Inspire, Spring 1995

The Cedarville College soccer team will not soon forget Christmas 1994. On December 10,seven soccer players, alumnus Roger Swigart'90, travel host George Weber,and Coach John McGillivray'70 traveled halfway around the world to spend their holiday in Bangladesh. Although the political and religious climate did not permit preaching, the team's goal was to be a witness for Christ through their style of play against local village teams. Missionary kids and their friends enjoyed a Cedarville College soccer clinic in Chittagong,and Bengali boys sharpened their skills in a second clinic in Malumghat. The team also participated in church services by sharing testimony and occasionally providing special music. Jim Phipps'68 has spent the past 30 years as the "voice of Yellow Jacket basketball" on the CDR Radio Network. He has been present for nearly every game,home and away,since he hit the airwaves while a student at Cedarville in the mid-60s. 1 Aor2rofilillte Dautel Directs Fairborn Athletics tv hen Joan Dautel'70 became athletic director for the Fairborn (Ohio)City Schools in July 1994, she was told there was one other woman holding a similar position in the Dayton area. Although Joan had coached athletics at Fairborn High School for 24 years,she now looks at the athletic arena from a different perspective. "When I was a coach,"she says,"it was game plans and schedules. Now it's administration, public relations,finances,encouraging academic responsibility,eligibility questions,and transfer students."We have a great coaching staff—close to 70—for 17 sports,including 54 squadsfrom varsity down through seventh and eighth grade,"she continues. Advancing through the system grounded Joan in the philosophy of sports at Fairborn."Fairborn has never put the emphasis on winning games,"she states. "Coaches are hired as role models and to teach the fundamentals.In this district, the emphasis is on academics. As a result, we have one ofthe highest grade point requirements for eligibility in the area. And we had 20students recognized on the league All-Academic team,the highest number of any school in the league." Joan grew up in Portsmouth,Ohio,a city that continues to supply Cedarville College with athletes. Hobars Go To Bat For The Gospel fRon Hobar's('82) baseball career at Cedarville had to be summed up in on word,that word might be "variety As a freshman,Re played third base, pitched,and was a designated hitter. By his senior year, he was the starting shortstop, having also spent significant time at first base and second base. "Variety" also describes Ro current ministry as executive director of Athletes in Actiort Baseball. Ronjoined AIA's college team to Asia as an umpire in 1985.The trip confirmed that God was leading him and his wife,Linda,tojoin the AIA Baseball staff."God designed my college career to prepare me for this ministry," Ron says."Everything I learned at Cedarville is helpful to me now—the education integrating Scripture, my major in speech communications,involvement in extracurriculars like Pi Sigma Nu and the Advisory Seven,the solid teaching in the chapel services,the unofficial mentoring from professors and Harold Green. Even my minor in broadcasting has helped as I've edited videos for the participants at our baseball fantasy camp." The Hobars' ministry took them to Orlando,Florida from Colorado Springs, Colorado two years ago when the AIA Baseball headquarters moved to be closer to more baseball action. Linda has a ministry of discipleship with the other staff wives and neighbors,as well as her ministry to the three Hobar children,Heather (9), Kyle(6),and Ashley(2).Two other couples comprise the rest ofthe AIA Baseball staff, reaching children and adults around the world with the gospel of Christ. For many years,AIA Baseball,a branch ofCampus Crusade for Christ, has organized teams ofChristian college baseball players to travel to other countries in sports evangelism.Ron has visited 24 countries in this ministry.The AIA teams play national teams,university and club teams,and even pro teams in other countries. They use competition and baseball clinics to attract an audience for gospel presentations. Ron shares,"Perhaps our most effective witnessing comes with the host families as the players share in the homes where they stay." AIA Baseball has recently turned its attention to America's spiritual needs,as well. Last summer,Ron and the staff organized seven Youth Baseball Schools for city kids ages8to 17. Local baseball coaches emphasized character traits such as discipline, loyalty, and sacrifice. They showed the campers how these traits make a better baseball player,then closed each day with an evangelistic"dugout devotional," which many parents also attended. "We held our second fantasy camp this winter," Ron states."Like many other baseball fantasy camps,ours allows men to learn from and play with the pros. But we add an evening conference with a Bible speaker.The men get to live out a boyhood dream,but they also meet pros who have a commitment to Christ." Herfather was one ofthe first trustees ofthe College when its Baptist affiliation began in 1953.When he took a church in Harvey,Illinois, Joan attended ajunior college there,then transferred to Cedarville to finish her undergraduate work. With a health and physical education/history and government double major,she student-taught at Fairborn spring quarter of her senior year and was offered a teaching contract before she graduated. "Cedarville College taught me to study,"says Joan. "The academic standards were high. Going to Wright State University for a master's degree in history was easier than going through Cedarville." As a rookie teacher at Fairborn High School,Joan taught physical education courses,then was assigned social science and history classes.She quickly got into coaching volleyball and softball."Iloved coaching because ofthe competition and the strategy," she says. The volleyball teams did well with three district championships in four years,one regional runner-up, and one league championship. Joan likes the political process. She was elected and served on the Fairborn City Council for seven years, three ofthose years as deputy major,a position she relinquished when she became athletic director. For the past five years,Joan has taught History of Recent and Contemporary America for the Department ofSocial Sciences and History at Cedarville. Ron Hobarenjoyedplaying at the AIA Baseball Fantasy Camp,as wellas organizing it. In the rare times she can claim for herself, she enjoys reading, golf,and counted cross- stitch. Baseball is her favorite sport."I don't have to be at the spring events,but I'll probably be down at the baseball field," she admits. A longtime member ofGrand Heights Baptist Church,she has served as treasurer and choir member.She and about20other staff of the high school meet once a month for prayer and devotions over breakfast. A student Bible club numbering 20 to 30 students meets every morning before school for devotions in the library or a teacher's office. Joan Dautel has demonstrated professional excellence, a good reputation in her school and community,and a testimony for Jesus Christ in a significant environment. Joan Dautel'70has worn many hats: high school teacher, coach, and athletic director; city council member and deputy major;and adjunct professor at Cedarville College. Branon Lives Sports Through Writing D ave Branon'73 always loved athletics,and he always had a desire to write.He has been able to couple those two ambitions as both an author and as managing editor ofSports Spectrum magazine. Branon,who played basketball at Cedarville from 1969 through 1973,recently published his third book,Slam Dunk— Winning Players Talk AboutBasketball, Family,and Faith. The Moody Press publication profiles Christians in the NBA,past and present."The book is a tribute to my favorite player,Pete Maravich,"Dave said. "I was so excited that he was willing to study the Bible and be a missionary for the Lord.Yet,I learned the same thing under Don Callan'84H at Cedarville.I dedicated the book to Coach Callan because of his interest in basketball evangelism,and I felt the need to honor him for his work in missions." Branon has also written a similar book about baseball and another book that is geared toward helping young Christians grow."I really have more ofa desire to write general interest books,"Dave revealed."I have three other books that are unpublished,butI want to continue writing." Branon's route to becoming involved with Sports Spectrum began in 1981 when he left teaching and coaching to become the assistant editor of Our Daily Bread at Radio Bible Class in Grand Rapids, Michigan."I always wanted to be a writer, so Ijumped at the opportunity," he explained."I eventually kept changing jobs at RBC.I was the editor ofDiscovery Digest in the mid-80s and then became the first editor of Campus Journal in early 1990." Then came Branon's break with Sports Spectrum.Radio Bible Class had been associated with a sports magazine called New Focus that was based in California. RBC decided to bring the magazine in- house during the summer of 1990.Branon was named managing editor,and his first suggestion was to change the name to Sports Spectrum."Each issue of New Focus carried a theme,but we wanted Sports Spectrum to be a general interest magazine. We want to feature people who carry a national interest. We are always refining it— making changes to keep it looking fresh." When asked what the overriding purpose ofSports Spectrum is, Branon simply claims, "Evangelism.We wantto attract the attention ofsports fans who don't necessarily know the Lord.We wantthem to investigate the claims of Christ through athletics, yet for our Christian readers,we want to help them grow." Branon reveals a similar style in his books and states that his writing philosophy was developed during his college years."I received my perspective of Christianity at Cedarville. My background in Bible training plus my entire college experience helped me to write intellectually. The training I received under Coach Callan was invaluable.I learned that basketball and athletics could be used for more than just personal enjoyment.Cedarville was the springboard for what I am doing today." Dave and his wife,Sue(Tuttle'74N), met at Cedarville College and have four children. Their daughter,Lisa(18),is a freshman music education major at Cedarville.The couple's other children are Julie(14),Melissa(10),and Steven(8). 4SPRING'95