CIU Today Fall 2015

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Ties to the Fisher Building
The desire to give financially to CIU is a direct reflection of CIU’s impact on this late
blooming couple, Marilyn (Pilgrim) (’96) and Kirby Player.
Marilyn’s life directly and Kirby’s indirectly, have been influenced by Marilyn’s CIU
experience. At the ages of 47, after 22 years of friendship/courtship/co-laboring, they
married. This was 12 years after Marilyn’s training for the mission field at CIU in the mid-
1990s. After graduating from CIU, Marilyn served five years in Turkey teaching missionary
children at an international school. Health issues brought Marilyn back to South Carolina
and God united the couple in marriage.
When CIU’s “Forward in Faith” Campaign was announced, Kirby, who has a professional
career in alumni and development, knew immediately God was calling the couple to pray
about giving. The vision God communicated through CIU President Bill Jones, resonates
with the Player’s core values of reaching the generations with the gospel. God’s call to
give led to an unrestricted gift in the couple’s estate plan. However, when President
Jones sitting in the well-worn classroom seats of the Fisher Building appeared in a video
distributed to CIU alumni and friends, the couple could not resist being a part of facilities
renovation. The project is dear to their hearts because Marilyn sat under the teaching of
Dr. Jones in the Fisher Building during her time at CIU. In faith, they both gave $1,000 to
the building renovation project believing God is calling CIU’s alumni and friends “Forward
in Faith” so CIU may remain relevant in developing leaders, young and old, to impact the
nations with the message of Christ.
experience in Chapel and the positive discussion with students. We have had a heart for
CIU for many years.”
Over $60,000 has been awarded from the scholarship to deserving students entering the
ministry. The total balance exceeds $100,000. Ralph and Pat continue to bless CIU with
their generosity, preparing students to be educated from a biblical worldview, to impact
the nations with the message of Christ.
MIKE BARNETT SCHOLARSHIP
What is the mission of God? A blessing for all peoples. This was the simple truth that
CIU professor Dr. Mike Barnett communicated to students and intercultural workers for
over two decades, until his death last August. (See page 5) He was a professor of church
planting, business as mission, ministry teams, and history of global Christianity. But he also
consulted business owners, nonprofit organizations, and mission organizations — all with
the mission of God as his central driving passion.
Barnett was the founding dean of CIU’s College of Intercultural Studies (ICS) whose vision is
to “equip students for missional life, work, and ministry in a culturally diverse world.” That’s
why The Mike Barnett Mission of God Scholarship was created, as an investment in the
future — helping to fund the education of the next generation of intercultural workers in
mission, full-time ministry, or the marketplace, who will make disciples of all peoples.
To give to the Mike Barnett Mission of God Scholarship, please visit: . Click on
the list of funds to support.
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DEVELOPMENT
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