Xenia Daily Gazette
CEDARVILLE — Two months after the completion of its $3 million Jeremiah Chapel renovation project, Cedarville University will hold a special dedication during its annual Homecoming Chapel Friday, Sept. 30 in the Dixon Ministry Center.
Renovations took three months to complete and included updated and increased theatre-style seating which allows for ticketed events, new customizable sound system and lighting setups, new projection screens and updated paint and carpeting.
For many students, chapel is a highlight of the Cedarville experience, with nearly 95 percent of surveyed recent alumni citing the daily service as the experience they miss most.
“Chapel was where I felt like we came together as a community every day. It was the place we all heard the same message – we were all challenged together,” said Stephanie Carroll, a 2010 alumna and the director of alumni relations and annual giving.
Dr. Thomas White, president of Cedarville University, explained the importance of the project, calling chapel the heartbeat of the university.
“Chapel is not about the room,” he said, “but about the eternal life change that happens in that room when the Word of God is preached. Some cross over from death to life in salvation, others repent of sins, and hopefully all grow deeper in their faith. The praise and worship of God combined with life change that impacts eternity is what makes chapel for Cedarville University.”
The fundraising campaign – Cedarville’s most successful to date – included a record number of donors, and will allow the university to fund the project completely through private donations instead of student tuition or fees, at a time when families are increasingly focused on college affordability.
Prior to the Friday dedication, the university will host an invite-only breakfast reception for donors who gave any amount to the campaign, and all alumni and donors are invited to take part in the 10 a.m. chapel service.
