The new international director of the Christian nonprofit organization Christar is a Columbia International University graduate who will focus on bringing the gospel to people who have had little or no exposure to Christianity.

Brent McHugh, who graduated from CIU with a Master of Arts in Missions in 2003, was installed to his new position on Jan. 17 at a celebration banquet at the Christar headquarters in Richardson, Texas. The speaker was CIU president Dr. Bill Jones.

McHugh brings 10 years of ministry experience to his new position. He worked among refugees in the Middle East, focusing on church planting, leadership development and theological education.

As Christar’s international director, McHugh will provide spiritual, visionary, executive and developmental leadership. Among his priorities will be partnering with churches to send international workers around the globe.

“I’m excited to bring Christar's experience to the table of mobilizing from anywhere to everywhere among the least-reached,” McHugh said.

Christar traces its roots back to 1909 and has a heritage of establishing churches in some of the most difficult regions of the world. Its vision is to cultivate Christ-honoring transformation in communities where Christ is yet to be worshiped.