History

Piedmont International University (PIU) was the surviving entity in each of the mergers and was renamed Carolina University in 2020. Piedmont was originally launched in September, 1945 by Dr. Charles H. Stevens, pastor of Salem Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, NC. He established Piedmont Bible Institute to accommodate returning war veterans who wanted to study Bible and theology and serve as pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders. In January, 1947, the Institute was officially chartered, and under the direction of the Board of Trustees, plans were formulated for the enlargement of facilities and equipment. John M. Deeds Hall was the first major project to be completed in accordance with these plans.

In response to the recommendation of missionary agencies and leaders in the field of Christian Education, the Bible Institute enlarged its faculty and expanded its curriculum to include a Bible college in the spring of 1948. The first college students were enrolled in the fall semester of that year. In 1956, Piedmont Bible College became an accredited member of the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC), now called The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).

Dr. Donald K. Drake became Piedmont’s president in 1970. Campus facilities expanded under his leadership to include a newly constructed residence hall and a student center/gymnasium complex. Degree programs in teacher education and missionary aviation were added. 

In 1987, Dr. Howard Wilburn succeeded Dr. Drake as president. Under his leadership, the institution was accredited by the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS), and in August 1994, the first graduate level classes were offered. The university also began offering classes in Bangladesh which would eventually lead to a teaching site there.

Charles Petitt began his tenure as President and CEO in March, 2002. Enrollment has grown exponentially under his leadership. His focus on creative innovation and professional collaboration resulted in a number of mergers that brought seven Christian universities, colleges, and seminaries together to form Carolina University. Other advancements include renovations and/or updates in every building on campus, the successful completion of a $10M fundraising campaign, the translation of multiple degrees into other languages, and the launch of a number of new degrees in career-friendly fields where future double digit job growth is projected in careers with substantial salary expectations.

When the University changed its name to Carolina University, the trustees decided to honor Piedmont’s historic name and heritage of teaching Bible and theology to equip ministers by creating the Piedmont Divinity School and creating the Piedmont Ministry Scholarship which provides a 75% scholarship for international students who enroll in the Master of Arts in Ministry degree in any language in which it is offered. As a result, more students are enrolled in that degree than any other at CU.

The Presidents of Piedmont International University

Spurgeon Baptist Bible College (SBBC) was the first college to merge with CU (2003). SBBC was established in Lakeland, FL in 1970 for the purpose of training pastors and missionaries to teach the Scriptures, defend the faith and build the work of God. Dr. G. Arthur Woolsey of Sebring, FL was the first President of SBBC.

Under his leadership the college was able to acquire a beautiful 33 acre campus in Mulberry, FL in April, 1972. Some thirty years later that campus was sold. A key element of the merger was the designation of a substantial portion of the proceeds of the sale to be used to fund CU’s investment in IT personnel and technology to launch the Spurgeon School of Online Education that now drives and supports virtually everything we do and touches every student who enrolls at CU.

SBBC and CU leaders agreed that SBBC students and alumni would be the highest priority in the merger. CU became the repository for SBBC transcripts and agreed to a teachout that allowed all remaining SBBC students to transfer to CU with favorable tuition for all involved. CU continues to honor the SBBC mission today by training key Christian leaders around the world. To honor the SBBC legacy, Carolina University created the generous Spurgeon Heritage Scholarship for alumni and their families when they continue their education at Carolina University.

Atlantic Baptist Bible College (ABBC) merged with CU in 2008. ABBC was originally chartered in 1961 as Virginia Bible College and adopted the ABBC name in 1972. Atlantic Baptist Bible College was located in Chester, Virginia on 42 beautiful, wooded acres which included dormitories, administration and classroom buildings, a church, dining hall and a handful of outbuildings. The college was created as a place for men and women to prepare for effective ministry. Pastors and teachers intentionally invested in the students with their time and served as mentors.

Atlantic Baptist Bible College had three areas of concentration to ensure proper ministry training. 1) The Bible was at the core of every class based on an understanding that the answers to the complex problems of mankind are contained in God’s Word. Therefore, every servant of the Lord needs to have a discerning knowledge of the Bible. 2) The Local Church was ordained by God for the perpetuation of His truth and work in the world during this time. A call to His ministry is a call to minister through His church. 3) The Practical development and application of the concepts learned were emphasized through a Christian Service Training Program which provided a unique learning apprenticeship enabling the students to develop skills and gain experience for practical application.

ABBC and CU leaders agreed that the top merger priority would be the wellbeing of remaining students and all alumni. A favorable tuition pricing model and credit transfer approach enabled all ABBC students to join the CU family to finish their studies. To honor the ABBC legacy, funds from the sale of the Chester campus were designated for significant scholarships. The Atlantic Heritage Scholarship was established and provides one third of tuition for all Atlantic alumni and their children and grandchildren when they continue their education at Carolina University. To serve Atlantic alumni, CU became the repository for ABBC records and provides ongoing transcript services.

Tennessee Temple University (TTU) merged with CU in 2015. TTU was founded in Chattanooga, TN by Dr. Lee Roberson in 1946 only months after Dr. Charles Stevens had launched CU (then called Piedmont) in Winston-Salem, NC. The two men were friends who agreed that if either school ever needed to close they should merge with the other. That is exactly what happened some seventy years later. TTU’s mission was to provide Christ-centered higher education that transforms lives for the glory of God, and tens of thousands of inspired young people enrolled to prepare for lives that would make a difference. A well known phrase attributed to Dr. Lee Roberson was, “everything rises and falls on leadership.”

TTU was known for producing influential leaders who excelled in their fields, including dozens of college presidents and vice presidents, hundreds of school administrators and teachers, and thousands of pastors. There were also leaders in many other fields, nationally known speakers, radio and TV broadcasters, sheriffs, chiefs of police, and business leaders. There are graduates involved in all walks of life who passed through the halls of Tennessee Temple and caught the passion and capacity to lead.

Some notable graduates include Kay Lee Arthur, who is an international Bible teacher, four-time ECPA Christian Book Award winning author, and CEO of Precept Ministries International. Dr. Randal Faulkner, retired pastor of the well-known Metropolitan Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Dan Lothian, a past CNN White House correspondent traveling with President Obama to over 30 countries and now co-founder of Heart Beings. Kenneth Gentry, a well-known author and the Executive Director of Goodbirth Ministries, and Allison Barber who is the Chancellor of Western Governors University Indiana.

TTU’s flagship School of Leadership was a key component of the merger and continues to thrive as the John Wesley School of Leadership at CU. Several other TTU programs became CU programs including the award-winning Sign Language Interpretation degree available online or on-campus. To honor the outstanding TTU legacy, Carolina University established the Tennessee Temple Heritage Scholarship which offers all Tennessee Temple alumni and their families generous scholarships when they continue education at Carolina University. To serve TTU alumni, CU became the repository for TTU records and provides ongoing transcript services.

Temple Baptist Seminary (TBS) also merged with CU in 2015 as part of the TTU merger. However, for most of their history, TTU and TBS were separate legal entities even though they shared a close partnership. Most TBS students and key faculty joined the CU family at the merger, and a number of TBS degree programs continued.

Southeastern Bible College (SEBC) merged with CU in 2017. The idea for SEBC was planted in 1935 at a Bible conference that was held in Birmingham, Alabama where the well-known Bible teacher, Harry A. Ironside was the featured speaker. When the conference ended, Edgar J. Rowe and his wife Bessie left with a dream in their hearts to establish a school that would lead the way in training and preparing men and women for ministry. From that dream and diligent work came Southeastern Bible College which experienced over 80 years of rich history and produced thousands of graduates who have had significant impact on all corners of the world. Graduates have served and are presently serving in various roles of ministry throughout the world as pastors, missionaries, teachers and counselors. Others have served in leadership roles as diverse as college presidents and state legislatures as well as various other positions in both public and private business.

The merger plan calls for the sale of SEBC’s Valleydale Campus. Some of the proceeds will cover various merger expenses, but the goal is to use a significant portion to launch a Smart Efficient Blended Campus (SEBC) in Alabama to honor the Southeastern Bible College name and mission. To honor the outstanding SEBC legacy, Carolina University established the Southeastern Heritage Scholarship which offers all SEBC alumni and their families generous scholarships when they continue education at Carolina University. To serve SEBC alumni, CU became the repository for SEBC records and provides ongoing transcript services.

John Wesley University (JWU) merged with CU in 2018. JWU was recognized as the oldest undergraduate, theological education institution in North Carolina. Its beginnings can be traced back to a powerful revival in Greensboro, NC conducted by Seth Rees and Charles Weigle in 1903. As a result, a school for teaching the Bible named Greensboro Bible and Literary Training School was created and then renamed The People’s Bible College in 1932. Over the years the school grew and perfected ministry training and expanded degree offerings. In 1956 the school renamed itself John Wesley College, and in 1980 they moved to High Point, NC when local businessman Edwin H. Shufelt donated 25 acres of land.

JWU consistently prepared men and women for ministry and is responsible for training thousands of ministers, missionaries and church workers during its long, rich history. The impact of John Wesley University has been significant, and they have been instrumental in supplying pastors for over 65% of the pulpits of the Yearly Meeting for North Carolina.

A key component of the merger was JWU’s flagship School of Business which attracted a major CU donor with a naming opportunity. The resulting Patterson School of Business is growing and thriving at CU. The sale of the JWU campus provided important funding for strategic initiatives. The School of Leadership was renamed the John Wesley School of Leadership to honor JWU and the man they had honored in their name, John Wesley.

To honor the outstanding JWU legacy, Carolina University established the John Wesley Heritage Scholarship which offers all JWU alumni and their families generous scholarships when they continue education at Carolina University. To serve JWU alumni, CU became the repository for JWU records and provides ongoing transcript services. Dr. Steve Condon was president of John Wesley University, and he became CU’s Chancellor overseeing several major departments including, but not limited to, Athletics and Development.