Torch, Winter 1990

Celebrating the Family e are celebrating the family this year at Cedarville College. In chapel, with special activities, and through our college publica– tions, we are honoring the concept of family . We are doing this because as Christians we are members of the family of God. In God 's economy, the human family is basic. The family has been the foundation of our framework as a great nation. No other institution is more essential to our prosperity. Throughout the history of the United States, families have pro– foundly influenced us. Can any historian write about America without mentioning the Camegies, Mellons, and Rockefellers? The great preacher Jonathan Edwards and his wife Sarah left us with a heritage of 1,400 descendants which included 13 college presidents, 65 professors, 100 lawyers, 30 judges, 66 physicians, 80 holders of public office, 3 senators, 3 governors, and 1 vice-president of the United States. Today it is refreshing to have President George Bush and his lovely wife Barbara as role models for our nation. For them, "First Family" really means family, complete with kids, grandkids, and family pets! But, the family is in trouble in our land. Former President Dwight Eisenhower foresaw our day 30 years ago when he said, "The problems of America are family problems multiplied a millionfold." In the last five years, divorce in the U.S. is more prevalent than in any other nation , higher than at any time in our history. The data tells us that one out of every three marriages will end in divorce. The effect of our family trouble upon children is staggering. It is predicted that of the 3.6 million children who began formal school– ing in 1986, 40 percent will be living in a broken home before they reach the age of 18. Births out of wedlock have increased over 450 percent in just 30 years. Yes, families are endangered-but not doomed. University of Nebraska's Professor Nick Stinnet studied 3,000 families, not to find out what was wrong with them but what was right with them. He found six characteristics of strong families. They ( L) are committed to each other, (2) spend time together, (3) enjoy good family communication, (4) express appreciation for one another, (5) have a spiritual commitment, and (6) are able to solve problems in a crisis. What excites me about Professor Stinnet's findings is how well they fit the mission and objectives of Cedarville College. Notice the importance of spiritual commitment, communication strategies, problem solving, and good socialization skills. These traits are the value-added elements of the quality Christian education offered at Cedarville. Add to this the input of outstanding faculty into rigorous and respected academic programming, and the product, our gradu– ates, are positioned to make an impact for God. Good families make good businesses, good churches, good com– munities, and a good nation. They are the solid building blocks of our country. We simply cannot do without them. So, Cedarville College is "Celebrating the Family." In addition to our students, our "immediate family " of full-time faculty and staff numbers 264. I view their character and profes– sional skills with amazement. How so many excellent individuals could gather at a Christian liberal arts college in southwest Ohio can only be attributed to God. He called them to serve here, and they are reproducing themselves spiritually and professionally. This is why I am not surprised that major corporations enthusiastically hire our graduates year after year. Their ethics, moral fiber, and enthusiasm for work, along with their academic skills, make them extremely valuable to employers. STUDENTS 1,879 enrollment fall quarter 1988; 1,942 in 1989 Over 1,200 applications received for fall quarter 1988; 1,297 in 1989 11th consecutive record enrollment in 1989 48 states, Puerto Rico, and 14 foreign countries represented in the student body Average Cedarville freshman in top 25th percentile nation– ally in ACT/SAT scores, high school GPAs, and class rank 4,661 Admissions guests in 1988-89, an increase of 6% Over 10,200 college guests 144 Presidential Scholars enrolled 1988-89 (top 3% nationally on SAT or ACT exams) 370 graduates in June 1989