If Bricks Could Tell a Story

Imagine if the bricks around Cedarville’s campus could speak. Imagine the life transformations they have witnessed.  

The bricks would tell of classes where the light suddenly turned on as knowledge passed from a teacher to a student. The bricks would paint a student’s delighted smile as they grasped a hard concept for the first time and an uncontrollable sense of accomplishment, excitement, and joy flooded their face. The bricks would recount the first date, the first hand-hold, the first kisses, and the first heartfelt proposal for marriage.  

The bricks would speak of tears of repentance when the Spirit convicted someone of sin, leading them to realize that God is more important than anything this life has to offer. They would tell of the guilt, conviction, repentance, relief, and joy of someone going from spiritual death to life as God saved them (Ephesians 2). 

These bricks tell the story of transformation. On this campus, transformation occurs in two profound ways: spiritual transformation through God’s work in people’s lives to glorify Himself and educational transformation as teachers invest in the next generation, passing along knowledge.  

These bricks testify to God-given gifts and God-given passions refined by educational excellence, delivered with personal care and Gospel purpose, that serve as a ministry platform for years to come.  

Creating a memorial to testify to God’s faithfulness has historical precedence. As we walked through Joshua this year in chapel, we heard about the 12 tribes gathering rocks to testify to God standing up the waters of the Jordan. We read about Jericho turning into a pile of rocks as the walls fell down. We mourned as Achan’s sin resulted in a monument testifying to God’s judgment, one similar to the graves of the kings who had rejected God for so long. We rejoiced as God threw down stones from heaven to help Israel in battle against the southern coalition. The very rocks testified and cried out about the awesome nature of God and His faithfulness to keep every single promise — His faithfulness to every single word.  

Now, we create a monument to last forever; a monument to life transformation; a monument to document that God is faithful. We can trust Him. These bricks and pavers that will make up the back patio behind the Bolthouse Academic Center will honor caring teachers and mentors who invested in you and in eternity through academic excellence. They will recognize the incredible transformation God has brought about in you during your time on Cedarville's campus.  

We sign our names to these bricks, allowing them to speak of transformation. This generation will speak to the generations to come, proclaiming that this place is special because of God and the people He has called to serve Him on this campus. 

Everyone can take part in this initiative. For a gift of $100, you add your name to those testifying to life transformation or honor someone who played a part in what God did in these cornfields or in your own life.  

We want no one left out. Through a significant number of names, we will give testimony to God’s greatness. If you can’t afford $100, give what you can and let us know. We will find a way to cover the cost.  

Our dream is that we do something so amazing that it takes on a life of its own as future generations add their names to additional bricks, testifying that God still moves and is still at work transforming lives.  

We serve an amazing God who has wondrously provided for this Bolthouse Academic Center with an incredible answer to prayer through generous anonymous donors who gave a $15 million gift.  

Every gift matters! Every life matters!  

Now, we add $100 at a time … one brick representing one life … weaving together the masterpiece of a patio and walkway that will continually highlight God's faithfulness and the commitment of those who fix their name to a brick, crying out that forever, “We will stand for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.”