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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