Torch, Spring 1984

j C edarville College is committed to the importance of the local church. Our students come to us from these churches and we accept it as our responsibility to prepare them to return and serve there. Some will be in the pulpit; most become faithful laymen and laywomen. The Lord enabling, they will be deep and abiding Christians if we fulfill our objective. To accomplish this, our total program is geared to the local church. The classroom, chapel, Christian ministry, and Missionary Internship Service programs reinforce the importance of the local church. Annually our Christian service teams are in 400 churches. Scores of young people serve each year on foreign fields under our M.I .S. program to assist missionaries and churches. Every trustee, administrator, faculty member, and staff member has an annual contractual agreement relative to the doctrinal statement, the standards of conduct, and the local church. Each one, along with his family , must belong to a separatist, Baptist church. They are expected to be faithful in church attendance Sunday mornings and Sunday and Wednesday evenings. Beyond this, they are to be involved in some type of service within that church. College young people need more than teaching - they need examples. We must be consistent, godly role models. We desire to have a ministry with young people from local churches before they attend Cedarville College. Our annual Junior Swordbearers Conference in May attracts 800-900 junior age young people. The annual Swordbearers Conference in November draws 400-500 teens. In July our Salute to Summer brings more than 700 teens to campus with a combined conference ministry and a trip to Kings Island. Our student body; almost 1800 this academic year, comes from 1003 churches. Approximately 50 percent of these students are from General Association of Regular Baptist churches, 30 percent from other Baptist President's Perspective by Dr. Paul Dixon churches, and the remainder from independent, Bible, and other denominational churches. Churches assist us in not only sending us students but also in supporting us financially. In 1983, 600 churches made gifts to Cedarville College. Of that number, 500 gave on a regular basis - some gave $10 a month; two churches each send us $1,000 per month . We are most appreciative of the sacrificial giving of these pastors and their people. We in turn want to do all we can to assist them. Pastors and their wives come to our campus annually in September to their very own conference . This year our emphasis is on church growth with pastors Dan Gelatt and Don Tyler as the featured speakers. For the first time we will combine with this conference an emphasis on church music for music directors, musicians, and their wives. Soon we will begin a special series of conferences for pastors in the state of Ohio. This will be held on our campus and conducted by our faculty and staff. A very rewarding ministry has been our Saturday school for black pastors. This is held at Second Baptist Tabernacle in Wilmington, Ohio. The pastor is our graduate, Rev. Larry Harris . For the last five years Professor Richard Mcintosh has taught there on Saturdays for ten weeks each year. There is an average attendance of 30 black pastors and deacons from all over southwestern Ohio . Studies are underway to see how we can share computer information, new office equipment, and basic benefits of high technology with churches. Hugh Hall, our director of church relations, is ready to assist pastors and churches in any feasible way. Dr. Jeremiah, our faculty and staff, and I continue to minister in your churches . We thank you for the privilege of this vital relationship of Cedarville College with the local church. May we all grow more and do more in 1984. 3