YELLOW JACKETS SHARE THE GOSPEL WORLDWIDE Cedarville University’s Athletic Division has always dedicated itself to using sports as a platform for evangelism and spiritual growth. Today, Chris Cross, Vice President for Athletics, continues this goal. Under his leadership, Cedarville teams have engaged in global outreach, traveling to countries like Colombia, Israel, and Guatemala. These trips provide athletes with opportunities to share their faith and serve others, reinforcing the department’s commitment to sharing the Gospel. The impact of Cedarville’s approach is evident in the lives of its student-athletes. For many, including graduate Abby Kuyper, the combination of athletics and faith has been transformative. Kuyper recalls a mission trip to Guatemala with her volleyball team as a pivotal experience, using sports to build relationships and share the Gospel. “This trip showed me how volleyball is a tool that God has equipped me with to find common ground with individuals who don’t speak the same language,” Kuyper reflects. “This experience not only strengthened my faith but also unified our team in a shared mission.” This sharedmission, according to current sophomore Eben Dewhurst, a member of the Yellow Jacket’s soccer team, is what sets Cedarville’s athletic program apart from other schools. “The thing that makes Cedarville Athletics unique is its mission — to play for Jesus,” said Dewhurst. “For me, being a Yellow Jacket is about representing Cedarville and God well in every aspect of life, from the soccer field to the classroom.” That’s what’s at the core of Cedarville Athletics today — a close-knit community bound by a shared commitment to competing with excellence and sharing the Gospel wherever God leads them. This community supports and encourages one another in their spiritual journeys. In biblical terms, they strengthen each other like “iron sharpens iron.” Cedarville’s athletes, coaches, and teams exemplify the powerful intersection of faith and sports. With each season that passes, they show how athletic competition can be a meaningful avenue for spiritual growth and evangelism. GRACE GOING FOR GOLD ... AGAIN! Grace Norman, a 2020 Cedarville graduate, received a gold medal after winning the paratriathlon race in the 2024 Paris Paralympics. This is her second paralympic gold medal, with the first won in Rio’s 2016 Paralympic games. 33
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