Torch, Spring 1995

Waiting For The Har11est C edarville College was born in the com fields of Greene County in 1887. We remain a rural campus in the providence of our God, and it's a great place to fulfill our mission. The values of being a Christian liberal arts college out in the country are many. A major benefit is the constant reminder of the laws of the harvest. Our local farmers till the soil, plant the seed, wait for the necessary spring and summer rains, and wait for what they hope will be a fruitful harvest. Numerous times in the New Testament, evangelism is likened to the harvest. In John 4:35, our Lord said, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." "Then saith He unto His disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest" (Matthew 9:37,38). The apostle Paul uses this analogy of farming and evangelism with the 2 Torch on line With ~~D+- President Cedarville College Corinthians when he said in his first letter to them in 3:6, "I have planted, Apollos watered but God gave the increase." The farmer sows the seed, waters the soil, and waits on God to give the increase of his efforts in due time. So in evangelism we must understand the importance of patience. We sow the seed of God 's truth, water it in prayer, and wait for God to bring forth the lasting fruit. An important piece of our Cedarville College culture is our concentration in prayer for unsaved parents of members of our college family. In chapel, on the very first day of the academic year, I ask all students who have unsaved parents to stand. Our students know that they and their parents will be surrounded with prayer. In other chapel services throughout the year, we do the same-especially on our Day of Prayer. This is a major prayer emphasis for us. Almost every year we hear the testimonies of those whose parents have come to Christ. As we near our annual commencement, we pray for those parents and other loved ones who will be in attendance. During my address to the graduating seniors and their families, I share the gospel and challenge those who need the Savior to repent and believe. I understand the wait for God to do this may be long-possibly years– even decades. But we must wait on the Lord of the harvest. The Lord saved me at 17 years of age. I longed to see my father come to Christ. The seed was faithfully sown by many of us and watered in prayer over time. Ten years later, Dad called me one afternoon to say, "I want you to be the first to know. I just received Christ as my Savior." He was 61 years of age. Eight months later, he went home to be with the Lord. Our Cedarville College family is committed to investing our lives in bringing others into the family of God. Seldom will the sowing, watering, and harvesting take place in a short period of time. We must learn to wait on the Lord of the harvest. Will you join us in this glorious effort?