Inspire, Winter 1999

In The Inner City The Warrenfamily avid and I still can't believe we 'hang' with homeless people, drug addicts, and former Satan worshipers. Weird stufffor His glory!" This is what Michelle Ferrigno Warren'93 says about the ministry she and her husband, David '93,are committed to in the inner city of Denver,Colorado. David and Michelle Warren moved to Denver in the summer of 1996 and started working with Open Door Fellowship.Packing away their suits and dressy clothes,they began wearingjeans and shorts, knowing that the sloppier they dressed, the less they stood out. Nice leather Bibles with engraved names were replaced with the paperback kind found in any discount store. Knowing God had placed a great passion in their hearts, the Warrens trusted Him to shape them into what He needed in the inner city. David is one of the pastors at Open Door Fellowship, which is located in the heart of Denver's inner city. The church is committed to serving God and making disciples of Christ out of poor, oppressed,and broken people. This is done through the Sunday service and the church's various ministries which target some ofthe needs of inner-city people.Those ministries include discipleship homes for teen girls, disabled men, young moms,and men and women struggling with addictions, as well as various programs to reach out to the needy families in their community. Most oftheir congregation is made up of people who are directly influenced by the ministries of the church.These ministries not only meet people's physical needs, but also provide a church family where they can have their lives rebuilt with Christ as their foundation. The Warrens'job with Open Door is as diverse as the city itself. You may find them one morning in the office ofa suburban church sharing ways the congregation can get involved,and a few hours later find them in the doorway ofa home in the projects with a bag offood,sharing the gospel. David and Michelle live in the midst of the inner city with their two children,Sydney(3 1/2)and Alec (1 1/2). They realize that it is hard to believe that a boy reared in peaceful Cedarville and a girl brought up in the spotless suburbs would be making their life in the filth and chaos of the city. But Jesus didn't stay away from those people or places. Michelle states,"God has placed us where His heart is softened and has given us His Holy Spirit to love others in a way we didn't know we should." Reaching Behind Bars W hen Blair Copen'95 graduated from Cedarville College,he expected to find work teaching troubled youth. Since that had been his personal experience, he was prepared for it. However, God has a way ofchanging even the best-laid plans. Blair works as the special education teacher for the Residential Treatment Unit(RTU),the cellblock assigned to inmates with psychiatric problems,at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville. The inmates he deals with on a daily basis suffer from mental illnesses,such as schizophrenia, paranoia, and rapid thoughts. Most require medication to keep them functioning normally.The majority are serving time for robbery, murder,and rape, sentences which usually carry a minimum of 25 years in prison. Blair states,"My faith plays Joy(McVey)'95 and a big part in what I do, because each day I have Blair Copen '95 faith that I will make it another day. Most people don't like to think back to the times we had a teacher brutally murdered and the 1993 riot at SOCF,but this helps me to focus on prayer as a daily routine." Developing a relationship with the inmates that goes beyond the classroom is important to Blair."A lot ofthem have never had anyone sit down and listen to them,never had anyone respond to them," he relates. Nor have they been exposed to someone as positive as Blair."This can be very contagious,and, more importantly, they want to know why I am so positive. This opens up a window ofopportunity to share my belief." Through the years, Blair has been honored several times for his dedication to educating those in prison. He has been named SOCF Teacher of the Year Award twice and also received recognition in 1997 by garnering the first Ohio Mental Health Bureau Teacher of the Year. Blair gained national attention by winning the Marvin Joseph Su11 Award, a prestigious award for those who have created or reorganized a prison teaching program. Most recently, Blair has spent time at another institution as a motivational speaker. Blair asks for prayer for the salvation of inmates and staff, as well as for his own ability to live Jesus before them."I try to be positive for my students, because after they leave my classroom it's back to hard times." As for Blair and his positive attitude, hisjoy has been doubled as he and his wife,Joy (McVey)'95,expect their first child in May. Heritage Corner Reunion Luncheon T he first reunion of Homecoming 1999 started on Friday, October 15,as 21 Heritage Alumni attended chapel and heard Dr. Dixon's State ofthe College Address.Following chapel,they enjoyed reminiscing and sharing stories of their college days over lunch in the President's Dining Room.After finishing their meal and a time of fellowship,they were given a tour of the campus. The Heritage Alumni were especially interested in seeing how much the campus has continued to change and grow (the new athletic fields, new dorms,and the Student Life Center)since their time as students. watcrpor our new, and "improved inaazine format Of Inspirein 2006.! Chip Off The Old Block A re you a Cedarville look-alike? If you attended Cedarville College and look like your potent or child, you may be eligible to win our alumni look-alike contest. Just send a picture that shows you (a Cedarville alumnus or alumna) with either your parent or child to: , Cedarville College Alumni Office, P.O. Box 601, . Cedarville, OH 45314. Pictures should be dearly marked and cannot be returned. Entries must be received by February 1, 2000, and winning pictures will be published in the spring issue of Inspire. Alumni Track Weekend Planned e second annual Alumni Track Weekend is being planned for March 24-25, 2000. If you competed in any track and field events while at Cedarville, you are invited to attend this special weekend which allows you to once again compete or just spend time with friends and other athletes. Mark your calendar and watch your mail and the web site for more information! Alumni Web Site launched O n September 27, 1999, the alumni office launched the most complete version of its web site. Access to the site is gained by clicking on "Alumni Resources," located in the upper right corner of the Cedarville College home page (www.cedarville.edu ). Once you enter the alumni relations site, there are several options. One of the options is to find out when and where events are being held. Alumni are offered the opportunity to connect with old friends through the use of the e-mail directory. There is also the option of posting prayer requests. The web site is yet another way alumni relations is serving today's alumni. The site is still under construction, so if you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please contact Emily Wiljamaa at wiljamaa@cedarville.edu . inter Meltdown N eed a break from the winter doldrums? Plan a trip to Cedarville for our Winter Meltdown, February 25-26, 2000,and beat those winter blahs! Enjoy this annual Alumni Weekend as the Yellow Jackets heat up the basketball court and the pep band plays its sizzling rendition of the theme from "HawaiiFive-O." If you played basketball at Cedarville,this is your chance to shine as the alumni take the court on Saturday, February 26. Come early and enjoy a hot Friday night concert or just bask in the warmth of friends. Surfthe alumni web site for more information! Alumni Scholarships Make A Difference E nth year, several Cedarville College students receive financial assistance through the alumni association's Second Generation Scholarship and the MK Scholarship. Your giving to these funds continues to make a difference. Stacy Stauffer writes,"I thank the Lord for this ministry and for its impact on my life. I feel blessed to be able to continue my education at Cedarville, a process which you are enabling." Jeff Schumacher shares,"I am not certain about the future, but I know that I will somehow be involved in missions, either by supporting missionaries or by using my engineering skills on the mission field. This scholarship money will help me to achieve this goal by putting less financial strain on my parents and me." Tiffany Linden states, really appreciate what the alumni are doing! Please tell those who contributed to this scholarship how much I appreciate their sacrifice." Shawn Miller writes,"My wife Susan and I would like to thank you for your generosity in helping us through school." Jayme Brower shares,"I greatly appreciate the generosity of all the alumni who have given to the MK fund, thus making this award possible. The scholarship is an answer to prayer." Thank you for your continued interest in the needs of Cedarville College students. If you would like to contribute-to either of these funds, please contact the alumni office at 1-800-837-2566. 5 WINTER 1999