Torch, Spring 2004

18 TORCH / Spring 2004 University Reaps Theatre Honors T he June 26-July 2, 2003 issue of Dayton City Paper published a “Best of” list for theatre in the Miami Valley. Cedarville University received the following recognitions: Best Collegiate Production of a Play A Midsummer Night’s Dream Honorable mentions for The Miser and Wait Until Dark Best Direction of a Play Honorable Mentions for Dr. David H. Robey ( Wait Until Dark ) and Rebecca Baker ( A Midsummer Night’s Dream ) Best Leading Actor in a Play Honorable Mention for Brian Coon in The Miser Best Leading Actress in a Play Honorable Mention for LaVaughn Ricci in Wait Until Dark Best Supporting Actor in a Play Honorable Mentions for Josh Canfield and Robert Hamilton Chestnut in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Nathan Dale Loftis in Wait Until Dark Best Supporting Actress in a Play Honorable Mention for Julianne Howe in The Miser Urban Missions Conference Comes to Cedarville C edarville University hosted the 2004 Urban Missions Conference “Out of the Pews and Into the Streets” March 18-20. This annual event, sponsored by Urban Light Ministries in Springfield, Ohio, is designed to inform and equip anyone who has a burden for the city. This year’s keynote speakers were Rev. Eli Williams, Rev. Stan A. Archie, Rev. Phil Jackson, and Dr. Jeffrey Cook. Williams (right) founded Urban Light Ministries of Springfield, Ohio, with his wife, Judy, in 1995. He is currently the president and CEO of this nondenominational and cross-cultural organization — an organization which partners with churches and volunteers to provide children’s Bible clubs, food, medical services, computer classes, English tutoring, and other services in Springfield. Archie is the senior pastor of Christian Fellowship Baptist Church (CFBC) in Kansas City, Mo., and is president of the CFBC Community Development Center. The center, which opened in 1989, is a dynamic and growing multicultural, multi- class city church which focuses on the development and revitalization of the urban core using biblically-based principles. Jackson is pastor of The House, an urban youth center/church in inner-city Chicago. He specializes in teaching how to reach the “hip-hop” culture. Cook is assistant professor of Bible at Cedarville University. He teaches intro to urban ministry and is heavily involved in urban ministry at Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in Kansas City. Along with the keynote speakers, approximately 40 workshops were offered throughout the weekend on topics such as “Adopt-a-Block,” “Ministry Among Hispanic Communities,” “Embracing High-Risk Youth Ministry,” “Prison Ministry,” “Networking Urban and Suburban Churches,” “Making Cross-Cultural Relationships Work,” and “Mobilizing Your Church for Urban Missions.” Dynamic urban praise and worship was provided by the worship team from CFBC. Audiocassettes and CDs of the keynote speeches may be ordered by calling CDR Radio at 1-800-333-0601. CU Forensics and Debate Teams Named National Champs of Christian Tourney O n March 12-14, Cedarville University’s forensics and debate teams combined forces to compete with 20 schools from across the country in the National Christian College Forensics Invitational (NCCFI). The tournament was hosted by Cedarville University. In the overall combined category, Cedarville placed first, becoming national champions of the NCCFI for the third year in a row. In addition, Cedarville placed first in individual events and fourth in debate. In individual events, special honors in the Best Overall Speaker category went to Kristin Sando (senior from Hollister, Calif.), Abbie McGaha (freshman from Papillion, Neb.), Jillian Anderson (junior from Hudson, Iowa), Kris Perry (junior from Drexel Hill, Pa.), Kristyn Gledhill (senior from Lansing, Kan.), April Price (senior from Cincinnati, Ohio), and Drew Clauson (junior from Warren, Mich.). In varsity debate, special honors went to Jennifer Grant (sophomore from Elverson, Pa.) and Autumn West (sophomore from Greenback, Tenn.). In novice debate, special honors went to Kate Lakomy (freshman from Liberty Township, Ohio) and Joe Dugan (freshman from Dearborn, Mich.). The teams are coached by Matt Moore, assistant professor of communication arts, and Derrick Green and Rebecca Sietman, both instructors of communication arts.