Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew, Grad Life Council Advisor
Things have certainly changed in the delivery of graduate studies in the last 50 years, when Columbia International University, then called Columbia Bible College and Seminary, first initiated a Grad Life Council (GLC) — the student-led group that builds community among graduate students. These days it is more difficult to cultivate community and spiritual formation among graduate students because more study online or in intensives due to jobs, families, and busy schedules. This means there are fewer people available to attend Grad Life events — not for lack of interest, but simply because there are fewer people around.
But even with these challenges, GLC has continued to fulfill its mission: to host events that cultivate community and strengthen spiritual life within our grad community. We’ve successfully focused our efforts in three areas: renovating the break room in the Robertson McQuilkin Building, reviving the Grad Life Retreat, and expanding the reach and impact of GLC. But let’s remember that any success we’ve experienced testifies to God’s goodness and faithfulness! Without the Lord, we couldn’t have accomplished any of these things.
The Merry Room
The vision for renovating the Merry Room, the kitchen-vending area in the Robertson McQuilkin Building originated with Colleen (Forsythe) Dobbins, GLC’s president during 2015-2016. Colleen was a creative thinker who had an excellent pulse on campus life. She realized that the prime time for grad student interaction was before and after class as well as during class breaks. So, with her encouragement, GLC focused its energies on providing coffee and snacks in the Merry Room, named for longtime CIU board member Frank Merry. GLC’s efforts paid off, and the result is a closer-knit grad community and an increase in attendance at Grad Life events.
Colleen then developed a fantastic vision: to renovate the Merry Room and the space around it, which hadn’t been updated in about 20 years. When the Merry Family gave $100,000 toward the project, that vision became reality.
Renovations were conducted under the leadership of successive GLC teams. Finally, because of the prayers and efforts of many hard-working people — the work was completed in 2020. In addition to renovating the Merry Room, we also updated the hallway/nook area between the McQuilkin and Schuster buildings, adding plenty of seating for students and a sign that highlights CIU’s core values. The new space is much loved and much used by our students. I’m frequently told that it’s the most beautiful indoor space on campus!
Reviving of the Grad Life Retreat
Prior to GLC’s recent reviving of it, the last Grad Life Retreat was held in 2014. Thankfully, God raised up another visionary president for GLC, Jess Sluss. In 2022, as she entered her second year serving as GLC president, God gave Jess and her team a vision for reviving the Grad Life Retreat. The Retreat they envisioned would bring together students of all different programs and provide opportunity for rest and spiritual refreshment, just as past retreats had done over the decades for so many students.
The task was a bit daunting to Jess and her team. But, God provided, and abundantly too. As the GLC planned, He provided ideas and direction, the perfect location at the Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, North Carolina, and two speakers and a worship leader who offered their services for free. God even provided the finances, showing His provision in a powerful way. When donations stopped and half of the funds still needed to be raised, the team prayed earnestly and the remaining several thousand dollars came in within 48 hours.
The Retreat was a success! Our grad community came together for a renewing yet convicting weekend that God used to change many lives. Students and faculty came away from the retreat refreshed and with a greater desire to be part of our wonderful grad community. Even some spouses that attended decided to enroll in CIU grad programs because of their experience. But most importantly, everyone who attended grew deeper in their relationship with the Lord and experienced His presence in meaningful ways.
Expanding GLC’s Reach & Impact
Over the past few years, God has put it on the hearts of GLC to be a bridge that brings together members of the grad community and beyond, in a way that reflects the unity of the body of Christ. So, GLC has made special effort to listen to students of all different programs as well as administrators, to determine what sort of events are most wanted and what times would work best. GLC has also developed new ways to communicate with as many students as possible, including the creation of a web-based site that serves as a hub for Grad Life communications.
The renovation of the Merry Room and the reinstitution of the Retreat have served as catalysts to put Grad Life back on everyone’s radar and to generate interest in Grad Life events. But GLC has expanded its reach in various other ways. GLC has worked hard to make connections with undergrad students — by working closely with the CIU Student Government Association, by attending CIU Rams athletic events, and by mentoring undergrads — and making connections off-campus through CIU service days such as RAMServe. GLC has also contributed to campus spiritual formation. In addition to regular chapels, GLC has hosted Acts 2 Fellowship meals, placed a prayer request box in the Merry Room, and held a weekly prayer group.
All this has required humility on our part, specifically a willingness to listen to input from others, to be willing to try new things, and to always remember that God deserves the credit for any successes we might experience. God has been very gracious to GLC, and attendance at Grad Life events and GLC’s impact on campus have grown significantly. God is therefore using GLC in exciting ways to cultivate community and to strengthen spiritual life on CIU’s campus and beyond. We are truly thankful to all who have laid the foundation for GLC’s current work, and we are thankful to the Lord for graciously using GLC for His glory.
(Photo at top: The Grad Life Council Hike.)
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