Columbia International University (CIU) has announced the arrival in the fall of 2004 of the Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies, a program designed to help Christians understand Islam and strive for effective Christian communication with Muslims.

Named after Samuel Zwemer, an early 20th century American missionary to work in the Muslim World, the Zwemer ministry is a 25-year-old program established in 1979 as the “Zwemer Institute” at the U.S. Center for World Missions in Pasadena, California.

Over the years the Zwemer Institute has done in-depth research on Muslim people groups, provided awareness seminars about Islam, and offered courses in Islamic history, theology and culture, earning an esteemed position in Christian mission circles.

Recently, the Zwemer Institute was located on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. In 2003, the Zwemer Institute board voted to merge with CIU and move the entire operation to the Columbia campus.

The renamed “Zwemer Center for Muslim Studies” now enriches CIU’s program of missionary training by continuing to offer on-campus courses and field-based seminars around the world, as well as providing outstanding resources for research.

For more information see their website at: http://www.ciu.edu/seminary/muslimstudies