The inauguration of Dr. Bill Jones is highlight of Homecoming 2024
November 6, 2024
By Brandon Lee, Shoshanna Crompton, and Bob Holmes
The inauguration of 小猪视频 President Dr. Bill Jones as CIU鈥檚 eighth president highlighted the Homecoming 2024 weekend filled with celebration and reunion. Alumni from all over the world made their return to CIU鈥檚 campus, mingling with old friends and meeting current students and faculty.听
Jones, who also served as CIU鈥檚 sixth president from 2007-2017, received warm greetings from faculty, alumni and students as part of the inauguration ceremony. Among them were Seminary & School of Counseling Professor听Dr. Zhiqiu Xu and Student Body President Joel Baumgarten.听
鈥淲e believe that you are the answer to our prayers,鈥 said Xu, referencing the careful process of the Presidential Search Committee.听
鈥淲e believe in your ability to lead in integrity and passion, and to foster an environment of knowing God and making Him known,鈥 added Baumgartner quoting from CIU鈥檚 motto. 听听
The inaugural address, given by Tobin Cassels, the president of Southeastern Freight Lines, Inc., offered insight into Jones' character and impact on other people. Cassels spoke of Jones鈥 gift of evangelism and passion for discipling other men through Bible studies that include marketplace leaders and government officials.听
鈥淯ntil you are under Dr. Jones鈥 teaching, you will never appreciate the giftedness that God has put on him, not only for one-on-one evangelism, but for leading men in Bible study,鈥 said Cassells, who has also served as a CIU Board of Trustees member.
In his inaugural response, Jones was quick to credit the administration and faculty for the recent success of CIU, which continues to rise in the annual U.S. News and World Report college and university rankings.
鈥淭hat is the grace of God, and the result of a hardworking team, a faculty that compares to none, and an incredible student body,鈥 declared Jones. The new president also affirmed the CIU mission statement and core values, promising to instill them in students to impact the nations for Christ.听
A number of dignitaries were on hand to congratulate Jones including South Carolina U.S. Congressman Joe Wilson who has known Jones for several years.
鈥淏ill is such an inspiration, and then to have Tobin Cassells make such a wonderful presentation, it鈥檚 just so heartwarming,鈥 Wilson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful to see the success of CIU 鈥 the enrollment 鈥 to see the impact that CIU has on the people of the United States and in foreign missions.鈥
View the entire inauguration on听.听
HOMECOMING PRESIDENT鈥橲 BANQUET听
Later that evening, Jones was joined by supporting friends, faculty and alumni at the Homecoming President鈥檚 Banquet that included a performance by the CIU Ambassador Choir.
In his Banquet address, Jones emphasized keeping CIU focused on its mission: 鈥淐IU educates people from a biblical worldview to impact the nations with the message of Christ.鈥
鈥淲e will not compromise 鈥 at least as long as I鈥檓 here,鈥 said Jones, while giving a nod to former CIU presidents in attendance. 鈥淚鈥檓 following in their steps. And any variation of staying on track would be an insult to the legacy they have left.鈥
MORNING DEVOTIONAL听
The alumni enjoyed a more intimate setting the next morning while listening to a devotional from pastor and popular Christian author Rob Morgan, a graduate of 听the Class of 鈥74. His message centered around the encouragement of 2 Corinthians 4:16, where the Apostle Paul reminds his readers that although outwardly, they may be wasting away, they are being renewed inwardly each day.听
鈥淕od renews us day by day so that we can do his work, day by day,鈥 Morgan said. 鈥淭his is how the Lord keeps us from discouragement.鈥
CLASS REUNIONS: Dish Pit Memories 听
Reminiscing with former classmates is a natural part of every homecoming weekend. Sam Tuggy was celebrating the 40th reunion of the Class of听 1984 and thinking back to his 鈥渂uddy鈥 Chet Bitterman,听a听Wycliffe Bible听Translator,听martyred for听his听faith听in听Colombia, South America in 1981. Tuggy said there was a humorous side of Bitterman. He recalled the two of them working in the cafeteria 鈥渄ish pit.鈥澨
鈥淐het听loved听to听put听his听hand听in听the听grease 鈥 good听spaghetti听grease听or听something like听that 鈥 and听then听dip听it听in听the听tea听bucket and听with听his听hand听like听this 鈥.鈥澨
Tuggy听held听his听hand straight听up听from听the听elbow and shaped听his听fingers like听a听claw.
鈥淲hen听the听girls听would听bring听their trays听over听he听would听see听if听he听could听make听them听jump!鈥 Tuggy听laughed听boomingly. 鈥淗e听was听a听lot听of fun.鈥
CLASS REUNIONS: Advice for current students
颁补谤补听骋谤辞别苍别,听肠濒补蝉蝉听辞蹿听2013,听飞补蝉听补听诲辞耻产濒别听Psychology听补苍诲听Bible听major.听After听getting her master鈥檚 degree in听Social听Work听at听Boston College,听she听now works at听International听Justice听Missions, a nonprofit that focuses on听anti-trafficking听补苍诲听anti-slavery听efforts.听
She says she has 鈥渂een听blessed听to use (her CIU)听degrees听in a听way that honors听God, loves听people really well, and has听a听missional听aspect,鈥 adding that caring听for听people who听are听most vulnerable is something听 she听learned during听her听time听at听CIU.听
Groene says that听after听years听of听prayer听that God would听provide听opportunities听for听international听missions, she will听soon be听moving听with听her听family听to听Italy听where听her听husband听is听being听stationed in听the听military. Her desire there is to bless听the听other听stationed听military families听补苍诲听reach听unbelievers with the gospel.听
She is excited that since her days as a student, CIU now offers 鈥減ractical听degrees听that听are听being used听for听God鈥檚 glory, (showing)听that听mission听doesn鈥檛 have听to听look like听ministry.鈥澨
Groene also听left听a听word听of听wisdom听for听current students:听
鈥淜eep听putting听God听first听in听all听that you do and He will provide what you need.鈥
Higher learning. Deeper faith. A Christ-centered community on campus and online.听听or request information on enrollment at CIU by contacting Admissions at (803) 807-5024 or听admissions@ciu.edu.听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听
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