When our daughter Courtney ’09 was
in high school, we came to Cedarville
from Colorado for a speech and debate
tournament. We didn’t know much about
Cedarville at that time, but we were so
impressed by what we saw on campus that
week. Courtney had begun her college
search, andwewere looking for two things: a
place that would challenge her academically
and a place that would nurture her growing
conviction to take the Gospel into the world,
wherever God would lead her. In short, we
wanted to find a school that offered both
high academics and a biblical, Christian
education. We didn’t want to sacrifice one
for the other, and in the end we didn’t have
to — Cedarville had both.
We never assumed all three of our
children would attend Cedarville. With
each one, we prayed for God’s direction
in where He would have them go. Our
second daughter, Tiffany ’11, was interested
in nursing. She had visited her sister on
campus for Li’l Sibs Weekend and saw
that Courtney was developing meaningful
relationships with Christian friends and
maturing in her faith. She talked about how
she admired her history and government
professors and how their deep faith came
through in their classroom instruction.
Tiffany looked at other colleges, but none
offered a strong nursing program with
such a clear biblical emphasis. Two years
later, Tiffany joined her sister at Cedarville.
Our son, Corbin ’14, didn’t look at
other colleges. He was sold on Cedarville,
and he will graduate this year with an
accounting degree. He already has a job
lined up after graduation and is preparing
for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
exam. Like his sisters, he has enjoyed
leadership opportunities, internships, and
the personal investment of the business
faculty in his life. Beyond the classroom,
they have spent time with him, speaking
into his life and encouraging him in his
walk with the Lord.
Building Blocks
All three of our children would say that
chapel was a highlight of their Cedarville
experience. They enjoyed that hour each
day of worship, prayer, and teaching.
They were challenged by excellent
speakers who inspired them to consider
how God would use them in the future.
They were also grateful for the Bible
minor. They learned how to properly
handle the Word of God and how to look
for a church that is rooted in Scripture.
Perhaps what touched their lives the
most was their involvement in Discipleship
Ministries. This program helped them
learn how to lead a Bible study, develop
biblical convictions, and encourage
younger students to be Bible study leaders.
As a parent, what I deeply appreciate is how
this experience caused them to develop a
vision for their lives beyond Cedarville —
how they could be leaders for the cause of
the Gospel in their local churches, their
careers, and their communities.
My husband and I have had a constant
assurance from the beginning that
Cedarville was the right choice for our
children and for our family, but what
reinforced this for us was when Tiffany
returned from a missions trip with
other nursing students and faculty. Her
experience with The Luke Commission in
Swaziland deepened her vision for lost and
hurting people in the world and their need
for the Gospel. It transformed her thinking
about what it means to be a Christian nurse
and to serve Christ in her field. Her dad
and I were thankful not only for what this
experience meant in her life, but also for
how completely Cedarville prepared the
students for that trip. The nursing faculty
has been taking teams to Africa for more
than 20 years — as parents, we had peace
of mind that the students would be safe and
have the best possible experience.
Firm Foundation
Our family began our college search
looking for a place that would build on,
not erode, the spiritual foundation we
had laid with our children in their first
18 years. Cedarville continued what we
had envisioned for their lives — that they
would know God more, grow in their
walks with Him, and be used by Him.
This, to us, has been worth every sacrifice.
We are looking forward to our third
Cedarville graduation in May, and we
will make the trip to Ohio with thankful
hearts. We are grateful to God for leading
our children to Cedarville.Their roots were
deepened, and their faith was strengthened
in a way that will sustain them for the rest
of their lives.
Tomma Edmonds
and her husband, Daryl,
are the proud parents of Courtney (Edmonds)
Harris ’09, Tiffany ’11, and Corbin ’14. They
reside in Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
by Tomma Edmonds
Pictured L-R: Tiffany Edmonds ’11, Corbin Edmonds ’14, Daryl Edmonds,
Tomma Edmonds, Courtney (Edmonds) Harris ’09, Alex Harris, Audrey Harris
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Cedarville Magazine
