Torch, Fall 1996

/..J.D1'- President Cedarville College A •oundation l'or llictorr .,. he New York Yankees are the victorious world champions of professional baseball and proud possessors of the famous World Series rings. After winning the Series from the Atlanta Braves, team members credited their victory in October to the hard work and the struggles that began in spring training. There can be no victory in athletics, just as there can be no victory in the Christian life, without the foundation of hard work. Our theme for this issue of TORCH magazine is "Victory." How does a Christian college develop young people into future victors for Christ? Part of the answer lies in our theme at Cedarville College for this academic year, "Forming a Foundation for the Future." Our trustees, administrators, faculty, and staff are devoted to assisting these students as they establish a foundation for life. In Luke 6:47-48 Jesus said, "Whosoever cometh to me and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: he 2 Torch is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it; for it was founded upon a rock." Establishing foundations for life necessitates hard work. There can be no victory in developing character and integrity without effort. Recently The Chronicle ofHigher Education released the account of a graduate student researcher who allegedly fabricated data that was published in five leukemia studies. The researcher was described as a "complete star" who had "built a house of cards" on a foundation of experiments he had never performed. At Cedarville, our concern is that our students lay a foundation of integrity and hard work in the classroom. We make no apology for a rigorous academic program that demands the best from every student. Spiritual growth also takes effort. We require each member of the student body to be present at our daily chapel service and to learn the discipline of setting aside a daily time with God throughout life. We built a Ministry Center with a 3,400-seat chapel to facilitate this objective. Developing strong families is another crucial area that requires hard work. Most of our students will marry and build Christian families. If they are to be victorious in this important endeavor, they must understand it doesn't come easily. Again, it takes effort, hard work, and the willingness to stay at it. Beginning in January, I will speak in Monday morning chapel services to this important topic. Guest speakers also will challenge our college family to put biblical principles to work in their marriages. As Cedarville College students graduate and enter the marketplace, the opportunities to live as victorious Christians are limitless if they take with them the foundation of the value of hard work. Through His enablement, the victory is theirs. His "well done" is a far greater reward than a World Series ring.