private
Private or privates may refer to:
Music
* " In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation''
* Private (band), a Denmark-based band
* "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorde ...
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
university in
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and largest city of Pasquotank County. It is the cultural, economic and e ...
. It is supported by
Christian churches and churches of Christ
The group of churches known as the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ is a fellowship of congregations within the Restoration Movement (also known as the Stone-Campbell Movement and the Reformation of the 19th Century) that have no forma ...
, which is part of the
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement (also known as the American Restoration Movement or the Stone–Campbell Movement, and pejoratively as Campbellism) is a Christian movement that began on the United States frontier during the Second Great Awakening (17 ...
. MACU awards
bachelor's
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to si ...
degrees, associate degrees, and certificates. MACU started as Roanoke Bible College with the primary goal of preacher training to serve the Church of Christ/Christian Churches of eastern North Carolina and Virginia.
History
Mid-Atlantic Christian University was founded as Roanoke Bible College in 1948 by George and Sarah BonDurant to train preachers for churches in eastern
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...
and the
Tidewater region of Virginia
Tidewater refers to the north Atlantic coastal plain region of the United States of America.
Definition
Culturally, the Tidewater region usually includes the low-lying plains of southeast Virginia, northeastern North Carolina, southern Maryl ...
. The BonDurants had previously founded
Atlanta Christian College
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
in 1937, and George BonDurant served as its first President until 1947, when he left over a dispute with the trustees. He then found employment as an evangelist of the Roanoke District Churches of Christ in eastern
North Carolina
North Carolina () is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 28th largest and List of states and territories of the United ...
in 1947.
Less than a year later, the BonDurants founded MACU due to the extreme lack of preachers in the area at the time. Classes began in 1948 with 12 full-time students. The first group of transfer students graduated in 1950 and the first class to complete all four years at MACU graduated in 1952. MACU has graduated a class every year since.
MACU has been
accredited
Accreditation is the independent, third-party evaluation of a conformity assessment body (such as certification body, inspection body or laboratory) against recognised standards, conveying formal demonstration of its impartiality and competence to ...
by the
Association for Biblical Higher Education
The Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), formerly The Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC) is an evangelical Christian organization of bible colleges in the United States and Canada. It is a member of the International Co ...
since 1979. It has been accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priv ...
since 1999.
MACU absorbed the remaining funds, library holdings, and equipment of
Eastern Christian College
Eastern Christian College or ECC was a co-educational, private Christian college that was located in Bel Air, Maryland, United States. It was supported by Christian churches and churches of Christ, which is part of the Restoration Movement.
Hist ...
when it closed in 2005 after nearly 60 years of operation. Eastern's academic records are now archived at MACU.
MACU officially changed its name to Mid-Atlantic Christian University in the summer of 2009. Enrollment at MACU reached 178 students in the fall semester of 2010.
On October 3, 2010, sophomore Jonathan Schipper was shot to death in his room in the Pearl A. Presley Hall, bringing MACU national news attention. The school's official policy does not allow guns on campus. This is the only violent crime ever reported on MACU's campus during its history. Fellow student Christopher Amyx, a part-time police officer, was later convicted of first-degree murder in 2013.Hampton, Jeff Elizabeth City university identifies student slain on campus October 4, 2010, ''The Virginian Pilot''.
The university offers Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Science degrees. All students major in
biblical studies
Biblical studies is the academic application of a set of diverse disciplines to the study of the Bible (the Old Testament and New Testament).''Introduction to Biblical Studies, Second Edition'' by Steve Moyise (Oct 27, 2004) pages 11–12 ...
, and can double major in Applied Linguistics, Cross-Cultural Ministry, General Ministry, Leadership & Administration, Preaching, or Youth and Family Ministry. MACU added a military science minor through
Army ROTC
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AROTC) is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program which is a group of college and university-based offic ...
Mid-Atlantic Christian (MACU) athletic teams are known as the Mustangs. The university is a member of the
United States Collegiate Athletic Association
The United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) is a national organization for the intercollegiate athletic programs of 72 mostly small colleges, including community/ junior colleges, across the United States. The USCAA holds 15 natio ...
(USCAA; which they joined since December 2012) primarily competing as a founding member of the Eastern Metro Athletic Conference (EMAC) since the 2018–19 academic year.
MACU currently fields six varsity sports: Men's sports include basketball, golf and soccer; while women's sports include basketball, soccer and volleyball.
MACU also has intramural sports that vary by semester. These have included flag football, basketball, volleyball, kickball, wiffle ball, and many more. There are also tournaments played among the students in the lobbies utilizing the pool table, ping pong table and foosball table.
Campus
The MACU campus is located on the
Pasquotank River
The Pasquotank River , from the North Carolina Collection's website at the
Elizabeth City
Elizabeth City is a city in Pasquotank County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 18,629. Elizabeth City is the county seat and largest city of Pasquotank County. It is the cultural, economic and educ ...
, North Carolina. East and West campuses are divided by North Poindexter Street.
West Campus
*Wilkinson Hall, original building: administration
*Faith Hall, 1951: faculty offices
*Heritage Hall, 1965: classrooms and cafeteria
East Campus
*Pearl A. Presley Hall, 1976: women's dormitory
*Harold C. Turner Hall, 1985: men's dormitory, student center and coffee shop
*Albert C. Blanton III Campus Life Center, 1998: Watson-Griffin Library, Chesson Gymnasium, and Davenport Chapel
North Campus
*Park, recreational, and picnic area
Traditions
Sneak Day
Every year during the fall semester, the seniors organize a "Sneak Day". They wake up the rest of the students shortly after 5:00 AM and take them to a secret location off campus for a day of fun and relaxation. Faculty and staff are unaware of the exact date of Sneak Day until they find no one attending morning classes. Sneak day is now officially recognized in the student handbook.
Alumni Rally & Homecoming
MACU's annual Alumni Rally & Homecoming has been held in Elizabeth City every year since 1949. It takes place in March and has been on MACU's campus since 1999. Typical rallies include an alumni basketball game, praise and worship sessions, and a variety of speaking sessions.
Notable alumni
As of 2010, over 3,000 students have attended MACU and 1,140 have graduated. The school's notable alumni include:
* William A. Griffin BA 1962, former president of MACU
*
Ajai Lall
Ajai Lall is a Christian preacher and missionary in India. He is the founder and first Executive Director of Central India Christian Mission. Lall is associated with the Christian churches and churches of Christ, which is part of the Resto ...
BA 1982, Christian missionary to India; founder of
Central India Christian Mission Central India Christian Mission or CICM is a Christian missionary organization in India. It is supported by Christian churches and churches of Christ, which is part of the Restoration Movement. Its United States office is located in Indianapo ...
*
Barry McCarty C. Barry McCarty (born 1953
) is an American preacher and educator who has been associated with the Southern Baptist Convention and the Christian churches and churches of Christ. McCarty is a former president of Cincinnati Christian University and ...
BA 1975, national radio host; former president of
Cincinnati Christian University
Cincinnati Christian University (CCU) was a private Christian university in Cincinnati, Ohio. CCU was supported by the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, which are part of the Restoration Movement. The university was accredited by the ...