Written by Dr. Will Smallwood, Vice President for Advancement
What you do matters!
Members of the Advancement team at Cedarville know this phrase well — it is both a word of encouragement and exhortation from me at our monthly team gatherings. It speaks to our callings as well as our desire to plan and execute our service to the Lord Jesus and Cedarville University with excellence. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).
As I type these words on a flight from our stop in Florida (my home state) to our next stop in Raleigh, the pithy statement has taken on even more significant meaning!
In each tour stop to date — Grand Rapids, Chicago, Milwaukee, Des Moines, Denver, San Diego, Dallas, Houston, and Tampa — I have had the wonderful blessing of hearing encouragement from alumni, donors, prospective students and their families, and new friends about the work of God at Cedarville. They give glory and honor to God for our faithfulness to our vision for the Word of God and Testimony of Jesus Christ. They are grateful there is a place in the cornfields of southwest Ohio still standing firm for truth and the Gospel. And on the Transformed Tour — from coast to coast — I have been reminded that the world is watching.
What we do matters!
In his Transformed Tour message of hope, Dr. White shares an illustration about Monarch butterflies, comparing their transformation (metamorphosis) from stinky worm (caterpillar) to beautiful creature to our transformation from rebellious sinners to new creations in Christ.
In his vast and complex creative work, God outlined a specific purpose for each generation of the monarch. In our generation, we have been called by God to this place known as Cedarville at this specific time in history for the purpose of advancing the Kingdom of Christ through excellent education and intentional discipleship in submission to biblical authority for His great glory.
- To my Cedarville University colleagues — whether you teach in a classroom, recruit prospective students, coach one of our outstanding athletic teams, care well for students in residence halls, make decisions as an administrator, or maintain our beautiful campus — what you do matters!
- To current (and future) Cedarville students, embrace all God has for you during your 1,000 days on campus. Take advantage of the unique and special opportunities at Cedarville given to you by the Lord to be TRANSFORMED more into the image of Jesus. Gain all the knowledge you can about God and yourself in Scripture, at chapel, through your Bible minor and essential coursework, and in discipleship relationships in order that you may use your calling and discipline to advance the cause of Christ.
- To alumni and friends of the institution — thank you for the encouragement to us as you pray for us, send students to us, and provide resources (Every Gift Matters, too!). Thank you for representing Christ and Cedarville well in your churches, schools, workplaces, mission fields, and communities around the world.
What WE do matters! It matters to Cedarville University, to Ohio, to our nation, to our world, and, most importantly, to the Kingdom of our Christ!
Tags: Tampa, Transformed Tour
Posted in: General