N T R O D U C T I O N
Columbia International University is a dynamic university that trains Christians for global missions, full-time vocational
Christian ministry in a variety of strategic professions, and marketplace ministry.
Columbia International University (CIU) offers undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and advanced programs. The
corporation also includes Ben Lippen School, a Pre-K through 12th grade Christian school that prepares young people to fulfill
the Great Commission. CIU also reaches out with two Christian radio stations, WMHK in Columbia, South Carolina, and New
Life 91.9 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Located on 400 scenic acres next to the Broad River, just minutes from the hub of South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia, the
beautiful campus is home to a diverse group of Christians. The student body represents many denominations, ethnic and
cultural backgrounds, and reflects the socioeconomic diversity of the world — united by their desire to know Christ and to
make Him known.
History
CIU was born out of a prayer group of six women who sought the Lord for a means to evangelize and disciple mill workers in
Columbia. The results went beyond their expectations. The CIU ministry was founded in 1923 as Columbia Bible School,
occupying the former Colonia Hotel in downtown Columbia in 1927. The school became Columbia Bible College in 1930, one of
the nation’s first four-year Bible colleges. Graduate courses were first offered in 1936, marking the beginning of what is now
CIU’s Seminary & School of Ministry. The school moved to its present 400-acre campus in suburban Columbia in 1960 and
changed its corporate name to Columbia International University in 1994.
Robert C. McQuilkin was CIU’s first president, holding the office until his death in 1952. He was succeeded by G. Allen Fleece,
who led the university until 1966. Robertson McQuilkin, son of the first president, served from 1968 through 1990. Then
Johnny V. Miller, current CIU faculty member and former pastor, served as president from 1991 through 1999. George Murray
was appointed president in 1999 and as chancellor in 2007. Dr. Bill Jones currently serves as president and has been serving
since 2007.
CIU was founded for the purpose of preparing students “To know Him and to make Him known,” as our motto states. That
purpose remains the same today. All programs emphasize spiritual development, biblical training, and ministry skills
development. From the early years until the present, CIU has focused on five core values: the Authority of Scripture, World
Evangelization, Victorious Christian Living, Prayer and Faith, and Evangelical Unity.
The school’s first class boasted seven students. Currently CIU enrollment includes over 1,200 students, with several hundred
students involved in non-traditional and distance education programs. Approximately 17,000 students have received training
at CIU. Hundreds of our alumni serve throughout the world.
Purpose
Columbia International University is a multi-denominational Christian institution of higher education dedicated to preparing
world Christians to serve God with excellence. Its educational units offer degree programs ranging from associate level to
doctoral level. All postsecondary programs emphasize spiritual formation, mastery of biblical content and interpretation skills,
cultivation of a biblical worldview, ministry skills development, and vocational competency.
CIU serves students from over 40 states and 30 foreign countries, the majority coming from five Southeastern states. More
than 52 church denominations and independent fellowships are represented in the faculty and student body. CIU graduates
serve in vocational Christian ministries and in the marketplace, with about 30 percent of CIU graduates working in cross-
cultural contexts.
Mission
Columbia International University educates people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.
We pursue this mission as an academic community modeling, mentoring, and motivating students to cultivate spiritual vitality
and character formation, to acquire knowledge in biblical content and gain interpretation skills, to develop competence as
critical thinkers and communicators, to formulate a comprehensive biblical worldview for themselves, and to explore and
initiate experiences that are ministry-focused.
Both the curriculum and the community life at CIU are intentionally designed to stimulate a dynamic context in which each
student is assisted and encouraged to pursue the following institutional goals:
•
Know
Christ
by learning submission to His Lordship and dependence on the Holy Spirit, thus making progress in
conforming to His image
OLUMBIA NTERNATIONAL NIVERSITY
NTRODUCTION