Inspire, Winter 1996

1996Alumnus ofthe Year Dr. Kenneth Nichols'68 Dr. Kenneth Nichols is currently the vice president of student development at Christian Heritage College in El Cajon, California, where he has served for the past ten years. He serves on the senior staff of the Shadow Mountain Community Church as pastor offamily ministries and is also an adjunct faculty member of Moody Graduate School. Christian Heritage dedicated the 1996 Yearbook to Ken in recognition of his service to the College. "I've never gotten over Cedarville College," says Ken."I'm so thankful to God for myjourney here. It changed my life forever. This is where the foundation of my commitment to serve God was established." Ken graduated from Cedarville College in Christian education in 1968. He earned an M.S.in counseling at Wright State University, an M.A.in counseling/psychology at Rosemead Graduate School,and a Psy.D. at Rosemead.His past professional experience includes serving as director of counseling at Cedarville College(1970-1974) and dean of students and professor at Los Angeles Baptist College(1974- 1978). He also worked as staff counselor with psychiatric services in Ft. Wayne,Indiana(1979-1982). He founded ALIVE Counseling Ministries in 1979 while he was director ofcounseling at Blackhawk Baptist Church in Fort Wayne,Indiana.ALIVE (Always Living In View of Eternity) Ministries is a Christian nonprofit corporation, providing seminars through which Ken ministers throughout the U.S.,in Canada,and in Europe.The seminars are available on cassette tape. He is a popular speaker with adults and young people alike. Christian leaders, pastors, mission agencies, and college administrations frequently call upon Ken as a consultant. Ken's latest publication is Harnessing the Incredible Power ofFear (El Cajon: Counseling Alive Ministries, 1996). He has also published two booklets:"Remedies for Negative Thinking"(available in a Spanish translation entitled:"Release from the Bondage of Fears")and "Prescription for a Healthy Heart." He and his wife, Marlene Werner'68N,have three children, Mark, Kendra, and Kara, and two grandchildren. 1996Honorary Alumnus of the Year Dr.Robert Gromacki Dr. Robert G.Gromacki came to Cedarville College in 1960 to begin a long and illustrious career as college professor, lecturer, conference speaker, author,tour leader, and pastor. He and his wife, Gloria, reared two children, Gary'80 and Gail Lawhead '83,and enjoy six grandchildren. Dr. Gromacki holds a Th.B. degree from Baptist Bible Seminary,a Th.M.from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Th.D. from Grace Theological Seminary. His studies included postdoctoral work at the Institute ofHoly Land Studies in Jerusalem. Interest in Israel led him to take eight tours to that country, serving as on-site teacher for four ofthem. He received the Distinguished Educator Award from the Cedarville Alumni Association in 1975 and was named Cedarville's Faculty Member of the Year in 1976. Baptist Bible College honored him with the Alumni Outstanding Service Award in 1985.He was invited to deliver five Staley Foundation Lectureships. A prolific writer, Dr. Gromacki has published 15 books and over 100 articles on biblical themes.He is a frequent contributor to Cedarville's TORCH and Inspire publications and The Trumpeter. He also writes a monthly article for The Record-Herald, daily newspaper ofWashington Court House,Ohio. Dr. Gromacki was invited to contribute chapters or articles in several recent publications: Dictionary ofEvangelical Theology (ICregel), When the TrumpetSounds(Harvest House),and Basic Theology Applied(Victor Press), a work published in honor of Dr. Charles C. Rytie. A church planting ministry in Washington Court House,Ohio has brought great blessing to his heart. Grace Community Baptist Church began as a Bible study with 15 people in 1990.He taught the study and became the church's founding pastor. With attendance currently at 275 and still growing,Grace Community now has its own building on 18 acres. "God has allowed me to serve Him and our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, through Cedarville College for the past 36 years," says Bob Gromacki."It has been ajoy and a blessing to be a part ofthis growing institution." 1996 Young Alumna ofthe Year Diane Lichtensteiger'86 "Beijing is where I have spent the last eight and a half years of my life," says Diane Lichtensteiger, a 1986 graduate in business administration."I have been part ofa Cedarville College program that provides teachers of English to university students in Beijing, with the hope of also being able to share the gospel with them.The Lord has blessed that work,and I am excited to be a part of it." For the last five years,Diane has directed Cedarville's Educational Resources and Assistance Program(ERAP)at the People's University of Beijing and the Beijing Institute for Light Industry. She and her fellow staff members teach English to over 200 outstanding Chinese students each year. Diane first went to China as part of an MIS basketball team in 1981. During three subsequent visits to study Chinese or to lead MIS teams,the Lord gave her a deep love for the Chinese commitment to serve them as His ambassador. She is highly regarded in her work and was honored this year with an Outstanding Teacher Award from People's University,the first time the university has recognized a foreign teacher in this way.The award acknowledged her "superior and exemplary work"as a teacher of English,and administrators, faculty, and students in attendance gave speeches of appreciation. In her acceptance,Diane gave God "all the credit" for any positive things she had accomplished. "It is amazing to be honored for something you yourselfdo not consider an outstanding achievement; it isjust daily trying to do the work the Lord puts in front of you," Diane reflects."It is God's call that has taken me to China and His enablement that brings any accomplishment of value,so the credit and my thanks go to Him." This remarkable young lady has had significant input into the lives of many Chinese people,especially university students. Only eternity will reveal the fruit of Diane's testimony in China. people and a 1996Distinguished Service Awards Ernie and Martha White One side ofErnie and Martha White's refrigerator is covered with prayer cards and photos of Cedarville College alumni who are in full-time ministry. These represent only a handful of the hundreds of Cedarville students who,during their college years, laid claim to "Grandpa and Grandma White's place" as their second home. Even before the Whites moved to Cedarville from Martins Ferry, Ohio following Ernie's retirement in 1973,their daughter Betty Bertschinger'68 was regularly opening her home to Cedarville students. Betty was director of the health clinic and trainer for the athletic teams. Any evening during the following two decades,one could find 20-30 or more students enjoying Grandpa White's stories, popcorn,table games,fireplace or, in warm weather, volleyball in the swimming pool. Students found comfort for broken hearts,reprimands for misbehavior,and challenges to deepen their walk with the Lord, all offered in love.The byword among the students was,"When you hear that change in Grandpa's tone of voice, you'd better listen!" The Whites'counsel over the years sometimes even extended to parents. Frequently,a returning alum reminds them of a time when a word ofencouragement or a stern challenge proved to be a turning point in that student's life. The Whites have worked with young people all their married life: Sunday school teaching, youth fellowship,AWANA,greeting, van ministry.... Ernie has served as a deacon and has been involved with Campus Bible Fellowship. He worked with Boy Scouts for many years in Martins Ferry. They are members of Grace Baptist Church in Cedarville. And they rarely miss a college basketball game. "We've loved those kids," says Ernie."We could talk to them like family. Some ofthe profs told us we could do more for them than they could because of that." He loves golf and still plays,saying he's waited 50 years for a hole-in-one. Ernie and Martha have four daughters: Betty, Barbara Wilson,Bonnie Oliver '87,and Amy Jacob.They enjoy 15 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren! ;.) 1 * 0° ' Betty Bertschinger it '68(10)with Ernie and Manila White 3WINTER'96