Inspire, Spring 2006

Inspire 25 D r . R a n d y R o s s ’ 6 7 W hen I graduated in 1967, I had planned to go on to graduate school but decided God was calling me into teaching. I had no formal education classes at the ’Ville, so I relied heavily on my high school and college notes to get me through my first year of teaching junior high science. The following summer I was asked to play on an all-star soccer team being organized by Campus Crusade for Christ for sports evangelism in Mexico. As we trained, I greatly appreciated the Bible background at Cedarville, since the majority of my teammates did not have a very solid Bible knowledge foundation. Following the Mexico trip, I was invited by Coach Don Callan ’84H to come back and teach physical education at Cedarville and coach the varsity soccer team. Once again, Cedarville had prepared me well for this next step. Both the major in biology and physical education enabled me to teach classes like “Physiology of Exercise” and “Kinesiology.” I left Cedarville in 1971 to teach and coach at a Christian school system in California. That opportunity continued my journey with Christian school education. I spent 19 years with Christian United Schools of San Diego (CUSSD), starting as a teacher/coach and then vice principal, principal, and finally as superintendent. CUSSD has 2,200 students in two high schools, two junior high schools, and five elementary schools. During that time I also earned a master’s degree and doctorate and served on the executive board of the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI). After spending five years as a superintendent for a Christian school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I became the regional director for the ACSI Mid-America Region in 1994. This district was comprised of 10 states and grew to more than 600 schools and 100,000 students by 1999. When the region was divided, I became the director of the ACSI Ohio River Valley Region (Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia) where I presently serve today. So I guess you could say I have come full circle. I started in Ohio at the ’Ville, and now the ’Ville is in my region as a member of ACSI. God is good! Randy and his wife, Joyce (Sommerfeld) ’71, reside in Malvern, Ohio. They have two sons: Randy and Tim. To m F i t e ’ 8 6 G rowing up I had few friends who seemed to love the Lord like those I met at Cedarville. I really wanted that sincere relationship with God for myself, and so one day in my dorm room I gave my life to Christ. If I wasn’t saved before, I was at that moment, and God began to do amazing things in my life. I began wanting to please Him, and He gave me great friends and role models who encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. This was the most significant thing that happened to me at Cedarville. My years of playing soccer at Cedarville were a positive experience athletically, but more importantly, relationally. During those years many amazing people — including faculty and staff — came into my life and ultimately shaped me. Today, I am the founder/director of On Goal Ministries ( www.ongoal.org) . Our ministry uses soccer to lead people toward life’s greatest goal — knowing Jesus. On Goal partners with churches and runs soccer camps, inner-city programs, and soccer leagues in the U.S. and U.K. The connection to Cedarville continues to impact our life and ministry. Some of our board members, supporters, and many of the pastors we work with are Cedarville alums, while many of our summer coaches are current Cedarville soccer players. It’s awesome to continue the Cedarville relationship and to have the opportunity to encourage other young men and women who are making life direction decisions. Over the years I have come to realize and appreciate how important Cedarville has been in shaping who I am today. At Cedarville I found Christ, friends, encouragement, my wife, and God’s purpose for my life. You can’t beat that! Tom and his wife, Meg (Irving) ’89, reside in Cincinnati, Ohio. They have four children: Atalie, Seth, Olivia, and Stephen. Tom ’88 and Meg Irving Fite ’89 have partnered with Rick ’87 and Lana Olson Seidel ’88 for 15 years (Left to right: Rick, Lana, Meg, and Tom).