By Sophie Gage, CIU Student Writer
The 2025-2026 school year is underway, and Columbia International University President Dr. Bill Jones is encouraging CIU students to seek God with all their hearts.
Jones made his comments as the time-honored academic tradition of Convocation got underway. The faculty assembled on the stage of Shortess Chapel dressed in their academic regalia as CIU Provost Dr. James Lanpher explained that “Convocation … is a chance to pause and commit ourselves to God. It’s a reminder of who we are as a community.”
The Chapel was packed and for good reason. Before Jones delivered the Convocation message, he announced that CIU is celebrating the growth of CIU’s student body. As a result, he noted that fundraising has begun for a new apartment building on campus, as well as a larger science center to accommodate the growing interest in CIU’s nursing and health science programs.
Jones’ convocation message centered on 1 Kings 15 and King Asa of Judah who “did what was right in the sight of the Lord as David his father had done… [and] was wholly true to the Lord all his days.” (1 Kings 15:11,14)
Jones emphasized these verses to show the importance of constant devotion to God because “God is not a cheap God” noting He desires devotion from us, not distraction.
The president exhorted the students to seek God with all their hearts every day, minute and second. He pointed back to the students’ purpose as believers on campus, not only to be a student, but to keep running hard after Christ; “To know Him and to Make Him Known,” as the CIU motto states.
Listen to President Jones’ Convocation message on Spotify.
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