Supporting Integration of Science & Faith II

While scientific research develops strategies to advance medical health, no advancement would take place without the application and instruction of the new strategy.  By this, I mean that health professionals need to use the new development in practice, but also must be able to explain what is happening to their patient.  Patient interaction is a key component of this advancement, especially in intercultural situations in order to advance healthcare throughout the world.

Honors Day with Chandra Swiech (c) and Kaytlin Goodwin (r)

This statement summarizes the thesis of a science-faith integration paper presented to the Cedarville University Science and Mathematics Department by Chandra Swiech, 2016 recipient of The Science and Faith Integration Scholarship (SFIS).  Abby and I were privileged to have lunch with Chandra after the April 5 Honors Day Chapel in which she was awarded the academic scholarship.  During lunch, Chandra explained that she believes God is calling her into a vocation that will fit her aptitudes, interests, and spiritual gifts.  Specifically, she believes that God is calling her into the field of medicine. 

Since her enrollment in Human Structure and Function, a year-long biology course, Chandra has been fascinated with the form and function of the major systems of the human body.  But she is also beginning to understand that serving Christ in medicine goes much beyond learning about the human body, as important at that is.  Indeed, as Chandra now sees it, advances in scientific research that have relevance to human health have limited value unless careful attention is given to clinical applications.  Chandra explains with an example: …there are people throughout the entire world dealing with cystic fibrosis and the supplemental biofilm formation.  If an antibiotic was found to combat it, it is important to be able to explain this to patients, other doctors here, and other doctors around the world.  She adds that doctors have a responsibility not only to prescribe drugs to make their patients feel better, but to help the patient make life changes.  This is normally thought of in the physical realm, but it is also involves the spiritual realm.

We were excited to hear Chandra’s perspective on medicine in the context of the “whole person.”  She is learning to view human health holistically.  She believes that “human health” involves not only health of the body, but also of the mind and spirit.   According to her view, helping others improve their quality of life through medicine is a unique opportunity to pour into their lives spiritually as well as physically.  Chandra anticipates that she might play an interdisciplinary role by helping insure that new medical breakthroughs are properly integrated into medical practices.  She is concerned that doctors and other health care professionals are sufficiently informed as to how best to use new medications and procedures for the benefit of their patients with attention to both physical and spiritual well being.

Chandra (center) teaching in a soccer camp, Costa Rica

Chandra also explains in her integration paper that she is developing a cross-cultural perspective on ministry to human needs.  Short-term mission experiences in Spain and in Costa Rica have taught her the importance of listening, and intentionally talking with others.  Shandra has been learning these social skills in part as a member of the Cedarville University Yellow Jacket women’s intercollegiate soccer team.  Regarding an experience when her soccer team participated on a short-term mission ministry in Costa Rica, she writes: …my host family demonstrated to me the importance of being considerate of cultural boundaries while not being afraid to reach out to others.

Finally, Chandra is learning to be attentive to the fact that God can use health care professionals in ministries to the millions of people who are displaced or migrating across our borders.  She writes that …opportunities for intercultural interaction are also waiting in our own backyard.  Given the number of immigrants and refugees entering the United States, there is a unique opportunity for medicine to be used to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

An Invitation to You:
Abby and I are excited about the interdisciplinary perspective that Chandra Swiech is developing, and we pray that God will continue to develop her profession of both faith and science.  Maybe you too have been encouraged by this example of how God is using The Science and Faith Integration Scholarship to foster the heritage of science-faith integration through the Department of Science and Mathematics at Cedarville University.  If so, then why not become a fellow investor? Perhaps you gratefully attribute your own profession of faith and of science to the teaching and mentoring of department and university faculty during your days at Cedarville. If so, we invite you to pray about how you might participate.  If God leads you to invest in this way, you may send your check to Cedarville University with “Science and Faith Integration Scholarship” on the memo line.  Or, you may contribute online at http://cedarville.edu/giving. Just click on “Scholarships” and follow directions to “The Science and Faith Integration Scholarship.” Thank you for considering how you can steward a portion of God’s blessings to you by honoring your faculty mentors and by encouraging leaders for tomorrow.

Related Article:  Supporting Integration of Science & Faith

Supporting Integration of Science & Biblical Faith

Recently, Abby and I were privileged to attend the annual Academic Honors Day Chapel at Cedarville University where we joined with the Department of Science and Mathematics in celebrating the announcement of a new academic scholarship.  The Science and Faith Integration Scholarship will be awarded annually to an outstanding student majoring in biology or environmental science.  According to the criteria for the Scholarship, each recipient should demonstrate exemplary academic achievement in the classroom and give evidence of a commitment to the development of his or her profession of faith and science through participation in opportunities to apply knowledge – i.e. scientific research or significant involvement in science-related travel study or short-term mission.

Both the name and selection criteria for The Science and Faith Integration Scholarship emphasize the aim of promoting biblical integration of science and faith.  The ultimate goal of biblical integration is to know God and display His wisdom and character.  Godly character is the fruit of internal consistency, or integrity—a wholehearted obedience to God’s Truth (Psalm 119: 9-11).   The submissive heart, at one time impervious to the wisdom and will of God because of pride, can begin to absorb and apply God’s Truth.  Hypocrisy of the divided heart and mind gives way to integrity. 

The integration of biblical Truth applied in every area of life is expressed in the virtue of love for God, love for neighbor, and love for the creation.  Biblical integration specifically applied to science and faith, means the Christian scholar highly prizes integrity in his or her pursuit of an accurate understanding of creation.  As a result, the Christian scholar gains insights into the workings of creation and exercises stewardship of creation based on “good science” and respect for the authority of God and His Word.

Perhaps our enthusiasm in support of The Science and Faith Integration Scholarship is moving you to consider investing in the scholarship fund for future students.  If so, please read on and consider two lasting benefits you would receive. 

First, you will share the personal satisfaction of supporting Christian higher education at Cedarville University and the heritage of academic excellence in science-faith learning that has characterized the Department of Science and Mathematics. As we watched  the first recipient receive her scholarship in Academic Honors Day Chapel and then became acquainted with her over lunch, our hearts were filled with joy in knowing we could have a small part in this university and departmental mission.

A second lasting benefit of investors in science-faith integration at Cedarville is the blessing from demonstrating our stewardship of God’s treasures by sharing money that in reality is “God’s money.”  Our March Oikonomia article, “There’s No Such Thing as Private Property,” calls us to “possess property as though we didn’t possess it.”  We can affirm to ourselves that we are practicing stewardship instead of ownership by giving generously in ways that honor God and help our neighbor?  And, we can rejoice in God from Whom all blessings flow while we watch how He will use this scholarship for His glory in the life of each recipient.

The first Science and Faith Integration Scholar is Grace Revenaugh, a junior biology major.   Although Grace grew up in Cedarville, Ohio, her family now resides in Butte, MT.  At the luncheon for award recipients and sponsors, Grace enthusiastically shared her student experiences with us.  Highlights included her opportunity to conduct research on the role of microRNAs in autoimmune disease pathogenesis and her experience as an EMT with the Cedarville Township Volunteer Fire Department.   It became clear to Abby and I that Grace loves people, the campus environment, and the opportunity to pursue God’s calling for her.  In partial fulfillment of her application requirements for the Scholarship, Grace had submitted an “integration scholarship essay” in which she reflects on her experiences during her short-term mission trip to Republic of the Congo.   After our luncheon discussion with Grace and then reading her essay, it became clear that she is committed to pursuing God, His creation, His compassion for people in spiritual and physical need, and His call upon her to serve Christ.

Below you will find two excerpts from Grace’s writing.  In “Miriam,” Grace reflects on her Congo mission experience, particularly her relationship to a young abdominal TB patient.  In the second excerpt, “Environmental Context,” Grace shares her observations of environmental health and nutrition within which medical missions in the Congo are being conducted.  She hints at the need for a comprehensive effort to educate the Congolese in the importance of adequate sanitation and nutrition.  In both of these accounts, Grace demonstrates that she observes God’s world with eyes of compassion and with insight into the interdisciplinary challenges Christians face in bringing the Gospel to those with both spiritual and physical needs. 

Grace and Miriam

“Miriam”

My seven weeks with Miriam and her family and many other patients at Pioneer Christian Hospital taught me about perseverance, the joy found in pain, and the good that a single person who longs to share the love of Christ can bring.  I was first motivated to join the medical field and subsequently go on this mission trip because I love science, especially anatomy and physiology, and because I am fascinated by the process of maintaining homeostasis; but, I have learned that so much of medicine is beyond science, dependent instead on caring for individuals and meeting their unique needs.  I believe that God has called me to use my life to illuminate the Gospel specifically through science and medicine by becoming a PA; but whatever His plans, I pray that God will use the lessons I learned in Congo to help me to bring glory to Him always.

“Environmental Context”
From what I have seen, environmental health is not something that even concerns the people of Impfondo with whom I primarily interacted.  On the other hand, the influence of western and eastern culture has brought with it a huge influx of imported products which have been integrated into the community.  These products, primarily portable, non-perishable items, are nutritionally degrading.  While we were visiting a patent at Pioneer Christian Hospital, Dr. Joseph M. Harvey said that products such as MSG, convenience goods, snacks, soft drinks, and processed goods in general are contributing to an exponential increase in diabetes, high blood pressure, and other western diseases now common in Impfondo.  Because the majority of people in Impfondo struggle to feed their families with any food that is available, no one really cares about the nutrition of food.  For example, if you told someone that they should not eat a certain root vegetable because of the high arsenic content they would most likely reply "it is this or nothing for our meal" and then eat it. The staff at Pioneer Christian Hospital are constantly working to educate people, but in my opinion the overall impact of this training has been rather small.

An Invitation to You:
In conclusion, Abby and I are excited about the interdisciplinary experiences Grace is having, and pray that God will continue to direct her growth in profession of faith and science.  Maybe you too have been encouraged by this account and Grace Revenaugh’s testimony of how God is using the new scholarship to foster the heritage of science-faith integration through the Department of Science and Mathematics at Cedarville University.  If so, then why not become a fellow investor? Perhaps you gratefully attribute your own profession of faith and of science to the teaching and mentoring of department and university faculty during your days at Cedarville. If so, we invite you to pray about how you might participate.  If God leads you to invest in this way, you may send your check to Cedarville University with “Science and Faith Integration Scholarship” on the memo line.  Or, you may contribute online at http://cedarville.edu/giving. Just click on “Scholarships” and follow directions to “The Science and Faith Integration Scholarship.” Thank you for considering how you can steward a portion of God’s blessings to you by honoring your faculty mentors and encouraging leaders for tomorrow.