Mark Leeds serves as Associate Professor of Theology. He earned his PhD in theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. 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 them to get past the ‘I could eat this food for the rest of my life’ phase and into a little microcosm of the challenges faced by missionaries,” says Bennett. He highlights things like the difficulty of learning a new language, starting Gospel conversations in hostile environments, and correctly handling the Word of truth in cross-cultural settings. Bennett’s heart is for students to see both the magnitude of the missionary task and what it takes to prepare well for a lifetime of service. “I want them to realize that if you’re going to be sent by a local church and receive the donations from lots of people who want the Gospel to be proclaimed, you have to be equipped for that good work.” THE WORD IS FOR US Cedarville is well known for its vision statement: “For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.” And just as Cedarville is for the Word, we also recognize that the Word is for us to equip us for every good work. Whether those works are found in the local church by pastors and lay leaders, in church plants all around the country, or even across the international mission field, the works may be many, but the equipping is singular: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16–17, emphasis added). Cedarville is well known for its Vision Statement: “For the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.” And just as Cedarville is for the Word, we also recognize that the Word is for us, to equip us for every good work. 23
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