has to meet intentional conversations about specific opportunities. That’s where the Synergy Initiative and its coordinator, Will Galkin (BA ’25 and current MDiv student), come in. “Students participating in The Synergy Initiative meet every other week in small groups all across campus to ask one simple question of the Lord: ‘What do You want me to do about the lost in cities like Boston and Salt Lake City, where only 2% of the population is saved?’” But Galkin doesn’t just pose that question; he leads students to learn the hard facts about what it takes to serve in a church plant. Students consider a future in church plants through virtual meetings with church planting pastors and recent Cedarville graduates now serving in church plants. Through those conversations, many Synergy Initiative participants choose to go on missions trips to largely unreached cities with the hope of relocating there after graduation. Galkin’s passion for church planting began with his own family’s church planting efforts, but it only intensified during his time at Cedarville. Collaborating with Dr. Steve Dye and Dr. Jeremy Kimble has instilled in Galkin a desire to walk in the footsteps of Paul, who says in Ephesians 3:7, “Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace.” OVERWHELMED BY THE GREATNESS OF OUR GOD Somewhere on the other side of the globe, a mother leads her young daughter to the local temple for the first time. There, the girl learns just how to hold her hands and just what words to say as she worships the idol before her. This scene has played out across the millennia all over the world, but Cedarville students on missions trips to South Asia see it for the first time when traveling with Dr. Josh Bowman, Associate Professor of Missions and Theology. “I want my students to be overwhelmed by the lostness in the world,” says Bowman. “But I also want them to be overwhelmed by the greatness of our God, the power of His Gospel to save, and the way He equips us for ministry through Scripture.” Students don’t just encounter the lost on these trips but also faithful and persecuted local believers who are willing to sacrifice everything for the Gospel. Bowman reminds his students of Jesus’ heart for the nations by “ I want my students to be overwhelmed by the lostness in the world,” says Bowman. “But I also want them to be overwhelmed by the greatness of our God, the power of His Gospel to save, and the way He equips us for ministry through Scripture.” 22
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=