Statement on Racism: Our Prayer for Repentance and Revival

Dear Cedarville Family, 

We have been deeply grieved by the events that have transpired in our nation in recent days.

In considering a response, we begin with a word to our African-American students, faculty, and staff, our dear brothers and sisters in Christ. We affirm our love and care for you as fellow image bearers. We pray for you and stand with you, eager for and working toward the day when the “dividing wall of hostility” (Eph. 2:14) is finally torn down in the hearts of men and, by God’s grace, in our nation.

We turned to Dr. J. Murray Murdoch to give expression to the anguish we feel in our souls and the hope that exists only in Jesus Christ. Many of you have sat under Dr. Murdoch’s teaching; some of you have traveled with him on the Civil Right Bus Tour. As Distinguished Professor of History and a 55-year member of our faculty, he has stood boldly for decades, articulating clearly and compellingly a Christian response to the evils of racism.

Contemplating these recent events, Dr. Murdoch shared the following words. They reflect the heartbeat of Cedarville University and each member of our leadership team.

From my arrival at Cedarville in the fall of 1965 until today, we have sought to live by the statement that we stand for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ. You cannot live with that as your motto and not be devastated by the recent events in our nation. I was devastated as I watched the life slip out of George Floyd’s body as he was choked by a police officer’s knee. My thoughts were, “That could have been one of my students. That could have been one of my grandchildren.”

The Word of God cries out against the sin of racism. God tells us that all people — “all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues” — are welcome in the family of God (Rev. 7:9).

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” As a University family committed to biblical justice, my prayer for our community is that we open our arms in love to all peoples and reflect the diversity of the Kingdom of God here at Cedarville University.

Join with us in praying that God will do a work in these days, that He would revive us, bring us to repentance, and heal our land.

If there are ways we can reach out to serve you in this time, please let us know. In the meantime, we are praying for our beloved students, our entire Cedarville family, and our nation.

Loren Reno, Acting President 
Thomas Mach, Vice President for Academics
Richard Melson, Vice President for Advancement
Chris Sohn, Vice President for Business and Chief Financial Officer
Janice Supplee, Vice President for Marketing and Communications
Scott Van Loo, Vice President for Enrollment Management
Jon Wood, Vice President for Student Life and Christian Ministries
Alan Geist, Athletic Director
Zach Bowden, Executive Assistant to the President