Torch, Summer 1998

the denomination. "We have two separate faiths in this denomination that cannot be held together," declared Ed Ezaki, the 41-year-old pastor of the church. This decision was not made without possible negative ramifications. The church facility may have to be relinquished to the UMC, which would prove to be a large sacrifice for many of the older members of the congregation who helped to renovate the building over the past several years. We have much to learn from such a group. Accommodation cannot be tolerated and loving confrontation may need to occur. Each of us needs to think through our own worldview, our own mindset. Are you thinking about how the world perceives you? Do you strive to be different in some way, truly different from the world? The biblical exhortation is to watch for accommodation and compartmentalization and replace them with consistency and, when necessary, confrontation. We must have balance with respect to our culture. There is no biblical call for withdrawal from the culture; we must be "in the world." But there must be a balance in order to avoid the danger of being "of the world." Be involved with your neighbors, coach Little League sports, work with local schools and charitable organizations, but be wise as you are "in the world." We are all imperfect, but with Christ's help, we can make a difference in our contemporary culture. Let's be the salt and light that Christ called us to be. .IJ D r. James Sellers, associate professor of mathematics, has been at Cedarville College since 1992. He received his B.S. from the University of Texas at San Antonio and his Ph.D. from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Sellers and his wife, Mary, have been married since 1990 ', ' } . ,. ; , ' •t~ t•t ~· t • ., ... ~~;r"i\ }t~~~~.;.--~~-· .r.; x ~ -~:i" \ J ,. \\ 1 .-., ~-- ··;1 ~ 1.,, ~ ~~l~~t f r' . ., } • • , - ·- ' i ·' -- - Hawkins Receives Honorary Doctorate Dr. and Mrs. Paul Dixon, Dr. and Mrs. Eddi'«. Hawkins T he Cedarville College Board of Trustees conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity to Pastor Eddie L. Hawkins at the June commencement ceremony. Dr. Hawkins is the senior pastor of Good Shepherd Baptist Church of Cleveland, Ohio. •- ' Cedarville College President Dr. Paul Dixon presented the degree and said, "Eddie Hawkins is a man greatly used by God in the ministry of His Word. Born in Studgard, Arkansas, Brother Hawkins graduated from high school in Flint, Michigan and prepared for ministry at the Baptist School of the Bible in Cleveland, Ohio. He founded the Good Shepherd Baptist Church of Cleveland in 1962, the year he graduated from Bible School. He continues as the senior pastor [at the church] which has grown under his leadership from the initial membership of 12 people to a congregation in excess of 2,000." "Pastor Hawkins' ministry has extended far beyond the church. He has actively prepared others for effective ministry through his church and through his teaching at the Baptist Bible Institute of Cleveland and the Central Bible College of Cleveland. He and his congregation have started two other churches in the Cleveland area. He is Chairman of the Board of the Cleveland Baptist Bible College, and he has served on the Board of Trustees of Cedarville College since 1994." "Pastor Hawkins is a man of great grace and dignity. He is also a man to whom God has entrusted a great deal of influence, and we are grateful that he has chosen to be an advocate for Cedarville College," Dr. Dixon concluded. Torch 9 -- ----- -~---