Homecoming 2011: Football, Chili and Distinguished Alumni

Homecoming 2011: Football, Chili and Distinguished Alumni

Robert J. Morgan accepts the Distinguished Alumni Award.

Homecoming 2011 at Columbia International University was rich with CIU traditions.  The theme, “Faith Forward” highlighted three Distinguished Alumni who have made an impact both in the United States and abroad.  Other Homecoming events Nov. 3-5 included tours of the historic Robert Mills House downtown – a former location of CIU, a reunion concert of the Ambassador Choir, the CIU Bowl football games, and the annual Chili Cook-off.     

Honored as distinguished alumni during a chapel service that was broadcast live over the Internet, were Robert J. Morgan (class of ’74) and his wife Katrina Polvinen Morgan (class of ’76).  Robert Morgan is pastor of Donelson Fellowship in suburban Nashville, Tenn.   He is also a best-selling author of over 35 books that have been translated into Spanish, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, Indonesian, and Korean.  

In a declaration honoring Robert Morgan, CIU Alumni Ministries wrote:

“Rob's personal/pastoral/mentoring ministries to others, his writing, his preaching & teaching, or even his exemplary marriage with his wife Katrina (who has Multiple Sclerosis), he certainly impacts any who have ears to hear God's Word.”

The Morgans have three daughters and ten grandchildren. 

Also recognized as a Distinguished Alumna was Wilma J. Cross (class of ’69).  Cross was honored for her effective ministry among prisoners in Chile, South America.  Cross first began her service in Chile in 1972 with World Presbyterian Missions and taught at the Evangelical Institute of Quillota.  She then developed the first Protestant ministry for women in Chilean prisons, focusing on evangelism, training volunteers for prison and mercy ministries, and operating a rehabilitation house for girls.