In this era of Social Distancing because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Columbia International University family joined together on Facebook Live for a time of prayer and Communion during Tuesday of Holy Week.

CIU President Dr. Mark Smith opened with a reading on the Suffering Servant from Isaiah 53. He then prayed for world and local leaders who are making decisions in the midst of the pandemic. He prayed for the health of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is hospitalized with the virus, for President Donald Trump and at the local level for Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin. He also prayed for CIU employees, and that Americans would repent of sin, and that God would heal the land.

Reading from the Book of Common Prayer, Smith prayed, “We have not loved you with our whole heart, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves,” Smith began. “We are truly sorry, and we humbly repent.”

Dr. Ed Smither, dean of the College of Intercultural Studies, prayed for alumni serving around the world, for the CIU students who are all learning through online studies in the second half of the spring semester, and asked a blessing on their technology. He also noted that during quarantine, Isaac Newton made advances in calculus and Shakespeare wrote a play.

“I pray that you will give our students a passion for what they are studying,” Smither prayed.

Dr. John Harvey, dean of the Seminary & School of Ministry, led the Communion service from 1 Corinthians 11, remembering what Christ has done in the past, what He does for us at the present, and His return.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (NASB)
²⁶  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

“We celebrate what your Son has done,” Harvey prayed. “We thank you so much for Him. All that we have in Him. May He always be our focus.”

Watch the prayer and Communion service on the CIU Facebook site.