Cedarville Stories

Lawlor for Life: A Journey of Faith, Family, and Discipleship Nick Boucher’s six years as resident director of Lawlor Hall at Cedarville University left a legacy that echoes through campus even today. Known for his intentional leadership, Nick fostered a culture of discipleship, fun, and spiritual growth, inspiring the rallying cry, “Lawlor for Life.” A North Carolina native, Nick holds two master...

Turning   Challenges Into Joy and Purpose Emily Shanahan was born with cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that affects a person’s ability to move, maintain balance, and control posture. This diagnosis was difficult for Emily and her family, but after recognizing God’s goodness, even in this challenge, they began to fill their days with joy and purpose. In this episode of the Cedarville Stories p...

Paul Hembekides on Priorities, Faith, and ESPN In this inspiring episode of the Cedarville Stories podcast, we sit down with Paul Hembekides, known as "Hembo" to ESPN viewers. He is the premier researcher and analyst for ESPN, and his roots are deeply entrenched at Cedarville University. Known for his wit and expertise on sports television, Hembo reflects on his collegiate baseball career, spiritu...

Grace Norman: Gold Medalist in Faith, Resilience, and Excellence Grace Norman stands as one of Cedarville University's most decorated athletes, celebrated not only for her achievements but also for her unwavering faith and resilience. A 2020 nursing graduate, Norman is a four-time Paralympic medalist and five-time World Triathlon Para Champion. She earned her second Paralympic gold medal at the 20...

The God Who Blesses and Make Things New Dannah Gresh has learned over the years, both from her personal life and her work with Pure Freedom Ministries , which she co-founded with husband, Bob, that the ways of God will amaze you, heal you, and make you new. Tune in to this special New Year’s Day episode of the Cedarville Stories podcast and be encouraged by Dannah’s story of redemption. God has bl...

Christmas Stories of Hope and Healing   Christmas and Cedarville alumna Donna VanLiere are virtually synonymous.   As a New York Times and USA Today bestseller, many of Donna's novels are set during the Christmas season. Six of her books have made the transition to television, including The Christmas Shoes and The Christmas Blessing .  The ideas for Donna’s books are often deeply personal. She fin...

Catch the Spirit of Giving   The Christmas season is a time for giving and Dr. Gary Hoag inspires generosity even more than the big guy in a red suit!  Gary is known as “The Generosity Monk,” and while he may not wear a monk’s robe or embrace a vow of silence, he finds deep fulfillment in spending solitary time with the Lord and is dedicated to empowering ministries worldwide through Christian gen...

Lives Transformed Emily Shanahan was born with cerebral palsy, a condition that impacts her motor skills. Through her life, God has used her keen intellect and determination to make a Kingdom difference. Emily is a graduate of Cedarville University and holds a master’s degree in Christian ministry and non-profit management. Together with her mother, Barb, she co-founded Empowering the Differently...

Ministry From Behind the Lens   Matt Black is a young entrepreneur with a creative eye and a heart for Christ. As the founder of Matt Black Media, Matt balances the growing demands of his burgeoning career as a performance photographer with his studies at Cedarville University, where he is a junior majoring in broadcasting, digital media, and journalism.  After high school, Matt served as an inter...

Helping Students Succeed The Cove, Cedarville University's Center for Academic Enrichment, is marking two decades of support for undergraduate, graduate, and dual-enrollment students. However, the idea for this amazing resource is even older, dating back to 1997 and the legacy of Dr. Pam Johnson, who had a heart for helping students succeed. This week on the Cedarville Stories Podcast, Cove staff...

Renaissance   Man Josh Strychalski wears many hats: sports enthusiast, actor, author, golf professional, entrepreneur, devoted husband, father, and child of God. He is a true Renaissance man. Josh has always had a passion for sports, and he spent several years in the world of professional golf, but his true love lies in storytelling. During his time as a Cedarville student in the 1990s, he was an...

Serving on the Sidelines   Whether on the gridiron or on the pitch, it was a summer of football for the Master of Athletic Training (MAT) students at Cedarville University. Six aspiring athletic trainers were in the facilities of NCAA Division I schools or on the sidelines with major league teams.  Two of these future trainers, Lauren Barnes and Jacob Bonville, share their summer stories on the la...

Fiercely   Competitive With a Faithful Witness College basketball is an exhilarating sport marked by a dynamic whirlwind of activity. This can also be said about the journey of Rob Jones, the newly appointed head coach of the Cedarville Yellow Jackets men's basketball team, as he describes the path to his courtside seat in the Callan Athletic Center. From neighborhood pickup games to college hoops...

Spend 100 Days With Warren Wiersbe, One of America’s Most Trusted Expositors Dan Jacobsen, the grandson of Dr. Wiersbe, has devoted the past two years to completing "Becoming New: A 100 Day Journey of Transformation through God’s Word," a devotional book that includes the heart of his grandfather’s work. In this week’s episode of the Cedarville Stories podcast, Dan shares his personal experience o...

Completing a Work, Continuing a Legacy Dr. Warren Wiersbe’s legacy continues to inspire, even five years after his passing, with the upcoming release of his latest work, Becoming New: A 100 Day Journey of Transformation through God’s Word , set to be published on November 5, 2024. This special project, completed by Dr. Wiersbe’s grandson, Dan Jacobsen, offers a chance for readers to embark on a me...

The Glorious End to a Vicious Cycle: A Foster Care Journey Justin and Cheryl Martens' journey as foster parents is a beautiful testament to the power of love, healing, and faith. They answered a call from God to break the cycle of generational sin, offering a haven of safety and hope for children in need. Over six years, they welcomed 23 children into their home, providing not just shelter but a n...

Love, Leadership, and Loyalty He’s battle tested. He’s a proven leader. And his loyalty to his country, family, and alma mater is a clarion call in his life. Brigadier General Todd Fogle of the United States Air Force, for his service to our country, was recently awarded the distinguished 2024 “Alumnus of the Year” honor by Cedarville University. His rise to Brigadier General, in Fogle’s words, is...

Seeking a Cure With Selfless Motivation   Dr. Samson Amos has always been driven by something deeper than personal success; his heart beats with a genuine desire to bring healing and hope to others. Growing up in Nigeria, he witnessed firsthand the ravages of diseases like sickle cell anemia and malaria. The suffering around him fueled his resolve to dedicate his life to pharmaceutical research, b...

A Full Circle Life Born prematurely at just 24 weeks and weighing under two pounds, Hayley Good began her life struggling for each minute of her life. With a heart defect and underdeveloped lungs, her prognosis in 2002 was grim. The first two months of Hayley’s life were marked by tragedy for her family. First, they lost Hayley’s twin sister. Shortly thereafter, Hayley underwent a precarious surge...

Resting in God’s Grace   “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”   These poignant words are among the most renowned utterances of Job, the emblematic figure of faith in the Bible. This was his reaction upon learning of the tragic loss of all his children in a single natural catastrophe.   While few can truly comprehend the extent of Job’s sorrow, Daniel Foste...

A Biblical Worldview Behind the Badge   Ready for an inspiring listen? Meet Joel Misirian, a police officer whose journey began with a high school project in suburban Milwaukee, where he first discovered his passion for protecting and serving others. That one experience set Joel on a path that would shape his entire life and career.  Joel continued his journey at Cedarville University, where he pu...

From Mascot to Global Worker Energetic, enthusiastic, and excitable are top job qualifications for university athletic mascots. Jonathan Wu fit those descriptions as a college student in the mid 1990s. Jonathan brought Cedarville University’s “Bee” to life from 1994–98, long before Stinger was officially named in 2017. He danced, cheered, and electrified the crowd at basketball games, and his outg...

Telling God How Much Our Heart Hurts   Reach out to God with a confident and worshipful heart, even amidst your pain. Gain insight into the art of lamenting from Alyson Punzi, who tragically lost her husband at the young age of 24 and is now guiding her preschool-aged daughter in placing trust in God within a broken world.   Following the sudden and devastating passing of her husband, Frank, to ca...

Learning to Lament: Trusting God in a Broken World When college sweethearts Frank and Alyson Punzi married in 2018, they envisioned a life filled with joy as they raised a family and served Jesus with their gifts and abilities. Two years later, after the birth of their daughter, this plan was in motion and life was good. Frank was serving the Lord as an associate pastor, and their daughter brought...

A Passion for the Church   Get ready to be inspired by a life lived with purpose and passion. In this episode of the Cedarville Stories Podcast, we dive into the world of Dr. Jeremy Kimble, a man whose enthusiasm for life and dedication to his faith are nothing short of contagious.  As a Professor of Theology and the Director of the Synergy Initiative at Cedarville University, Jeremy doesn’t just...