by Clem Boyd, Public Relations Communications Manager
On Monday, January 15, Cedarville University will welcome Dr. Aaron Lavender, senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Greater Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri, and Vice President of Carver Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, as part of this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.
Lavender will speak to students, faculty and staff during chapel in the Dixon Ministry Center at 10 a.m. Lavender is the author of “Are You a Full Gospel Christian?” (Xulon Press, 2007) and also serves as vice president of church development for the Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Association.
“He’s a stately man of God,” noted Greg Dyson, Cedarville University's director of intercultural recruitment. “I appreciate his approach to preaching and his heart for young people. He has a great desire to grow the next generation of Christian leaders.”
There will be a lunch at 11:30 with Lavender and area church and ministry leaders, as well as Cedarville faculty and staff. “There are so many amazing ministries going on around the region, we wanted those leaders to connect and get to know each other,” Dyson said. “Forming common bonds breaks down barriers and builds bridges for ministry.”
Lavender will also meet with students at 2 p.m. as part of a faculty panel discussion at Cedarville’s Center for Biblical and Theological Studies (BTS). The panel’s topic will be “Does the Gospel Demand Diversity?” and will be moderated by Dr. Jason Lee, dean of the school of biblical and theological studies.
At 7 p.m., the First Baptist Church of London, Ohio, choir, under the direction of Sister Pauletta Brown, will lead a Gospel Sing at Stinger’s, Cedarville University’s snack shop and campus hangout. This will be the choir’s first performance at Cedarville.
“They will sing and lead a time of worship and celebration,” said Dyson, who has pastored First Baptist since April 2016. “They will teach students some traditional Christian music in the African-American style.”
Lastly, at 7:30 p.m., there will be an Art Expression event in the lower level of Cedarville’s Stevens Student Center, near Stinger’s. “We will have multiple canvases set up for people to express themselves artistically around the issues of reconciliation and unity,” Dyson said.
For more information about Cedarville’s celebration honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., contact Dyson at gdyson@cedarville.edu or call 937-766-3330.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 3,963 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and leading student satisfaction ratings. For more information about the University, visit www.cedarville.edu.