How did the idea for the One Thousand Days Transformed campaign come about? And how did the planning unfold, especially when God blessed your initial goals? We began with a 10-year campus master plan. Using a consultant, we held hundreds of listening sessions with stakeholder groups. From those conversations, we developed a list of important projects and prioritized the ones that aligned with our mission and enhanced the 1000-Day Cedarville student experience. Once we had clarity on our needs, it was time to present those needs to potential donors. That strategy became the One Thousand Days Transformed campaign. As God blessed and donors responded with generosity — and as student enrollment exceeded our expectations — our plan naturally expanded. New residence halls became a pressing need. Ultimately, we sought to respond to God’s provision with faithful stewardship. How did you build biblical stewardship principles into Cedarville’s strategy for the campaign? We strive to steward every dollar entrusted to Cedarville with care and integrity. We operate with conservative business practices and avoid frivolous spending so donors can trust us with their gifts. Our goal is to connect individuals who have been entrusted with financial resources with meaningful opportunities to invest in students and impact God’s Kingdom. Our partners in ministry work hard and save faithfully. We carry a sacred responsibility before them and before the Lord to steward their gifts well and to honor their intent. What on-campus developments from the campaign are you the most excited about? All of them! From Chick-fil-A and academic facilities to Global Outreach missions trip funding, improved athletic spaces, and modern residence halls, each project plays an important role in fulfilling our mission. Every project benefits our students’ overall campus experience, and I’m excited about them all. Is there a moment of provision that impacted you the most personally? Several! We prayed. God heard and answered our prayers. He provided in ways so specific that we could clearly see His hand at work — both on campus and in the hearts of our ministry partners. The walls of Jericho didn’t fall for us, but the walls of new buildings were funded in miraculous ways. Only God could have accomplished this. These individual moments reinforced to me that in all circumstances, God is faithful. We can trust Him. You mentioned in the last issue your desire to make Cedarville sustainable. What campaign goals helped Cedarville move toward a more sustainable future? Healthy universities must diversify their revenue streams to remain affordable for students. One of the most effective ways we can do this is through a strong endowment. This campaign allowed us to speak with many donors about the long-term impact of endowment giving. As a result, our endowment grew significantly during the campaign, and we secured many future commitments as well. The walls of Jericho didn’t fall for us, but the walls of new buildings were funded in miraculous ways. Only God could have accomplished this. 32
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