KINGDOM VENTURES FALL 2024 Volume 12 Issue 3 02 ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR GOD’S GLORY 06 FROM REJECTION TO REJOICING 10 A MINDSET, NOT A MINOR 16 PERFECTING THE PITCH 20 FOLLOWING GOD’S LEAD
Entrepreneurship offers a powerful platform in today’s global marketplace — not just for building businesses and generating profits, but more importantly, for fueling Kingdom impact. With this eternal perspective in view, entrepreneurship has become a quickly growing field at Cedarville University. While we first launched an entrepreneurship program back in 2013, no longer is entrepreneurship just a “minor.” It is a mindset on our campus. We are equipping students to use their God-given talents and creativity to develop solutions to the problems of our day. Why entrepreneurship? Because these new businesses, led by leaders on fire for Jesus Christ, are Kingdom ventures. That is Cedarville’s commitment: to equip graduates with excellence to advance the Gospel wherever God leads them. Our entrepreneurship students come from every major and discipline on campus, united by a desire to innovate and create new services and products. They find a need in the world and meet it. And as they create value, they build a platform, using their profits for Kingdomwork and boldly proclaiming God’s goodness to a world that desperately needs to hear it. In this issue of Cedarville Magazine, you’ll see the ways we are preparing these future market leaders through programs like the Cedarville University Entrepreneurship (CUE) organization and the business accelerator. You’ll look behind the scenes at an exciting campus event that gives students the chance to compete for funding for their startups. You’ll be encouraged by stories of Cedarville faculty and friends whose careers have been marked by deep reliance on the Lord’s guidance and a passion to use their business to advance the Gospel. And you’ll see examples of students who have successfully started businesses during their time at Cedarville! I hope these stories will encourage you that the Lord is raising up a generation of believers to serve Him in every industry and calling. Our students are learning to leverage their skills and creativity to bring glory to Christ in every venture and share the hope of the Gospel with a lost world. In Christ, Thomas White President cedarville.edu/president @DrThomasWhite facebook.com/DrThomasWhite instagram.com/drthomaswhite FALL 2024 Volume 12 Issue 3 Editor Janice (Warren) Supplee ’86 Managing Editor Rachel (Rathbun) Benefiel ’23 Creative Director Chad Jackson ’05 Art Director and GraphicDesigner Craig Salisbury Photographer Scott Huck ADMINISTRATION President Thomas White Senior Advisor to the President Loren Reno ’70 Chief of Staff Zach Bowden VicePresident forAcademics Thomas Mach ’88 VicePresident forAdvancement Will Smallwood Vice President for Athletics Christopher Cross VicePresident forBusinessand Chief Financial Officer Christopher Sohn Vice President for Enrollment Management Scott Van Loo ’98 VicePresident for Marketing and Communications Janice (Warren) Supplee ’86 Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Bob Lutz ’01 VicePresident for Student Life andChristianMinistries JonathanWood OUR MISSION Cedarville University transforms lives through excellent education and intentional discipleship in submission to biblical authority. OUR VISION For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ, Cedarville Magazine is published spring, summer, and fall andmailed free of charge to alumni and supporters of Cedarville University. 1-800-CEDARVILLE • cedarville.edu Direct inquiries and address changes to: Cedarville Magazine Cedarville University 251 N. Main St., Cedarville, OH 45314 cedarville.edu/magazine magazine@cedarville.edu 1-888-CEDARVILLE READ ONLINE! Visit cedarville.edu/magazineFA24 on your computer or mobile device. PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
02 ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR GOD’S GLORY THOMAS WHITE – Did you know that Cedarville president Thomas White was an entrepreneur? From a middle school candy business to a high school car wash to a karate school, Dr. White learned lasting lessons from his business successes and failures — lessons Cedarville students now learn in Cedarville’s entrepreneurship program. His entrepreneurial mindset also influences how he serves and leads Cedarville University. 06 FROM REJECTION TO REJOICING NICHOLAS CARRINGTON ’10 – Why does Dr. Kary Oberbrunner keep his initial rejection letter from Cedarville to this day? And how did he pivot from full-time ministry to starting a publishing company, writing bestselling books, and teaching entrepreneurship? See how God’s guidance sometimes comes in the form of a “no” in this inspiring story. 10 A MINDSET, NOT A MINOR KARY OBERBRUNNER – Agree or disagree? Everyone needs to think like an entrepreneur. Hear from Dr. Kary Oberbrunner about what key entrepreneurial traits will benefit you in any industry, field, and ministry and how Cedarville teaches students from every major how to develop these traits. 16 PERFECTING THE PITCH HEIDIE SENSEMAN ’23 – Students compete to win a $1,000 grand prize to fund their business startups in The Pitch, one of Cedarville’s most exciting events of the year. Get an inside look at The Pitch in this behind-the-scenes story. 20 FOLLOWING GOD’S LEAD JEFF GILBERT ’87 – Proverbs 19:21 says this: “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Cedarville parent Earl Seals, president and co-founder of N2 Publishing and executive producer of The Chosen, knows that truth better than most. Learn how the Lord guided him from a desire to pursue ministry to a humble start in sales to founding his own publishing company. IN EVERY ISSUE FEATURES Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men. Proverbs 22:29 24 CHAPEL NOTES 26 ADVANCING CEDARVILLE 30 YELLOW JACKET SPORTS 34 JACKETS FOR LIFE 40 CAMPUS NEWS 48 IN CLOSING ON THE COVER Cedarville entrepreneurship students Ben Hutton, Abigail Francis, Anastasia Stanhope, Eve Welhener, and Will Woods display products from their businesses, Crowned Chains, Didasko, Be the Light Lettering, Eve’s Original Sin Cookies, and Will Woods Exper!ence. 1 IN THIS ISSUE
for ENTREPRE 2
GOD’S GLORYBY THOMAS WHI TE NEURSHIP 3
Learning from failure and continually seeking to improve reflects our spiritual journey and sanctification, our constant striving to be more like our God. I have always been drawn to the idea of starting a business. I started in middle school by buying candy in bulk and selling it to friends during the lunch period. Then, in high school, a friend and I launched a car wash “company." Although it didn’t last beyond the summer heat, we learned valuable lessons. For one, we discovered that only those with very dirty cars were willing to pay for high school boys to clean them. It was hard work and, given our business model, not very profitable. After graduating, I opened my first karate school. Unlike the car wash, this venture succeeded. By choosing a strategic location, focusing on teaching kids selfdefense, and incorporating life lessons, I managed to earn a small profit while attending college. Three phrases accompanied my eagle logo: Faith in God, Knowledge in the Mind, and Strength in the Body. Students memorized Bible verses for extra credit on belt tests. With this venture, I received a “school of hard knocks” business education. I learned to serve customers, grasped concepts of supply and demand, and experienced market forces in action. Bad decisions I made negatively impacted my paycheck. I enjoyed the thrill of starting something new and the satisfaction of serving others well. I also appreciated learning from failure. WHY DO WE EMPHASIZE ENTREPRENEURSHIP AT CEDARVILLE UNIVERSITY? Creating something new reflects the creative nature of our God. Serving others by addressing unmet needs mirrors the loving character of our God. Aligning our God-given gifts with our God-given passions demonstrates good stewardship. Learning from failure and continually seeking to improve reflects our spiritual journey and sanctification, our constant striving to be more like our God. If our students learn to handle failure without repeating the same mistakes and grow in their business endeavors, they can apply these principles to their spiritual lives. We will all continue to face failure until God glorifies us at death or His return. Meanwhile, we are called to pursue Christlikeness throughout our earthly journey. We should continually “fail forward,” much like aspiring to move forward when climbing a tall mountain. As DickWalker, a Cedarville icon, put it, 4
Thomas White is President of Cedarville University. He earned his PhD in systematic theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. We have the passion, energy, expertise, and enthusiasm to help students dream big and graduates succeed through our focus on entrepreneurship for a higher purpose. We seek to serve God and love our fellowman well through businesses that impact the Kingdom. we must “stay the course,” keeping our compass set on true north, Jesus Christ, and remaining steadfast in our pursuit of our Savior. In a generation grappling with anxiety, doubts, and fear of failure, we aim to train a generation that responds to God’s call and presence with a strong and courageous faith, eager to do great things for King Jesus. We have the passion, energy, expertise, and enthusiasm to help students dream big and graduates succeed through our focus on entrepreneurship for a higher purpose. We seek to serve God and love our fellowman well through businesses that impact the Kingdom. Join me in praying for God to go before and behind us, granting His blessing as we seek to be faithful stewards impacting the marketplace for theWord of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. FAITH in God KNOWLEDGE in the mind STRENGTH in the body 5
FROM REJECTION TO REJOICING GOD’S GREAT PLAN FOR KARY OBERBRUNNER Kary Oberbrunner, now Cedarville’s inaugural Berry Chair of Entrepreneurship, still keeps his initial rejection letter from the University. It was 2005, and Oberbrunner, a pastor at the time, was just at the start of a prolific writing career, one that has seen him publish 14 books to date. He loved his congregation, but he wasn’t sure he was in the right place. “As I was writing, I began to wonder whether God would want me to reach more people outside the four walls of the church.” That itch to pursue a new calling led him to apply to Cedarville University as a Bible professor, envisioning himself teaching the Scripture to students and mentoring them as they made life-changing decisions about who to marry, what jobs to take, and where to live. He even had the backing of a Cedarville trustee. It seemed perfect. BY NI CHOLAS CARR INGTON ’ 10 6
BY NI CHOLAS CARR INGTON ’ 10 7 Photo Credit: Mark and Shelly Photography
There was one problem: Cedarville said “no.” Oberbrunner, now in year two as the Berry Chair, framed the rejection letter in his office. “Sometimes it's the right dream, but the wrong time. God wanted me to be an entrepreneur first.” That almost didn’t happen either. He dreamed of leveraging his books into something more, but the business world intimidated him, and with young kids, leaving a stable job with benefits paralyzed him. “It immediately caused panic and fear. Why would people want to hire me? How could I replace my income? I had all these self-limiting beliefs.” Oberbrunner even put out a fleece to someone in the business world, looking for mentorship, just to see if this dreamwas possible. That person denied his request. No doors were opening. Then, one flew open, almost by chance. A friend of Oberbrunner invited him to a talk by John Maxwell, a former pastor who became a leadership guru. Oberbrunner almost didn’t go, only able to secure a babysitter at the last minute while his wife was at work, but as he listened to Maxwell speak, God illuminated his path forward. “I was almost bawling. Something in me came alive as he was talking about impacting others and doing your life’s purpose.” Maxwell was starting a new venture called the John Maxwell Team and mentioned it toward the end of the night. Getting in would cost $5,000, but it included mentorship fromMaxwell himself and the ability to coach others on leadership. The opportunity felt like a chance to bridge the gap between where Oberbrunner was and where he now knew he wanted to go. That same night, he told his wife. Initially, she did not share his enthusiasm. “My wife thought it was a scam. That's bad words for a husband to hear, but she also said if I felt God wanted me to do it, then to go ahead.” After some prayer, Oberbrunner jumped in with both feet. And he thrived. MAKING BUSINESS A MINISTRY Within a year, he had left the pastorate to become an entrepreneur. To some, this move gave the impression that his faith had weakened. For Oberbrunner, it allowed him to explore his true ministry calling. It gave him a way to share his faith with a broader audience. However, sharing his faith in the business world would require a different approach from his days as a pastor. “I had to learn about value creation. When you create value for people, it gives you the permission to share your faith.” He used Bono from the iconic band U2 as an example. “Bono’s currency is his music. It allows him to stand on a bigger stage and share his faith.” He also saw howMaxwell could speak at Dell and Microsoft and Delta and, without turning people off, do it in a way where everyone knew he was talking about God. Oberbrunner viewed these examples as applications of Matthew 5:16, where Jesus exhorts Christians to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” So, in 2012, Oberbrunner set off to create so much value for people in the business world that it gave him the right to share his faith with his clients and stakeholders. That began by creating his own personal brand around his books, not just publishing them but creating value for people through speaking on the topic, providing seminars, coaching, and more. Those efforts would eventually become foundational to his success: turning his and others’ ideas into 18 streams of income. It was a huge success, and in the spring of 2014, so many people asked him how to publish their own books that he set up a phone call with dozens of interested parties to answer their questions. It was on that phone call that his own personal brand exploded into a fully functioning business. He floated the idea of creating a publishing company and explained what that would look like. He told the people on the call that if 25 people would commit to it in the next six months, he’d pause his own work and launch the company. “In 72 hours, all 25 spots were filled.” Oberbrunner smiles like he still can’t believe it. “I said ‘Okay, God. That’s the answer I needed.’” His company, Igniting Souls, has published over 1,100 authors, getting multiple books on major 8 My role is to give students the tools to be in the world but not of the world, to create so much value in the company that they earn the right to share Jesus with others.
bestseller lists and providing ghostwriting, editing, and marketing services. In 2021, he started his second company, Blockchain Life, and secured a patent for his invention: a proprietary technology meant to protect intellectual property that he named Instant IP™. But God’s plan for Oberbrunner wasn’t finished yet. ANOTHER OPEN DOOR Running two thriving businesses is enough work for anyone, let alone someone with a wife and three kids, but God had more in store for Oberbrunner. After his son decided to attend Cedarville, he went to a Christmas dinner in 2022 for the International Center for Creativity (ICC), a partner for Cedarville’s Industrial and Innovative Design program. There, he was approached by Travis Smith, a member of the business advisory council at Cedarville, to apply for the Berry Chair of Entrepreneurship, a position that had been open for two years. In this role, Oberbrunner would teach digital marketing and entrepreneurship courses, recruit entrepreneurs-inresidence to mentor students, and run the Entrepreneur Accelerator program to help students launch their business ideas. Initially, Oberbrunner cast the idea aside. “I actually forgot about it until the next morning, when an email came in fromDr. Haymond.” Haymond, the Dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business and Professor of Economics, wanted to chat about the position right away. The opportunity came at the perfect time. “I had been wondering how I could invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs. God had been preparing me.” Before applying, he taught a class during spring semester of 2023 to gauge whether a partnership between Oberbrunner and Cedarville made sense. That course met five times from 7 to 10 p.m. He remembers getting home past 11 after the first session. “I was so wired. I knew that this was exactly what I wanted to do.” That semester, the students affirmed him every step of the way. After working out the details with both Cedarville and his team at both companies, Oberbrunner accepted the job. “It's been a beautiful integration,” he says as he discusses the balance of teaching and running two businesses. “The students are amazing.” Oberbrunner has brought the same ambition to Cedarville that he has for his businesses. He immediately rebranded the entrepreneurial organization on campus, and under his direction, The Pitch, Cedarville’s Shark-Tank-style event, added a red-carpet preshow and livestreamed to over 10,000 people. He held over 100 “E-Sessions” with students who wanted advice on how to start a business, market their products, or learn more about business culture. Those sessions were so popular that Oberbrunner started CUE (Cedarville University Entrepreneurs) School, a four-week class to “equip and mobilize all students to become entrepreneurs who have a Kingdom impact through business.” Kingdom impact remains at the center of what Oberbrunner wants, his very heart for both his own businesses and his work at Cedarville. “My role is to give students the tools to be in the world but not of the world, to create so much value in the company that they earn the right to share Jesus with others.” It was a long journey to his current role, and even though he has kept his rejection letter, Oberbrunner sees God’s providence as he found his way, finally, to Cedarville University. “It was almost like Moses. I went out into the wilderness, and God brought me back.” Nicholas Carrington ’10 serves as Associate Professor of Communication. He earned his PhD in technical communication and rhetoric from Texas Tech University. NEW BOOK FEATURES CEDARVILLE ENTREPRENEURS Dr. Kary Oberbrunner’s latest book, You Are an IP Company: The 12-Step Plan to Increase Your Intellectual Property Influence, Impact, and Income, co-authored with Katherine Rubino, guides entrepreneurs in promoting and protecting their intellectual property to increase their companies’ value. Dr. Oberbrunner shares Cedarville experiences and examples of student entrepreneurs he has taught and inspired to illustrate the book’s main points. The book is now available wherever books are sold. This spring, Oberbrunner will begin teaching a new class at Cedarville based on his book. The elective, titled IP in Branding and Marketing, helps entrepreneurs identify their intellectual property and protect it. Drawing from real-life examples such as Play-Doh, LEGO®, CrossFit, Dr Pepper, Magnolia, and Apple, students will learn 47 practical ways of monetizing IP. 9
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BY DR . KARY OBERBRUNNER AMINDSET, NOTAMINOR Recently, at a faculty retreat, I asked my audience of Cedarville University professors to “please turn your attention to the screen.” Spanning several disciplines and many majors, these accomplished scholars represented hundreds of years worth of combined experience in higher education. I continued my presentation. “The graphic lists nine different qualities. I’m curious, which of them are essential for students within your major to succeed?” Then I paused and gave the faculty a minute to think, considering the nine traits: 1. Takes Initiative 2. Problem-Solver 3. Self-Motivated 4. Decisive 5. Adaptable 6. Resilient 7. Independent Thinker 8. Confident 9. Resourceful I had found the graphic on LinkedIn a few days prior, a list compiled by Amy Gibson, CEO at C-Serv. I chose to incorporate the graphic as part of the entrepreneurial update that Dr. Haymond, Dean of the Plaster School of Business, asked me to provide so various professors could learn about all God is doing at Cedarville in this area. 11
“Now for the results,” I broke the silence. “How many of you believe at least one trait is essential for students in your major to succeed?” Every hand shot up. “Wow!” I exclaimed. “Let’s keep going. Please keep your hand up if two of the traits on the screen are essential.” All hands remained in the air. I kept going quickly. “Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight.” Not a hand dropped. “Howmany believe all nine traits are required for students?” Every hand stayed raised. “Perfect. Now, keep looking at the screen. I’m going to uncover the title of the graphic. I intentionally hid it from you so as not to manipulate the results.” With a click of my remote, the black box disappeared to reveal the heading: Nine Top Traits of a Successful Entrepreneur “According to your input, it sounds like you believe in order to be successful, everyone in every major needs to think like an entrepreneur!” WHAT IS AN ENTREPRENEUR? When I stepped on the campus over a year ago, this was my conviction. A few decades ago, maybe not. But our world has changed. I began my career in full-time ministry. Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies. Master of Divinity. Doctor of Ministry. Twelve years as a pastor. My mother was the director of a Christian adoption agency inWisconsin, offering compassionate and Christ-centered services to children and families through adoption and pregnancy support services. My father was a pastor and church planter. I bought into the belief that businesspeople were second-class citizens, a secular necessity to fund God’s Kingdom. I was wrong. In 2012, I heard the strong, undeniable call to shift from the pastorate to be a full-time entrepreneur. I left with my church’s blessing and entered a world of palpable risk, with three kids ages six and under. I loved every minute of it, as scary as it was. My wife Kelly, a 1998 Cedarville graduate, believed in me, and yet we both knew unless God showed up, I’d fail. My faith grew stronger in ways I never thought possible. I depended on God for everything. I felt like Abrahamwhen God said, “Go to the land I will show you.” I didn’t have a business plan — just a dream and drive to ignite souls. Clarity came with action, and every day was an adventure. I ended up starting a publishing company, turning books into 18 streams of income. Several years later, I started a complimentary blockchain-based company to protect those books (and intellectual property) through smart contracts. Every single day I’m in over my head, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. The word entrepreneur means “bearer of risk." At some level, every Christ-follower bears risk, but it is always in the context of our faith in a sovereign God. Name: Eve Welhener Major: Business Management Business: Eve’s Original Sin Cookies Eve’s Original Sin Cookies gives customers the chance to create their own cookie flavors by choosing the type of cookie dough and flavorings they think would taste delicious. evesoriginalsincookies.com 12
We place our trust in God and step out in faith not knowing where He will lead or how He will provide, but we are confident He will act according to His character and promises. “Without faith it's impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe he exists and that he's a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6-7). What confidence we can have to take risks and make bold, yet wise decisions, knowing our anchor and hope are in God! Believers can pursue entrepreneurial endeavors with a unique confidence that God is on the throne whether we achieve success or face failure. ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS EVERY DISCIPLINE Students from departments across campus visit my office every week. They come from a variety of backgrounds. Some are music majors uploading their first song on Spotify, wanting to take their music career to the next level. Others are nursing majors curious about creating a backup plan in case we encounter another pandemic. They want creative ways to use their talents and keep earning income. Other students dream of offering their coaching services on the field. Engineers come in with product ideas. Bible majors want to leverage their speaking and writing skills alongside preaching and pastoring. Statistics reveal 50 percent of people in America have a side gig. Changes in the economy and technological breakthroughs shook up the status quo years ago, and innovation is on the rise. In my book, The E-Mind: How to Think Like an Entrepreneur and Gain an Exponential Advantage, I unpack this reality: “The simple reason is that whether or not we think of it in this way, I believe every person on the planet has a personal business and brand. I’ve shared this concept with people in my workshops and seminars. The crowd is often split in their response. After examining the evidence, some agree. But many bristle at the thought, believing it to be narcissistic and selfabsorbed. Some faith-filled audiences might even think it’s anti-Christian. But is it? Jesus exhorted His followers to intentionally embody metaphors like salt and light. “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no Name: Aaron Perry Major: Economics Business: Ultra Lyte Running Ultra Lyte Running sells gear tailored to endurance athletes who demand superior performance and desire to control the controllables. ultralyterunning.com What confidence we can have to take risks and make bold, yet wise decisions, knowing our anchor and hope are in God! Believers can pursue entrepreneurial endeavors with a unique confidence that God is on the throne whether we achieve success or face failure. 13
longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:13–16)." Jesus warned His disciples not to hide their identity (call it their “brand") but instead to let it shine for all the world to see. The goal of our work is not ego, but rather to point people back to God and advance the Gospel. And getting paid for creating value is not a worldly pursuit, but rather a godly principle. The Apostle Paul tells us, “A laborer is worthy of his hire” (1 Timothy 5:18). NEVER TOO EARLY TO START I continued my presentation at the faculty retreat. “Yesterday, one of you told me your eight-year-old son started his entrepreneurial journey. Then you showed me a picture on your phone as proof.” On the next slide I showed the picture of accounting professor Lindsey Howell ’05’s son. Surrounded by over a dozen stuffed animals, young Lincoln is seated with a laptop, ready to collect money for his Rent-A-Stuffed-Animal business. “Oh, and by the way, Lincoln gave his permission for me to share his picture. But he told his mom I needed to pay him royalties.” I pulled out a dollar and handed it to Lindsey right then and there. Everyone laughed. “Make sure Lincoln gets his royalty.” Maybe you launched your entrepreneurial efforts with a lemonade stand. My mom took a picture of me selling used fireworks in front of our house. At a similar age to Lincoln, I was enamored with fireworks. I found their shapes and sizes fascinating, despite already being discharged. I may have sold one or two fireworks for a quarter on the TV tray my mom let us borrow. Sometimes we overcomplicate the concept of entrepreneurs. All of us are hard-wired for entrepreneurship at some level. After all, we were created in the image of God. God told us to “fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground” (Genesis 1:28). Some of us may fulfill the literal definition of an entrepreneur according to Shopify: “Someone who has an idea and who works to create a product or service that people will buy, as well as an organization to support that effort. An entrepreneur takes on most of the risk and initiative for their new business and is often seen as a visionary or innovator.” Many more Cedarville students will embody the definition of an intrapreneur instead. Intrapreneurs Name: Will Woods II Major: Marketing Business: Will Woods Exper!ence Will Woods Exper!ence helps creatives and small businesses maximize their message in the digital space. Willwoodsii.com 14
still create and innovate, but rather than risking their own capital, they are granted their company’s resources, support, and capabilities. These people still take risks, but the companies they work for assume costs. The risk and reward are felt by their employers rather than themselves. FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS We find ourselves at a very unique time in human history. The marketplace is a huge mission field, and God is actively working to draw business professionals to Himself. We’re living in a post-Christian time. Our methods of evangelismmay change, but our mission doesn’t. Work is a wonderful venue to express our faith. The Bible tells us to “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do” (Ephesians 6:7–8). These days, entrepreneurs have an incredible platform. In my day, athletes and rock stars were on the covers of magazines. Young people aspired to those positions. Today, it’s the entrepreneurs on the cover of magazines. The athletes and rock stars are the ones who aspire to be entrepreneurs. Of course, in all things, we must maintain a close relationship with Christ. Success can become a distraction. But success isn’t bad. Many men and women from the Bible prayed for success, including Nehemiah and Esther. In fact, God tells His people, “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8). Every day, when I drive onto the campus at Cedarville University, I feel a twinge of excitement. The energy is palpable. Ideas emerge from every student I meet. Many of the staff and faculty share their creativity and innovation with me. God’s favor is upon this place in a unique way. I’m deeply honored to serve, and I truly feel the visible support from the University's administration. At Cedarville, we’re not just preparing young men and women for Kingdom impact someday in the future. Rather, through classrooms, internships, GO trips, competitions, and projects, we’re impacting the world right now. Cedarville is poised to be a light for such a time as this. And the more we embrace the truth that entrepreneurship is a mindset, not just a minor, the brighter our light shines. Name: Anastasia Stanhope Major: Accounting Business: Be the Light Lettering Be the Light Lettering is a stationery brand with products designed to encourage people to uplift others. bethelightlettering1.etsy.com Kary Oberbrunner is the Berry Chair of Entrepreneurship and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship. 15
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Cameras flash and chatter fills the air in Alumni Hall as Christian Eppich ’25 and Annie Alexander ’25 enter, microphones in hand. With a red carpet under their feet and a Cedarville University Entrepreneurship banner behind them, Eppich and Alexander are kicking off The Pitch’s pre-show. “This has been months in the planning,” Alexander announces to the crowd and camera. “We’ve got six contestants and four judges who we’re excited to introduce!” For the next half hour, Eppich and Alexander interview contestants, judges, and audience members about the upcoming show. “Tell us a bit about your startup,” they prompt each contestant. “Where did this business idea come from? And let those watching know how they can find your product online!” One judge, Scott Moffat — co-founder of the entrepreneurial acceleration company Ideal Strategic Partners — flew in from Florida this morning. He steps onto the red carpet, smiles, and captures the room’s excitement with his interview. “I love this event,” Moffat says. “I love the ideas, love the innovation. Every time it gets better.” The Pitch is a Shark-Tank-style competition where students present their startup ideas to a panel of industry-expert judges, answer questions in front of a live audience, and vie for a chance to win up to $1,000 for their business. The former School of Business Administration (now the Robert W. Plaster School of Business) developed the event in 2018 to strengthen the school’s PITCH PERFECTING THE BY HEIDIE (RAINE) SENSEMAN ’23 17
focus on entrepreneurship and to raise visibility about other entrepreneurial opportunities on campus. “We want people to know that entrepreneurship is for everyone,” Dr. Kary Oberbrunner, Berry Chair and Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, said. “As we like to say, ‘Entrepreneurship is a mindset, not a minor.’” The Cedarville University Entrepreneurship (CUE) student organization hosts The Pitch every semester, but preparations begin well before anyone takes the stage. In the months leading up to the event, contestants submit their startup ideas to CUE, present their pitches in preliminary rounds to business faculty, and hope that they’ll be among the six finalists who make it through to the live show. When the day of The Pitch finally arrives, nerves are high. Contestants button their blazers, review their notes, and await the five minutes they’ll have to sell their idea from the Scharnberg Auditorium stage. The entire student body is invited, and thousands of others will watch the show live or via replay. “Welcome to the Pitch!” Aubrey Colburn ’25, one of the event co-hosts, announces. She’s met with cheers from the crowd. Colburn explains the structure of the event — five minutes to pitch followed by five minutes to answer the judges’ questions — introduces the judging panel, and then kicks off the event by welcoming up the first contestant. Judges take notes from their black leather chairs as Addi Melvin ’25 presents her equestrian coaching service, Achiever’s Equine Academy. “What would be your marketing strategy?” one judge asks. “Howwould you scale this business?” another adds. Lainy Humes ’24 opens her pitch with a piece of Gen Z, fashion-insider slang. “Do you want to be ‘cheugy’?” she asks the judging panel, going on to explain the word’s connotation with being out of style. Being ‘cheugy’ is a problem that would devastate clothing boutiques, and that’s exactly what her fashion consulting technology, NEOCHIC, is meant to combat. Humes flips through presentation slides filled with runway models and fashion magazines while explaining the way NEOCHIC uses machine learning to analyze fashion trends and produce reports that help boutique owners merchandise their stores. The judges’ questions fly in: “What made you choose the boutique route rather than direct-to-consumer? How did you price your services?” Humes answers them one by one and thanks the judges before walking off the stage. Between pitches, spotlights circle the chapel and intense music plays. Judges turn to clean pages in their notetaking portfolios. Hosts announce the names of audience members who’ve won CUE merch in the night’s giveaways. Brief commercials showcase student companies developed through Cedarville’s entrepreneurship curriculum. But the crowd’s attention always zeroes in when a new contestant takes the stage. Will Woods ’27 and Abby Atkins ’26 introduce their business idea, Peace, a counseling platform that presents pregnant women with a single, unified network of pro-life counselors from various organizations. EthanWallis ’25 passes around prototypes of the protective motorcycle gloves manufactured by his startup, Rider Aspect. When the final presentation of the night concludes, the judges step off stage to deliberate. Colburn welcomes Associate Professor of Management Dr. Daryl Smith to the stage to explain the ‘why’ behind The Pitch. Smith’s presentation follows the same structure as the student pitches — identifying a problem in the world, proposing a solution, and explaining the value of that solution — but he isn’t marketing a product; he’s sharing the Gospel. “The world is broken because of our sin,” Smith explains. “God knew that problemwas too big for us to solve ourselves, so He sent Jesus to pay for our sins on the cross. And now, we can turn towards “ I love this event,” Moffat says. “I love the ideas, love the innovation. Every time it gets better.” 18
God, seeking forgiveness, and be united to Him through Christ.” Like everything at Cedarville, this biblical message has been at the heart of The Pitch from the beginning. “Because of their leadership and visibility, Christian business leaders have an outsized Gospel opportunity in their communities,” said Dr. Jeffrey Haymond, Professor of Economics and Dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business. “The Pitch helps us build up more marketplace leaders who can impact their communities for Christ.” After Smith’s Gospel presentation, attention returns to Colburn, who holds the judges’ decision in her hands. Colburn announces third and second place — Peace Counseling and Rider Aspect, respectively — and then pauses, feeling the room’s anticipation. “And in first place, we have NEOCHIC, Lainy Humes!” The audience erupts. Humes, smiling ear to ear, rushes on stage and receives a giant check made out to NEOCHIC. Judges and hosts crowd around for a photo. Humes has just joined the growing list of Pitch success stories. Timothy Davis ’25 and Luise Schmidt-Krayer ’26, for example, won the fall 2023 cycle with their laNora Breast Pillow, a medical device that helps women recovering from breast surgeries or suffering from breast pain achieve comfortable and safe sleep. Already registered as a medical device in a number of European countries, laNora recently partnered with MediCorp to pursue its registration in the US. And in the spring 2023 cycle, Cooper Peterson ’23 came in 4th place and received $200 for his company runGLUBZ, an athletic brand specializing in uniquely shaped gloves that allow athletes to maintain proper running form in the cold months. Less than a year later, in February 2024, Peterson had obtained his LLC and recorded over 3,000 sales. Also in the spring 2023 cycle, Luke Rykbost ’25 won the top prize of $1000 to put toward software development for his property management software, Prime Properties — but what Rykbost found even more fruitful from his Pitch experience were the connections he formed. Following the event, Rykbost teamed up with Peterson and judge Scott Moffat to cofound the KingdomKommerce podcast, a business resource focused on biblically-based entrepreneurship. Since its inception, Kingdom Kommerce has produced 25 episodes and continues to release new content. Clearly, The Pitch is more than just a game show; it’s an opportunity — a jumping-off point — that’s bolstering student entrepreneurs and prompting audience members to consider if they, too, could have a future in marketplace leadership. “The Pitch is inspiring,” Colburn said. “I’ve never considered myself the entrepreneurial type, but sitting in the audience and listening to my peers, I couldn’t help but think, ‘That’s an incredible idea. I wonder if I could do something similar. I wonder what I could create.’” “ Because of their leadership and visibility, Christian business leaders have an outsized Gospel opportunity in their communities,” said Dr. Jeffrey Haymond, Professor of Economics and Dean of the Robert W. Plaster School of Business. “The Pitch helps us build up more marketplace leaders who can impact their communities for Christ.” Heidie (Raine) Senseman ’23 is currently pursuing a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing at the University of Iowa. 19
20 Earl Seals is the president and co-founder of N2 Publishing, the founder of Christian Business Fellowship, and the executive producer of The Chosen television series. Earl is a long-time friend of Cedarville whose four children (Lindsey '19, Kelsey, Connor '22, and Taylor '23) all attended the University. Most recently, Earl was one of the keynote speakers at Impact 2024, a business conference co-created by Cedarville and Christian Business Fellowship.
On Christmas night in 1988, questions bombarded Earl Seals’ mind. Deep questions for a 16-year-old. “Does God exist?” “Who is He?” Seals didn’t ask questions just because it was Christmas. His older brother John was dying of cancer, and he had given his life to Jesus. Seals didn’t knowwhat getting saved meant. But he knew his brother wasn’t afraid to die, didn’t care about partying anymore, and only wanted to share the story of how Jesus had changed him. “I saw him go from darkness to light,” Seals said. “I saw him reading his Bible. What happened to my brother?” Seals wanted answers, but he remained blind to the truth. His girlfriend invited him to a church play on Christmas Eve that he expected to be awful. But the play convicted him of his sin, and when it ended, he talked to a youth leader. Seals had exposure to church, but he had never heard that Jesus could forgive sins. The good news of who Jesus is became clear. He prayed to be saved. “The darkness fell frommy eyes,” Seals said. “I bowed down before Christ, and my prayer was ‘I am your slave.’” 21 FOLLOWINGGOD’SLEAD: EARLSEALS’STORY
Knowing nothing about church etiquette, Seals asked for the microphone. He told his story in front of 700 people. God saved another 20+ people, and that night was the catalyst for six weeks of church revival. Salvation changed Seals’ teenage life, which had previously revolved around girls, working out, fast cars, AC/DC, and a case of beer under the bridge. “It really created inside of me a desire to understand God's Word better,” Seals said. He wondered how he — like his brother so faithfully did — would fit into God’s story and make a difference. As he knows more than 30 years later, it’s been through God’s faithfulness at every step. Seals’ hunger for spiritual knowledge started a string of radical and continuous change that prepared him for stages of life he couldn’t imagine. Salvation propelled a kid from a modest upbringing in east Tennessee to Midwestern cities, to jobs he didn’t want, and eventually into jobs and leadership roles that helped local churches. Seals worked longer than he wanted to in the direct sales business of selling knives and running regional offices for Cutco. After years of waiting, God led Seals and a friend to start a publishing business that’s now in its 20th year. Seals’ plans have never been just his own; he credits the Lord with every step of his journey. “Everything that has ever been done or achieved in my life has very little to do with me, if anything at all,” Seals said. “The reality is, the most I ever wanted to become was to work at the Toyota factory.” God, however, had a different plan: make an entrepreneur out of a student at Moody Bible Institute. Chicago is over 500 miles from the Seals’ family farm near Gatlinburg and the Toyota plant. It’s a world away fromwhat Seals was used to: milking cows, running the Exxon station on the midnight shift, then going to school. When Seals told his father he would be the first in the family to attend college, the message was direct. “My dad gave me a $20 bill and said, ‘Good luck, son,’” Seals said. “That was it, and off to college I went.” Seals went to Moody to become a pastor, but his time at school instead made him into an entrepreneur. He needed money to pay for school and to live on, so he stumbled into a job with Cutco. The work was hard, convincing people to buy knives, but he was good at it. And Seals clearly sensed God's presence and affirmation to continue. But that encouragement was not what Seals wanted. His friends were graduating fromMoody to be pastors and missionaries. And he was selling knives. When Seals graduated, Cutco asked him to open an office in Indianapolis without the usual two or three years of training. He was praying and knew God wanted him to pursue the opportunity. While he didn't understand where the Lord's guidance was leading him, he followed it. Seals’ Indianapolis office became the number one new office in the United States. His income grew, and his regional territory covered two states. But the hours were long. His wife and four children spent eight to 10 weeks at a time in Chicago with his wife’s family so he could focus on work. “In one breath I would say I had everything, but I also had nothing simultaneously,” Seals said. And so he prayed for change. “I would go before the Lord consistently and say, ‘Why do I have to do this?’” Seals said. The answer was the same. The Lord wanted him to be patient. He was preparing him ... but for what? Then the change he sought began to happen. But not without more waiting and not without more time at Cutco. He wondered how he — like his brother so faithfully did — would fit into God’s story and make a difference. As he knows more than 30 years later, it’s been through God’s faithfulness at every step. 22
Cutco wanted to move Seals to Chicago, increasing his territory to five states and doubling his income. Seals, as much as he wanted to do something else, couldn’t object. Three years passed and thousands of knives were sold as Seals watched for what might be next. Nothing fit. Then, late one evening, Seals put his feet up on his desk and called his friend Duane Hixon, who had previously worked at Cutco, and told him after three years of running five states he was finished. “He says, ‘Good. I have another idea,’” Seals said. “And the Spirit of God whispered very clearly, ‘Pay attention. This is it.’ I didn’t even knowwhat it was. I just knew to pay attention because this was it.” Hixon’s idea: a neighborhood newsletter supported by advertising. “It didn’t matter if he said paper clips or pens,” Seals said. “God’s prompting and direction was what I desired more than anything else.” In 2004, Seals and Hixon started The N2 Company with the goal of turning neighborhoods into communities. Through franchisees, N2 produces over 500 hyper-local magazines in affluent areas across the country, reaching over a million households and donating 2% of all sales toward efforts to end human trafficking. “We started at zero. It took three years to make one dollar,” Seals said. “What’s really hard about this story is God also whispered, ‘You have to start over,’ which means sell your house.” As much as Seals wanted a change, his day-to-day comforts were gone. They left behind their custom house, their Christian neighbors, their Christian school, and their luxury car. Hixon started a magazine in North Carolina, and Seals started one in St. Louis. After three years, they broke even and earned $4,000 each. Twenty years later, N2 does over $150 million in annual sales. And the Seals eventually returned to Chicago. Since then, Seals launched Christian Business Fellowship, an organization meant to help businesspeople help churches with organizational development and create long-lasting Kingdom impact. He also became involved with The Chosen streaming series about the life of Jesus. He is listed as an executive producer for his counsel on the business side of The Chosen. In October, Seals came to Cedarville for the Impact 2024 business conference, encouraging businesspeople and church leaders to work together for the common purpose of Gospel ministry. Seals’ story from redemption to Gospel ministry as a businessman came full circle a few years ago. Before John Seals died at 21 — after going into remission — he wrote a letter in response to the question, “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” That letter made its way to Earl Seals. John’s answer? He realized howmuch more effective his witness was for Christ when he had cancer. So, he prayed for the cancer to return if it meant he could be more effective. Two weeks later, his prayer was answered. “My brother fully understood his role in God’s story,” Seals said. “That many may come to Him because of the battle that John was having with cancer. It’s one of the most beautiful stories ever.” And Seals has come to terms with his mission as well — a life pursuing Christ and using his resources for Gospel purposes. “ I would go before the Lord consistently and say, 'Why do I have to do this?'" Seals said. The answer was the same. The Lord wanted him to be patient. He was preparing him ... but for what? Jeff Gilbert ’87 serves as Assistant Professor of Journalism at Cedarville University 23
SOMETHING GREATER THAN JONAH The following is an excerpt from an August 22, 2024, chapel presentation by Philip Miller. Listen to his full message at cedarville.edu/MillerAugust2024. Let's see how the book of Jonah points us to the Gospel, the mission, and the Christ. First, the Gospel. Jonah is for the Old Testament what the story of the prodigal son is to the New Testament. Do you see the parallels? In the first part of the book, Jonah is like the younger brother. In chapter four, he becomes the older brother, refusing to share God's heart of compassion for this repentant city. Jonah and the prodigal son show us there's two ways to reject God, not one. There's irreligious rejection of God, where we run away in rebellion and end up in misery. And there's religious rejection, where we trust in our self-righteousness to obligate God to bless us. We fool ourselves into thinking we don’t need grace because we're good. Either way, we are not looking to God for salvation, but ourselves. This is where the Gospel message is so beautiful, because no amount of goodness can ever get you in, and no amount of badness can ever keep you out, because salvation is by grace alone. Jonah announces God's unrelenting grace for undeserving people. Secondly, Jonah shows us God’s mission for the nations. We see this vision throughout the Old Testament. Unfortunately, the Old Testament is dominated by God's people failing in this missional calling. Yet this doesn't negate God's heart for the nations. God is on a mission to glorify His name by redeeming a people for Himself from every nation, tribe, and tongue who will come alive in joyous relationship with Him through the redemption of His beloved Son and by the power of His indwelling Spirit. All of history is moving toward this grand crescendo, the image of God restored. And only the glory of the crucified, risen, and exalted lamb can unite the nations in this way. Finally, the book of Jonah is pointing us to Christ. Jesus is the Jonah who should have been. He's the willing messenger who gladly chose to pursue His enemies in grace. He risked everything to bring God's lost children home. Jonah's Gospel presentation was all truth, no grace. Jesus comes with truth and grace together. He's the true, compassionate Redeemer. Jonah anticipates the coming of the true and greater Jonah so that we will see the glories of Christ incarnate. So Jonah shows us that God is on a mission to redeem for Himself a people, that God is unrelenting in His grace for undeserving people, and that He's inviting us to share in His heart and join Him on mission in our world. Howwill you join God on mission in your world? Everybody in this life wants to tell you that life is about you. God's inviting you into a much fuller, much richer life than that. He's inviting you into the greatest story the world has ever known. Philip Miller ’04 serves as the Senior Pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago, Illinois. LIVING IN BABYLON CONFERENCE Cedarville students, faculty and staff, community members, and guests all came together for the Living in Babylon apologetics conference, hosted on Cedarville’s campus by Answers in Genesis, on September 9. Ken Ham and Martyn Iles brought the transformative, timeless truth of Scripture to life for our changing times. Along with the messages, all attendees shared a time of worship led by Jubilate. Watch the conference presentations at cedarville.edu/living-in-babylon. CHAPEL NOTES 24
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