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What a Weekend! 自慰视频 Celebrates with 100th Anniversary Grand Finale

自慰视频 Interim President Dr. Rick Christman (left) and Chancellor Dr. Bill Jones lead the parade of flags on International Boulevard (Photo by Noah Allard)

November 10, 2023

By Bob Holmes, Jenea Bradshaw and Brandon Lee

顿谤.听 says he and his wife Luella 鈥渓ove the atmosphere鈥 of their alma mater, 51 years after they graduated from Columbia International University when it was known as Columbia Bible College.

Tripp is one of 自慰视频鈥檚 best-known alumni. The author of 30 books on the Christian life was the keynote speaker for 自慰视频鈥檚 100th anniversary Grand Finale Thursday through Saturday Nov. 2-4.

Surrounded by dozens of well-wishers following his address at a Gala celebration, Tripp said he is please to see that CIU still emphasizes a biblical worldview 鈥渢hat鈥檚 rooted in Scripture, and rooted in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ 鈥 and now being applied to all these areas of study,鈥 noting 自慰视频鈥檚 expansion of program offerings. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very exciting. The things that are important haven鈥檛 changed 鈥 and the students have bought into it. That鈥檚 very special.鈥

Speaking to a packed house in the Moore Fitness Center on Friday, Tripp鈥檚 Gala message centered on the wonders of being a child of God.听

鈥淎s much as this gathering is about 100 wonderful years, of a God-centered institution of higher learning, this gathering represents something deeper than that. It represents our inclusion in the family of God 鈥 included in the most wonderful story that has ever been told 鈥 the grand redemptive purpose of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.鈥

Then, beginning in the book of Genesis, Tripp subtly began reciting from a biblical study that he and probably most of the alumni in the room had learned while at CIU: 鈥淭he Progress of Redemption,鈥 attributed to revered 自慰视频 Professor Buck Hatch, a 1939 自慰视频 graduate who later served the school as teacher, counselor and administrator for over 40 years. 听

鈥淲henever I think of long-term influence, it鈥檚 Buck Hatch鈥檚 Progress of Redemption,鈥 Tripp said after the Gala. 鈥淚 think many of us came (to 自慰视频) as students thinking the Bible is a collection of stories, and (Buck Hatch) said, 鈥榥o, no, no, no, no. This is one story.鈥 We got ahold of that and it became the way that I think about Scripture.鈥澨

First Hall of Faith Induction

Speaking of Buck Hatch, he was one of five honorees inducted into 自慰视频鈥檚 new Hall of Faith, individuals who have demonstrated significant Kingdom impact, a commitment to 自慰视频鈥檚 motto, 鈥淭o Know Him and to Make Him Known,鈥 and have embodied 自慰视频鈥檚 core values. The other inductees are:

The Praying Women who gathered regularly in the early 20th century to specifically ask God for a Bible school in Columbia.

Joy Ridderhof, one of the first CIU graduates in 1925, and founder of Gospel Recordings using creative means to deliver the gospel to undereducated and underdeveloped regions of the world.

Cliff Bedell, a former missionary to the Philippines, who taught his well-known Romans class for 36 years.

Dr. Kevin McWilliams, a 自慰视频 alumnus who is a former missionary to the West Indies, and a current CIU professor since 1996.

After the Gala, McWilliams, the only living Hall of Faith inductee, said the Lord has blessed him in many ways during his time at CIU.

鈥淎rriving at CIU almost 50 years ago, I learned so much about the Bible from amazing professors and faculty, and it has stuck with me my whole life through ministering, pastoring and teaching,鈥 McWilliams said.

The Ambassador Choir and Laura Story鈥檚 stories

The Gala was followed by a concert featuring the Ambassador Choir, old and new. About 35 Ambassador Choir alumni joined with the current Ambassador Choir. They were led by former Ambassador Choir Director Dr. David Osterlund, affectionately known over the years as 鈥淒oc O.鈥 He led the combined choir in singing the 自慰视频 Alma Mater, as well as an old Charles Wesley hymn that was sung regularly in the early year of the school, 鈥淔aith Mighty Faith.鈥

Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees
And looks to that alone;
Laughs at impossibilities
And cries: It shall be done!
And cries: It shall be done!
And cries: It shall be done!
Laughs at impossibilities
And cries: It shall be done!

What most of the audience didn鈥檛 see was that while the choir sang on the stage of Shortess Chapel, quietly taking a seat at the piano behind them was 2003 自慰视频 alumnus and Grammy-Award winner . 听

鈥淚 guess it鈥檚 me now,鈥 Story joked as the choir left the stage.

She told humorous stories about why it took her eight years to get her bachelor鈥檚 degree, and how much has changed since she was a student, noting the drum set on the stage.

Today, Story is a worship leader at Perimeter Church in suburban Atlanta and credits 自慰视频 for preparing her for ministry.

鈥淭he ministry training I got here 鈥 I get to mentor women, teach Bible studies, lead worship services, all sorts of things. It鈥檚 my dream job.鈥澨

Flags and Fireworks

Friday began with flags and ended with fireworks. Students alumni, faculty and staff participated in an international flag parade down 自慰视频鈥檚 International Boulevard, carrying flags representing 160 nations where 自慰视频 alumni work and minister. A bagpiper led the way playing well-known hymns, while at the rear of the parade was a familiar figure and a different, but well-known sound.

鈥淏agpipes?鈥 mused 自慰视频 Professor Emeritus Dr. Bryan Beyer to those along the parade route. That鈥檚 when he drew a breath and sounded his ram horn, familiar to decades of 自慰视频 students who have studied under his Old Testament teaching.

Friday ended with a stunning fireworks display over the athletic fields. But that did not signal the end of the celebration.

But wait, there鈥檚 more!

On Saturday, Nov. 4, Alumni Relations hosted a breakfast in the cafeteria where 自慰视频 alumnus and author from the Class of 鈥74, spoke an encouraging and challenging word on the Victorious Christian Life, a 自慰视频 core value.

Morgan described how people and the teachings at CIU shaped his life, and his witness for the gospel. But Morgan's main focus was on 1 John 5:4, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world鈥攐ur faith" (ESV).

Morgan said the world is the domain of and under the power of the devil, and "as a school, as an institution, as individuals, as churches, as pastors in our pulpits, this is no time to be intimidated, and this is no time to be silent ... we have got to speak truth to power, truth to academia, truth to culture, speak truth in our pulpits without fear and with love, but we cannot give a single inch."

After breakfast, class reunions were the order of the day. Celebrating at this combination 100th anniversary/homecoming was the class of 1973, commemorating their 50th reunion. Among them were Pam and Fred Tuggy.

鈥淏ack in the 鈥70s, when we were here at Homecoming, we would see these little white-haired people walking around, stumbling and tottering and thinking, 鈥楾hat will never be us,鈥 and here we are,鈥 joked Pam. 鈥淏ut our class meeting together has been a blessing for us. We were talking about how God has brought us through all these wonderful things and all these horrible things, and He is still there, always there to the end. And that's one of the things that we learned here: God will always be there. Always faithful.鈥

The class of 鈥73 closed their reunion by singing 鈥淕od Be with You 鈥榯il We Meet Again.鈥澨

There is even more from the weekend:

Hear Dr. Paul Tripp鈥檚 address to the community, on 自慰视频鈥檚 Spotify podcast page.

Hear the special 100th anniversary chapel message from former 自慰视频 board member on Spotify.

Check out what happened at a special event for community partners held at The Mills House, 自慰视频鈥檚 downtown location prior to 1960. 鈥100th Anniversary: 自慰视频 thanks community partners.鈥

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