SPRING 2025 Volume 13 Issue 1 BUILDING FOR TRANSFORMATION
The grace of God is working in remarkable ways on Cedarville’s campus. In 2018, Cedarville published its 10-year master plan to strategically increase the capacity of our campus. The demand for a faithful, no-compromise biblical education was high then and has only increased since. Many formerly “Christian” universities are compromising on biblical convictions to appeal to a wider variety of students. Others are simply unable to attract the students they need and have closed their doors. At Cedarville, we teach every course in submission to biblical authority. We know that a truly biblical education is a rare and valuable thing. Every project in our 10-year plan was chosen strategically to help us give a quality, biblical education to every student who walks through our doors. The last building project in that plan, the Bolthouse Academic Center, will help us teach biblical truth in areas that need it desperately: history and government; English, literature, and modern languages; education; psychology; and social work. It’s in these classrooms and offices that our faculty will instruct young men and women to stand firm for God’s truth in the public arena. These graduates will shine a light in often-godless places. We rejoice in the ways the Lord has already blessed this work! In October 2024, we received an anonymous $15 million gift toward the project. This gift is allowing us to start construction this summer, and we're aiming to complete the building by spring 2027. Just $5 million remains to fully fund the facility. Only God’s faithfulness and our community’s generosity — your donations, involvement, and prayers — have made this project possible, and we are so thankful. In this issue, you’ll see renderings of the spaces that will soon become a reality on our campus. You’ll hear from students and faculty members in the departments that will soon call this new building home. And I’m excited to share with you some ways you can get involved in the project if the Lord leads. As you read this issue, we hope that you will praise the Lord with us for the great things He is doing on Cedarville’s campus! As always, what is happening here in the Ohio cornfields can only be explained by the true and powerful grace of the King of kings. In Christ, Thomas White President cedarville.edu/president SPRING 2025 Volume 13 Issue 1 Editor Janice (Warren) Supplee ’86 Managing Editor Rachel (Rathbun) Benefiel ’23 Creative Director Chad Jackson ’05 Art Director and Graphic Designer Craig Salisbury Photographer Scott Huck ADMINISTRATION President Thomas White Senior Advisor to the President Loren Reno ’70 Chief of Staff Zach Bowden Vice President for Academics Tom Mach ’88 Vice President for Advancement Will Smallwood Vice President for Athletics Chris Cross Vice President for Business and Chief Financial Officer Chris Sohn Vice President for Enrollment Management Scott Van Loo ’98 Vice President for Marketing and Communications Janice (Warren) Supplee ’86 Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Bob Lutz ’01 Vice President for Student Life and Christian Ministries Jon Wood 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 1-800-CEDARVILLE READ ONLINE! Visit cedarville.edu/magazineSP25 on your computer or mobile device. PRESIDENT'S PERSPECTIVE
02 INTRODUCING THE BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER This is your first look at the impressive spaces of the planned Bolthouse Academic Center. Learn more about the building and its namesake in this introduction. 06 AMBASSADORS OF BIBLICAL TRUTH TOM MACH – We believe the students and faculty who work and learn in the Bolthouse Academic Center will be standard-bearers in sharing truth with a truth-starved world. Learn how Cedarville is redeeming the liberal arts by giving them a firm foundation in the truth of God’s Word. 10 A PLACE FOR US MARK CALEB SMITH, STEPHEN SCHULER, LUKE TSE, GLEN DUERR, LORI FERGUSON, AND MICHAEL SHERR – How is the Bolthouse Academic Center going to change the Cedarville experience for students and faculty? Hear from faculty members who look forward to making this building their new home. 18 MENTORSHIP MOMENTS At first, faculty offices may just seem like desks stacked with papers and shelves filled with books. But the conversations that take place within those four walls are often the most impactful moments in a student's Cedarville experience. 22 LESSONS THAT LAST Day by day, life transformation is happening for Cedarville students in the classroom. Whether they are on Day 100 or Day 900 of their time at Cedarville, they are in the midst of becoming who God has designed them to be! 24 IF BRICKS COULD TELL A STORY THOMAS WHITE – Every brick on Cedarville’s campus holds a story — a story of students who have walked these sidewalks, grown in their faith, and stepped boldly into their calling. Bricks represent lives transformed by Christ-centered education, friendships that shaped futures, and moments of deep spiritual growth. Perhaps this is your story. Now, you have the opportunity to leave a lasting mark that celebrates the impact of a Cedarville education for generations to come. IN EVERY ISSUE FEATURES Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 28 ADVANCING CEDARVILLE 32 CHAPEL NOTES 34 YELLOW JACKET SPORTS 36 JACKETS FOR LIFE 40 CAMPUS NEWS 48 IN CLOSING 1 IN THIS ISSUE
BOLTHOUSE ACA INTRODUCING THE 2
DEMIC CENTER OPENING FALL 2027 3
The Bolthouse Academic Center is being named to honor William Bolthouse, a long-time supporter and friend of Cedarville University. Bolthouse is the founder and CEO of the Bolthouse Foundation and a trustee emeritus who has served on Cedarville’s Board of Trustees since 1996. In both his impactful career and his involvement at Cedarville, Bolthouse has dedicated himself to service-minded ministry and Kingdom impact. The Bolthouse Academic Center naming honors his decades of servant-hearted involvement in the Cedarville community and his lifelong passion for seeing lives changed for the Gospel. The Bolthouse Academic Center is the final major building project fromCedarville’s 10-year master plan, originally published in 2018. This three-story academic building will be located on the east side of campus along Main Street. From the classrooms and offices to the patio and 84-foot-high rotunda, every facet of the building will reflect the excellence of the programs inside. This building will include facilities for several of Cedarville’s core academic programs: history and government; English, literature, and modern languages; education; psychology; and social work. BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER HONORING A LIFE OF FAITHFULNESS AND A HEART OF GENEROSITY 4
THE GRAND FIRST-FLOOR LOBBY WILL PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH STUDY AND COLLABORATION SPACES. THE WEST SIDE OF THE BUILDING WILL FACE THE MAIN CAMPUS WITH THE DOME VISIBLE FROM ACROSS THE LAKE. THE THREE-STORY ROTUNDA WILL BE TOPPED BY A LARGE, COFFERED DOME. 5
AMBASSADORSOF BY TOM MACH At Cedarville, we train up and send out ambassadors of biblical truth into roles where they can be salt and light to a culture that is desperate for the truth. And that — in a sentence — is why the Bolthouse Academic Center is being constructed! 6
BIBLICAL TRUTH It is hard to imagine a time when our country has needed Christian higher education more than it does now. Higher education began in the United States long before the country was even formed. The first college in colonial British America, Harvard, was founded in 1636 by the Puritans who had settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The clear purpose of the institution was to educate clergy to serve in the Puritan church, according to the Harvard University Archives website. Interestingly, the mission of the institution included the “advancement of all good literature, artes [sic], and Sciences.” The Puritans understood how valuable the arts and sciences were in developing reading comprehension, critical thinking, speaking, and argumentation skills. Every one of these skills helped the Puritans properly understand, espouse, and 7
articulate the truths of Scripture. The classical learning model established in the earliest version of Harvard was intentionally created to further the Gospel of Jesus Christ. An early motto adopted in 1650 was “For the glory of Christ.” How far Harvard has fallen from its faithful beginnings. FROM EDEN TO THE MODERN CLASSROOM You hardly need me to tell you what challenges Christian higher education is facing today. While Harvard chose the Latin word for truth, Veritas, as its first motto, it has long since given up on the concept. Secular higher education is no longer committed to pursuing truth. In fact, many deny either that truth exists or that it can be known, because any universal “truth” is considered exclusive and therefore, by definition, discriminatory. While the “woke” agenda is a clear challenge, it is actually just a symptom of a far deeper and more sinister systemic problem: the rejection of biblical truth. Historians George Marsden and James T. Burtchaell wrote about the fall of higher education from its religious foundations to what we have today. They both found that universities rejected biblical truth in the name of academic freedom or to follow the lead of European higher education institutions. In pursuit of respectability, they sacrificed faithfulness. When higher education severed its foundation in the timeless truth of Scripture, it set itself adrift. How could it be surprising, then, that most fields are not only secular but antithetical to Christian beliefs? This division is the most drastic in liberal arts fields like English, history, sociology, and political science. Without the foundation of Scripture, these fields moved radically away from the truth. These fields are some of the worst examples of man’s Edenic attempt to put his own autonomy above God’s truth. But it need not be so. The founders of Harvard had good reasons for including these fields in their educational requirements. They understood these fields develop our minds to think critically, to understand the revealed truth of theWord, to see the beauty of God’s creation, and to communicate God’s truth to a truth-starved world. The problem is that secular higher education doesn’t teach these fields with those goals in mind any longer. TRUTH RECOVERED At Cedarville University, our vision is “For theWord of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.” The authority of Scripture is the foundation for each of our programs, including liberal arts, education, psychology, and social work. Instead of discarding these fields because secular institutions have mishandled them, we TYLER DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CENTER FOUNDERS HALL CENTER FOR BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL STUDIES MADDOX HALL CENTENNIAL LIBRARY MILNER BUILDING BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER APPLE TECHNOLOGY CENTER MAIN STREET (STATE ROUTE 72) The Bolthouse Academic Center is positioned on the eastern side of campus along Main Street (State Route 72) in Cedarville. The back of the building will form a future campus quad bounded by the Apple Technology Resource Center, the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies, Milner Hall, and the Tyler Digital Communications Center. BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER N 8
redeem these fields in the light of biblical truth. In history, we recognize that human actions have consequences because there is a universal moral standard. In literature, we see the creativity and capacity for both good and evil in mankind because we were created in the image of God. In social work, we understand that loving the disadvantaged as God does requires that we sacrificially serve them as our neighbors. In education, we acknowledge that all learning is shaped by a worldview, so starting with the correct assumptions is critical to preparing a child well for the world around them. And in a field like psychology, we learn the incredible complexity of the human mind and realize the devastating impact of sin on human beings. You cannot help men and women with emotional or psychological challenges without recognizing the deadly impact sin has on God’s plan for human flourishing. At Cedarville University, we are committed to teaching and influencing these important fields from a biblical worldview, reclaiming them from those who have sought to separate them from the truth of God’s Word. OUR OUTLOOK Sound Christians are needed in these fields nowmore than ever. These fields shape our culture in profound ways. Every day, we face the temptation to lament what has happened to our culture and turn away, letting the Evil One control those fields. At Cedarville, we choose a different route. We train up and send out ambassadors of biblical truth into roles where they can be salt and light to a culture that is desperate for the truth. The Bolthouse Academic Center will be our staging ground for these ambassadors. It will house critically important programs from the arts, education, humanities, psychology, social sciences, and social work. It will provide classroom and collaboration space for students with a God-given passion to change their culture for Christ. It will also announce to the broader society that we will not back down. We will not give in to those who seek to strip Christ and His truth from these important fields. Rather, we are preparing standard-bearers who will not be conformed to this world but will allow the transformation Christ has wrought in them to influence these fields for His glory. Thomas Mach serves as Vice President for Academics at Cedarville University. He earned his PhD from the University of Akron. When higher education severed its foundation in the timeless truth of Scripture, it set itself adrift. How could it be surprising, then, that most fields are not only secular but antithetical to Christian beliefs? 9
APLACE FORUS ACADEMIC ASPIRATIONS FOR THE BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER 10
A PLACE TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR MINDS Reflections From the Dean of Arts and Humanities When asked for the greatest commandment, Christ replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:36–37, ESV). The Bolthouse Academic Center at Cedarville University, and the classrooms that will fill it, will be a place where students are taught how to love God with all their minds. After all, this should be the first goal of every Christian university. Yes, we want our students to find jobs, be faithful church members, and have happy lives, but those things do not define a Christian university. Any college can train a student to work, introduce future spouses to one another, and encourage vibrant social networks. WHAT CAN A CHRISTIAN COLLEGE DO THAT IS DIFFERENT? My hope is for Cedarville students to walk across the graduation stage with minds that have been transformed. Paul, in Romans 12:2, calls on believers to “be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (ESV). These transformed minds are not only captive to theWord of God, but they should be obsessed with truth, entranced by beauty, and longing for goodness. They need to be prepared for a complicated world and to have considered the biggest questions of life. The transformed mind will find purpose in God’s vision of the good life and will persevere through the challenges that find all of us sooner or later. This new building will be made of bricks and mortar, but it should work more like a greenhouse, where godly professors cultivate growing, striving students. Our students will discern what is true by measuring past and present ideas against God’s standards. They will seek beauty by asking if this piece of art, novel, or film lifts our eyes and thoughts toward heaven or if it is degrading. These transformed minds are not only captive to the Word of God, but they should be obsessed with truth, entranced by beauty, and longing for goodness. 11
They will sift our systems of government, our social arrangements, and our culture through God’s framework for justice, community, and fulfillment. The Christian academic community is different because we labor together as brothers and sisters. While the hard work may be done in the library, bent over a dorm room desk, or slaving over an essay’s last fewwords on a laptop, the transformation occurs in classrooms. LABORATORIES OF LEARNING These little laboratories of learning should give us the best chance to sit across from a stranger. Perhaps the lady in the corner grew up overseas as the daughter of missionaries, while the man in the middle of the table was a U.S. Marine before he enrolled in college. Maybe the professor spent one lifetime prosecuting criminals and is now using another to consider God’s justice full time. They walk into the classroom as individuals, but they leave, eventually, as a community forged in the struggle for wisdom. The truth, of course, is that loving God with our minds prepares us for the work of the Christian life. To love God is to love His creation, including its apex. Created in God’s own image, human beings are unique compared to the rest of the universe. To love human beings requires relationships, and relationships are built on bridges that we must construct with awareness and empathy. Finally, we should love our neighbor by taking what we have learned and echoing it into the world around us. We are called most of all to be faithful in our love of God and our love of neighbor. In that faithfulness, we should gladly broadcast what God’s Word says about politics, justice, morality, truth, and beauty. This is how we reveal to our neighbor not only our own love but also God’s love. This should strengthen our witness. This is a lot to expect out of an academic building, perhaps, but if we build it on God’s foundation instead of our own, we know it will be strong. We know that He will honor our labors so long as we glorify Him in all that we do. Mark Caleb Smith is the Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities and Professor of Political Science. He received his PhD from the University of Georgia. Classrooms BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER 7 The transformed mind will find purpose in God’s vision of the good life and will persevere through the challenges that find all of us sooner or later. 12
A PLACE FOR STUDY AND DISCIPLESHIP Reflections From the Chair of the Department of English, Literature, and Modern Languages Ever since I was a kid, I wanted my own office. I loved visiting office supply stores, and when I first had my own room, I immediately set up an office desk, complete with a desk organizer that held paper clips. I didn't know why anybody needed paper clips, but I had some anyway, because that's one of the things offices had. For many people, office space is mundane. The word “office" suggests beige walls, stacks of binders, and boredom. But when I landed my first full-time job as an English professor, I realized that one of my childhood dreams had finally come true: I had my own office, complete with a desk and lots and lots of paper clips. We often tell students to spend two hours studying for every hour they spend in class, but for professors, the ratio of study time to class time is more like 3:1 or 4:1. We are in the classroom for only 12–15 hours per week. We spend the rest of the work week grading tests and papers, preparing notes and slides for next week's lessons, and reading about developments in our field. Much of the real work that goes into teaching occurs not at the front of a classroom but behind a desk. The office is also the space where we do vital mentoring work with students. Every student sits down with a professor at least once a semester for one-on-one academic advising. They share their aspirations for the future with us, and we help themmark out a career path from their first-year courses to graduation and their first job. It's also where students come to talk to us about things far beyond academics. It’s not unusual for a student to collapse into one of our office chairs and pour out his or her heart about a difficult choice, a painful breakup, or a crisis of faith. These conversations cannot happen in the hallway outside a classroom. The office is where we can invite students into honest, personal conversations about things that matter most to them, and it's where the important work of discipleship takes place. So while having an office may not be everyone’s childhood dream, I now see that my childhood dreamwas one of several God-given desires that led me to a place where I spend a lot of time in my office — not only studying and organizing things, but also mentoring and discipling college students. And I finally knowwhat to do with all those paper clips, too. Stephen Schuler serves as Chair of the Department of English, Literature, and Modern Languages and Professor of English. He earned his PhD from Baylor University. The office is where we can invite students into honest, personal conversations about things that matter most to them, and it's where the important work of discipleship takes place. 13
A PLACE FOR EQUIPPING RECONCILERS Reflections From the Chair of the Department of Psychology I often hear our students say, "I want to learn about people," or "I want to help people." Behind these seemingly simple sentiments lie many life stories. Many of our students testify that God has seen them through personal struggles, tragedies, or broken circumstances. They speak of godly people who have helped mend the fragments of their life and instilled hope and courage in them. The comfort these young adults have received is readying them for the work of comforting others (2 Corinthians 1:3–4). As helpers, we enter the sufferings of others, empathize with what it is like for them, and help them navigate out of their troubled situations. God invites us to “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16, ESV). In the same way, people are pleading that we not just point them in a direction but also accompany them along the way. It is our sacred honor to go the extra mile with those hurt by the trappings of life, the betrayals of relationships, the weaknesses of the flesh. A life verse of our program is, “All this is fromGod, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself … and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18–19, ESV). Having entered our brokenness, Jesus secured a way to reconcile and be restored with the Father. In the Department of Psychology, we are equipping students to carry on the work that He has entrusted to us. It is humbling to be a part of what God is doing at Cedarville University. We have offered Him a mere loaf of bread, and He has blessed us with bushels in return. As a new building rises from the grounds of this campus, we are eager to see the next generations being prepared to carry on the great ministry of our Lord. Luke Tse serves as Chair of the Department of Psychology and Professor of Psychology. He earned his PhD from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. It is our sacred honor to go the extra mile with those hurt by the trappings of life, the betrayals of relationships, the weaknesses of the flesh. 14
A PLACE FOR PERSONAL AND NATIONAL IMPACT Reflections From the Chair of the Department of History and Government In the Department of History and Government (H&G), discipling students is the centerpiece of what we do. Our faculty members are always thinking of ways to provide students with the academic background they will need to succeed and the experiences that will help to differentiate them from their peers. H&G runs Cedarville’s Model United Nations and Mock Trial teams. These teams have raised the name of Cedarville University throughout the academic and wider world. The Model United Nations team, on six occasions, has been awarded the Outstanding Delegation: the highest team award category at the most prestigious United Nations tournament. The newer Mock Trial team has won the “Spirit of AMTA” (American Mock Trial Association), which is awarded to the team that displays the most honesty and fair play in competition — in essence, being salt and light. The Bolthouse Academic Center will provide the perfect place to prepare our students to literally take on the best in the world. Every student on campus takes Politics and American Culture, or PAC, from our department. This freshman-level course is unique in American and Christian higher education because the course shows students how government, culture, and the Gospel come together in our moment in time. During their PAC semester, students attend at least three lectures from qualified outside speakers on our campus. The Bolthouse Academic Center is going to allow us to cultivate this course through new class space and a venue to welcome guest speakers from around the world to invest in our students for God’s glory. In our current building, H&G has aWar Room, named after the rooms in Central London fromwhichWinston Churchill led the British war effort against Nazi Germany. Our War Room is a comfortable place for students to study together with easy access to professors who can answer their questions. We, the faculty of H&G, are very excited to build a newWar Room in the Bolthouse Academic Center and further cultivate spaces for students to study, grow in their faith, and be discipled by faculty who earnestly want them to succeed. Glen Duerr serves as the Chair of the Department of History and Government and Professor of International Studies. He earned his PhD from Kent State University. In the Department of History and Government, discipling students is the centerpiece of what we do. 15
A PLACE FOR MENTORING FUTURE EDUCATORS Reflections From the Assistant Dean of the School of Education The mission of the School of Education is to “prepare compassionate, professional educators.” The Bolthouse Academic Center will help us invest in the academic, professional, and spiritual growth of each student so they can go out and bless their own future communities. During field experience this semester, one of our students came to her professors’ offices looking both for resources to help connect with her reluctant students and for encouragement to persevere. Every semester, one-on-one meetings like this are a source of mentorship and growth for our students. The accessible offices in the Bolthouse Academic Center will make these meetings easier than ever. Our faculty and staff also entertain prospective students and their families. Recently, one of my students asked if I would meet with her friend visiting campus. This quickly became a full, joyful group, as my student and her mother joined the family members of her visiting friend. We want to help our visitors make Cedarville memories, and the center will bless those efforts too. Another part of our mission statement is to promote our students’ “commitment to the integration of faith, learning, and life.” We help them demonstrate this growth by showing “teaching competence and Christlike character through leadership and service.” This goal is abundantly clear in our Symbiotica learning lab! This project helps local homeschooling families provide a quality education to their students. Our education students gain teaching experience and serve as leaders in the homeschooling community. The Bolthouse Academic Center will provide space to meet with these families, collaborate with professors, and better serve our community. In all, the Bolthouse Academic Center will serve as a place where we can fulfill the School of Education’s mission: where we can foster spiritual and professional growth in both our students and our community. Lori Ferguson serves as Assistant Dean of the School of Education and Social Work and Assistant Professor of Education. She earned her EdD from the University of Cincinnati. Another part of our mission statement is to promote our students’ “commitment to the integration of faith, learning, and life.” We help them demonstrate this growth by showing “teaching competence and Christlike character through leadership and service.” 16
A PLACE FOR PREPARING CHRISTIAN SOCIAL WORKERS FOR SERVICE Reflections From the Chair of the Department of Social Work Christian social workers come alongside people who are facing some of life’s toughest circumstances — poverty, loneliness, abuse, neglect, and hardship — and find ways to offer healing and hope. They are ambassadors for Christ on the frontlines of sin-wrecked communities. The heart of Cedarville’s social work program is helping these students embody both professional skill and a Christlike compassion in their work. We have a uniquely relational approach to learning in the social work program. Faculty work closely with each student to help them develop the deep, resilient sense of purpose and emotional intelligence they’ll need in their practice. It’s in the offices and classrooms in the Bolthouse Academic Center that our students will grow in their faith and empathy. These are the spaces where our students will learn to be present and serve with humility, pointing each other toward hope. This is where they will learn to embody the principles of social work and embrace their distinct calling as Christian social workers. The Bolthouse Academic Center is also going to be a rich space for our faculty to research and build partnerships with faculty in other disciplines. Our whole department will benefit from the guest speakers, workshops, and conferences we’ll be able to host here. And that research and learning will turn into service projects with real-world impact far outside our campus. The center is more than a physical space — it’s a place where students will grow into compassionate social workers who shine out the love of Christ to a hurting world. Every brick, room, and interaction in this building will be a part of our story of transforming students who are called to serve in the most challenging and rewarding areas of social work in the world. Michael Sherr is Associate Dean in the School of Education and Social Work, Director of the Social Work Program, and Professor of Social Work. He earned his PhD from the University of South Carolina. The center is more than a physical space — it’s a place where students will grow into compassionate social workers who shine out the love of Christ to a hurting world. 17
Cedarville is dedicating more space in the Bolthouse Academic Center to faculty offices than any other single kind of room. More than 70 faculty and staff members will be housed in this building. At first glance, these spaces may not seem glamorous. But when it comes to Cedarville’s servanthearted faculty, offices are rich grounds for life transformation. In this section, you’ll read stories from our faculty members who have used their office spaces to mentor students and help in their spiritual growth. MENTORSHIP 18
MOMENTS I require all my composition students to come to my office so I can pray with each one of them. I believe our time during this meeting caused one of my students to feel comfortable reaching out to me about his faith. One afternoon, this student came to talk to me in my office because his faith narrative writing assignment was causing him to reexamine his relationship with the Lord. Although he'd had a faith discussion with his father as a teenager, this student did not believe that he had made a full commitment to the Lord. I told him that now is the time. I led the student in a prayer of confession, repentance, and belief by faith. Before leaving, the student shared that his father had since passed away; my father had recently passed away as well. I told the student that his dad would be proud of him for taking this step. After our meeting, I emailed him encouragement and brought him a Bible at our next class meeting. We’ve since met for breakfast to continue the discussion about how God is moving in his life. This was a very special moment, and yet, one of many. I see my colleagues teaching and discipling students every day in their offices and around campus. God’s presence is here.” Scott Hodgin, Assistant Professor of English “ I led the student in a prayer of confession, repentance, and belief by faith. Before leaving, the student shared that his father had since passed away; my father had recently passed away as well. I told the student that his dad would be proud of him for taking this step." 19
I try to connect with each of my students one-on-one every semester, and it is a blessing to learn about their unique life experiences and goals for the future. These meetings create a foundation of trust and openness. Over time, these moments often grow into meaningful mentorship and discipleship opportunities that help my students grow. It is a privilege to walk alongside my students, encouraging them in their journeys and watching them develop into the men and women God has created them to be.” Dr. Lynn Roper, Assistant Professor of Special Education When students come to my office, they marvel at the posters and art pieces, the large armchairs, the string lights and lava lamps, and the coffee/tea space. Being in a comfortable environment separate from the busyness helps students relax, both in workshops and in meeting with me. I've had many deep conversations in my office precisely because it feels less like an office and more like a home space that my students come to stay in just like I do. And that, in a way, makes a family.” Bryana Fern, Assistant Professor of English 20
Students often stop by my office for a quick chat, but some of those short chats turn into long discussions. Many students bear a heavy burden about their future path, torn between ambition for worldly glory and a humble desire to please the Lord. When students come for help with this tension, I close my office door and listen. I encourage each one that their career is in God's hands and that they must followHimwith loving obedience. Hopefully every student leaves with more hope in the Lord and peace about their future, even if that future involves another visit to my office.” Dr. Stanley Schwartz, Assistant Professor of History In my office, I had a box of tissues that never seemed to deplete, despite uses by many students. One of my advisees had a rough time navigating her years in the education program. She spent many days in my office as we talked through the hard lessons God was teaching her. Each time we talked, we joked that I still had that same box of tissues. Once she graduated, her first job was extremely difficult, and she ended up back in my office using that same box of tissues. We walked through God's direction for her as she quit her job and applied for new ones. The month she got her new job, I used the last tissue in the box. God used our time together to give me gentle reminders in the shape of a tissue box that the long-term connections we make at Cedarville are His doing.” Dr. Megan Brown, Assistant Professor of Education God is often at work in Cedarville’s psychology department offices through meaningful conversations between students and professors. One afternoon, a weary student knocked on my door. I welcomed her into my office and listened as this student poured out her worries and stress. As this student shared her heavy burdens, I encouraged her with the truth of Scripture. We focused on 1 Peter 5:7 and Isaiah 41:10–13, reminding her that God cares for her and would strengthen, help, and uphold her during this stressful time. After talking at length, looking to God’s Word, and praying together, this student seemed to have a burden lifted. Ministry moments like this are why I love teaching at Cedarville University.” Kristin DeWitt, Professor of Psychology Faculty and Staff Offices BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER 72 21
“ My Philosophy of Education class this semester has helped me see that each person is uniquely gifted to reflect God to other people, and as an educator I get to develop this in my students. This inspires me to be intentional about every interaction I have with others, seeing it as an opportunity to reflect God to them and help encourage the ways they were made to reflect God.” Rachael Farrell, sophomore social studies education student “ I have been blessed with a department that bridges the gap between political difficulties and compassion through godly truth. Whether it is through Dr. Clark's musical lectures on social movements, Dr. Lyons' in-depth discussions about political thought, or Prof. Meacham's analytical approach to crime, the daily reminder of hope from my faculty that God is sovereign over social issues is something I will happily carry with me and spread to others I meet beyond my time at Cedarville.” Ashley Reuss, senior political science student LESSONS THAT LAST At Cedarville, we send graduates out transformed after their 1000 Days here on campus. But how and where does this transformation take place? Often, the heart of transformation is in the classroom. The classroom is where each student connects his or her God-given skills and passions with a deep, living faith. Making that connection changes a career into a calling. It’s what prepares our students for a purpose-filled professional life. Now, you’ll hear for yourself what transformation looks like in several of our students’ lives! Whether they are on Day 100 or Day 900 of their time at Cedarville, each of these students wants to tell you what their 1000 Days in the classroom have meant to them so far. 22
“ The interactions I have had with professors and peers in the classroom at Cedarville University have taught me that education is not merely receiving a degree or a grade but shaping your soul. The classroom is treated as a lab for the testing of ideas both old and new. I feel more equipped to use the polarized world of politics to point my neighbor in the direction of the beauty of Christ.” Brad Hoffman, senior political science student “ My classroom experience has helped me grow socially, academically, and spiritually. The professors integrating and incorporating biblical teachings into lessons has been a wonderful experience in helping to build friendships and fellowship with others and has strengthened my relationship with the Lord!” Maylene Thelma Whippy, freshman psychology student “ The Lord has already made clear progress in my life. My classes themselves have put more God into my life than I thought possible. Until Cedarville, I didn’t fully understand how much a Christ-centered teacher could impact their students. By starting classes with prayers, adding Bible verses to every lecture, and discussing students’ inherent value from a biblical worldview, professors have shown me the Lord’s love for all His children and how we as teachers can properly reflect that.” Laura Ball, freshman education student 23 Students Majoring in Programs To Be Housed in the Center BOLTHOUSE ACADEMIC CENTER 844
IF BRICKS COULD TELL A STORY 24
Imagine if the bricks around Cedarville’s campus could speak. Imagine the life transformations they have witnessed. The bricks would tell of classes where the light suddenly turned on as knowledge passed from a teacher to a student. The bricks would paint a student’s delighted smile as they grasped a hard concept for the first time and an uncontrollable sense of accomplishment, excitement, and joy flooded their face. The bricks would recount the first date, the first hand-hold, the first kisses, and the first heartfelt proposal for marriage. The bricks would speak of tears of repentance when the Spirit convicted someone of sin, leading them to realize that God is more important than anything this life has to offer. They would tell of the guilt, conviction, repentance, relief, and joy of someone going from spiritual death to life as God saved them (Ephesians 2). 25
These bricks tell the story of transformation. On this campus, transformation occurs in two profound ways: spiritual transformation through God’s work in people’s lives to glorify Himself and educational transformation as teachers invest in the next generation, passing along knowledge. These bricks testify to God-given gifts and Godgiven passions refined by educational excellence, delivered with personal care and Gospel purpose, that serve as a ministry platform for years to come. Creating a memorial to testify to God’s faithfulness has historical precedence. As we walked through Joshua this year in chapel, we heard about the 12 tribes gathering rocks to testify to God standing up the waters of the Jordan. We read about Jericho turning into a pile of rocks as the walls fell down. We mourned as Achan’s sin resulted in a monument testifying to God’s judgment, one similar to the graves of the kings who had rejected God for so long. We rejoiced as God threw down stones from heaven to help Israel in battle against the southern coalition. The very rocks testified and cried out about the awesome nature of God and His faithfulness to keep every single promise — His faithfulness to every single word. Now, we create a monument to last forever; a monument to life transformation; a monument to document that God is faithful. We can trust Him. These bricks and pavers that will make up the back patio behind the Bolthouse Academic Center will honor caring teachers and mentors who invested in you and in eternity through academic excellence. They will recognize the incredible transformation God has brought about in you during your time on Cedarville's campus. We sign our names to these bricks, allowing them to speak of transformation. This generation will speak to the generations to come, proclaiming that this place is special because of God and the people He has called to serve Him on this campus. Everyone can take part in this initiative. For a gift of $100, you add your name to those testifying to life transformation or honor someone who played a part in what God did in these cornfields or in your own life. We want no one left out. Through a significant number of names, we will give testimony to God’s greatness. If you can’t afford $100, give what you can and let us know. We will find a way to cover the cost. Our dream is that we do something so amazing that it takes on a life of its own as future generations add their names to additional bricks, testifying that God still moves and is still at work transforming lives. We serve an amazing God who has wondrously provided for this Bolthouse Academic Center with an incredible answer to prayer through generous anonymous donors who gave a $15 million gift. Every gift matters! Every life matters! Now, we add $100 at a time … one brick representing one life … weaving together the masterpiece of a patio and walkway that will continually highlight God's faithfulness and the commitment of those who fix their name to a brick, crying out that forever, “We will stand for theWord of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.” Dr. Thomas White is President of Cedarville University. He earned his PhD in Systematic Theology from Southeastern Theological Seminary. Everyone can take part in this initiative. For a gift of $100, you add your name to those testifying to life transformation or honor someone who played a part in what God did in these cornfields or in your own life. Our dream is that we do something so amazing that it takes on a life of its own as future generations add their names to additional bricks, testifying that God still moves and is still at work transforming lives. 26
Each paver in the Bolthouse Academic Center’s patio is a chance to testify to the Lord’s transformative work. When future students study, meet with friends, attend events, or even just walk through this beautiful outdoor setting, we want to remind them of the Lord’s faithfulness from generation to generation. For just $100 for a 4x8 paver or $250 for an 8x8 paver, you can join in this project and inscribe your name on one of the BAC patio’s pavers or honor someone who significantly impacted your life. Each name will recognize a life God has transformed on Cedarville’s campus. As more and more names are added, the patio will become a physical testament to the powerful way God is working to shape so many lives at Cedarville. HAS YOUR LIFE BEEN TRANSFORMED? ADDYOURNAME TOTHEBOLTHOUSE ACADEMICCENTERPATIO! Your giving will transform students’ lives and recognize God’s goodness in your life by testifying to the way He has transformed you. To dedicate a paver, visit cedarville.edu/ LegacyBricks 27
MAJOR PROJECTS Jeremiah Chapel Expansion Wiersbe Library and Reading Room Chick-fil-A Civil Engineering Center 2019 2020 2019 2020 A DECADE OF DREAMS FULFILLED The Bolthouse Academic Center will mark the final significant building project of Cedarville’s 10-year campus master plan. Finalized in 2018 with input frommore than 3,000 faculty, staff, students, alumni, community members, and friends of the University, this master plan has been the practical outworking of a vision for faithfulness to our mission of transforming lives. By God’s grace working through generous donors and prudent stewardship, Cedarville’s campus has been transformed. We are excited to complete this plan and continue to dream about how Cedarville will equip students through excellent education and intentional discipleship to impact the world for Christ. ADVANCING CEDARVILLE 28
Murdoch-Phipps-Diehl-Johnson Residence Hall Scharnberg Business and Communication Center The Commons Dining Hall Renovation Bolthouse Academic Center Parker-Dunn-Bates Residence Hall Wood Residence Hall Callan Academic and Athletic Expansion Morton Residence Hall 2024 2020 Coming in 2025 2022 2024 2022 Coming in 2027 2023 29
In addition to the paver project highlighted on pages 26–27 of this magazine, some may desire to name a specific space within the Bolthouse Academic Center after their family or in honor of a loved one. These naming opportunities represent a significant financial commitment, but they also offer a lasting legacy, providing for a space where life transformation happens daily. Each named space will serve as a setting for students to grow in their faith, formmeaningful connections, and prepare to impact the world for Christ. Your generosity will create a legacy that reflects God’s faithfulness and equips the next generation to boldly live out their faith. If you would like to speak to someone about any of these naming opportunities, please email Stephen Schindler, Executive Director of Development, at sjschindler@cedarville.edu. FIRST FLOOR SECOND FLOOR THIRD FLOOR Faculty Offices. ........................ Starting at $15,000 Study/Collaboration Rooms . .... Starting at $25,000 Lab and Seminar Spaces.......... Starting at $25,000 Coffee Shop. .......................... Starting at $100,000 Conference Rooms................. Starting at $100,000 Classrooms............................ Starting at $150,000 Lobby/Common Spaces.......... Starting at $250,000 Outdoor Spaces...................... Starting at $500,000 Academic Suites. ................ Starting at $1,000,000 LEAVE AN ENDURING LEGACY ADVANCING CEDARVILLE 30
31 Every dollar you give will be spent to improve the 1000 Days experience within the academic year you give them. Your gift will be unrestricted, allowing unlimited potential for impact. Annual reporting will show you exactly how your gift was applied to the areas of greatest need. Join a community united bymission and motivated by generosity: CEDARVILLE.EDU/FUND1000 TOP THREE REASONS TO SUPPORT THE 1000 DAYS FUND: UNITED BY MISSION AND GENEROSITY. There's an all-new way for you to invest in Cedarville students!
WATCH GO CONFERENCE SESSIONS To watch the GO Conference sessions and other past chapel messages in the chapel archives, visit cedarville.edu/chapel. The GO Conference, held the first week of every spring semester, encourages students to live out the Great Commission by sharing the Gospel across the world. This year’s GO Conference, delayed by a day due to a snowstorm, connected students with mission organizations and local and global ministries. The conference featured chapel speakers, missionary panels, and interactive sessions designed to educate students on the Church's role in missions and equip them to live on-mission in their own communities and across the globe. JOSH BOWMAN Dr. Josh Bowman served as a church planter and strengthener in Zambia and South Asia before joining the Cedarville University faculty as an Assistant Professor of Missions and Theology. To kick off GO Conference, Dr. Bowman spoke about the importance of sending to God’s mission. He reminded students the Church is called to proclaim the Gospel, send laborers, and advance worship. Dr. Bowman challenged students to get involved in their churches and to go wherever God calls them to fulfill the Great Commission. MATT BENNETT Dr. Matt Bennett became an Associate Professor of Missions and Theology at Cedarville after having served in North Africa and the Middle East since 2011. Dr. Bennett shared that God’s eternal purposes are realized in Christ and shared through the Church. As beings created to bring God glory, our deepest desires are satisfied in Him. Dr. Bennett urged students to seek out counsel on how to be involved in God’s mission. Dr. Bennett’s recent book, Before You Go: Wisdom From Ten Men on Serving Internationally, was released in 2024. A companion book written by his wife, Emily Bennett, is also available. STEPHEN DYE After 23 years as a missionary in Berlin, Germany, Dr. Stephen Dye ’89 returned to his home state of Ohio in 2024 to begin serving as the Associate Vice President for Christian Ministries at Cedarville University. To close out GO Conference, Dr. Dye shared the message that the Church's mission is rooted in its eternal destiny described in Revelation. The Church is called to live in holiness, engage in global missions, and invite others to worship Jesus, fulfilling an upward and outward call. Dye encouraged students to actively participate in God’s mission while anticipating Christ's return. CHAPEL NOTES 32
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