Inspire, Spring 2006

Inspire 17 Mark Smith ’08 Mark is a pastoral studies major. I had the opportunity this Christmas Break to travel overseas with Dr. Carl Ruby ’83 and several Cedarville University students to the People’s Republic of China. While in China, Dr. Ruby, his daughter Erin, and our team worked with an English teaching program designed for young Chinese business professionals. We helped these post-graduates with the English language as we interacted on topics such as American football, family life in America, college life, and different roles and responsibilities of men and women in the business world. More importantly, though, was the ministry that the Father did through us. The students noticed the difference in the lifestyles of my teammates and the lives of the teachers with whom we worked. The Chinese people had many questions about Christianity including, “What does the Bible say?” and “How does someone become a Christian?”We had several opportunities to share the gospel and answer all types of questions about the Bible and Christianity. Furthermore, we never forced or shared the gospel without first being asked; our Chinese friends were simply hungry to hear the Christian message. One person said, “I don’t know why, but I just think I should become a Christian,” and several others agreed. Before we took the train back to the Beijing airport, one person had decided to accept Jesus as her Savior and several others were thinking seriously about Christianity. God touched my heart through this ministry. When sharing the Truth with people who struggle with English, I suddenly realized the simple message of Christianity and yet its profound truth. This trip was a defining moment for me as I sensed God working through us. Paul’s words in I Cor. 2:1-5 sum up my experience — “Christ and Him crucified” — and I am convinced that Christ alone is why believers in China risk persecution and alienation. They understand the simple message of “Christ and Him crucified.” Dr. Joy Fagan ’89 Joy is an assistant professor of Bible at Cedarville University. It seems like just yesterday … actually, it doesn’t. It seems like forever ago, but I hate to admit it, so the initial line sounded much more appealing! I was a student-athlete at Cedarville College from 1986 to 1989. Lest you think that I was a brilliant student who flew through my college experience in three years, I should tell you that I transferred. To prove that I was far from brilliant, let me share with you this “smooth move.”When asked in a meeting with Cedarville’s illustrious head of the Bible department why I had not come directly to Cedarville University, I thoughtlessly replied, “Because I wanted a year of Bible before coming to Cedarville.” Thank goodness Dr. Robert Gromacki is a gracious man, although he promptly pointed out the error of my ways. After graduating, I moved to Virginia Beach to teach and coach at Greenbrier Christian Academy for the next five years. It was a thorough baptism into the mountaintops and valleys of the educational experience — and life in general. Irony of ironies, it ended up being a foundation for continuing my career at my alma mater. Who would have guessed? Surely not Dr. Gromacki! I returned to Cedarville’s campus in the fall of 1994 and have served here ever since. Having recently completed a doctoral degree from Southern Seminary, I am currently an assistant professor of Bible with a focus on women’s ministry. It is my privilege to help women understand their identity from a biblical perspective and live that out to its potential and to equip women to be influential in the sphere in which God has placed them. As I think back on my three years at Cedarville as a student- athlete and how that has prepared me for how I live today, two formative experiences come to mind. My college career was a challenging one on many levels. I am one of those frustrating, analytical types who wants an answer for everything. Chapel was my lifeblood — not because it was a “Cedarville thing” to attend chapel five days a week, but because the truths presented were evidence of God’s faithfulness in revealing Himself and what it meant to live life His way. I have vivid memories of specific chapel messages and presentations that had a profound impact on my life. The other formative experience was my time as a student- athlete. I played women’s basketball while pursuing a degree in English secondary education with a double minor. Life was busy, like it is for most college students. At the end of my basketball career, I was asked to write an article for Cedars that captured our season. I didn’t talk about statistics, records, or honors. The title read, Keep Dreaming … Never Quit . The article was a culmination of a hard-learned lesson for a perfectionist: the Christian life is about perseverance, faithfulness, trusting His heart, and celebrating the life He has given us. It was the springboard that has helped me keep life in perspective ever since. Keep dreaming, my friends — never quit, because He has great plans for you .