Greenville, SC – The National Christian College Athletic Association announced that the organization had approved Paine College for membership in the organization.

"We are indeed excited to join the National Christian College Athletic Association," said Dr. Cheryl Evans Jones, President of Paine College. "Consistent with the mission of the NCCAA, we will be able to use athletics and athletic competitions to further develop spiritually-centered student-athletes to assume positions of leadership and service."

NCCAA Executive Director Dan Wood stated, "We are excited to welcome, or welcome back, new members who find a mission-fit partnership with our association. These institutions are diverse in their focus but unified in the Kingdom targeted mission. The NCCAA looks forward to serving them in their efforts!"

The Lions will compete as an NCCAA DI South Region member beginning July 1, 2021. Paine will sponsor men's and women's basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball while also adding men's and women's golf in the fall of 2022.

"On behalf of our student-athletes, and the entire Paine College community we are very excited to be joining the National Christian College Athletic Association," said Director of Athletics Selina Kohn. "Joining the NCCAA will allow Paine to continue to emphasize our spiritual values, ethical and social responsibility, and academic excellence while accomplishing athletic endeavors."

"This announcement puts huge smiles on the faces of the Paine College Family," said Michael Thurmond, Chairman of the Paine College Board of Trustees. "We look forward to continuing long-standing HBCU rivalries and establishing new traditions as we move into the next chapter in Paine athletics."

About Paine College
Located in Augusta, Georgia, Paine College is accredited by Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools (TRACS) and was voted among Georgia's best Christian Colleges by EdSmart in 2021. To learn more about Paine College, visit www.Paine.edu.

About the National Christian College Athletic Association
The NCCAA was incorporated to provide a Christian-based organization that functions uniquely as a national and international agency for the promotion of outreach and ministry and for the maintenance, enhancement, and promotion of intercollegiate athletic competition with a Christian perspective. From its beginning in Canton, Ohio in 1968, the NCCAA has grown to encompass over 100 Christian colleges nationwide, both liberal arts and Bible colleges. The participating schools are dedicated not only to providing the best athletic competition possible, but also to exemplifying Jesus Christ in all they do.