Christian Life Conference, September 16 - 19

CIU among the Best Regional Universities in the South

The 2020 U.S. News & World Report rankings are out, and Columbia International University continues to be among the Best Regional Universities in the South, ahead of nine other South Carolina public and private schools.

According to the report’s methodology page, schools are ranked by graduation and retention rates, the percentage of students from impoverished families who graduate, class size, student to faculty ratio, opinions of college presidents and deans, per-student spending, test scores and the percent of alumni who donate to the school.

The annual rankings also recognize CIU at #12 among Best Value Schools in the South and one of the Best Colleges for Veterans in the South.

To be a Best Value School, the report takes into account a school's academic quality, as indicated by its 2020 U.S. News Best Colleges ranking, and the 2018-2019 net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. In other words, the higher the quality of the program and the lower the cost, the better the deal.

To be a Best College for Veterans:

• The institution is certified for the GI Bill.

• The institution participates in the Yellow Ribbon Program or is a public school that charges in-state tuition to all out-of-state veterans.

• For the third consecutive year, the institution must have enrolled a minimum of 20 veterans and active service members, or a critical mass, in the 2018-2019 academic year.

• The institution must be ranked in the top half of its 2020 edition Best Colleges ranking category.

The rankings come in a school year in which CIU is celebrating a significant increase in enrollment. CIU President Dr. Mark Smith told new students and their families that CIU is about investing in the whole person, and committed $35 million toward improvements over the last two years to make CIU the best experience possible.

Columbia International University consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. Excitement is growing on campus with CIU’s first baseball program in development and new academic programs such as the Doctor of Ministerial Leadership. Request information on enrollment at CIU and Columbia Biblical Seminary or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.

Remember

"WELCOME TO A NEW ACADEMIC YEAR" by Dr. John Harvey, Dean of the Seminary & School of Ministry

On August 26, the Seminary and School of Ministry began a new academic year. The Fall 2019 semester brings with it multiple reasons to thank God for his faithfulness.

• Ninety percent of the students who were with us last spring registered for fall semester courses. 
• Our new Doctoral of Ministerial Leadership degree has 26 new students registered in its first cohort. 
• Our new Doctor of Philosophy degree has 22 new students registered in its first Biblical Studies and Theological Studies seminars. 
• Our Chinese Seminary Studies initiative has 30 new students registered for masters-level courses. 
• Dr. Seth Scott has joined the Clinical Counseling team as our fourth full-time counseling faculty member. 

Would you take a few minutes to praise God with us for his goodness to SSM?

Items for which you could be praying include: 

• The addition of a Practical Theology concentration for the PhD degree and the possibility of making each of the PhD concentrations available in Chinese.
• The development of a five-year Psychology/Clinical Counseling dual degree program and a new MA program in Addictions Counseling. 
• Initial conversations regarding the development of an MA degree in Marketplace Transformation. 
• The search for the right person to lead our church-based apprenticeship initiative. 
• Glenda Nanna as she concludes work on her doctoral dissertation. 

Alumni Spotlight: Stewart Ryall (Bachelor of Science, Youth Ministry, Family & Culture, 2016)

"I serve in a local church as a family and teaching pastor. In my role, I have to combine counseling, leadership, and communication skills while caring for people from different generations and different world views. Because of what I learned at CIU I can confidently communicate the truth of Jesus Christ in a constantly changing culture. CIU gave me training, experiences, and relationships that I will be able to lean on throughout the rest of life."

Faculty Focus: David G. Cashin

Professor of Intercultural Studies

B.A., Gordon College; M.A., Dhaka University, Dhaka, Bangladesh; M.A., Ph.D., Stockholm University, Sweden

Dr. Cashin is professor of intercultural studies at Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Ministry. Dr. Cashin obtained his bachelor of arts degree in history from Gordon College and his master of arts and doctor of philosophy in indology from Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. While in Sweden, Dr. Cashin served as pastor of two churches. He wrote and taught courses and seminars in Islamic history, theology and Muslim-Christian relations.

For nine years Dr. Cashin served in Bangladesh as missionary, church planter, educator and development worker with SIM International. He is fluent in Bengali and Swedish and has extensive knowledge of seven other languages.

In the United States Dr. Cashin served as press secretary to the U.S. Center for World Mission and as director of research at the Samuel Zwemer Institute of Islamic Studies.

Prior to joining the faculty of Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions, Dr. Cashin was principal of Valley Christian School in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Dr. Cashin is the author of The Ocean of Love: Ali Rajâ’s gam and Jnân Sâgara, The Ocean of Love: Middle Bengali Sufi Literature and the Fakirs of Bengal, The Secret of the Blessing of Abraham, Study Guide for the Blessing of Abraham, and Muhammad and the People of the Book. He also has published numerous articles on Islam and other subjects.

Dr. Cashin and his wife, Margareta, reside in Columbia.

Ph.D., Stockholm University, Sweden; press secretary, US Center for World Mission, 1977-79; director of research, Samuel Zwemer Institute of Islamic Studies, 1979-80; immigrant relations specialist, Saron Baptist Church, Gothenburg, Sweden, 1980-82; missionary, church planter, educator and development worker, SIM International, 1982-91; city translator, Eskilstuna, Sweden, 1991-94; teacher and seminar leader, Örebro Theological Seminary, 1991-95; pastor, Johanneberg Baptist and Salem Baptist Church, 1991-95; interim pastor, Stony Brook Community Church, 1996-97; principal, Valley Christian School, 1995-2001; faculty, Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Ministry, 2001-present.

Prayer Towers

Servanthood

Blowing the shofar, Columbia International University Dean Dr. Bryan Beyer signaled in CIU's Convocation procession, ushering in another school year. Convocation, an ancient tradition, is held every year at CIU to dedicate the school's academic mission to God.

Provost Dr. James Lanpher recognized over 200 new students and several new faculty members while welcoming everyone into another school year. Events and accomplishments from the previous school year and summer activities were reviewed in a video presentation drawing loud applause from the student body, faculty and staff assembled in Shortess Chapel.

The congregational singing of the hymn "Take my Life and Let it be" and a prayer by Professor Dr. Andre Rogers set the tone for what was to follow.

"We realize we are here because of your grace and tender mercies," Rogers prayed. "We thank you for your faithfulness to all who call CIU their home."

CIU President Dr. Mark Smith delivered the Convocation message saying that he was directed over the summer to John 13:16, a theme verse for the coming school year:

"Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him."

"I challenge you today to spend a few minutes in the Word to understand a key principle about Columbia International University and our faculty and staff," Smith said. "To understand this whole idea of servanthood, I want to first take you to the beginning."

Smith focused on God's love, God's service, and God's call for us to be like Him. He retold the scene of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples in an act of humble servanthood. And then appealing to Scripture and drawing from experiences in his personal walk with God, Smith encouraged all to take on the loveliest of tasks in emulation of Jesus, giving oneself for others.

Smith finished by saying, "CIU students when you serve ..." and leaving the sentence hanging in the air, he walked to the side of the stage where a towel, bowl, and pitcher of water awaited him. Removing his Convocation regalia and getting on his knees, the president of CIU washed the feet of his special assistant, friend and faculty member, Dr. Andre Rogers giving all a visual of servanthood.

In an appropriate finish to the message, and in the tradition of CIU Convocation, the assembled sang CIU’s Alma Mater that includes in the final verse a call to service and the CIU motto:

The vision thou hast given of truth and human need, inspires us all to service to sow the precious seed. May we in consecration to Jesus Christ alone, fulfill thy sacred purpose: “TO KNOW AND MAKE HIM KNOWN.”

Columbia International University ranks #1 among colleges and universities in South Carolina by BestColleges.com. Excitement is growing on campus with CIU’s first baseball program in development, and online with CIU’s new Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership. Request information on enrollment at CIU and Columbia Biblical Seminary or call (800) 777-2227, ext. 5024.

Happy Labor Day!

Alumni Spotlight: Anthony (Tony) Opliger

"Hannah and I just celebrated thirteen years of marriage. We have four young children, one of whom we adopted from the DR Congo, We live in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where I have been serving as lead pastor within Northeast Christian Church for over ten years. Our vision as a church is to see Fort Wayne and the nations sing for joy as we proclaim and embody the good news of Jesus and His Kingdom.

The two main ways CIU shaped our leadership within the church are formation and mission. The emphasis on formation helped to ignite a passion in us to see the people around us grow in Jesus. The emphasis on mission has helped shape our church to be on mission in practical ways in the increasingly post-Christian North American context."