Cedars, October 2019

October 2019 4 CAMPUS Wiersbe Library Offers Christian Resources by Bryson Durst Amid the flurry of construction proj- ects on campus, Cedarville recently finished building a new resource for students to study the Bible, theology and other topics. The Warren and Betty Wiersbe Library and Reading Room provides Cedarville students access to the late pastor Dr. Warren Wiers- be’s vast personal library. The Wiersbe Library is located at the location of the former Biblical Heritage Gal- lery in the Center for Biblical and Theolog- ical Studies (BTS). According to Dr. Jason Lee, Dean of the School of Biblical and Theo- logical Studies, the library’s collection will permanently include Wiersbe’s commentar- ies, sermons and Bible study resources. This includes Wiersbe’s own series of “Be” commentaries on every book of the Bible, as well as other selections, including a collection of Charles Haddon Spurgeon’s sermons. Additional books on politics, Eu- ropean history, poetry and science will be rotated in and out, as the library will not have space to hold all of the books in Wiers- be’s collection. Unlike books from Cedarville’s Cen- tennial Library, the books at the Wiersbe Library cannot be checked out or removed from the library. According to Lee, this is an advantage, because students can be cer- tain that the book they want will be in the library. The story of the Wiersbe Library can be traced back to the relationship between the Wiersbe family and Nancy Voorhies, senior regional director of development on Cedar- ville’s Advancement team. Voorhies had of- ten discussed the library with the Wiersbes and was asked by university president Dr. Thomas White to see if they would consid- er donating it for student use. Though the Wiersbes had initially been hesitant to give the library to a university, Voorhies said they gradually became excited about the poten- tial usefulness the collection could have for aspiring preachers. In September 2018, White, Lee and Voorhies visited Wiersbe’s home and toured his library, which, according to Lee, took up the entirety of the Wiersbes’ basement. “He said, ‘I want to love people through the Word,’” remembered Lee. “That was his definition of preaching: loving people through the Word. And he said ... ‘I want the next generations to have the same access to that Word of God that I had so that they can do the same.’” Wiersbe, who died earlier this year, had a long career of teaching the Bible. In addi- tion to pastoring, he also hosted the radio series “Back to the Bible.” And he was a pro- lific writer. Voorhies said he wrote around 178 books. Wiersbe also had a long history with Cedarville. He knew Dr. James T. Jeremi- ah, who became president in 1954, and he would often be invited to preach in Cedar- ville’s chapel. In 1987, Cedarville gave Wi- ersbe an honorary doctorate. Finally, in Lee’s words, he was “a very loving husband” and “one of the most hum- ble men” he ever knew. Voorhies added that “he loved the Word of God, and everything he did started with the Word.” The Biblical Heritage Gallery, mean- while, finds its new home on the first floor of the BTS, across from room 104. The display itself is smaller than it was, but the new lo- cation is strategic. Lee said that the goal of the redesigned space is “to use that whole area to draw at- tention to how central the Word of God is to Cedarville’s campus.” The library was formally dedicated and opened for use on Friday, Oct. 4 and mem- bers of Wiersbe’s family were present. Bryson Durst is a sophomore in the Accel- erated B.A. + MDiv program. He enjoys theology, history, playing strategy games with friends, and anything “Star Wars” re- lated. minister teacher Theologian Dr. Marc Cortez Professor of Theology Author, Resourcing Theological Anthropology wheaton.edu/MATheology-faithlife What does it mean to be created in the image of God? Why does it matter? Navigating through scripture, context, and the plurality of past and present voices, Dr. Marc Cortez brings clarity to today’s important theological questions. Be inspired, challenged, and equipped by Dr. Cortez and our 27 other expert Bible and Theology faculty when you pursue the M.A. in Theology.