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 turning to John 17:21, where Jesus prays for the unity of believers “so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” CORRECTLY HANDLING THE WORD OF TRUTH By the time students reach the fifth week of their missions trips to the Middle East, the harsh reality of life in the field sets in. And that’s exactly what Dr. Matt Bennett, Associate Professor of Missions and Theology, is hoping for. “ 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
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