Dr. Michelle Raven, director of the International Community Development and Disaster Relief/Emergency Management programs at Columbia International University, gave the opening plenary address to the 2019 Evangelical Missiological Society (EMS) annual meeting in Dallas on Sept. 13. Raven was also co-chair of the 2019 EMS with the theme “Mission Amid Global Crises.”

Raven’s talk, “From the Classroom to the Disaster,” included reflections on her own journey in mission and relief when she was an Air Officer in Iraq tasked with rebuilding a devastated region. Raven emphasized the need to be trained well in evangelism, discipleship, and church planting while also gaining competencies and skills in disaster relief and emergency management. Illustrating practically from her relief work in South Carolina and Puerto Rico, she also talked about the need to train students to respond to crises and spiritual needs.

Following her talk, Dr. Aminta Arrington, professor of intercultural studies at John Brown University responded, affirming the imperative for Christians to take the lead in relieving human suffering and ministering to the whole person.

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.