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Top News |
Men's Soccer Showcase March 8-9During the Soccer Showcase, students will have the opportunity to participate in a training session with other prospective players under the direction of our coaching staff, and seniors who plan to attend CIU also will be trying out to make the official roster. Learn more... First Intercollegiate Athlete Signs to Play for CIU Rams SoccerClick here to read the full story. 30 Days of Prayer for Rams AthleticsAs our hearts are focused on creating an athletics department which will glorify God, we desire that all at CIU are a part of the building of the program, starting with prayer. If you can or feel lead, please join us in prayer as we develop CIU Rams Athletics and dedicate our work to the Lord; asking for His guidance, direction and wisdom. For more information please email KAbbott@ciu.edu First Annual Discover CIU 5kFor the results from the First Annual Discover CIU 5k check out the Cross Country Page. |
History In The Making
We are embarking on one of the most exciting chapters in the history of CIU. For the first time in 89 years, CIU will field our first intercollegiate athletic teams in fall 2012. Why athletics at CIU? It fits with our purpose of educating people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ. Imagine the outreach that student-athletes and coaches can have both at home and abroad using the platform of athletics to share the good news of Jesus Christ
Our Sports
Fall 2012 marks the beginning of an aggressive five-year plan introducing intercollegiate athletics at CIU.
Our League
CIU will compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA), whose mission is to use athletic competition as an integral component of education, evangelism, and encouragement.
Our Mascot
The ram was chosen as the CIU mascot for its strength and its biblical significance. Not only are rams known as ferocious defenders of their territory and their flock, the ram is a symbol of God's provision - a foreshadowing of Christ's sacrifice on the cross.
Click here for more information on becoming a founding member of the CIU Rams Club!
Cheryl Guinther is the communications coordinator for the Alumni Ministries Office of Columbia International University. She serves alumni with genuine personal care and a professional approach developed over years as an executive administrative assistant and missionary. Cheryl worked over six years for a Christian financial management company providing client-care to seniors. As a missionary with Brethren in Christ World Missions in Zambia, Africa, Cheryl managed a mission guesthouse, served with a church team taking the “Jesus Film” to outlying villages, and started a “Reading Room” ministry to help street children return to school. For the last five years, she has been a mentor in the Missions Development Program for Brethren in Christ World Missions. Cheryl and her husband, Peter, moved to Columbia from Mechanicsburg, Penn. in August of 2010 so that Peter could complete his Master of Divinity degree at CIU. She enjoys reading, gardening, volunteering at a women’s shelter, and the close fellowship with her neighbors in the CIU Village.
Cheryl’s favorite Scripture verse is Romans 13:8.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Public School
Bachelor of Science, Bible Teaching, Columbia International University
Public School System
The author is a graduate of the Bible Teaching program at Columbia International University. She teaches Bible in a public school in the United States. But because of opposition from some in our culture who actively oppose any religious discussion in public schools, the writer wishes to remain anonymous. The name of the student has been changed.
When he entered my classroom on the first day of school I had to do a double take. He was dressed all in black. He had the word "suicide" written in permanent ink on both arms. Hate was written on each knuckle on the top of his hand. The clincher was the strange jewelry he wore all around his neck. He flopped into a desk.
"I did not sign up for this class and I do not want to be here," he said. "I worship Satan and I serve him."
With this statement he put his head down on the desk. This was met with stunned silence from the rest of the class. The class is Bible and I teach in the public school as an elective.
And so it began. I was a bit shaken up but I responded with, "You are welcome to change classes. You can take drama, or art or P.E. but if you stay in this class you will listen and you will keep your head up!" I fully expected to never see him again but he returned the next day and the next. He did keep his head up and he did listen and slowly I began to see God at work. I requested prayer for him from godly people that I knew would pray. I asked God to give me a love for him and He did. Teenagers know if you love them and David began to know that there was something different about this class and something different about me.
Since the class is an elective, students must choose to take it. It was strange that David said he did not choose the class. I now know God chose David and put him in Bible class.
I was teaching the life of Jesus from all four gospels. As we worked through the life of Jesus, David began to change. The words written on his arms and hands began to go. Next the jewelry was gone. The first day he wore a normal t-shirt to class I gave him a high five.
"I knew you would notice," he smiled.
David asked questions. He read his Bible. He participated in class. Then on October 10 he gave me a letter. It read, "No longer do I worship Satan. I worship Jesus and want to serve Him only."
The Word of God changes lives. I do not preach or evangelize. I love teenagers and I teach the Bible to classes full of students at the middle school and the high school in my community. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God. Isaiah 55:11 is the promise I cling to with every semester and every new group of students:
"... so is my Word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
That is a promise from God and I claim it as I teach Bible in the public school every day. I have seen enough to know this to be true and even when I do not see it I believe it - God's Word will not return void. It will accomplish His purpose!
Download a printable version of this Impact story here.
This graduate of Columbia International University is like 17,000 other alumni around the world making an impact every day. If you want an undergraduate, graduate or seminary education that equips you to make a real difference, we need to meet.