Torch, Summer 1984

14 I I ,, President's Perspective by Dr. Paul Dixon J ohn Naisbitt, author of the bestselling Megatrends, said in his chapter "High Tech/High Touch": "We must learn to balance the material wonders of technology with the spiritual demands of our human nature." That spells opportunity for Christians - an opportunity to "reach out and touch" this rapidly changing society of ours. Our "touch" is truly the "highest touch" in this day of high technology. Lonely, bewildered, and fearful people must be told of a meaningful , eternal value system built upon the Word of God . There is more to life than obtaining temporal things such as the computer, television, or the VCR. Jesus Christ is the answer to all the emptiness and searching. Many opportunities exist in this day of exploding, new technology. Pastors can be better administrators with the new , improved means of record keeping at their disposal . Pastors can also be better shepherds as they make strategic plans to reach a community for Christ. These can be developed and regularly evaluated on the computer. The Christian family has an opportunity to grow via home computers. Software is availabte to assist in everything from education to finances to recipes . Leaming for children of all ages can take on more of a challenge and be an enjoyable, enriching experience. Scripture verses that are memorized during family devotions can be stored topically for a systematic review. Lifetime prayer lists with dates of requests and answers may be included. Today, Christian colleges and universities have a vital role in computer training and assistance of college students, pastors, rruss10naries, and Christian educators and businessmen. At Cedarville we are providing the latest technology for the young people coming to us for an education. The Digital VAX system was added in the summer of 1983 solely for academic purposes . Now several other micro systems are available on campus. Additional hardware and software are being added each academic year. Our academic departments are developing methods · for the implementation of the computer in their various disciplines . Training is being provided for faculty development in high technology. Our newest dormitory is wired for individual computers in each room. A learning center will be available in individual dorms for a bank of computers. Future dorms will be constructed with these same provisions and older dorms will be refitted to meet these objectives. Our next major construction project is a modem library of approximately 60,000 square feet. On the drawing board are provisions for the latest high tech equipment: a computer cataloguing system, a learning center, and faculty and student access from distant offices and dorm rooms. This is truly an exciting era. Never has society been confronted with such rapid change on all fronts. For the Christian, "high tech/high touch" means taking advantage of the latest technologies in order to touch the hearts of people with the everlasting gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 3