Inspire, Fall 1995

Upon retirement as Vice President for Christian Ministries, Dr. Harold Green took on the position of director of church relations for the College. In this role, Dr. Green will be visiting pastors, churches and related organizations around the country, encouraging them and offering help and the resources of the College. His wife, Margaret, will be his secretary. The Greens will travel in their RV which is fully equipped with a laptop computer, enabling on-line communication with the College. Dr. Green looks forward to serving the Lord and the College in this capacity and states, "I love working with pastors and will especially enjoy encouraging and helping our graduates who are in the pastorate." This summer,Cedarville College welcomed the Midwest Chinese Churches Association for their annual conference.The 900 attendees spent three days on campus,and Dr. Paul Dixon wasthe keynote speaker for the adult sessions. He also spoke to about 150 young people in two special meetings.Three Cedarville professors, Dr. Chi-en Hwang and Drs. Dali and Ling Lin Luo,are members of the Dayton Chinese Church. South Africa A Cedarville College team traveled to South Africa for six weeks this summer to minister to children and adults using the medium of puppets.The six-member women's team,led by Anna Ruth HiIle,assistant professor of education,found many open doors to share the Gospel. One highlight ofthe trip took place in a Muslim school, where the principal welcomed the presentation and message ofJesus Christ without deletion or interruption. The Cedarville women performed in parks and schools,andled several VBSprograms, working with many missionaries. PENDE E VANGE CHUN (HAPT Dave Gaffner'69(first row,center),director ofcareer services at Cedarville,leda team to The Philippines. The team witnessed through basketball, meeting with people during halftimes and aftergames to share Christ. Bobby '90and Sara Sweetland Nile '92,along with daughter Abigail, hosted the team's visitand made arrangementsfor the ladies while on their trip. Bobby and Sarah have been missionaries in Durban,South Africa since 1993and cite their MIStrips to Durban as the primary influence in the decision to minister therefull-time. The Philippines Kent'80and Kelly Craig,missionaries to The Philippines with A.B.W.E.,included this note in a summer prayer letter: On June 5,the nine-member"Athletesfor Christ" teamfrom Cedarville College arrivedfor their annual month-long and nationwide itinerary of basketball evangelism.It is always a pleasure to coordinate the team's itinerary, orientthem to The Philippines,andparticipate in their ministry. Since God used my tour with the 1980A.F.C.team to introduce me to The Philippines and to direct our family into missions,ourfellowship with the team provides annualencouragement.Because oftheir basketball skills and evangelistic spirit, the team has compiled an impressive win/loss record on the basketball courts,and won many spiritual victories in Filipino lives during halftime andpostgame Gospelpresentations. On July 1,the A.F.C. entered the nearby nationalpenitentiary ofThe Philippines to play a team ofinmates.Abouthalfofthe 7,000 residents atthe prison crowded around the court, and others stood atthe barred windows oftheir cells to watch the game. The prisoners were so appreciative ofthe exhibition game;they were so attentive to the Gospelsongs,personaltestimonies, and evangelistic message. They need regeneration from within, notjustreformation or rehabilitation from without. During the postgame one-on-dozens ministry,severalprisoners responded to the witness oftheplayers and experienced the truth ofJohn 8:46,"Ifthe Son sets youfree,you will befree indeed." The Athletes for Christ team was also able to assist the ministries ofalumni missionaries Ken'70and Alice Cole and Gary'8311 and Becky Selden Kuhn'78. With The Signing Team In Jamaica Sue Terkelsen'88,administrative assistantfor Cedarville's DepartmentofBusiness Administration,led this year's team ofMIS"signers"to serve as camp counselors at the Caribbean Christian Center for the Deafin Jamaica. "It was interesting to see how the Lord puteach person on the team,"Sue shares."And I wasso thankfulfor every one ofthem.When we arrived at the camp,they hit the ground running,and whenever there was anything to be done,someone immediately did it. They were truly servants and worked very hard.From the very beginning,they formed friendships with the workers at the camp while getting involved with the campers.The team was in charge ofevery aspect ofthe camp.Every activity reinforced the morning and evening Bible lesson. The activities included skits,work sheets,individual time for questions,quiz competitions,and lots ofsinging. The campersloved to sing." During each ofthe three camp sessions,each team member was assigned a camper and they shared a room in the dormitory ofthe school.Communicating in sign language stretched the students as they had different levels of fluency in signing.Sue observed that the initial apprehension they felt about their ability quickly disappeared as they gotinvolved with their campers and built trust and close friendships with them. "It wasso exciting for the team to see that they could communicate in another language,"Sue continues."They had devotions with their individual campers and could share the Gospel.I would sense their excitement when they learned that they could communicate something new to their campersfrom God's Word.They could deal with their campers and make sure they understood when they responded to invitations for salvation or rededication. "One week,a speaker brought copies ofthe English Version for the DeafBibles to give to the new Christians,"she says."The text is simplified so the deafcan sign the words." Sue shares that,although so much ofthe students'time was devoted to the campers,the team had great unity.There wasn't a lot oftime that they could be together,but they encouraged ea other and prayed together as they could."SometimesI would see a couple ofthe team members praying together. At times there wasfrustration,not with each other,but perhaps with something cultural.They would encourage each other,remember why they were there,and refocus on the ministry.They really matured as they gave ofthemselves during the experience." MI Sdminer Mmistries'95 Australia Bolivia China Ecuador..., Englani .011•P Hungary India Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan New Zealand Ni er Poland Portu Puerto' South A ica Spain Swaziland Thailand Togo U.S.A.(Alaft)** School Year Ministr- — '94-'9 Bangladesh Chin Czec Dominican ublic Guatemala Jamal Mala Y:3114 Puer h' !co Cedarville College has hada greatimpacton young people like these in Jamaica, with severalteams helping with construction andprograms atthe Caribbean Christian Centerforthe Deaf. red MISteams. Sue Terkelsen '88 (first row,left)is one ofmany alumni who have 7FALL'95