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IT’S NOT US— IT’S GOD
Emily Weindorf ’17 spent the summer of 2013 preparing
for freshman year at Cedarville in the fall. Her sister, Gretta
Weindorf ’15, was looking forward to beginning her junior year
at a college in Wisconsin. Then, tragedy struck their family,
changing everything.
The girls’ mother, Tonya, was one of four people killed when
a church bus returning to Indiana from a camp in Michigan
overturned. “Our mother was an incredible woman,” Emily shared.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of her or miss her
very deeply,” Gretta added.
Despite the tragedy, Emily chose to start her freshman year at
Cedarville as planned, and Gretta decided to transfer to Cedarville.
“After the accident I just really felt it was important for me to be close
to home,” Gretta said at the time. “We’ve always been close, but now
I think we really need each other.”
“Our mother valued education, especially Christian education,”
Emily said. “I know this is where Mom would want us.”
The girls’ faith carried them through painful times that followed.
“It’s not us,” Gretta said then. “It’s God. He’s given us so much
strength and just the ability to move on.”
For Emily, love made the difference. “I prayed for strength,” she
explained, and God showed her 1 Corinthians 13:13: “ … but the
greatest of these is love.” “Love is what carriedme through,” she said.
“Strength is what I prayed for, but love is what I was shown and what
gave me hope.”
“Knowing that my mom loved me and was excited for my
future gave me hope. Being surrounded by the most loving family,
neighbors, and new friends at Cedarville enabled me to continue
on,” Emily added.
Gretta sawGod work through other Christians in amazing ways.
“Our family experienced the love and support of fellow believers
like we never had before,” she said. “We thank God for those who
supported and encouraged us during that time.”
The accident made national news, and the sisters were
interviewed by local media on several occasions. They saw it as a
way to encourage others and spread God’s Word. “It was something
we were asked to do, but it was never about us,” Emily explained.
“We hoped Mom’s story would touch lives around the world.”
“We did the interviews because they were an opportunity to tell
others about God,” Gretta echoed. “I remember praying before one
interview that every sentence I said would directly point to God.”
Both are quick to point out that any glory coming from their story
belongs to the Lord.
Gretta graduated from Cedarville last May with a degree in
nursing. She is now a registered nurse working in a hospital neuro
unit and enjoys sharing God’s love with her patients. Emily is a
premed student at Cedarville, majoring in molecular and cellular
biology. She looks forward to attending medical school and doing
what she loves. “Even through it all, God has been really good to
us,” Gretta shared. “This is God’s plan for us, and we’re going to trust
Him through it,” Emily added.
FOR MY GOOD AND HIS GLORY
George Huff ’s life was forever changed on July 21, 2014. His
testimony since that day may change countless others’ lives for
eternity. On that day, Huff, Professor of Social Work at Cedarville,
was riding his bicycle home from a meeting on campus when he was
struck from behind by a flatbed truck, catapulting him into a ditch.
Lying in that ditch, unable to move or cry out and going in and
out of consciousness, five thoughts came to Huff ’s mind that he
still clearly recalls to this day:
This is my appointed time; You chose
me before the foundations of the earth; You have loved me with an
everlasting love; You even died in my place; You have prepared a place
for me.
He never expected to make it out of that ditch alive.
INSPIRING AND AMAZING
Cedarville Stories Shine the Light of Christ
by Michele (Cummings) Solomon ’91
An unimaginable tragedy. An unexpected crisis. An undeniable limitation. Three
Cedarville stories that found their way in the public eye.Three stories of faith that touched
others with the message of hope found only in the Gospel and reminded everyone that
Cedarville is a place where students and faculty find their strength in that hope.
Cedarville Magazine
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