Here is a snapshot of some of CIU’s world-changing alumni and students. Click images to read stories.
Alejandro hopes to serve in Southeast Asia and along the 10/40 Window. “Going there, I hope to serve God in church planting in a mixture with business as missions. God has been revealing what He wants me to do. My heart has been for the people that feel trapped in their caste or their society, that feel that there is no way out other than to continue living in the place where they are born. “
Tyrone is majoring in Church Ministry with a concentration in Pastoral Ministry. He hopes to do full-time ministry with his family’s organization, Kingdom Living Outreach Ministries, in Orangeburg, SC. Kingdom Living Outreach brings church to people who can’t go to church. This summer Tyrone is going on a mission’s trip to Germany. He adds, “What I really want to do is fulltime ministry wherever God sends me.”
Anna leads the children and youth ministries at Rocky Mountain Church in Estes Park, Colorado. “Not a day goes by without my being grateful for the incredible training I received from CIU’s Psychology department. The majority of time in this ministry has revolved around issues of mental health, emotional instability, broken homes, and the devastating effects of drugs and alcohol. But the rewards of being the heart, hands, and the feet of Jesus to a lost world are priceless.”
Bill and Ginger are planning to go to a people group in North Africa. They know that God wants them to work among Muslims. “We want to be part of a church planting movement!”
Caleb hopes to work in Japan after he graduates. “Ideally, I want to work with the local church and with mission organizations over there to help see the gospel brought to the world’s second largest unreached people group, the Japanese.” Caleb wants to see the gospel going forth in power in that country.
Crystal is a fourth-grade teacher at Sandhills Classical Christian School in North Carolina. After graduating from CIU, Crystal earned a Master of Arts in Human Services, and while working at Automatic Data Processing (ADP), earned her second Master of Arts in Middle Grades Education. Her favorite subjects to teach are Bible and History, using song, recitation/memorization and movement to help her students learn.
Deonna is passionate about seeing the Word of God made available to students of every age in Lexington’s public school system. She is the Program Director for School Time Bible Ministries, which partners with local churches to provide off-campus Bible classes during the school day for public school students in Lexington County School’s Districts One, Two, and Five. Deonna has adapted materials from CIU’s foundational course “Progress of Redemption” and Dr. Anita Cooper’s Bible Teaching class for use with her students.
Erin is the founder of Broken but Priceless Ministries, an interdenominational, nonprofit Christian ministry that seeks to encourage individuals suffering from a chronic illness. She also works part-time at Connie Maxwell Children’s Home in South Carolina.
George and Ruth have been serving in Malaysia for 10 years. They also served in Indonesia for 14 years. George is a Theological educator and also coaches basketball at a local university. George and Ruth work together to mentor other couples.
Hayley hopes to serve in Atlanta for the next few years, working with inner-city youth or with women who have been sexually abused, trafficked, or in prostitution. “I will be working in programs that intervene, restore, and rehabilitate victims of trafficking.” She will also be working with youth and children in youth development programs.
John and Abby will be serving in Thailand. Their heart is to partner with local believers towards the goal of seeing indigenously-led Bible studies and churches multiply. Following language study, they plan to also be involved in ESL ministry as a means to bless the community while building relationships.
Jordan wants to own a Christian private school, grades K-12. “I want it to be an international school where children from all over the world are educated.” Jordan wants her school to include the arts because she feels they are important for children to learn to express themselves. She adds, “I am excited about teaching kids the gospel from a young age, so they are able to spread it everywhere they go in life.”
Joseph is a Business major and is interested in possibly moving to Europe someday. “I feel like the Lord is calling me to use my abilities and degree in Europe as a ministry. I feel called to Europe because of the desperate lostness that is there. I feel that the Lord is calling me to make His Name known and to use business as an avenue to do so. “
Karis wants to be a school counselor in Asia.
Larry started as a Tank Battalion Chaplain in 2000 serving on the battlefield with US soldiers in places like Iraq. Since 2016, Larry has been the number two chaplain for the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, supporting about 3,000 military chaplains who are serving one million active duty service members.
Lydia would like to work in the Middle East and live among Muslims, sharing Christ with them. “The Lord has been calling me to work with Muslim women specifically, empowering them and teaching them the value they have in Jesus through relational ministry and community development.”
Andrew’s parents both work with Wycliffe Bible translators in Orlando where he grew up. “I saw a lot of the administrative side of mission’s work, which influenced me greatly to pursue my Business degree. I’ve loved being at a school that has given me the opportunity to be poured into by world-class professors and staff, who care about me professionally and spiritually. Though I don't know specifically where the Lord will have me after graduation, I'm open to wherever He takes me!”
Tate and Elisa want to serve as clinical practitioners and educators in rural, under-served communities in East Africa. “Our hearts are especially with individuals who live with chronic disabilities.” They want to be involved in the healthcare and educational resources provided to these people and their families.
Wylliam’s major is Middle Eastern Studies. He is planning to be a missionary in the Middle East. “I am thinking about being a professor in the Middle East and teaching English as a second language. I want to use that to share the gospel with Muslims.”
