Inspire, Winter 1995

Seven Cedarville College alumni work for a Christian children's agency in Southampton, Pennsylvania. Bethanna cares for abused and neglected children through residential treatment, foster care, in-home social services, and adoption. Amy Barnes'95, Sandra Peura '95, Treva Stutzman '90, Doug Moore'90, Shelly Baesen '94, Ginny Stevenson '93, and Anita Lyndaker'94 work for the agency. Pictured are Sandra (left) and Amy. The Cedarville College Alumni Home Page appears on the World Wide Web!Learn about upcoming alumni activities,find a classmate's e-mail address in the alumni directory, or learn of other alums' prayer needs in this new service for alumni. Reach us through Cedarville College's home page at http:\\www.cedarville.edu under"College Information." While we continue to improve and update this page, please contact us with your suggestions at alumni@cedarville.edu. A special thanks to 1995 graduate Ruth Hamilton for her work on this project! Christ Is AllINeed n June 6, 1990,Nadine Terrill Hennesey's world and dreams for her future were shattered. Nadine'87 and her husband,Ed'88N,were working as mission interns at First Baptist Church in GoodeIls,Michigan.Having met while students at Cedarville College,they were earnestly preparing to go to Peru as missionaries."He had a heart for Peru;I had a heart for kids," Nadine shares.The Henneseys'excitement mounted as they awaited the birth oftheir first child in just five months. On that June morning in 1990,Ed left home as usual to fulfill his responsibilities as youth pastor at the church. When she brought his lunch in the early afternoon, Nadine was surprised to find Ed apparently sleeping on the couch in the church office. But as she approached, she knew something was wrong.Nadine called for help, but it was too late—Ed Hennesey had died ofcardiac arrest at the age of26."I knelt down and cried out," Nadine remembers."I tried to convince God to save him because I needed him.But instead,He put a song in my head—`ChristIs All I Need'." Their daughter,Lydia,was born in November ofthat year. Living in Michigan with her husband's family,Nadine taught at New Life Christian Academy in Port Huron.Slowly,God began to nourish her dream of ministering to children in Peru. In September 1995,Nadine and five-year-old Lydia left for Iquitos,Peru,ajungle city accessible only by plane or boat. Serving with Association of Baptists for World Evangelism(ABWE),Nadine will teach missionary children and work with Peruvian children in remote villages along the Amazon River."It's exciting," Nadine says."It was Ed's dream—now it's mine." An energetic and dedicated young woman,Nadine states,"There's something in me that doesn't wantthat comfortable,satisfied life. I want to do more and go above and beyond for God."In the five years since her husband's death,Nadine has been grateful for the song that draws emotion for so many Cedarville College alumni.In a recent letter, Nadine,shared with President Paul Dixon,"Thank you for teaching me 'Christ Is All I Need.'God has taught me that truth." Rediscovering Traditions imi n June,Dr.Brian Kennedy'85,associate professor ofEnglish at Cedarville College, presented a paper at a conference in Moscow,Russia.The conference examined a Russian philosopher and literary critic whom Brian had studied. What Brian found in Russia was a culture simultaneously regaining a sense ofits past and celebrating its freedom as traditions are re-emerging in the post-Communist era. The Russians,despite their economic woes,are spending money to put pieces oftheir past back into place, as evidenced by a tiny church being rebuilt near St. Basil's Cathedral. While on a visit to the Kremlin,the ancient fort in the center ofthe city, Brian's tour guide revealed clearly her faith in Christ. When asked whether she thought many Russians believed the gospel ofChrist,she said that many were eager to hear. Even while they were being persecuted,she commented,many Russians maintained private worship in their homes.She expressed herjoy at the new era offreedom where she could worship openly. While riding the subway,Brian observed that Russians are anxious to enjoy their freedom while they have it. Each trip on the Metro revealed young people wearing beautiful,contemporary Western-style formal wear,no matter what day ofthe week it was.Older gentlemen proudly displayed military medals on the chests oftheir blue suits as they traveled beside their wives. At every stop, more people flooded the trains,fresh from a day at the park with friends,orjust leaving home with picnic lunches in hand. People all around were celebrating this momentofthe wonderful Moscow summer. Russian life is still lived hard.People accustomed to social services and guaranteed employment now scratch out an existence without help. Yet for this moment,they are living life to the fullest. At the same time,they are rediscovering faith. Thanks to the efforts ofpeople committed to the true gospel,many Russians are finding the Christ of the Bible. Brian says,"I was fortunate to glimpse a rare moment in Russian life, one which may be fleeting." 4 WINTER'95 Traditions Through Traveling z ji.. aren Chrestensen Reno'74 thoughtfor many miles about the "traveling quilt" she would donate to the Alumni Auction. Karen writes,"All quilts should have a story. This one started in Wichita Falls,Texas in the early spring of 1994.Sandy Millikin Entner'59 asked me ifI would donate a quilt to the auction.I agreed,and this would have been born in Texas except.. we moved.So,this summer,my ideas for the quilt went through Little Rock,Arkansas; Nashville, Tennessee;Fredericksburg,Virginia; and Harrisburg,Pennsylvania until we stopped at Stoner Lake,New York for vacation. There I cooled my heels,relaxed and breathed crisp mountain air. As I watched the mountain mists lift off our lake,this quilt began to form in my mind.Then,after we left the peace ofthe mountains and moved to bustling Metro Washington, D.C.,this quilt was finally born amidst brown boxes and packing paper! When I finished the quilt top,I sent it back to Texas to be machine quilted by a friend. Soon I'll pack it up and take it to Ohio,to Cedarville College,for my 20th reunion.There I'll swap old stories and times with friends, and this quilt will start the rest ofits story!" Using red, white,and blue in the castle wall medallion and log cabin border drove home significance for Karen."These are the colors which we live with,notjust in the decor ofour home,but in our hearts. The sight ofOld Glory waving still leaves alump in my throat,and I am a patriot by choice." Roots mean much to the Renofamily.Loren'70 and Karen,along with their three children Rachel(18),Joseph(15),and Joshua(12),know the meaning oftraveling,as Loren's 22-year career in the U.S. Air Force has moved the family nine times in the past20 years. When Karen and Loren were first married and lived in The Philippines,they would spend some time every day plugging back into their United States roots through prayer and meditation. Now in the U.S., Reno traditions are developed,added, and maintained. Karen reflects, "Even when our personal circumstances change,we can count on tradition that has given us a rooted sense of being.In the same way our traditions have changed through the years, making us stronger." In the mid 1980's the Renos began writing an annual Christmas letter to family and friends, which always included a family photo,illustrated quilt design from Karen,and an annual overview as experienced by daughter Rachel.One year the family was too busy to get the photo taken,so Joshua pitched in and drew a stick figure Reno family.The illustrations were something Karen began doing at Cedarville College.She would draw words and concepts of professors' notes. She continued this technique with her children as they strove to learn Bible verses and stories. The Renos always stay in their own homefor Christmas and invite family tojoin them.The Christmas morning treasure hunt which Loren orchestrates has provided a consistency from Christmas to Christmas.Even when Loren has been called for duty during the holidays and is stationed in another country,the family finds ways to share tradition. One Christmas when Loren was stationed in Turkey,Karen and the children wrapped a can ofoyster stew and crackers and mailed them to Loren for his New Year's Eve dinner,a traditional meal shared by all and loved by some! Karen hasfound it important to take traditions with them when they move.Each Reno child has what Karen terms as an "over-the-bed picture." Each child has a picture ofLoren with him or her in his arms immediately after birth, and the pictures hang over or near their beds.Rachel has commented that housesjust don't feel like home until those pictures are hanging up. The Reno family looks forward to any time they can spend in their family cabin located in the Adirondalc Mountains in New York.Inherited from Loren's father, the cabin has been a vacation spot since 1981.This tradition affords the opportunity for the entire family to get away."And the first thing that goes out is the United States Flag when we arrive," states Karen. "Joshua and his father carry the flag out while we all wait outside. They salute it, and then we move in." Coming back to Cedarville has the same sense ofrootedness for the Renofamily. As Rachel participated in the Summer Studies program, she was comforted by a sense ofbelonging where people know her mom and dad."It is much more than just coming back for Homecoming,"says Karen."We want to share Cedarville as a tradition with our children,too." The Renos live in Springfield, Virginia and attend Immanuel Bible Church,where they are active in Sunday school and choir.