Podcast
Cedarville Stories
Hosted by Cedarville University · EN
Cedarville Stories podcast shares the stories of individuals who have been impacted from their experiences at Cedarville University, all for God's glory. Each week you’ll hear unique stories of how Cedarville’s mission of transforming lives through excellent education and intentional discipleship in submission to biblical authority is being lived out in the lives of faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends of the University.
Listen in each Wednesday and be blessed by some of the amazing ways God is working in and through the lives of the Cedarville family.
33episodes
Episodes
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S14:E21 | Drew Hensley: Finding Hope in Invisible Grief
1w ago00:35:02Tap to summarizeFinding Hope in Invisible GriefDrew Hensley has a way of stepping into people’s troubles with the steady kindness of a pastor who knows Jesus meets us there. A 2007 graduate of Cedarville University, he now serves as a pastor in Charleston, South Carolina, with a heart for local church ministry and a deep compassion for people in pain.His compassion is rooted in the heart of Jesus, who sees people, welcomes them, and cares for them with steady mercy. Drew has tried to mirror that same kind of care in his own ministry, and that shepherding heart has shaped not only how he serves others but how he and his wife, Laura, have walked through their own struggles.Drew and Laura followed the Lord’s calling with trust — even when that calling led them far from home to plant a church in Seattle. Adding to the bumpy road was the news that they could not have biological children. That loss cracked something open in them, and out of that ache came Invisible Grief.In Invisible Grief, Drew writes for the quiet sorrow many people carry — the kind that hides beneath a smile when hopes, dreams, and good desires do not come to fruition.He writes for those living with chronic illness, singleness, infertility, and other unseen wounds, offering the kind of encouragement that comes from both Scripture and experience. His voice is tender, honest, and full of hope, because he knows grief often does its deepest work in the hidden places.Through seasons of grief and prayer, Drew and Laura discovered that God had not abandoned them in the dark. He met them there. He gave them grace to keep trusting, and in time, He showed them His goodness in surprising ways. The adoption of their son, Silas, worked out through circumstances that only the Lord could arrange. Along the way, Drew says their relationship with God grew even closer, more intimate, and more hopeful.That same hope fills the pages of Invisible Grief. Drew’s great encouragement is simple and sturdy: God sees, God knows, and God will restore all things.On the Cedarville Stories podcast, Drew shared his journey with the same honesty and warmth that permeate his book, pointing listeners to an everlasting hope big enough to hold both joy and grief — one that never lets sorrow have the final word.https://share.transistor.fm/s/293299e8https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tf_ZLHE9sk
Transcribe →S14:E20 | Abigail King: Sheep, Stage Lights, and Scripture
2w ago00:23:07Tap to summarizeSheep, Stage Lights, and ScriptureLong before Abigail King set foot on the stage at Cedarville University, she was already dreaming of a life that would combine her greatest loves: animals and theatre. Even as a little girl growing up in sunny Florida, she imagined a future where the joy of performance could meet the companionship of creatures great and small.That dream stayed with her, and when it came time to choose a college, Cedarville was the right place.Abigail stepped onto campus with a dream in her heart, but she had no clear map for how it would unfold. She thought she might pursue a degree in something with animals, but biology didn’t quite suit her. It wasn’t long before she found her way to the theatre department — a place that embraced her creative spirit and gave her room to grow.Abigail fell in love with theatre, believing it was where God would transform her more than she ever expected.As she recently shared on the Cedarville Stories podcast, Abigail is now living out that childhood dream in the most unexpected and delightful way — as an animal trainer at Sight and Sound Theatres in Branson, Missouri. There, amidst the spectacle of biblical productions, she helps bring stories from Scripture to life by working with the animals that share the stage with actors, lights, and music.“Sometimes our sheep are a little too friendly,” she laughed. “They’ll stop in the middle of the show to hang out with David. The audience eats it up, but we’re in the back whispering, ‘Go, go, go!’”Abigail also serves in the theatre’s after-show ministry, where cast and crew meet guests for prayer and conversation. “It’s such a blessing to connect with people after the show,” she said. “We get to be part of something much bigger.”Though she hopes to one day work with service animals and children, Abigail is joyfully rooted where God has her right now. “This is the dream,” she said. “I’m just following where He leads.”With a heart full of gratitude and a barn full of well-trained animals, Abigail King is living proof that when you trust God with your gifts, He’ll write a story better than you imagined.https://share.transistor.fm/s/d9e14c0bhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnJFMaruzdw
Transcribe →S14:E19 | Dr. Shannon Yarosz: A Calling Shaped by Providence
3w ago00:36:10Tap to summarizeA Calling Shaped by ProvidenceShannon Yarosz’s story bears the marks of God’s providence. Often, that providence feels ordinary in the moment and only later reveals how lovingly the story has been arranged. On the Cedarville Stories podcast, Shannon reflected on a journey shaped by science, compassion, and a deep desire to serve others well.That calling began to take shape during her years at The Ohio State University, where she studied microbiology. She loved science and the discovery that came with it, yet she also wanted her work to touch people’s lives in practical, everyday ways. Pharmacy became a natural fit, giving her the opportunity to pair scientific knowledge with personal care and to step into people’s questions and concerns with help that truly mattered.As Shannon moved through school, training, and professional life, God kept placing people in her path. Several of those individuals would later become her colleagues in Cedarville University’s School of Pharmacy. At the time, those encounters may have seemed small and unremarkable. Looking back, they tell a different story. They reveal the Lord’s quiet faithfulness in leading her to a place where her work and faith could flourish together.That spirit of service is easy to see in Ask the Pharmacist, a community education program produced in partnership with a local television station. Through that outreach, Shannon answers healthcare questions and shares practical medication guidance for viewers seeking clear, trustworthy help. She has a gift for making difficult topics easier to understand, and she meets each question with both professional knowledge and genuine kindness. She wants people to feel prepared to care for themselves and their families.Her life also has a joyful rhythm beyond the classroom and clinic. Shannon is a wife, mom, and working professional who makes room for fun alongside responsibility. Her family loves hockey, and she has gladly joined in. Her children cheer from the sidelines, sometimes with a little laughter, and her husband records videos with playful commentary. Whether she is guiding students, helping viewers, or laughing with her family at the rink, Shannon lives with a steady joy that makes her work shine.https://share.transistor.fm/s/283a18bbhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGo185Ddzho
Transcribe →S14:E18 | Dr. Lou Lilite: A Steady Rhythm of Hope
4w ago00:40:50Tap to summarizeA Steady Rhythm of HopeDr. Lou Lilite learned hope in the hard soil of Haiti. He grew up in a ministry family surrounded by the daily realities of poverty, where need was easy to see and impossible to ignore. Yet even there, God planted gifts and purpose in his life.Through his parents’ example, Lou learned that faith looks beyond what is missing and trusts God’s provision even before it comes into view. Over time, that steady confidence became part of who he was. Music also became one of the ways God directed his life. It helped form his calling and opened his eyes to a future he could not yet see.In time, those early lessons and that growing sense of purpose led him toward one of the longest journeys of his life. For two and a half years, Lou worked to come to America, pressing through 13 applications before the opportunity finally came. With each application, he kept moving toward the future God was opening before him, one closely tied to the music that had become part of his calling. Even after he arrived, the road did not suddenly become easy.Lou still faced hardship, adjustment, and disappointment, but he chose to focus on blessings instead of bitterness, and that choice gave his life a steady, hopeful rhythm. He learned to keep moving forward with open hands, grateful for what God had provided and trusting Him for what came next.Today, as a professor of music at Cedarville University, Lou teaches more than technique, theory, or performance. He carries a deep love for people and a heart tuned to hope. Students and neighbors alike encounter someone who has not forgotten where he came from or the grace that carried him.That is one reason he visits Haitian immigrants in nearby Springfield, Ohio. He wants them to hear from someone who has walked that difficult road, understands both the strain and the perseverance, and can say honestly that hope is worth holding onto.Lou also wants fellow believers to respond to immigrants with the compassion and openness of Christ. He sees a beautiful parallel in the Gospel itself: Jesus made a way for sinners to leave behind the death of sin and enter the life of Christ. In the same spirit, Lou believes Christians should welcome others with mercy, dignity, and care.When Lou shared his story on the Cedarville Stories podcast, that message rang clear. Hope shaped him in Haiti, sustained him in America, and now flows through his music, teaching, and ministry to others.https://share.transistor.fm/s/61d4e8b6https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAcDgRcbFdU
Transcribe →S14:E17 | Brandon Stover: Held by God Through Every Trial
Apr 2900:37:25Tap to summarizeHeld by God Through Every TrialBrandon Stover’s story is marked by God’s faithful presence through both unexpected joy and deep hardship. As he prepares to graduate from Cedarville University with a degree in special education, he does so with a heart shaped by struggle, strengthened by grace, and anchored in the steady leadership of the Lord.When Brandon came to Cedarville, he found much more than a place to earn a degree. He found a Christ-centered community that welcomed him, cared for him, and showed him the love of God in everyday ways.Through friendships, professors, and the ordinary rhythms of campus life, Brandon began to see that Cedarville was a place where faith was lived out. That sense of belonging became one of the sweetest parts of his journey. As he recently shared on the Cedarville Stories podcast, God’s hand was evident in every chapter, gently reminding him that he was never walking alone.But Brandon’s college years also carried deep pain.Just weeks into his first semester, Brandon’s mom was involved in a tragic car accident. In an instant, he and his family were thrown into a season of fear, grief, and urgent prayer. So much felt uncertain, yet God met them there. He brought comfort in the middle of heartbreak and reminded Brandon that even when life changes suddenly, the Lord remains present and faithful.Then, Brandon faced a crisis of his own when he experienced an 18-hour seizure and was diagnosed with Functional Neurologic Disorder. What followed was not just a medical challenge but a deeply personal one marked by memory loss, uncertainty about the future, and the painful realization that life no longer felt the same.Coming back to Cedarville after that experience was humbling. Brandon has spoken honestly about the embarrassment he felt at first and the uncertainty that followed.Yet it was there, in one of the hardest parts of his story, that God’s care became especially clear. Friends surrounded him with love. People who had simply heard what happened came forward to offer support. Professors met him with patience and compassion.In that season, Brandon did not just endure hardship; he experienced the Lord’s kindness through a community that refused to let him walk alone.That perspective has deepened his calling. Brandon knows many students need more than instruction. They need someone who can look at them with patience, dignity, and hope and credibly say, “I understand.” His story has prepared him to be that kind of teacher.As Brandon steps into what comes next, he does so with a deeper confidence in the God who has already guided him this far. He is trusting the Lord to open the right doors as he begins looking for a teaching position, and he carries with him a compassion shaped by all he has walked through.Brandon’s life reflects a quiet but steady truth: God has been near in every hardship, faithful in every unknown, and kind enough to prepare him to care well for the students He will one day place in his classroom.https://share.transistor.fm/s/6278ab34https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j19mCpGnerg
Transcribe →S14:E16 | Renee Sallee: A Song of Worship in the Midst of Motherhood
Apr 2200:35:33Tap to summarizeA Song of Worship in the Midst of Motherhood In the quiet, faithful work of motherhood, Renee (O’Neal) Sallee ’10 has learned a truth strong enough to carry both a family and a song: God is enough. That conviction now rests at the heart of her music, ministry, and home. A 2010 graduate of Cedarville University with a degree in early childhood education, Renee records music as Renee Leanne, creating songs that rise out of worship and gently invite others to do the same. Her album, Lift Your Eyes, carries that invitation with warmth and hope, urging listeners to turn from the weight of their burdens and fix their hearts on the faithfulness of God. She and her husband, fellow Cedarville grad Brian Sallee ’07, are raising four boys in a season full of noise, movement, and holy responsibility. In the middle of that full life, Renee has learned that worship is not confined to a platform or a microphone. As she shared on the Cedarville Stories podcast, worship begins with a surrendered heart, “on your knees, looking up.” That posture has shaped the way she sings, mothers, and serves. There is a homespun tenderness in the way Renee talks about ministry to women. She hopes her music can travel “from one rocking chair to another,” meeting mothers in the quiet places where much of their faithfulness unfolds. She understands the ministry of repetition, the long afternoons, the whispered prayers, and the deep need for strength that does not come from self. Her message is simple and deeply comforting: The Lord sees, stays near, and is worthy of praise in every season. That is why Renee especially wants to encourage mothers who are carrying the quiet weight of daily faithfulness. She knows many women are pouring themselves out in unseen ways, and she wants them to remember that worship is not one more task to accomplish; it is a grace that lifts the heart and roots the soul. In worship, believers are formed by truth. In worship, parents learn to lead with humility and hope. In worship, children begin to see what faithful love looks like in daily life. Homes grow stronger when they are shaped by the joy of belonging to the one true God. Through Lift Your Eyes, her testimony, and the life she is building with her family, Renee offers a hopeful witness. God receives every surrendered voice, strengthens every trusting heart, and uses worship to build faithful believers, godly parents, and children who learn to follow Him.https://share.transistor.fm/s/81469219https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkbN0kvq078
Transcribe →S14:E15 | Houser, Young, and Shore: Behind the Music
Apr 1500:37:08Tap to summarizeBehind the MusicBehind the scenes at K-LOVE and Air1, ministry feels deeply personal.What listeners hear as a song, a familiar voice, or a timely word starts long before the microphone turns on. It begins with a team that believes what people listen to really matters because what fills the mind often shapes the heart.That belief fuels the work of Cedarville University graduates Jim Houser ’91, Chief Radio Officer; Mandy Young ’99, Vice President of Radio; and Steve Shore ’02, Music Platform Program Manager.Together, they help lead a ministry that reaches far beyond radio towers and playlists. Every song choice, on-air moment, and programming decision is shaped by a clear purpose: to bring hope, encouragement, and the truth of Christ into everyday life.What gives the ministry its reach is the thoughtful work that happens long before a song ever plays. Off the air, teams are praying, planning, listening, and asking what people need most.They understand that music does more than fill silence. It can reset a home after a hard day, bring peace into a tense commute, or turn someone’s thoughts back toward God when anxiety starts to rise. That daily care shapes every part of the network, creating a sound that is hopeful, grounded, and centered on Jesus.That is why K-LOVE and Air1 continue to make such a lasting difference: In a noisy world, they offer something steady and life-giving. They encourage believers who need hope for today and welcome people who may be hearing about Jesus for the first time.The ministry’s future is just as inspiring as its present. As K-LOVE and Air1 keep growing across radio, digital platforms — now reaching 18 million people a week — and new ways of connecting with listeners, their mission remains clear: meet people where they are and point them to Jesus.Houser, Young, and Shore recently talked about the impact of Christian radio on the Cedarville Stories podcast. Their conversation offered a warm glimpse into a ministry that keeps showing up, serving faithfully, and changing lives one song or story at a time.https://share.transistor.fm/s/733ca10fhttps://youtu.be/OkQlfbPKsps
Transcribe →S14:E14 | Houser, Young, and Shore: From Cedarville to K-LOVE
Apr 800:37:02Tap to summarizeFrom Cedarville to K-LOVEThree Cedarville broadcasting alumni now serve in senior leadership at K-LOVE and Air1 Media Networks — and their shared story is as meaningful as it is remarkable.Jim Houser ’91, Chief Radio Officer; Mandy Young ’99, Vice President of Radio; and Steve Shore ’02, Music Platform Program Manager, are each helping lead the largest contemporary Christian music radio network in the country.When the three joined the Cedarville Stories podcast, they shared memories, laughed about their college days, and reflected on the people and moments at Cedarville that helped shape them long before they stepped into executive leadership.Again and again, their conversation pointed back to the same theme: Cedarville prepared them for the industry and ministry. Through the broadcasting program, influential faculty, and the University’s steady commitment to biblical truth, they developed the skills, conviction, and faith that continue to guide their leadership today.For Jim Houser, that journey was especially personal. He recalled coming to Cedarville after losing his father and feeling spiritually untethered. On the drive to campus, he heard Christian radio for the first time — a moment that became part of God’s gentle redirection in his life. Looking back, it is easy to see how the Lord used that season, and Cedarville itself, to shape both his calling and his future in Christian media.The trio also spoke with deep gratitude about Cedarville’s commitment to “the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.” That foundation, they shared, has remained a constant anchor in both life and leadership.Today, Houser, Young, and Shore are serving at the highest levels of Christian radio, reaching more than 18 million worldwide each week with excellence, humility, and purpose. Their story is a powerful reminder that Cedarville graduates are not only entering the field — they are helping lead it.https://share.transistor.fm/s/58f0cbbchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKhcIb68NeA
Transcribe →S14:E13 | Dr. Will Smallwood: Celebrating $205.8M and Future Cedarville Sphere
Apr 100:30:55Tap to summarizeCelebrating $205.8 Million and Future Cedarville SphereThe future of Cedarville University seems to rise right out of the waters of Cedar Lake on the latest Cedarville Stories podcast.The conversation opens with the kind of news that gives Cedarville plenty to celebrate. Dr. Will Smallwood, Cedarville’s Vice President for Advancement, reflects on the strong finish of the 1000 Days Transformed Campaign, which raised a record-setting $205.8 million. He describes a campus humming with momentum — scholarships are transforming students’ lives, new facilities reshaping daily routines, and generous gifts strengthening Cedarville’s mission for years to come.That momentum is already showing up across campus. Students are learning in new and upgraded spaces, living in expanded housing, and stepping into opportunities that would have seemed out of reach only a few years ago. Smallwood points to the growing number of students serving with Global Outreach teams, discipleship thriving in residence halls and chapel, and a University determined to remain faithful to its mission. Cedarville, he explains, is not simply enjoying the success of a completed campaign. It is stewarding those gifts carefully and putting them to work right now.That makes the next part of the conversation sound even more believable.As attention turns to rumors about Cedarville’s future, one idea begins to loom larger than the rest: the Cedarville Sphere. Not a simple bridge over the lake. Not merely another campus building. A sphere. A striking, immersive, 100,000-square-foot venue rising in the middle of Cedar Lake, wrapped in a 360-degree LED display and designed to reimagine chapel, classes, concerts, and even athletic events. With talk of renderings, architectural conversations, innovation, and a projected $400 million price tag, the vision sounds ambitious but not impossible for a University riding a wave of growth and generosity.In fact, it sounds like classic Cedarville — daring, distinctive, and centered on student transformation. The vision feels bold, but not outlandish for a University fresh off a historic campaign and full of forward-looking energy. For most of the episode, the Cedarville Sphere stands there in the imagination like the next big step, a landmark-sized symbol of a campus already expanding in remarkable ways.But beware of the loftiness of the idea. In fact, you’ll want to stay tuned to the entire program to dissect fact from fiction on this special April podcast.Clearly, the playful ending of the Cedarville Sphere does not take away from the larger story. It sharpens it. Cedarville may not be building a glowing globe on Cedar Lake, but it is clearly building something lasting in the lives of its students.https://share.transistor.fm/s/77f2c625https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5JI5Gi4NlY
Transcribe →S14:E12 | Eric and Kara Gilmore: Helping Foster Teens Find Their Place
Mar 2500:37:57Tap to summarizeHelping Foster Teens Find Their PlaceFifteen years ago, Eric ’03 and Kara (Howe) ’04 Gilmore began noticing a pattern that would not let them rest. Teenagers in Arkansas entered foster care or aged out with little consistent support. In fact, many reached legal adulthood without housing, reliable work, or someone to call family.Their Cedarville University years had planted a conviction in them to care for the vulnerable and pursue those who are forgotten. That conviction took on a new urgency as Eric and Kara opened their home to teens as foster parents and watched how quickly hope could fray without steady relationships. Those up-close experiences led them to launch Immerse Arkansas in Little Rock.Immerse Arkansas opened as a small, hospitable space and grew into a community that mixes practical help with consistent presence. A teen’s first visit often looks practical and tender: a hot meal, a warm shower, clothes, if needed, an offer of prayer, and someone who will listen. These small acts of kindness create room for trust.A weekly Tuesday gathering anchors that trust. Around a shared meal, mentors, volunteers, and participants trade stories, celebrate milestones, and sometimes sit in silence. The rhythm of the gathering — familiar faces, ordinary conversation, and steady hospitality — provides many young people with the only place where they feel seen.Staff and volunteers continue to walk alongside young people in a hands-on way — listening, encouraging, and celebrating small wins while helping with interviews, applications, and connections to housing or transportation. Some teens stop by once; others stay for months and even join an alumni circle that still calls Immerse home. On average, participants engage for about a year, a season the team uses to open doors and plan next steps.The Gilmores measure success in human terms: a steady paycheck, a key to an apartment, or a returned smile. They also carry a clear aim — if a teen must enter foster care, Arkansas should be the best place in the nation to be there. Churches, state partners, and local organizations have embraced that vision and are working with Immerse to strengthen the safety net.Eric and Kara recently shared the story of Immerse on the Cedarville Stories podcast, reflecting on how their campus seasons shaped their calling and how, 15 years on, Immerse keeps offering practical support, steady relationships, and a place many young people can call home.https://share.transistor.fm/s/1f11b28ahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pq75Ira96d0
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