The Eye Behind “Sue Thomas, FBEye”

The Eye Behind “Sue Thomas, FBEye”

Sue Thomas speaks in CIU Chapel

Sue Thomas

Sue Thomas Speaks in CIU Chapel

By Michael A. Lanier

CIU Student Writer

A Columbia International University alumna who was the inspiration for a TV show, challenged CIU students to look beyond themselves and draw strength from God.

Sue Thomas, who has been deaf since she was 18 months old, found a career with the FBI as a “secret weapon” because of her mastery of lip-reading. Her success inspired a popular television show starring Deanne Bray in the early 2000s, “Sue Thomas: FBEye” that was loosely based on her experiences.

In spite of these events, Thomas realized, that she still wasn't happy with her life, because she was unhappy with God for allowing her to be deaf. So she left the FBI to attend CIU (or Columbia Bible College & Seminary as it was known then), a decision that changed her life.

“I came to this school for one reason,” Thomas said during her Chapel message. “To prove that God had made a mistake ... but I'm the one who wound up doing the confessing.”

Thomas has since used her platform as a former FBI agent and a television personality to share the message of God's salvation to all who will hear her.

Thomas says her fame didn't last, and she found that to think about what she wanted in a selfish way was to name herself the great I Am, which was destructive. Rather, she came around to naming God as her great I Am, a decision she says every believer must make.

“It's very encouraging to see how much she has gone through and yet remains positive,” said freshman Brandon Brazell.

Thomas shared that believers must give their selfish human nature over to God, which to her is the hardest part of being a Christian.

Sue Thomas' message can be found on CIU's podcast page.