The annual “Prescription for Renewal Conference,” hosted by Samaritan’s Purse, encourages medical professionals to service for Christ around the world. Among the attendees at the September 2023 event in Orlando were CIU nursing students and faculty.  

Samaritan’s Purse is a nondenominational evangelical Christian organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world. It was founded by Franklin Graham, eldest son of the late evangelist Billy Graham.

For over a dozen years, the director of Columbia International University’s nursing program, Dr. Jill McElheny, has served with Samaritan’s Purse International Relief, traveling to many countries around the world. She expresses a deep desire to lead CIU nursing students to serve as the hands and feet of Christ as they care for patients.

McElheny thanks Samaritan’s Purse for making it financially possible for CIU students to attend the conference.

“Our nursing students represented CIU so well, and they were connected to hundreds of opportunities to serve in medical missions,” McElheny said. “We are grateful for the opportunity to be selected as one of the schools Samaritan’s Purse invites and chooses to sponsor.”  

The 32nd annual Prescription for Renewal offered a time to reflect and celebrate what God is doing through Samaritan Purse’s World Medical Mission program. The conference drew more than 700 people, ranging from nursing students in their 20s to retired missionary doctors in their 90s.

Learn more about the conference at the Samaritan’s Purse website, and be sure to check out CIU’s nursing and biomedical programs.

CIU is celebrating 100 years of its mission to “educate people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.” The university consistently ranks among the Top Regional Universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report, as well as a Best Value Regional University in the South.  Apply now or request information on enrollment by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or admissions@ciu.edu.