Inspire, Spring 2009

and occasional phone calls from the University, but we always responded by saying, “Thank you, but we will not be supporting Cedarville.” Rediscovery God began working in our hearts in very specific ways to draw us back to Him, and we were finally ready to put aside the pain of the past. The Holy Spirit began to challenge me, asking, “What are you doing with your calling? What are you doing with your life?” When my brother passed away in 2006, we inherited his property in Florida. We recognized this as a gift of grace and decided to invest a tenth of the proceeds to make a difference in people’s lives. We knew Cedarville was still preparing students for Christian service, and it crossed my mind that maybe we could establish a scholarship at Cedarville. In the spring of 2008, we received a Phonathon call from a student. This time, we didn’t say no. Instead, we told him that we’d like to speak to someone about starting a scholarship. Soon afterward, we received a call from Brad Hulls, senior stewardship officer. We explained that the gift was tied up in the property and that we didn’t know how quickly it would sell. But Brad listened to us and respected our timeline and limitations. He even joined us in prayer for the sale of the property. It was so exciting to call him back just a few months later to say the property had sold — the scholarship could proceed! Reunion Later that fall, Sharon and I made a trip to Cedarville — our first in 30 years — to discuss the scholarship contract. From the moment we stepped on campus, all the wonderful memories of our time at Cedarville came flooding back. We toured the new Center for Biblical and Theological Studies and saw the Dixon Ministry Center. When we noticed Dr. Jeremiah’s name on the chapel, we began to weep. The unexpected cathartic emotion was powerful. We chose to designate the award to assist male students with financial need — one junior and one senior — who anticipate a career in the pastorate or world missions. We wanted to invest in students’ lives, and this scholarship was the perfect opportunity to do that. I can’t speak highly enough of Brad Hulls and Kim (Botta) Longo ’02, associate vice president for development. They presented us with options, honored our decisions, and made the process seamless. On October 24, 2008, Sharon and I were thrilled to present the check and sign the scholarship agreement. That evening we attended Cedarville’s Legacy Banquet, a celebration of the many ways individuals invest in the University. We watched as scholarship donors enjoyed time with their student recipients, and it was so exciting for us to anticipate what it will be like to come back next fall to meet our own student recipients. Restoration Sharon and I are still humbled to stand back and watch God’s hand in bringing this scholarship to life. We felt the Spirit of God calling us back — not just to Cedarville but to Himself. He led us back to the place where we started. It is exciting to think about the influence this scholarship will have on young people answering God’s call on their lives. It is a joy to invest in what will live on in eternity — “The Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ.” We pray that He will receive the glory from this amazing journey. Tom ’78 and Sharon Chmura now live in Westfield Center, Ohio, and enjoy spending time with their two married children and six grandchildren. Carol Lee ’96 is the senior communication specialist for advancement at Cedarville. You may contact her at carollee@cedarville.edu. Would you like to start a scholarship? We can help you explore your options. Contact Dave Bartlett, associate vice president for gift planning, at 1-800-766-1115 or start the process online at www.cedarville.edu/giftlegacy . [ [ i Thank you for answering the call! Along with the Chmuras, more than 1,500 parents and alumni generously contributed $133,000 for student scholarships in this year’s Phonathon campaign. Missed your call? There is still time. Your gift of any size — from $10 a month to $10,000 a year — will make a difference. Start here: 1-800-766-1115 www.cedarville.edu/givingnow