Inspire, Spring 2009

advanc ing cedarv i l le They Replied, “Let Us Start Rebuilding.” by Tom Chmura ’78, as told to Carol Lee ’96 Last fall, Tom ’78 and Sharon Chmura celebrated an emotional homecoming that was 30 years in the making. Their journey to restoration led them back to Cedarville where they found that God had redeemed the time — and their hearts. The scholarship they established is an outpouring of their grateful hearts and the grace of God. Redemption I was 25 years old in Medina, Ohio, when I accepted Christ in February of 1975. My wife, Sharon, soon followed in June. Though we had both been raised with some religious background, it wasn’t until we were young adults that the truth of Ephesians 2:8–9 pervaded our hearts: salvation was gained by grace, not works. We could be forgiven and free. I couldn’t get enough of God’s Word and wanted to know more. I began sitting in the front row at church with an open Bible and a notebook on my lap. My enthusiasm was evident. It wasn’t long before our pastor took me aside one day and said something I’ll never forget: “Tom, I think God may be calling you into ministry.” Relocation Our pastor had a daughter attending Cedarville, and he thought it might be a good fit for me. Even though the idea of returning to school as a married father of two small children was a bit daunting, I visited campus with him. As we drove by Founders Hall, Dr. James T. Jeremiah was outside his office on his way to the airport. He greeted us warmly, and when he learned I was a prospective student, he invited us up to his office. It made quite an impression on me that the college president would take time to make me feel welcome on what was surely a busy day. Sharon and I were excited to begin this new chapter in our lives as we headed to Cedarville. I began classes that fall as a Bible major with an emphasis in biblical education. The following January, I began pastoring my first church. It was a humble beginning: a small country church with eight people — and four of them were from our family! I was just one year old in the faith as I began preaching what I was learning in my classes. God surely had His hand on our family, protecting us and growing us during those years. After graduation, we moved home to begin what we thought would be a life of ministry. We had no idea our journey of faith was about to detour into the wilderness. Resistance The concept of grace was what first drew me to Christ, and as my faith matured, I learned more about grace and preached about extending grace to others. This was an unwelcome message, however, to a congregation that favored the letter of the law. Eventually, they asked us to leave the church. To be told we were no longer welcome was extremely painful. In our hurt, my wife and I cast a wide net over everything we associated with that experience. Regrettably, we included Cedarville. For the next three decades, God worked in our lives to heal our pain, but we still kept Cedarville at a distance. We continued to receive mail “I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me … they replied, ‘Let us start rebuilding.’ So they began this good work.” — Nehemiah 2:18 28 spring 2009