Inspire, Summer 2008

Cedarville University 17 and loneliest time of my life. But sometimes God has to strip us of everything, removing all distractions, to make us recognize what really matters. I started reading the Bible. Each afternoon I made the 20-minute walk back to my room, where I would delve into God’s Word. The apostle Paul’s words became especially meaningful. One night, on the way to our Wednesday youth group, a feeling swept over me, and I suddenly felt scared for my life. The next few minutes seemed like an eternity. All I could think about was my desperate need for God. A friend was driving, and he prayed with me to accept Christ as my Savior. No flashes of lightning or claps of thunder marked the occasion. The earth did not quake. But it was the most important night of my life. A new beginning … and I had hope again. Now a believer, I decided I wanted to attend a Christian college. A friend of mine was at Cedarville at the time, so I looked into it. Though I hit several snags along the way, I was able to get into the University for the fall 2005 semester. But joining a soccer team still seemed too good to be true. After all, I had no experience, and Cedarville’s coach didn’t even know I existed. Yet. The soccer team tryouts were emotionally and physically exhausting. And though the coach continually asked me back to practice, it wasn’t until two weeks in that I was officially invited to join the junior varsity squad. Finally, I was on a soccer team! Thanks to God’s grace, I now have two seasons of varsity soccer behind me. But today my thoughts are turned toward ministry and the future. In the summer of 2007, I went with the soccer team to Mexico for two weeks, where we led soccer camps, played against a Mexican university, and shared the Gospel. And this past year I started a men’s service organization called Basilean. One of our projects included distributing clothes to an orphanage near my home in Zimbabwe. That 15-year-old boy stuck in a pew during confirmation dreamed of the fame and fortune that comes with being a top athlete. Though I will always love sports, it is no longer what drives me. I’m not sure what my short-term future looks like. If I can go into ministry and start a Christian community where the people who work and live around me can learn more about God, then I would feel truly blessed. It would be my dream come true. Jason Heuer plans to graduate in December 2008 with a degree in business management. He spent the summer in England and is looking forward to playing his final season of soccer at Cedarville. You may contact him at jasonheuer@cedarville.edu . my cedarv i l le i