to grow in my faith through Bible studies, to think well in the classroom, and to grow as a leader through college sports and student leadership. Just as impactful were the ordinary relationships I developed with faithful faculty, caring staff, and lifelong friends. I was blessed by key staff and older students who, early on, identified evidence of grace and leadership potential in me and gave 18
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