Cedarville Stories

In the second segment of our podcast featuring Dr. Frank Jenista, a man with a unique background as the son of missionary parents and a former U.S. diplomat with experience in the Pacific Rim, Japan, and South America, we delve into his global perspective. Dr. Jenista has significantly influenced Cedarville University's international studies program, transforming it into a thriving major that has...

S:9 E:25 | Frank Jenista (1)   In this episode, we delve into the inspiring journey of Dr. Frank Jenista, former professor of international studies at Cedarville University. Dr. Jenista's early life was marked by a nomadic existence, having attended 13 schools in 12 years as the son of missionary parents in the Philippines. Upon arriving at Cedarville, he found not just an academic institution but...

Navigating Through Adventure Embark on a daring odyssey with Thomas Hamilton, as he, along with two brothers and nephew Ben Clark, opts for a glorified rowboat to conquer the relentless forces of the Atlantic Ocean.   Picture this: 3,000 miles from the tip of Africa to the Caribbean Island of Antiqua, facing 20-foot waves, relentless sprays of salt, hunger, and scorching heat. This isn't your typi...

S9 | E23 Dave Ormsbee   Mr. Cedarville   From a young age, Dave Ormsbee immersed himself in athletic competition, regardless of the season. Although not the star player on his high school football team, his passion for sports endured.  A turning point arrived when a new coach entered the scene during his junior year. Just over a year away from graduating from a small high school in Northeast Ohio,...

Reluctant and Faithful    2004 alumnus Philip Miller never wanted to serve as a pastor, and now, he’s serving in one of the most high-profile pulpits in America.      Philip began serving as senior pastor at The Moody Church in downtown Chicago in July 2020. He follows in the footsteps of 16 legendary men of God, including long-time Cedarville friend and guest chapel speaker Dr. Warren Wiersbe, wh...

A Miraculous Recovery  Join us on this heartfelt episode as we dive into a season of gratitude and miracles! Our special guest, Dr. Michael McKay, Assistant Professor of Biblical Theology, and his wife, Lee-Ann, share their riveting life-threatening journey that brings a heartfelt appreciation and thankfulness to the McKay family.  Picture a chill on a Saturday morning in June — Michael thought it...

Renowned as a true Renaissance Man, Dr. Chuck Clevenger boasts a distinguished career spanning 33 years as a professor of concert piano at Cedarville University. As a curriculum developer, he played a pivotal role in shaping Cedarville’s flagship general education course, Introduction to Humanities and was awarded the Faculty of the Year honor in 2002. Beyond his academic pursuits, Dr. Clevenger i...

Cultivating Campus Beauty Join us in this episode as we uncover the artistry and passion behind the landscapes of Cedarville University with Paul Ware, a true maestro of flowers and landscaping. Paul's journey began with a revelation during a graduate program at Western Michigan University, where he discovered his deep love for the outdoors and landscaping.  For the past 46 years, Paul has meticul...

Walking the Word in Israel On this enlightening episode, lace up your basketball shoes or hiking boots, as we delve into the incredible journey of Cedarville’s men’s basketball team during their 80-mile, 12-day missions trip to Israel.   This journey, called “Walking the Story,” aimed to blend spiritual, physical, and mental development for the athletes and coaches. Head coach Pat Estepp shares th...

Compassion Drives Kindness to Others   One can scarcely imagine the profound impact a small act of kindness can have on transforming lives. In the expansive canvas of southern California, a solitary gesture from an unexpected stranger has etched an enduring mark, especially in the life of Richard—a young soul forsaken by society, unfairly stigmatized as a drug addict, deemed undeserving of time or...

His Voice Was His Ticket to a Career in Radio   You may not recognize him at an area mall, but there may not be a more recognizable voice in Christian radio than Wayne Shepherd, who got his first break in radio while studying broadcasting at Cedarville College.  From an early age, Wayne knew that he wanted to work in radio. He just didn’t know in what capacity. Would he be a producer? Write ad cop...

Founding Obed’s House   Meredith (Wood) Docena was determined not to go to Cedarville University. She grew up in Springfield, Ohio, just 20 minutes from Cedarville’s campus. Her dad worked in the registrar’s office, and she knew she didn’t want to follow him there.   But her love of soccer got in the way, and she went to Cedarville to become the varsity athlete she thought she deserved to be. But...

An Unexpected Job Offer Jim and Teresa Clark were settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They had lived there for 21 years, had just bought their dream home, and were confident this was where the Lord wanted them. But, although man may have plans, the Lord orders his steps. During a weekend visit to Cedarville University with their daughter during a Little Sibs Weekend, the Clarks got reacquainted with t...

Ever watched the movie Hoosiers and imagined yourself making that game-winning shot for a championship? For Indiana native Mark Womack, it’s not just a fantasy, it’s a fact of his life that, even if he never worked at Cedarville, would have always connected him to the University. Mark, who serves as Cedarville’s sports information director, graduated from Cedarville in 1982 with a bachelor’s degre...

An Unexpected Career An unsolicited Facebook message from a total stranger would completely change Devin Robinson’s life.  Devin grew up in a small town in South Berwick, Maine. He came to Cedarville in 1999, majoring in broadcasting. It was while he was hosting a radio show for WCDR Radio (now Resound Radio) that he heard news of the terrorist attacks on 9/11. By February of 2002, Devin was commi...

Equipping Thousands Mark Klimek taught every nursing student at Cedarville University over his 38-year career before his retirement this summer. His NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) preparation courses have helped thousands of students at Cedarville, across the country, and around the world to pass the test to become registered nurses. This tremendous legacy began in Youngstown, Ohio...

The Bethesda Nine For the first time ever, the Cedarville Stories Podcast is hosting not one, not two, but five guests on this week’s episode. And it’s not common for a high school to send nine of its students to Cedarville University in the same year.   But Bethesda Christian School in Brownsburg, Indiana did just that. Seth Bradley, Ellen Geimer, Ella Titus, Paige Vawter, Ian Whitehead, Eva Camp...

Perseverance Through Suffering Injuries and sports seem to go hand in hand. But repeated injuries can destroy an athlete’s career. And what Max Miller thought were minor muscles injuries turned out to be a chronic disorder that would change his life.  It was Max’s dream to make it to the major leagues. He had a promising baseball career, playing all throughout high school in his West Virginia home...

An Answer to Prayer Three months and one kidney later, beloved Cedarville professor Dr. Chuck Elliott is feeling better than he has in years, all thanks to thousands of answered prayers and the selfless sacrifice of his brother-in-law, Jon Enright, pastor of Troy Christian Chapel in suburban Detroit, Michigan.  This road to good health for Chuck has been a long one with its ups and downs. After ye...

Advancing Ministry He lives a life that is centered on relationships. This is what drives him personally, professionally, and spiritually. Kevin Howells understands how the saving work of Jesus in his life transformed him into the leader he is today. And, as a member of the leadership team with Good News Jail and Prison Ministry, Kevin spends his days building new, and strengthening existing, rela...

From Student to Local Pharmacy Owner Katie Perry wanted nothing more than to make the Cedarville Yellow Jackets softball team. She spent many evenings practicing with her parents in their yard. Her dreams came true when she made the roster in 2014.  But after driving back to campus after a short weekend trip back home, she experienced a minor accident that caused her a number of injuries, forcing...

Politics for God’s Glory For many people, politics can be a divisive topic. But for state Senator John Arch of Nebraska, he believes it doesn’t have to be that way. The father of two Cedarville graduates, Cameron and Nick Arch, John believes firmly in prioritizing his faith — even in the political context of the state legislature of Nebraska.  But John didn’t always see himself as a politician. Or...

Bryson the Brave Bison  When an Army ROTC student and an aspiring college basketball player met on Cedarville’s baseball team, they would have never guessed they would one day co-author a children’s book. But that’s exactly what Luke Freshwater and Nate Davenport have done, and the book is generating favorable reviews across the country. Nate, a 2013 alum, came to Cedarville with a hope of securin...

Roommates to New Hampshire What started as a vague, crazy idea in their sophomore year of college turned into a 1,000-mile bicycle ride they would never forget. Jonathan Viaud-Murat and Eli Wicker peddled from Cedarville, Ohio, to Keane, New Hampshire, just in time for a friend’s wedding.  Why? Why not? Jonathan, a 2023 mechanical engineering graduate, and Eli, a 2022 biology graduate, have been f...

Overcoming Rejection Kary Oberbrunner was an angry kid who questioned God at every turn. But at the age of 12, he accepted Christ and wanted to grow in his faith. However, this didn’t end his doubts and debilitating battle with guilt that drove him to self-harm.  It was a deep dive into the Psalms that started to turn Kary’s life around. The psalmist’s real struggles with faith encouraged him to j...