Inspire, Spring 2006

Spring 2006 H ere are highlights from my college experience. • Most of my classes were taught by teaching assistants instead of professors. Many of them spoke English, which was helpful. • The lead professor in my department was a brilliant man, and I was able to be in a couple of his classes. He made certain, however, that we all knew we were never to bother him outside of class. “That’s what graduate students are for,” he told us. • Two of my favorite teachers were dismissed mid-term because they were “spending too much time with students instead of research.” • My favorite professor was strange — that was his name — Dr. Strange. He was scholarly, entertaining, and passionate. He had that sheer brilliance that intimidated everyone, yet it was clear he cared deeply for us. I found out later that he was a Christian. Whenever I think of my college experience, I am well aware I could have done better. The state university I attended was large, impersonal, and difficult to maneuver through. As a new Christian, I was vulnerable and naïve on the one hand and fervent and naïve on the other. There was much to challenge my faith in the classroom and in the dorm. Many professors were openly antagonistic to religions in general and Christianity in particular. In my senior year, a university ministry hosted an on-campus debate on science and faith. The organizers of the event had trouble finding a faculty member in the science department who would take an atheistic approach to the world. They had to go to the religion department to find an atheist. Unfortunately, at the personal level I developed no “Friends for Life.” There were not a great number of social activities for someone who was not promiscuous and did not drink. Needless to say, the Lord had many challenges for me during my college years. It wasn’t until later that I discovered how unprepared I was for true academic learning at the graduate school level. My experience motivates me in what I do now. Cedarville is not as large as my alma mater, but bigger is not better; better is better. I am grateful for what God is doing in the lives of students at Cedarville University. As you read through this issue of Inspire , I hope the good things from your college experience will come to mind as well. I wish I could go back and start over. I would make a number of changes in my life. The most important would be to come to Cedarville. President’s Pen Dr. Bill Brown President Fifty years ago, Jim Elliott and his four missionary friends were killed by Auca tribesmen (properly known as the Waodani) in Ecuador. This year’s Cedarville University Missions Conference “Consuming Fire” remembered them and their sacrifice. Each night of the conference, University students performed the drama The Bridge of Blood , which tells the story of the five martyrs. The play was written 33 years ago by Dr. David Robey, professor of communication arts and theatre. Dr. Robey revised the play for this special production, and it was a great success, selling out seven performances. All the proceeds were donated to the rebuilding of an indigenous church in the North Amazon area of Brazil. During each day of the conference, students heard from missionary speakers such as Dr. George Murray, president of Columbia International University (CIU); Paul and Jessie Schlener of the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE); Mark Thompson of ABWE; and Frank Drown of Avant Ministries. Approximately 80 missionaries, representing about 35 agencies, mingled with students and led special-topic mission sessions. At the end of the conference, nearly 400 students filled out cards saying that they had made life decisions. Please be in prayer for these young people as they seek the Lord’s will. Consuming Fire Frank Drown of Avant Ministries interacted with Cedarville students following his presentation at the Missions Conference. Frank is the co-author of Mission to the Headhunters, an autobiography which describes his personal journey as a missionary to Ecuador, as well as his experience in investigating the deaths of five missionaries there.