自慰视频

Skip to main content

Important figure in 自慰视频 history now with the Lord

自慰视频 alumnus Peter Spencer with Dawndy Mercer Plank.
Peter Spencer in 自慰视频's Shortess Chapel in 2013

Peter Spencer addresses a 自慰视频 Chapel in 2013.

Jamaican Peter Spencer was first CIU student of African descent

By Bob Holmes

When Peter Spencer enrolled at Columbia Bible College (CBC) in 1963, he made history. Spencer was black. His admission to CBC, now Columbia International University, made 自慰视频 the first institution of higher education in South Carolina to admit a black student voluntarily.

Spencer died at his home in Jamaica on Feb. 9 after a short battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.

Spencer attended 自慰视频 from 1963-1965 for graduate studies. As the federal government began to mandate the integration of Southern public colleges in the 1960s, the 自慰视频 Board of Trustees was already grappling with the issue. According the book, 鈥淭his Side of Heaven 鈥 Race, Ethnicity, and Christian Faith鈥 by Robert J. Priest and Alvaro L. Nieves, the board voted in March 1963 that 鈥渋n the future no one be refused admission to the Bible College on the basis of race solely.鈥

After Spencer enrolled, 自慰视频 President Dr. G. Allen Fleece reported to the board of trustees, 鈥淧eter Spencer from Jamaica, had the highest recommendation and has proven to be everything we could desire.鈥

Spencer would go on to become a pastor and missionary statesman in his home country for over 50 years.

In 2013, he received the Kingdom Impact Award from 自慰视频 and was the featured speaker that year during Black History Week. In an interview during his return to Columbia, Spencer said he got along 鈥渟plendidly鈥 with his fellow 自慰视频 students, but there was 鈥渁 little tension at first.鈥

鈥淏ut even those who may have had some reservations at the beginning became my best friends,鈥 Spencer recalled.

It was different for Spencer off campus. At first, he had no place to worship on Sunday mornings because the white churches with whom 自慰视频 had a relationship would not accept him. Nor could he join the travelling Ambassador Choir because his color would have kept him out of some venues.

Etched in his memory was the day he went to town with his white classmates and was refused service at a restaurant being told, 鈥淲e don鈥檛 serve your kind here.鈥 His classmates tried to intervene to no avail. So they ordered for him and they ate in the car.

Spencer, who was not discriminated against in Jamaica, called that experience, 鈥渟hocking, humiliating. I felt insulted.鈥

In his Chapel address to the 自慰视频 student body, Spencer said, "These experiences were allowed by God to mold me and to make me strong to face the challenges of life, so I am grateful."听 听 听 听 听听

A service of thanksgiving for Peter Spencer will be on Feb. 18 in Jamaica. An online condolence book is at听.

Are you ready to transform your life?