Faculty
Dr. David Cashin
Seminary & School of Missions (Resident Faculty)
Intercultural Studies
Dr. Cashin is professor of intercultural studies at Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions. Dr. Cashin obtained his bachelor of arts degree in history from Gordon College and his master of arts and doctor of philosophy in indology from Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden. While in Sweden, Dr. Cashin served as pastor of two churches. He wrote and taught courses and seminars in Islamic history, theology and Muslim-Christian relations. For nine years Dr. Cashin served in Bangladesh as missionary, church planter, educator and development worker with SIM International. He is fluent in Bengali and Swedish and has extensive knowledge of seven other languages. In the United States Dr. Cashin served as press secretary to the U.S. Center for World Mission and as director of research at the Samuel Zwemer Institute of Islamic Studies. Prior to joining the faculty of Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions, Dr. Cashin was principal of Valley Christian School in Northampton, Massachusetts. Dr. Cashin is the author of The Ocean of Love: Ali Rajā's gam and Jnān Sāgara, The Ocean of Love: Middle Bengali Sufi Literature and the Fakirs of Bengal, The Secret of the Blessing of Abraham, and Study Guide for the Blessing of Abraham. He also has published numerous articles on Islam and other subjects. Dr. Cashin and his wife, Margareta, reside in Columbia with their three children, Thomas, Peter and Michael.
Education and Experience:
Ph.D., Stockholm University, Sweden; press secretary, US Center for World Mission, 1977-79; director of research, Samuel Zwemer Institute of Islamic Studies, 1979-80; immigrant relations specialist, Saron Baptist Church, Gothenburg, Sweden, 1980-82; missionary, church planter, educator and development worker, SIM International, 1982-91; city translator, Eskilstuna, Sweden, 1991-94; teacher and seminar leader, Orevoro Theological Seminary, 1991-95; pastor, Johanneberg Baptist and Salem Baptist Church, 1991-95; interim pastor, Stony Brook Community Church, 1996-97; principal, Valley Christian School, 1995-2001; faculty, Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions, 2001-present.
Dr. John Harvey
Seminary & School of Missions (Resident Faculty)
Director of Advencement in Ministry
Greek, New Testament
When John Harvey joined the SSM faculty in 1992, it marked the beginning of his formal teaching experience, but not the beginning of his connection with Columbia International University. After working for nine and a half years as an architect in Pennsylvania and North Carolina, he entered CIU's SSM in 1983 to begin work on a Master of Divinity degree. When he completed his studies in 1986 he remained in Columbia for two years to work at CIU as a Faculty Assistant. He later served as a Teaching Fellow at CIU's SSM for one year immediately prior to joining the faculty.
Dr. Harvey is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Institute for Biblical Research, the Society of Biblical Literature, and the South Carolina Academy of Religion. He has written book reviews for the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society as well as contributing articles to a number of theological dictionaries.
Dr. Harvey is ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America. During 1998-99, he and his wife, Anita, lived in Germany, while he served as Interim Dean of the SSM Branch Campus in Korntal, Germany.
Education and Experience:
B.A./B. Architecture, 1974, Syracuse University; M.Div., 1986, Columbia Biblical Seminary and Graduate School of Missions; Th.D., 1997, Toronto School of Theology; Faculty Assistant, 1986-88, Columbia Biblical Seminary; Teaching assistant, 1989-91, Wycliffe College (Toronto); Teaching fellow, 1991-92, Columbia Biblical Seminary. Interim Dean, CBS-Korntal, 1998-99. CIU Seminary & School of Missions, 1992.
Dr. Allan McKechnie
Seminary & School of Missions (Resident Faculty)
Counseling
Allan McKechnie is director of the master of arts program in counseling in the Graduate School of Columbia International University. The program's goal is to train students in theology, psychology and counseling skills for the purpose of professional counseling and ministry. McKechnie, a CIU alumnus, came to the position after having designed the undergraduate psychology program for CIU's Bible College Division. He joined the CIU faculty in the fall of 1992, coming from Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Illinois, where he was director of counseling and family life. He was on the Willow Creek staff for seven years. He served as associate pastor at Middletown Presbyterian Church, Middletown, Pennsylvania, and as youth pastor at Village Church of Barrington, Barrington, Illinois. He co-planted and was a teaching pastor at Palmetto Point Church in Irmo, South Carolina. He has also acted as psychiatric technician at Forest Hospital, Des Plaines, Illinois, and as staff therapist at DuKane Clinics, Elgin, Illinois. McKechnie has published several articles and a chapter in Free and Fulfilled: Victorious Living in the 21st Century (Nelson 1997) on topics related to integration of psychology and theology. He and his wife, Margaret, a 1972 CBS graduate, have three children: Sara, Dan and Anna.
Education and Experience:
B.B.E., Columbia Bible College; M.Div., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School; Psy.D. candidate, Forest Institute of Professional Psychology; additional study, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary; D.Min. coursework, Bethel Theological Seminary; associate pastor, Middletown Presbyterian Church, 1972-73; youth pastor, Village Church of Barrington, 1973-76; psychiatric technician, Forest Hospital, 1979-82; staff therapist, DuKane Clinics, 1982-87; staff therapist, Willow Creek Church, 1987-92.
Dr. Junias Venugopal
Seminary & School of Missions (Resident Faculty)
Dean, Seminary and School of Missions
Junias Venugopal serves as Dean of the Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions since Jan. 1, 2004. He teaches in the areas of educational ministry, leadership, and research methodology. Junias and his wife, Beth served in India and the Philippines before coming to Columbia. Junias was a pastor at Delhi Bible Fellowship, New Delhi, India for over 8 years and oversaw the planting of two new congregations. During the 6 years they served in the Philippines, he was Dean of the Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST) - Philippines from 2000 - 2003. AGST-Philippines is a consortium of 8 evangelical seminaries in the Philippines that offers post M.Div. programs. Junias has also worked in the marketplace, both in India and the US. Junias' goal is to be a catalyst in the lives of those with whom he intersects so that they may achieve their God gifted potential. Junias and Beth have four children, Stephen, Kathryn, Merryn, and Rachel.
Education and Experience:
B.E.(Hons.), 1972, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Rajasthan, India; M.B.A., 1978, Cornell University; Th.M., 1984, Dallas Theological Seminary; Ph.D., 1997, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. 1986-94, Pastor, Delhi Bible Fellowship, New Delhi, India; 1998-2003, adjunct faculty, International School of Theology - Asia, Manila, Philippines; 2000-2003, adjunct faculty at Asian Theological Seminary, Alliance Biblical Seminary, Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary, (all in Manila, Philippines); 2000-2003, Dean, Asia Graduate School of Theology - Philippines. Columbia Biblical Seminary and School of Missions, 2003 - present.