Connection

The magazine of Columbia International University

Spring 2012

www.ciu.edu

Because Christ is worthy.

Ministry
in hard places.
Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power (Rev. 4:11a)

L E T T E R F R O M T H E P R E S I D E NT

Christ is Worthy
Dear friend of CIU, What drives a person to leave the comfort, security and amenities of the United States and spread the gospel to an unreached people group in a land hostile to Christianity? Right before he left to do just that, a Columbia International University graduate told the youth group that he had been pastoring this: Christ is worthy. Because Christ is Worthy. Ministry in the Hard Places. That theme threads throughout this edition of Connection magazine. But the hard place may not always be in a far-off, unfriendly land where antagonists abound and your well-being threatened. Sometimes the hard place has a downtown address where indifference toward Christ prevails. But Christ is worthy. And that worthiness shines through the people you will meet in the dozen articles that follow. From CIU Professor Dr. David Cashin who carries wounds from an attack by an angry mob in Bangladesh, to CIUs ministry coordinator and businessman Jeff Wheeler who takes on the challenges of ministry in the marketplace. Youll also get acquainted with one of CIUs recent doctoral graduates, Raphael Anzenberger who plants churches in an area of France well-known for the occult. CIU professor of chaplaincy Dr. Mike Langston takes us on harrowing helicopter ride over a battleground in Iraq the perfect place for a chaplain. Two current students in the International Community Development program describe not just surviving, but thriving as they train to live as a married couple in the underdeveloped world. Meanwhile, staff members of CIUs Columbia radio station 89.7 WMHK traveled to an impoverished area of the world where they met children sponsored by WMHK listeners through Compassion International. In North Africa, a Christian school grows under the leadership of a CIU doctoral student despite the unsettled political situation in the region, while here in the United States a CIU alumnus equips gap year students for leadership through the ministry of IMPACT 360. In case you havent noticed from all those political ads on TV, its an election year. Why do believers run for elective office? Discover from two CIU alumni that even in politics Christ is worthy. One other thing. You may have heard that Alumni Director Roy King spent several days in the hospital suffering from a severe allergic reaction. Back on campus now, Roy continues to ponder Christs worthiness in a hard place the Intensive Care Unit. Whatever hard place you find yourself in today Christ is worthy. In the fourth chapter of Revelation, the Apostle John sees the throne room of heaven, and the One who sits on the throne. And in the awesomeness of it all, crowns are cast before the throne with the words: Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power (Rev. 4:11a)

Whatever hard place you find yourself in today Christ is worthy.

Yours for His glory,

William H. Jones President

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Connection
Columbia International University
Volume XII, No. 1 Spring 2012

The CIU Connection is published as a service to CIU alumni and friends by the Marketing Department of Columbia International University.
Editor Bob Holmes Design The Gillespie Agency

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2 From the President 4 CIU News Briefs 10 The HEART of a Marriage
(And International Community Development) By Bob Holmes, Connection Editor

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17 Ministry in The Occult Triangle
Community at the Center of Strategy for Church Planting in France By Dr. R. Anzenberger

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18 Impacting North Africa through Education

CIU Doctoral Student in Strategic Part of the World Identification of author protected

Direct all inquiries to:

The CIU Connection magazine P.O. Box 3122 Columbia, SC 29230-3122 (803) 807-5535 publicrelations@ciu.edu

12 Christ Must Have Preeminence in our Lives

By Dr. David Cashin, CIU Professor of Intercultural Studies and Muslim Studies

19 American Politics: God are you here?

Two views from CIU alumni

Visit our Web site

www.ciu.edu
Columbia International University admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

13 Thriving One Adventure at a Time

By Brianne Holmes, Special to Connection

20 A Christian Scholar at a Secular University

Faith of Ben Lippen School Graduate Tested at College Q&A with Margarita Walsh

14 CIU Alum Guides Young Adults into the Hard Places

Influencing Dreamers, Leaders and Servants By Abbey Le Roy, CIU Student Writer

21 Not a Starbucks in Sight

WMHK Staff Travels to Bangladesh to Meet Compassion Kids By Michelle Renew

15 Meeting the Challenges of Ministry in the Marketplace

Jeff Wheeler Links CIU to Columbias Business Community By Abbey Le Roy and Bob Holmes

22 A Hard Place: The Intensive Care Unit

CIU Alumni Director Pondering Lessons Learned After Severe Allergic Reaction An Update from Dr. Roy King

16 The Military Chaplain: The Presence of Christ in Dangerous Places

A higher standard. A higher purpose.

23 Resources
CIU Blogs and Websites Provide Insight, Inspiration

By Dr. Michael W. Langston, Retired Navy Chaplain, CIU Professor of Chaplain Ministries

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CIU News Briefs

CIU Dedicates Renovated G. Allen Fleece Library

By Jacob Given, CIU Student Writer Just before graduation day in May 2010, CIU President Dr. Bill Jones prayed with the board of trustees that God would strike a fire under the graduates. The next morning he got a phone call that CIUs G. Allen Fleece Library was on fire. The blaze left $2.5 million in damages. Jones recounted that story on Jan. 24, 2012, at the dedication of the renovated G. Allen Fleece Library. When I saw how good this library turned out, I made a list of other buildings to pray for, Jones joked from the podium. Jones also thanked those who contributed to the Library Recovery Fund. The $1.3 million in improvements to the library include glass-enclosed rooms that encourage collaborative study, the latest high-tech connectivity, new furniture, a copier alcove, and a coffee nook that features a coffee maker that grinds the coffee beans. The renovated library opened to students on Jan. 17. The dedication followed a chapel message by CIU alumnus Dr. David Calhoun of Covenant Theological Seminary in St Louis, the son-in-law of G. Allen Fleece. Fleece was the second president of CIU, and instrumental in the building of the original library in 1968. David Fleece and Anne Fleece Calhoun, children of G. Allen Fleece, attended the dedication and said the renovated library is a fitting tribute to their father. My father was a quiet man, David Fleece said. (He) found places of solitude in which his faith was nourished and maintained, and he valued the handing down of the knowledge of the Scriptures. 4 :: CIU Connection :: Since the fire, students had been using a temporary library in a small, steel-framed building that students dubbed, The Book Barn. CIU student Jacob Tedder said the transition from The Book Barn to the renovated library is nearly overwhelming. I dont feel like the walls are closing in on me anymore, Tedder said. This new library has a lot more space and will be a lot better for studying. Student Emily Cox agreed. I love it. I have a place to chill out and have some space to myself. Library Director Jo Ann Rhodes says a lot of planning went into the library improvements. We worked very hard to plan the new layout of the library to make it something that is beneficial to the students, Rhodes said. I think about how good God has been to us to bring us to this place. Photos of the renovated G. Allen Fleece Library can viewed on CIUs Flickr site. Click on the Flickr button on the home page of www.ciu.edu.

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1) The library staff presents Library Director Jo Ann Rhodes (right) with a bouquet of flowers. 2) Nica (center) and Colia Laing, children of CIU Alumni Kirk and Marianne Laing, present CIU President Bill Jones with a check for the library restoration. The children sponsored fundraising events for the library. 3) The scene at "Occupy Fleece" at 4:30 a.m. breakfast. At 7:30 the library officially opened with the blowing of a shofar, a rams horn used in ancient times to signal a celebration. The CIU mascot is the Ram. Columbia TV station WIS was on hand and broadcast from "Occupy Fleece" periodically during its morning show from 5 to 7 a.m.

CIU Students Occupy Fleece

Youve heard of Occupy Wall Street. But youve probably never heard of Occupy Fleece. It was more of a party, than a protest. Before the renovated G. Allen Fleece Library opened to students on Jan. 17, CIU students celebrated the opening with Occupy Fleece. Students camped out overnight in tents in a quad area outside the library and woke up to a celebration featuring music and an outdoor

Phase II Construction Begins at Pine View Apartments

Construction of Phase II of Pine View Apartments at Columbia International University is underway. Workers and heavy equipment are now on site leveling the ground for approximately 100 more apartment homes featuring one-bedroom efficiencies, one- and two-bedroom apartments and a Community Center. The Community Center will provide space for social events and private study groups. Plans call for a kitchenette, conference room, and a main club room providing the ideal atmosphere for spiritual enrichment and the development of relationships. An outdoor gathering area will feature a fireplace. Two ponds will serve as aesthetic and functional centerpieces at the rear of the Community Center. The apartment community already includes 96 apartment homes. Phase I was completed in the summer of 2010 and is home to CIU upperclassmen and graduate students, faculty and staff, and CIU alumni. For more information on Pine View Apartments visit: www.ciu4me.com/pineview.

Chick-fil-A Founder Honored at CIU

A man, who took an Atlanta diner and transformed it into the second largest fast-food chicken restaurant chain in the United States, was recognized with the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Columbia International University at December commencement exercises. Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy built his business on a work ethic forged during the Great Depression and a business philosophy based on the Bible. His business success Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy meets has allowed him to pursue with the media after receiving his his passion of developing honorary degree from CIU. young leaders through the WinShape Foundation. Cathy, who is 90 years old, reminded the 118 graduates to consider the value of an excellent reputation. We cant buy a good reputation, Cathy said. Thats something we have to earn every day.

CIU Approved for Three Masters Degrees and Bible Certificate Online
Columbia International University has received approval from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) to offer up to 100 percent of three masters degrees and an undergraduate Bible Certificate online. SACS is an accrediting agency. The online masters degrees include: Master of Arts (Muslim Studies), Master of Arts (Intercultural Studies) and Master of Education. CIU Provost Dr. Jim Lanpher says offering degrees online means that people around the world can further their education with a CIU masters degree while remaining in their current ministry or career.

McQuilkin Scholarship Winner Active in Church, Community

The winner of a full-tuition scholarship from Columbia International University is a prayer leader at his church, chaplain of the National Honor Society at his high school, and serves burgers and tater tots on roller skates at the local Sonic. Zachary Kahrs, 17, of Jacksonville, Fla., was awarded the R.C. McQuilkin Scholarship following a weekend of intense interviews, interactive group activities, panel discussions, and just plain fun. Kahrs, a senior at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville, was among 63 students who were vying for the scholarship a record number of participants representing 20 states from as far away as California, Maine, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The scholarship, awarded Zachary Kahrs annually, is named for the first president of CIU, Robert C. McQuilkin. Kahrs will major in Intercultural Studies at CIU because he says he wants to reach people with the gospel who have never heard of Jesus Christ. I want to further Gods kingdom anywhere he sends me, Kahrs said. (continued on page 6) :: Spring 2012 :: 5

CIU Alumna Wins Grammy

Christian singer/songwriter Laura Story, a 2003 graduate of Columbia International University, earned a Grammy for her song Blessings, which she wrote and recorded. Story received the award in the Best Contemporary Christian Song category during the afternoon ceremonies at The 54th Annual Grammy Awards on Feb. 12 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Story walked the red carpet with her husband Martin Elvington to receive the honor. Blessings was written after Martin developed a brain tumor in 2006. Story says the song is a reminder that God remains faithful even when He doesnt answer our prayers the way we Laura Story and her want Him to. husband Martin Elvington

CIU News Briefs

Whos New at CIU?

Dr. Benjamin P. Dean, an executive, attorney and former Army ranger has been named the director of the Business & Organizational Leadership program. Dean comes to CIU with extensive organizational leadership experience with not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, experience as an Benjamin Dean attorney in the private and public sector, and experience in ministry outreach including humanitarian and charitable projects. In the U.S. Army, Dean achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel where he was assigned to the Pentagon and a multinational NATO unit in Europe. Most recently, Dean served as an executive with PIONEERS International, focusing on international missions outreach and humanitarian projects. His interest in law and public policy has also taken Dean to the White House where he served Jennifer Booth President George H.W. Bush as assistant counsel to the president. Jennifer L. Booth is the new university registrar. Booth comes to CIU from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in Wake Forest, N.C., where she served as assistant director of student resources. Columbia businessman Jeffrey B. Wheeler has been named to the position of Ministry Coordinator. Wheelers CIU duties include assisting President Bill Jones in creating Bible study groups in the Columbia area,

recruiting students for CIUs downtown seminary classes, assisting with Halftime programs for people pursuing significance in the second half of life, and organizing CIU fundraising events. For more on Wheeler, see page 15. Dr. Johnny Miller, who served as the fourth president of Columbia International University from 1991 to 1999, has returned to CIU as an adjunct profesJeffrey Wheeler sor in CIU Seminary & School of Ministry. That means that all four living presidents of CIU now have a role at the university. CIUs third president, Robertson McQuilkin serves as president emeritus. The Buddy Lindsay fifth president, Dr. George Murray serves as chancellor. Johnny Miller Current president Dr. Bill Jones has led CIU since 2007. New members to the CIU Board of Trustees are businessman and attorney Ross M. Buddy Lindsay of Myrtle Beach, S.C. and businessman Marion Davis of Chapin, S.C. Marion Davis

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Sports: CIU Rams Getting Ready for Intercollegiate Athletics

The stage is set. For the first time in the 89-year history of Columbia International University, CIU will field teams in intercollegiate athletics this fall. Three coaches have been hired, and high school athletes are taking notice. The first sports will be mens and womens cross country, mens soccer and womens volleyball. Meet the coaching staff:

Prior to CIU, Shick coached volleyball for three years at Columbia College and at Cardinal Newman High School, both located in Columbia, S.C. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from the University of South Carolina where he was a student coach.

Judson Jud Brooker

Cross Country Coach Judson Jud Brooker comes to CIU from Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio where he served as the assistant cross country coach from 2009-2011. Brooker was a track and cross country standout as a student at Cedarville where he majored in Physical Education.

Kim Abbott
Athletic Director Kim Abbott is building the foundation for the future of the CIU athletics program. She came to CIU in 2010 from the University of South Carolina Beaufort, where as athletic director, she oversaw the schools entry into intercollegiate athletics from 2005-2010. Abbott began her professional career in athletKim Abbott ics as a womens golf coach, first at Dartmouth College from 1989-1991, and then at the University of South Carolinas (USC) main campus in Columbia from 1991-1994. From 1998-2005, she held administrative positions in the athletic department at USC.

History Made: First Intercollegiate Athlete Signs to Play for CIU Rams

Jud Brooker

James Whitaker
Assistant Athletic Director/Men's Soccer Coach James Whitaker has guided college and high school soccer teams to championship seasons. Most recently, Whitaker served as the head coach at Clearwater Christian College in Clearwater, Fla. where he led the mens soccer team to two National Christian College Athletic Association James Whitaker (NCCAA) championships and was twice named NCCAA Coach of the Year. At the high school level, Whitaker led his alma mater, Hampton Park Christian School, to nine South Carolina Association of Christian Schools (SCACS) championships and was SCACS Coach of the Year nine times. Whitaker holds both a Bachelor of Science degree in Math Education and a Master of Science degree in Education Leadership from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C., and a Master of Arts in Health and Exercise Science from Furman University, also in Greenville.

Eric Shick
Volleyball Coach/Athletics Coordinator Eric Shick came to CIU in 2010 as the director of intramurals and manager of the Moore Fitness Center. In addition to working at CIU, Shick is the director of the Magnum Volleyball Club which has 26 teams and 250 participants throughout South Carolina. Eric Shick

Soccer stand out Daniel Mallard of Greensboro, N.C. is the first intercollegiate athlete to commit to the CIU Rams. Mallard is the team captain for the Wesleyan Christian Academy Trojans in High Point, N.C., one of the top private school soccer programs in North Carolina. The Trojans won the NCISAA 3A State Championship this year. Mallard, a starting forward who led the team in scoring his sophomore and junior seasons, is also the team chaplain. Off the field, Mallard is active in sports ministry in North Carolina and on mission trips. He also serves as senior class chaplain at Wesleyan and has been active in working with youth through his church and in the community. CIU Soccer Coach James Whitaker says Mallard is the type of athlete that fits into the CIU athletic program. Daniel Mallard (seated), signs to play at Daniel is an outstanding CIU. He was joined by (left to right) CIU soccer player and team Soccer Coach James Whitaker, his leader and has played at a parents David and Michele Mallard, and very high level for his high Wesleyan Soccer Coach Scott Reitnour. school and club teams, Whitaker said. What excites me even more is to see Daniels heart for ministry and his great desire to use soccer to make an impact for Christ.

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CIU News Briefs

A Great Place to Work: Ben Lippen School

Ben Lippen School is on the 2012 list of Best Christian Workplaces published by the Best Christian Workplaces Institute (BCWI). To earn the distinction as a Best Christian Workplace, organizations participate in BCWIs employee engagement survey and meet predetermined standards of excellence. The survey covers issues such as: job satisfaction, commitment, Christian witness, supervisory effectiveness, work satisfaction, personal growth and development, management effectiveness, customer/supporter satisfaction, teamwork, communications and pay and benefits. Employees confidentially respond to more than 50 questions addressing these topics.

Columbia Mayor Visits CIU Prison Initiative

The mayor of South Carolinas capital city encouraged the studentinmates in the CIU Prison Initiative to share the love of Jesus Christ, which is an awesome responsibility and opportunity. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin toured the facilities of the CIU program that trains qualified South Carolina inmates to minister throughout the state prison system as they earn a CIU Associate of Arts degree. The program is housed at the Kirkland Correctional Institution, part of a sprawling prison facility just across the Broad River from CIUs main campus in Columbia. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin

The Spirit of Giving at New Life 91.9

CIUs Charlotte radio station New Life 91.9 helped brighten the Christmas of 63 underprivileged families. The Spirit of Giving program encouraged listeners to refer families in need. Once the need was verified, listeners purchased items for the families from a registry at Target and dropped off the gifts at local Chick-fil-A restaurants. The gifts ranged from shoes to gas cards to paying a childs dental bill. Each delivery was accompanied by the presentation of the gospel.

Happy 25th Anniversary!

Columbia International University and the German-based Academy for World Mission celebrated the 25th anniversary of their partnership. A quarter century ago the two organizations teamed up to open a European campus in Korntal, Germany that focuses on offering higher education options for missionaries and other cross-cultural workers. A team from Korntal traveled to CIUs main campus in November to celebrate the anniversary and reminisce on the accomplishments the partnership has brought by the grace of God.

A Reminder
Letters to the Editor are welcome. Correspondence must include your name, address and phone number. The editor reserves the right to determine the suitability of letters for publication and to edit for clarity and length. There is no guarantee your letter will be published, nor will letters be returned. Write to: Connection Editor, Columbia International University, 7435 Monticello Road, Columbia, SC 29203. Or e-mail publicrelations@ciu.edu.

National Scholars Recognized at Ben Lippen

Five students at Ben Lippen School have been selected as National Merit finalists. The five are among South Carolinas highest scoring individuals on the PSAT. Ben Lippen School Headmaster Mickey Bowdon says for a school to have even one National Merit Finalist is a great honor, but to have five is quite amazing. (Right) Ben Lippen School National Merit finalists: William Moody, Keri Register, Anna Marie Porter, Leanna Herbert, Nathanael Moore 8 :: CIU Connection ::

International Community Development

By Bob Holmes Connection Editor

The HEART of a Marriage

A N D I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O M M U N I T Y D E V E L O P M E N T
awa Saune grew up in Lima, Peru. He is Quechua an indigenous people who descended from the ancient Incas. His father is from the mountains, his mother from the jungle. And Laura, the girl of his dreams is from Columbia International University. As husband and wife they are developing a HEART for the underdeveloped world. Tawa and Laura Saune are the first CIU students in a new CIU minor International Community Development or ICD. An important aspect of ICD is an agreement with the HEART (Hunger Education And Resource Training) Institute, an educational ministry of Warner University, a Christian school in Lake Wales, Fla. HEART operates a village community on the Warner campus that Tawa and Laura Saune simulates many aspects of underdeveloped world living. The HEART website says that participants acquire problem solving and coping skills that will enable them to adapt more readily to the challenges they will face overseas. A requirement of the ICD program is spending a full semester at HEART. For Tawa and Saune that was Fall 2011. They lived in primitive quarters, butchering animals and learning about sustainable agriculture. jungle and fell in love with her. Unaware of Tawas interest, Laura left for Moody Bible College in Chicago. After I had started college I returned to Peru for five months to be with my family, Laura said. It was there that I met Tawa. He had become really good friends with my younger brother in my absence. Tawa says he was attracted to Laura before he became friends with her brother even before he realized they were siblings. One weekend I walked into my best friends house, as I did every weekend, Tawa said. And when I looked in the living room I saw that the girl of my dreams was sitting there, watching TV. They married in January 2010 and transferred to CIU, where Tawas sister and brother-in-law had attended. Both became especially interested in the ICD minor.

Florida: Mostly Hot with only a Chance of Privacy

HEARTs location in sub-tropical Florida means that Tawa and Laura had to endure the heat of the late summer as the semester began, and the chilly mornings of fall while living as they would in an underdeveloped country. Probably the most difficult thing for me has been living with the heat at the beginning of the semester, Laura said. We would sweat constantly throughout the day. It was difficult to take a nap or rest during the day because of the heat. We have no heating or AC in our cabins. Also it was an adjustment not to have electricity. Tawa says the biggest challenge for him is what he calls one of HEARTs best and most educational features lack of privacy.

The Girl of His Dreams

Although they had not met, Laura (23) and Tawa (21) both lived in Lima, Peru, where Lauras parents served with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Tawa says that one day he saw Laura in the 10 :: CIU Connection ::

Laura and I have our own cabin, but 90 percent of the time we are surrounded by at least five people, though a lot of the time all 20 students (in the program) are together, Tawa said. This is an important aspect of the program because on the mission field one does not always get to choose who he ministers with. Privacy is thrown out the window.

I think the presentation of the gospel, accompanied by meeting the physical needs of a people is much more powerful than solely presenting the gospel. Laura Saune
Tawa knows the power of meeting human needs firsthand. He says when American medical missionaries came to Peru and met the needs of his people the Quechua they started to ask questions. They asked me, Tawa, why do these Americans who have such a good life in the U.S.A. care about us? Why do they sleep in the freezing cold and suffer just so they can give us medical help? When I tell them the reason, they understand the love of Christ, because they see it is genuine. Tawa learns to pluck a chicken.

The Importance of Community

For Laura, living in the close community that HEART creates has had a big impact on her. In the United States, many people are isolated from other people, causing loneliness and a lack of support, Laura said. I love being able to walk out of my cabin and find a group of people I know to talk with and fellowship. Tawa was impressed by a trip the HEART students took to the Central American country of Belize to study the community development programs there. It was inspiring to observe a whole community in Belize benefit from a water distribution and filtration system, Tawa said. The missionaries who started the project are HEART graduates. They succeeded in making the project in a way that impacted many needy people, yet in a way that was inexpensive enough to be sustainable by the community.

The HEART Experience

Laura and Tawa say the HEART experience was eye-opening as they learned to live without, and focus on sustainability, especially in agriculture. We've learned that God desires us to take care of the earth, Tawa said. We've learned how to maintain the life of the soil in order to prevent land from becoming infertile; how to raise, breed and butcher small animals; and use technology in a way that is appropriate, depending on the culture and people. We have to be concerned about the generations that come after us and not use up the available resources.

Future Preparation
Its the desire of Laura and Laura paints a mural on a Tawa to one day return to mission house wall during a Peru as missionaries. They trip to Belize. recommend CIUs International Community Development program and HEART to others, especially couples. There are so many people who have gone to the mission field and have not succeeded because they were prepared in their minds, but not for the physical aspect of missions, Tawa said. HEART stretches people in every way. For more on the HEART experience, check out Lauras blog Tin Roofs at: www.tinroofsvillage.blogspot.com. For details on CIU International Community Development program visit: www.ciu.web/academic-programs.

What about the Gospel?

The question that is often raised by many evangelicals when there is focus on human need how do you merge meeting those needs with the proclamation of the gospel? Laura and Tawa are ready with an answer. Laura points to James 2:16. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? We can tell someone about the gospel. But if they are hungry why should they listen to what we say? queries Laura. I think the presentation of the gospel, accompanied by meeting the physical needs of a people is much more powerful than solely presenting the gospel.

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Muslim Studies
By Dr. David Cashin CIU Professor of Intercultural Studies and Muslim Studies

Christ Must Have

Preeminence Lives in our

erving the Lord Jesus Christ will sometimes put you in dangerous situations. In March of 1985, I was attacked by a mob in Bangladesh, speared, and my left eye was severely damaged. Had I not been serving Jesus, I would not have been in that position. But I was called by Him to that ministry including whatever sickness, loss or danger might be required. Frankly I dont consider this exemplary behavior. Secular soldiers choose to face far greater dangers with little rewards. Ive been reading recently some of the martyr literature of Al-Qaeda. Yes, Al-Qaeda. These exalt the courage and dedication of young Muslim men intent on death in fulfilling the will of Allah. Christians dont practice this kind of death cult thinking, but does Jesus have this level of preeminence in our lives? Many times the suffering of believers is unnoticed and, even, unexplained. The worst thing that ever happened to me became the best thing when I had the privilege to forgive those who nearly killed me, protect them from the police and eventually share the gospel with them. Some came to Christ. Many believers, however, do not find an ultimate explanation for their suffering. John Tarzwell, a Christian relief worker in Pakistan in the 1980s, was kidnapped by Afghans and for seven years his wife suffered not knowing what had happened to him. We have no idea what, if anything, his death accomplished. God in Christ has made the cross the message, method and symbol of His dedication to rescuing us. He gave us the preemiAbove: Dr. David nence in this ultimate soteriological act. God incarnate, Immanuel, Cashin with his hand King of Kings and Lord of Lords took the punishment that was on Kamal, a man he rightfully ours on the cross. For this reason Peter instructs us: discipled while serving Therefore since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves as a missionary in also with the same mind (1 Peter 4:1). Suffering in the Bangladesh in the Christian life is normal, because we have made the suffering servant, Jesus, preeminent in our lives. Whether our difficulties 1980s. are explained or unexplained does not matter. Right: Dr. David Consider the response of Abu Bara, an al-Qaeda operative Cashin today. imprisoned at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The website Jihadology, portrays Abu Bara as a hero. In prison, Abu Bara was a model of high spirits, patience and devotion, the website reads. He was able to expertly memorize the book of Allah in less than two years. After release, Bara was martyred in a Jihadist operation in Yemen. In a spirit of love, not hate, can Christians match that level of devotion? 12 :: CIU Connection ::

World Evangelism

Thriving One
Adventure at a Time
YOUTH PASTOR LEAVES IMPRESSION
Editors Note: Joe is a CIU alumnus. His name has been changed because he ministers in countries sometimes hostile to Christianity. f he had lived in the days of Americas westward expansion, Joe would have traversed the Oregon Trail or settled the Wild West. If he had lived even further back, in a time before we compacted the world to fit our maps, maybe Joe would have enlisted with Columbus. Its not that he looks like a wild man or a cowboy or a sailor; he looks ordinary. Before and after he served as my churchs youth pastor, Joe worked on the mission field. From Africa to Asia, adventure stalked him. He was robbed. He faced mad men with machine guns. He unwittingly spent the night in a mine field. During Joes years as youth pastor, his adventures abroad became fuel for the tales he spun during Sunday school sometimes when he was supposed to be delivering announcements or teaching a lesson. He would plant one foot on the base of his portable wooden podium and lean forward, his eyes shooting sparks of excitement around the room. When I was in Mozambique, he would begin, and we would laugh because he began so many of his stories with that line. If the difference of a couple hundred years could be made up, Joe would have fought at the Alamo. Like many Texans, he treats his native state like a country. Though he embraces the people and the cultures of the countries he lives in adopting their garb, their language, and their way of life, Joe carries his Texan patriotism across continents. In his home in a remote part of Asia, he hung the flag of Texas. Since then he has moved his family to England and now complains about his childrens British accents. Erase time and place and Joe might have traveled with Adoniram Judson to bring the gospel to Burma or with Hudson Taylor to China. Joe didnt want to be a missionary. As a young man, he gave up reading the New Testament for a short time because of its emphasis on missions. He couldnt shake the feeling that God wanted him on the mission field. So he switched to reading the Old Testament prophets, thinking that there he would be safe from Gods demands on his life. He settled on Isaiah and plugged along until he came to chapter six. This passage recounts Gods commissioning of the prophet Isaiah, and there Joe read Isaiahs inescapable words to God, Here am I. Send me! That clinched the matter. God gave Joe a desire to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to other countries. Joe still finds adventure. He still finds excitement in the unknown. But his motivations are much deeper. In a post-9/11 world, before he left to minister to an unreached people group in a country hostile to Christianity, Joe delivered this message to our youth group: Christ is worthy. Joe took his family to a dangerous country, devoid of most American comforts and safeguards. Was he afraid this time? Probably. But this is what he said: Christ is worthy. *** Brianne Holmes is a freelance writer in Anderson, S.C.

By Brianne Holmes Special to Connection

Before he left to minister to an unreached people group in a country hostile to Christianity, Joe delivered this message to our youth group: Christ is worthy.

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Young Adults
By Abbey LeRoy CIU Student Writer

Influencing
CIU ALUM GUIDES YOUNG ADULTS INTO THE HARD PLACES
back and watching them step up to lead, Blanchard said. My job is to give them the tools they need, a lot of support, and just enough nudging to get them out of their comfort zones. Getting to watch them depend on Christ is always incredible; it never gets old. Blanchard credits CIU for equipping him for his current role. I cant imagine the Lord giving me any better preparation for IMPACT 360 than the time I spent at CIU, Blanchard said. CIU is where I came to really understand and love the gospel as more than just a piece of doctrine, but rather as something life-giving and life-changing. Former CIU Director of Admissions, Dr. John Basie, who now directs IMPACT 360, says Blanchard is an invaluable member of his team. Ive been working in higher education environments since 1996, and it isnt often that Ive encountered someone so young who is so gifted, Basie said. Davids approachable demeanor combined with his authentic love for Jesus Christ and his ability to see who a student is on the inside makes him uniquely talented to serve on the IMPACT 360 staff. In his three years at IMPACT 360, Blanchard has had the privilege of walking alongside 84 students, whom he calls dreamers, leaders, and servants. They are disciples going out to make disciples, Blanchard said. They are breaking cycles of spiritual poverty, changDavid Blanchard mentoring on the streets of Brazil.

hen David Blanchard was completing his final semester in the Youth Ministry, Family, and Culture program at Columbia International University in 2009, the Lord closed the door on his plans to work at an international boarding school overseas. Rather than get discouraged, Blanchard waited for the Lords redirection. Now Blanchard works for IMPACT 360, a ministry for young adults who use a gapyear between high school and college to focus on becoming Christ-centered servant leaders. Blanchards title is Student Living and Learning Coordinator which he describes as full-time discipleship. Many of IMPACT 360s learning components occur outside the classroom, and much of Blanchards time is spent making these pieces of the program happen. His primary focus is on the planning, teaching, and debriefing involved in experiential learning. Blanchard takes students to a homeless shelter in Atlanta to teach them about faiths response to poverty, challenges them to practice spiritual disciplines on a backpacking excursion, exposes them to lessons on leadership at the Chick-fil-A corporate offices, and encourages them to discover Gods heart for the nations during a monthlong trip to Brazil. On the Brazil trip, Blanchard supervises the students as they work in several different cities doing everything from evangelism to service projects to camp ministry to orphan care. Whats fun for me is getting to help train and equip students during our preparation time in the U.S. and then stepping 14 :: CIU Connection ::

Dreamers, Leaders and Servants

The CIU/IMPACT 360 Connection

Columbia International University has a long and close association with IMPACT 360. For example: 13 IMPACT 360 alumni are current CIU students CIU Professors Mike Barnett, Glenn Gentry, and Bryan Beyer have served and taught at IMPACT 360 numerous times over the last six years CIU President Emeritus Dr. Robertson McQuilkin was a guest professor during IMPACT 360's launch year in 2006 IMPACT 360 co-founder Trudy Cathy White was the December 2011 commencement speaker at CIU CIU Residence Life staff member Karen Jordan was on the IMPACT 360 staff in 2011 Kennedy Mulinge, a CIU Seminary & School of Ministry student, was on the IMPACT 360 staff from 2009-2010 ing the norm, and shaking up their (college) campuses. I know my reach only goes so far a handful of students for nine months out of the year, Blanchard continued. But them? Well, they might just change the world.

Marketplace
By Abbey Le Roy and Bob Holmes

Meeting the Challenges of Ministry in the Marketplace

all it integrity at first sight. Columbia brokerage associate Frank Cason met Jeff Wheeler while working on a committee that was honoring Wheeler for a real estate award. I immediately saw that Jeff was a man I wanted to emulate, Cason recalls. My first thought was, I have to get to know this man better. And that he did. Soon after the event, Cason asked Wheeler, the new ministry coordinator at Columbia International University, if he would be willing to disciple and mentor him. What was the attraction? Cason says Wheeler is a man who has his priorities straight. In the relatively short period of time that I have been in the working world, I have found very few men who place their value and their confidence in Christ first and business second, Cason said. I knew that Jeff was a man of integrity with an upright heart and a passion to live his life in a manner that glorifies God first. Marketplace ministry has been part of Jeffrey B. Wheelers life since he became a Christian. As a young believer, men invested in his life, and eventually he was able to do the same for others. Wheelers extensive background in business in the Columbia area began in real estate in 1976. Today, he is the president of JB Wheeler & Company specializing in business growth and strategic planning for businesses and faith-based organizations. He recently retired as president and chief operating officer of Coldwell Banker United Realtors in the Carolinas. During his years as a businessman, Wheeler has led countless Bible studies, mentored younger businessmen, and authored a series of newsletters expounding on how Gods Word speaks to the marketplace. assisting with Halftime programs for people pursuing significance in the second half of life, and organizing CIU fundraising events. Jeff Wheeler is a great asset to CIU, Jones said. His background and vast experience in business and ministry are a rare combination that fit perfectly at CIU as we look ahead to future growth. Wheeler says marketplace ministry has a unique set of challenges, the first of which is time. Many of the men and women to whom I minister have considerable civic roles as well as in the business world, Wheeler said. The second difficulty in ministry to businesspeople is building the trust that leads to transparency. The marketplace is highly competitive, and transparency is not always a prized attribute, Jeff Wheeler Wheeler noted. But once trust is established, Wheeler has the privilege of watching individuals grow in their commitment to, and love of God. The most rewarding aspect of marketplace ministry, says Wheeler is seeing lives transformed. Cason says that is at the core of what drives Wheeler to be who he is at church, in the community and in business. Jeffs resume speaks for itself, Cason said. But to truly know how great of a man he is, all you need is a few minutes around him. He is a man with whom God has entrusted much discipline, much passion and much wisdom. God has used Jeff in my life more than he knows. I honestly praise God for Jeff every week. :: Spring 2012 :: 15

JEFF WHEELER LINKS CIU TO COLUMBIAS BUSINESS COMMUNITY

The most rewarding aspect of marketplace ministry, says Wheeler is seeing lives transformed.
But in October 2011, Wheeler added ministry coordinator at CIU to his resume. Combining his experience in business and ministry, Wheeler now works alongside CIU President Dr. Bill Jones creating Bible study groups in the Columbia area, recruiting students for CIUs downtown seminary classes,

Chaplaincy
By Dr. Michael W. Langston, Retired Navy Chaplain CIU Professor of Chaplain Ministries

The Military Chaplain:

The Presence of Christ in Dangerous Places
chaplain in the military is sometimes called on to participate in ministry in the hard and dangerous places of this world. If we are worthy to be called by Him for ministry as chaplains, then Christ is worthy to be served and followed to the utter most parts of the earth even if death lurks in that place. As a chaplain during the Iraq War, one of my responsibilities was to visit other chaplains and religious program specialists (RPs) throughout Al Anbar, Iraq. In essence, I was providing chaplain care to the chaplains. On one particular visit, I was traveling on a helicopter with three other passengers, including a commanding general. We were flying to Ramadi, Iraq, a small town on the Euphrates River about 35 miles from Fallujah where we were stationed. We lifted off from the Camp Fallujah airfield with three other helicopters in our group serving as escorts. As we headed northwest out of camp, we flew over the Saqlawiyah region, an area that was a known hotbed of enemy activity. In fact, about two months prior, a helicopter had been shot down in this area. After takeoff, we climbed to about 2,000 feet and cruised toward Ramadi. Suddenly, I heard four loud bangs. We began making violent rolls and turns while rapidly dropping hundreds of feet. I remember thinking that we had been hit and were falling and Chaplains possibly going to make a hard landing. practice the Actually, our aircraft had been locked onto by a shoulder-fired rocket elecMinistry of tronic tracking device. We were about Presence, the to be fired upon, and the pilot was making evasive maneuvers. All the Emmanuel while, we were expending chaff as Factor countermeasures for protection from the ground-to-air missiles. God with us. As we were falling, jinking, turning and diving to evade the electronic signal of the rocket device, I saw the other three aircraft jinking, turning and diving through the sky as well. Dropping through the sky felt like going over a bump in a car at high speed and losing my stomach. We dropped about 1,000 feet very fast. As we were dropping, I remember looking at the commanding general and his aid-de-camp. They both were clinching their teeth and looking around also. I was holding on 16 :: CIU Connection :: to the aluminum frame of our cloth seats. I think I left my handprint in those aluminum frames because I was holding on so tightly as I felt my stomach up in my throat. After about a minute and a half of the violent evading maneuvers, our aircraft finally leveled out about 100 feet Chaplain Michael above the ground. We flew the nap of the earth into Camp Ramadi. As the aircraft Langston on the neared the landing field, the pilot flared the helicopter over nose of the aircraft rapidly and sat it down Iraq, just before it with a good hard solid landing. We bounced was nearly shot hard with a sudden jolt, but we were all down. relieved to be safely on the ground. Upon exiting the aircraft, the general came over to me and said, Chaplain, thank God you were with us! Whew, that was a rough one! In that moment, I felt like I was nothing more than a rabbits foot or a lucky charm! But upon further reflection I came to realize that the general did not have the theological language to describe what he was really feeling and had experienced at that time. In essence what he was really saying was, Chaplain, Im really glad that God was with us on that flight. Because, like most military personnel, he recognized that chaplains are the bearers of the presence of God, the physical reminder that God is always with us. So, in the chaplain, the general was reminded that God was with him in that harrowing flight where he was almost shot down. Chaplains practice the Ministry of Presence, the Emmanuel Factor God with us. A chaplain touches a life in such a way that has significant ramification for all eternity.

The Occult
By Dr. R. Anzenberger

he French region of La Touraine is known worldwide for its castles, gastronomy and savoir-vivre. But little do people know that it is also the heart of Freemasonry and occultism. The area between the cities of Tours, Orlans and Bourges is known as the Occult Triangle. I recently met a medium who shared with me that since the age of 17, he has had frequent visions of The Virgin Mary. She tells him who will come to him for therapy, what sickness they have and which treatment he should provide. Five divorces later and currently diagnosed with terminal cancer, the medium asked Mary to give him a rest. Not now, she replied. I still need you for my work. I have never met a person so abused physically, emotionally and spiritually by a demon! How do you go about planting a church in the Occult Triangle? As team leader, I took Colossians 4:2-6 as our church planting strategy: Devote yourselves to prayer conduct yourselves with wisdom know how you should respond. Community prayer, community ethics, community apologetics. Every day, from 7-8 a.m., and from 6-6:30 p.m., the church gathers in prayer and worship. We pray with thanksgiving, remembering always that the One who builds His church has power over all authorities. He is the One who opens doors so that we may speak Clockwise: Pastor forth the mystery of Christ. We take courage in the exhortation of Anzenberger (right) Ignatius to the Ephesians: Take heed, then, often to come together baptizes new to give thanks to God, and show forth His praise. For when ye assemconvert Brandon ble frequently in the same place, the powers of Satan are destroyed, Huet in a canal; in and the destruction at which he aims is prevented by the unity of your the Occult Triangle: faith. Nothing is more precious than peace, by which all war, both in Loches, France; heaven and earth, is brought to an end. (Ignatius, Letter to the Floriane Beiner (left) Ephesians, XIII). and Chyc Polhit use During the day, we learn to be attentive to the presence and storytelling to share power of God in the mundane, while seeking every opportunity to the Good News at a give an account of the hope we have within us. At the end of the church plant in the day, the community gathers again and answers one question: city of Loches. Where was God today? We rejoice in the many testimonies about Gods goodness and faithfulness. We bless the not-yet-Christians who join us for the occasion, and trust that our conduct will stir a longing in their hearts. Community prayer, community ethics, community apologetics are strong weapons for ministering in hard places. It worked in Colossae; and it works in Touraine. *** Dr. R. Anzenberger, a native of France, graduated from Columbia International University in December 2011 with a Doctor of Ministry degree.

COMMUNITY AT THE CENTER OF STRATEGY FOR CHURCH PLANTING IN FRANCE

Ministry in The

Occult Triangle

:: Spring 2012

:: 17

Education

Impacting
North Africa through Education
CIU Doctoral Student in Strategic Part of the World
Editors note: The author is a doctoral student in the CIU College of Education. The name of the author and the authors school are withheld for security purposes. ne of the biggest struggles for families serving overseas is finding an affordable, quality educational option for their children. Often families will change countries of service and even regions of the world because of education. North Africa is one region where more laborers for the kingdom are needed in the harvest fields. For this reason, in the 1990s the Lord led me to North Africa to help start a Christian school for families serving the Lord in a restricted access country. CSchool has become a blessing for many families over the years. Little did I know that my original two-year commitment would turn into over 17 years as the principal of CSchool. I serve together with a godly international and national staff, committed to discipling the students and helping them to not only adjust to their host country but to thrive in it. Christian families from all over the world have made their home in our city because of CSchool. Many of these families serve the Lord alongside their national brothers and sisters, reaching the community and the region for Christ. The ministry of the school has also reached out to serve the city through community service opportunities and through teacher training of national teachers. Because of my CIU doctoral train18 :: CIU Connection :: ing, the Lord continues to open doors for impacting our community for Christ through education. Over the past few years there has been a great prayer movement in our A kindergarten country. The Lord is working in ways that are student beyond our imagination. It has been especially concentrates exciting to be living here over this on coloring at past year during which our a Christian country first experienced the taste of democracy. During school in North Africa. these times of uncertainty and instability, national and foreign believers are trusting the Lord and continuing the work that He has called them to do. For those of us serving at CSchool, our calling is to provide quality Christian education for children in our city. Pray with us for North Africa. Pray for Christian communities here to stand firm in the faith and for those who do not yet know the Savior to come to a saving knowledge of His grace. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6) NIV

The Lord led me to North Africa to help start a Christian school for families serving the Lord in a restricted access country.

Politics

American Politics:

God, are you here?

Its an election year. Once you hear the mud-slinging and hardball politics, you may wonder why anyone would run for elective office. Its a hard place. But for many believers in elective office, its a calling. We asked a couple of Columbia International University alumni a few questions about Christianity and politics:

Darrell Jackson graduated from Columbia International University with a Master of Arts degree in 1982. He is a South Carolina state senator, and the pastor of Bible Way Church of Atlas Road in Columbia.

Jim Miles attended CIU Seminary & School of Ministry in the 1990s. He served as South Carolina Secretary of State from 1990-2002.

Darrell Jackson I decided to run for elective office to help serve the needs of the citizens of our great state. I've always had a passion for civic service and was elected to Richland County District One School Board in 1990. However, as a state Senator I believe my arm of service would be extended to help on a greater level.

As a believer, why did you decide to run for elective office?

As a believer, why did you decide to run for elective office?

Jim Miles

I was not a believer when I ran for office. I became a born-again Christian the year after I was elected secretary of state.

How do you stay Christ-focused in office?

This is very easy for me. As a Christian I find decision making straight forward: What would Jesus do? I really believe the purported struggle by some (in this area) is a cop-out.

How do you stay Christ-focused in office?

While in office I've remained Christ-focused by standing firm on my true convictions as a Christian. In addition, each day before I begin serving the citizens of South Carolina, I seek the guidance of Christ through prayer. I'm encouraged daily as I'm reminded of the Scripture: When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2) KJV

What is the most challenging aspect of being a believer in elective office?

The most challenging issue is the commandment to take the gospel to the world. Some people view witnessing (to them as) uncomfortable and suspicious. While in office there was some reluctance on my part to witness for fear that some might view me as a Bible thumper. (It was) all part of being an immature Christian. I still suffer somewhat from this fear, but have matured greatly, thank God.

What is the most challenging aspect of being a believer in elective office?

As a believer, the most challenging aspect of serving in elective office is trying to work with others in solving problems that you know are more spiritual than political, while respecting the separation of church and state. In these instances, instead of offering spiritual guidance and prayer, I am constrained by making decisions based on facts (with the head) versus compassion (with the heart).

:: Spring 2012

:: 19

The Secular University

A Christian Scholar at a Secular University

Faith of Ben Lippen School Graduate Tested at College
argarita Walsh is a freshman at New York University, double majoring in Journalism and Politics. She graduated from Ben Lippen School in 2010 then studied for a year at Bodenseehof Margarita Walsh Bible School in Friedrichshafen, Germany. Ben Lippen School educates students to be Christian scholars wherever God calls them. So, how is Margarita doing into her second semester at NYU a state-supported school in New York City? Connection: How do you foster your relationship with Christ at college? Walsh: Although it may seem ritual, I read the Bible every day when I wake up and go to sleep. Whether or not I am in the mood, having Gods words in my mind keeps me accountable. It is so easy to forget the things He tells us; in one moment, we are in church, or at a Christian school, and they seem so clear and brilliant. Once we go out into the world however, His voice can and will grow more and more faint as it is drowned out by cares and other influences. Connection: Are you involved in a campus or off-campus ministry? parents forced her at age 13, to end the life of her child, or else live on the streets. Fellowship with God's chosen people is critical, so that I might be reminded of what I know to be true, and love those wounded souls placed in my life. Connection: Was there anything at Ben Lippen that prepared you for a college career at a secular university? Walsh: Many of my teachers at Ben Lippen emphasized that relativism is the most rampant ideology in the world, and I have found nothing to be truer. Sharing your faith with peers is increasingly difficult. Certainly your voice will be heard, and your views respected, but then written off with a simple Well thats for you, but it just doesnt work for me. At Ben Lippen, almost all of my Bible teachers discussed this perspective, and how to engage in discussion beyond such a closing remark. This includes various methods of argumentation; but what they sought to teach us was that when we come down to the heart of the matter, no amount of apologetics or debate can make a person into a believer. Change is ultimately a matter of the heart, which leaves me comforted, knowing that I cannot possibly mess up as a witness to someone God has drawn to Himself.

Walsh: I am a part of Campus Crusade for Christ at NYU, which includes Bible studies and outreaches. I also attend Redeemer Presbyterian Church on Sunday for the service, and City Campus Ministries (which consists of a large group discussion after church). Connection: Why is it important to stay connected to other believers? Walsh: The ways in which God's voice may be drowned out are not always obvious. Of course I can say that abortion is morally wrong, and say this with great conviction! Yet it isn't so easy to explain why I believe that when I make a great friend, whose 20 :: CIU Connection ::

Fellowship with God's chosen people is critical, so that I might be reminded of what I know to be true, and love those wounded souls placed in my life.
Connection: What advice would you offer high school students who choose to attend a secular college or university? Walsh: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13). I would say to never forget who has saved you, and the way in which He did so. There is such an inordinate amount of stress from schoolwork, but keep in perspective what He has in store for you! How much He loved us, and still loves us so let others see the light in us by loving in this same way.

Broadcasting

Not a Starbucks
WMHK Staff Travels to Bangladesh to Meet Compassion Kids

in Sight
Each year Columbia International University radio station 89.7 WMHK encourages listeners to join the radio station staff in sponsoring needy children around the world through Compassion International. This year, WMHK is asking listeners to sponsor 150 children in Bangladesh.

In January, WMHK midday host Michelle Renew, Operations Manager John Owens, Johns wife Tamara, and Don Brock, the pastor of Gateway Baptist Church in Ballentine, S.C. flew to Bangladesh to see firsthand what Compassion International is doing in that country. Michelle Renew shared her thoughts about the trip: We flew to northern Bangladesh to spend time seeing the rural areas of the country and the newly formed Laxmipur Development Center WMHKs project. Parents and children alike were a little skittish, a little unsure about us. Most of them had never seen anyone with blonde hair before. The kids finally warmed up to us when we started playing with them. Balloon animals, soap bubbles, fingernail polish, and soccer balls were the tools God used to open the door to the hearts of this community. After the old folks had worn themselves out playing, we visited the village where the kids live. Their homes are mud huts with a roof made of straw or pieces of corrugated aluminum. Any flat surface that wasnt the ground became the drying place for freshly washed clothes. Cows, goats, and chickens have run of the place. A water pump might be found, but the water has arsenic in it and our team was emphatically told to avoid it. Honestly, I have never seen such poverty in my life. Yet, in that place I saw something that I havent seen in America in a long time: community. There is no electricity, no computers, no TVs, no phones, no Facebook and not a Starbucks in sight. They are their own entertainment, their own protection. They look out for one another. So even though they dont have the amenities Ive convinced myself I need, they instead have something we all truly need: a sense of belonging. We also met the Compassion staff and heard the desires of their hearts: To raise up a generation of Daniels and Esthers. Both Daniel and Esther faced tremendous adversity and rose above it by trusting God and following His lead. That is the prayer of the Compassion staff for every Compassion child in Bangladesh and it is working! We visited four centers throughout Bangladesh and we saw how God is working to change the lives of kids gripped by horrifying poverty. Kids who were once considered untouchable in the local caste system, are being educated and filled with hope. Meanwhile, it is the hope of WMHK, that in within the next two years, we will be able to lead a team of listeners to Bangladesh to meet the kids they sponsor who live halfway around the world. :: Spring 2012 :: 21

Above: Meeting the Compassion International children at the Laxmipur Development Center. Behind the children are (left to right) WMHK Operations Manager John Owens and his wife Tamara, WMHK midday host Michelle Renew, and Pastor Don Brock of Gateway Baptist Church.

Alumni Ministries

A Hard Place:

The Intensive Care Unit

CIU Alumni Director Pondering Lessons Learned After Severe Allergic Reaction
riday, Nov. 4 started out like many work days. But shortly after taking my blood pressure medicine my tongue began to swell. I had been taking Benicar since 2008, but my body now said, NO MORE! I sure wish our bodies could just talk to us. Instead within an hour I was in the emergency room barely able to speak because of the swelling of my tongue and entire GI tract. I was brought out from sedation a week later with no memory of the days on the ventilator, massive doses of steroids to reduce the swelling, and the flow of other drugs to counter being restrained and sedated for a week. On Nov. 23 I walked in the door of my home after my time in the intensive care unit and week in a rehabilitation facility. Many doctors had asked how many pills I had taken from the most recent prescription so I decided to count the remaining tablets. While counting them my fingers began to swell and turn numb taking two days to return to normal. My allergists wisdom when he heard the story was, Well, dont get near that whole category of medicines! 22 :: CIU Connection :: (I actually paid him to provide me that great insight!) After two months of intense therapy, as of Feb. 1, I am back at work. I continue in therapy and doing many special exercises. I have worked through many symptoms common to stroke victims. I had to reactivate swallowing, reading, and typing. I am working on walking, balance, strength, and endurance. I am making progress. Doctors think my symptoms are the residue of the massive doses of steroids affecting the brain including the autonomic nervous system. Because of blood thinners for clots that developed in the ICU, I cannot fly or take long car rides until the end of summer. I had to cancel three international trips for 2012 where I was scheduled to train leaders in Russia, Germany and New Zealand. But all of my caregivers feel I will make a full recovery over time. I am 15 pounds lighter, (and at present I am not taking any blood pressure medicine!). I do not recommend my weight loss plan. I am posting specific lessons my loving Lord is mining for me and my family from this chapter of my life on my blog

A N U P D AT E FROM D R . R OY K I N G

at www.royking.org. I spoke at the Feb. 23 CIU Chapel on Whispers of the Spirit in the ICU and on Feb. 26 at Sandhills Community Church about Living the LIFE God Intends. The audio of those messages can be found at www.ciu.edu and www.sandhillschurch.org. I have received hundreds of cards and notes. Each has been a cool drink of refreshment. Thank you!

Resources

CIU Blogs and Websites Provide Insight, Inspiration

Expand your mind and open your heart for God by checking out a growing number of online resources from Columbia International University faculty, staff and students. From deep discussions on theology to fun stuff thats going on in the CIU residence halls it all reflects the CIU experience. And you can join in the discussions. So point your browser to one of the following resources and get connected to the CIU online experience: Mission of God is the blog of the College of Intercultural Studies (ICS) at CIU. Its an opportunity for you to reflect on questions such as What is the Greatest Social Need in the World Today? and Is Allah of Islam the Same as Yahweh of Christianity? Youll be challenged by some of CIUs deepest thinkers such as Dr. Mike Barnett, the dean of ICS and Dr. William Larkin from CIU Seminary & School of Ministry. www.missionofgod.posterous.com Dr. Warren Larson is the scholar in residence at the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies at CIU He and his wife Carol served for 23 years in Pakistan. Because of his understanding of radical Islam, he is quoted widely in both Christian Dr. Warren Larson and secular publications. He blogs on hot topics such as the Arab Spring and reviews the latest books and trends on missions to Muslims. www.warrenlarson.wordpress.com

Dr. Terry Powell, the director of the Family & Church Education Program at CIU went online with a new website this spring. Powell says the purpose of the website is to honor God and equip His people by offering material that he has written and developed over decades of ministry, including Bible study helps for individuals and groups. As Powell puts it: These resources accomplish nothing for Gods Kingdom if they stay on my computer or in my filing cabinets. Dr. Terry Powell www.drterrypowell.com Dr. Larry Dixon is professor of systematic theology in CIU Seminary & School of Ministry. His website includes a sometimes offbeat assessment of life, but always with the goal of encouraging people to think biblically. The website includes information Dr. Larry Dixon on Dixons book, Farewell, Rob Bell. Its a biblical response to Bells advocacy of universalism in his popular book, Love Wins. www.larrydixon.wordpress.com

CIU Chapel Podcasts feature Christian scholars, ministers and missionaries from around the world, as well as CIU President Bill Jones and CIU faculty. Listen to who God is using to shape the minds and hearts of todays CIU students. Click on the button at www.ciu.edu.

Life As We Know It is CIUs student blog. Laugh or be challenged as students write about everything from crazy experiences in the residence halls, to lessons learned in the classroom to the things God is teaching them in daily life. Find out what todays students are thinking and join the conversation at www.ciuid.com. :: Spring 2012 :: 23

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Volume XII, No. 1 Spring 2012