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Connexus
New Initiative Connects Students With Business Leaders
By Bob Holmes
It may have been a bit intimidating. One evening last April,
nine Columbia International University students dressed “smart
casual” and headed to downtown Columbia to meet with a trio
of local business leaders at an exclusive dinner club.
CIU Intercultural Studies professor Dr. Mike Barnett says the
Marketplace Mentors Dinner, held once each semester, is part
of larger initiative called “Connexus” designed to “connect
our students with real-world Christ-followers who live, work,
and serve in the marketplace.” The participating students
are majoring in Global Business Development, International
Community Development or Global Media Communication.
Also attending the dinner were CIU Business & Organizational
Leadership Program Director Dr. Benjamin Dean, and CIU Chief
Financial Officer Keith Stokeld.
Barnett says the challenge to provide mentors from the
marketplace came from Bill Short, a prominent attorney in
downtown Columbia and an active member of a downtown
New Books by CIU Professors
For God and Country
By Dr. Brian Bohlman
Adjunct Professor of Chaplaincy
Considering the call to ministry can be a difficult
process, and sometimes even more difficult when
that call is outside the traditional church setting,
such as military chaplaincy. Dr. Brian Bohlman
writes from a Christian perspective and holds the
premise that the vocation of military chaplaincy is
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RESOURCES
businessmen Bible study that was co-founded by CIU President
Dr. Bill Jones.
Short, who attended the April dinner meeting, says there is an
abundance of downtown believing professionals with a wide
variety of ministries who can share their experiences with the
students.
“We passed along our experiences on being relational,
on how to share your faith, on how to approach leading
others to Christ, on how to live an abundant Christian life in
your workplace,” Short said. “These efforts are mostly non-
denominational and thus strengthen the local churches and
ministries.”
CIU students listen as local business leaders
share how they live out their faith in the
marketplace.
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ACADEMICS
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