FROMTHE CONFUSIONOFBABEL TOTHELANGUAGEOF THEGREATCOMMISSION Ever since Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples of all nations, Christians have traversed the globe, seeking to fulfill the Great Commission despite numerous challenges. In Cedarville’s English, literature, and modern languages (ELML) department, faculty work hard to prepare students to overcome two of the biggest hurdles: language and cultural barriers. The goal is to make a difference now and for eternity. “In Revelation, there are people from every tribe, tongue, and nation around the throne,” said Cristi Vallejos, Assistant Professor of Spanish. “Understanding languages and cultures allows us to have a part in that. We want to be working toward that end.” When sin came into the world, both our relationship to God and relationship to other people broke, including the way we communicate and understand each other. At the time of Babel, God confused the people’s language and dispersed them all over the earth, exercising both mercy and judgment. Now, Christians have the hard task of breaking down barriers to share the Gospel in every language, and language study plays a significant role in that effort. ELML has Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Spanish and linguistics but also offers minors and classes in French, German, Arabic, and several other languages. Because a foreign language is a general education requirement, many students take these courses whether they major in the department or not, and they are learning more than just languages: Each class immerses students in a people’s literature and culture. Through these studies, graduates better connect with people who come from different backgrounds but have the same BY NICK CARRI GTON ’ 10 Christians have the hard task of breaking down barriers to share the Gospel in every language, and language study plays a significant role in that effort. PHOTO LEFT: Meet Campbell Lino ’27, linguistics major and high school valedictorian. Watch Campbell share the Gospel with her graduating class from Atascocita High School in Humble, Texas, at cedarville.edu/CampbellSpeech. 7
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