Inspire, Winter 2002

4 Winter 2003 What’s Abuz z z z z z z z z President’s Pen Here Am I, Send Me B ecause of the change from quarters to semesters, the annual spring Missions Conference moved to the fall this year. Even though the time of year for the conference changed, its tradition of passionate messages and changed hearts remained the same. This year’s conference, held November 4-7, focused on the theme “Here Am I, Send Me.” Dr. Warren W. Wiersbe served as keynote speaker. A well-known Bible teacher, Dr. Wiersbe is the former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago and served for ten years as general director and Bible teacher for Back to the Bible Ministries. Dr. Wiersbe has authored more than 80 books and also maintains a speaking and radio ministry. Additional guest speakers made presentations each morning. These speakers were Dr. Paul Jackson, president of Evangelical Baptist Missions; Kent Craig ’80, Far East representative for Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE); Paul Schlenar, retired missionary from Brazil with ABWE; and Dr. Michael Loftis, president of ABWE. In addition, 77 missionaries, representing dozens of international ministries, interacted with students and guests during the conference week. Many decisions were made at the conference to surrender futures and careers to the Lord. For tapes or CDs of one or all of the conference messages, call CDR Radio at 1-800-333-0601. Inspire 5 Fitness, Recreation, and Health Center Update C onstruction is still underway on the $12.8 million Fitness, Recreation, and Health Center. When completed, the complex will provide the University family with aerobic and anaerobic workout areas, recreation areas, and enhanced classroom and laboratory space for the University’s growing athletic training program. The largest feature will be a 60,000 square foot field house that will include a 200-meter track. In addition, the student health center will be located inside the facility. To see a live picture of the building construction, visit www.cedarville.edu/webcam/fitrec. To find out more or to make a gift to the project, call the Cedarville University Development Offices at 1-800-766-1115 or e-mail Dr. Martin Clark at clarkm@cedarville.edu. O ne of the traditions of Cedarville University is the Fall Day of Prayer. This year’s events actually began on October 23, the night prior to Day of Prayer, with a prayer and praise concert led by Phil Wing ’02. The next morning, students arose early to pray at the flagpole in front of the Dixon Ministry Center. Faculty and staff joined in the spirit of intercession as they met for a student-led prayer breakfast in the Stevens Student Center. Day of Prayer chapel began with praise and worship led by Jim ’83 and Melody Cato. Following this communication with God, John Greening spoke on the humility we must have when we, as foolish humans, come to our all-wise, all-powerful God in prayer. (John is the national representative for the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches.) The University then offered up prayers for the seniors, for incoming president Dr. Bill Brown and his family, for unsaved loved ones, and for numerous other requests of the University family. Following chapel, there were breakout prayer sessions organized by class and then a prayer walk around campus. The day ended with a bonfire. Many kudos go to the Student Government Association, which organized the events for this Day of Prayer. Cedarville Takes A Day to Pray ur 2002 Missions Conference concluded on Thursday, November 7. I was visibly moved to witness hundreds of our students making decisions for full- time vocational missions during the conference or surrendering their lives to the Lord for their future. This endorses our 2002-03 theme For Christ ... For Others ... Forever. Cedarville is a “forever” institution of higher learning. In Philippians 3, the Apostle Paul talks about those whose “mind is on earthly things” in contrast to those who have a “citizenship … in heaven.” What a difference when we are all about the eternal rather than the temporal. I witness this in Cedarville alumni who serve as preachers and laypeople around the world. The Great Commission is their passion. Recently this was underscored by several alumni. I spoke on a Saturday night at a Xenia Young Life banquet at the Der Dutchman in Waynesville, Ohio. The restaurant was packed with supporters. At my table were volunteer workers Jerred ’01 and Darcy Fivek Davis ’02, who give much time to reach unsaved young people at Xenia High School with the gospel of Christ. The Young Life leader was Jonathan Grissom ’01, an electrical engineering graduate who worked with Young Life as a Cedarville student. He is now a full-time director of that ministry. On a recent Sunday, I preached in the Canton, Ohio church of Dave Ryan ’90. He and his wife, Linda (Garrigan) ’90, have three small children. They serve together For Christ ... For Others ... Forever. After the return home from Canton, I found that Dave had left me a message telling me that a 27-year-old man had trusted Christ after the service. David and Linda were rejoicing. Evangelism is about God and people. Praise the Lord for you and thousands of alumni who have a passion for Christ and the world and are a “forever people.” Dr. Paul H. Dixon ’94H President O