Stewart to headline annual Ryan Center Bible Conference March 20-21
February 18, 2026 - Robert Stewart, professor emeritus of philosophy and theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, will be the plenary speaker at Union University’s 2026 Ryan Center Bible Conference March 20-21. The conference will focus on “Contending Earnestly: Becoming Faithful Stewards of the Word of God” and will be held in Union’s Carl Grant Events Center. “Many of us are unsure or at least a little unsteady in our ability to defend the Christian faith, especially when it comes to evangelism,” said Mike Garrett, director of the Ryan C... READ MORE
West Tennessee pastors and wives reminded at Valentine’s banquet to love Jesus
February 16, 2026 - Jesus should be Christians’ one great love, Tommy Vinson urged pastors and their wives at the West Tennessee Pastors Conference Valentine’s Banquet Feb. 10 at Union University. “I’m convinced that some people are in love with the organization of the church,” said Vinson, president of Tommy Vinson Ministries and guest speaker for the night. “But the thing is, Peter does not ask, ‘Do you love the church?’ or ‘Do you love preaching?’ He says here that we ought to love Jesus Christ.” The annual Valentine’s Banquet is an opportunity for ... READ MORE
Whitacre shares journey from ADM price-fixing scandal to faith at Union luncheon
February 13, 2026 - At age 32, Mark Whitacre was the fourth-highest ranking executive at Archer Daniels Midland. In the 1990s, he would become a whistleblower in the largest price-fixing scandal in American history. Whitacre, who spent eight years in prison for criminal misconduct during his time at ADM, shared about his involvement with the price-fixing scheme and his testimony of restoration during Union University’s Faith in the Marketplace luncheon Feb. 10. Having earned a doctorate from Cornell in biochemistry, Whitacre entered the corporate world... READ MORE
Union pharmacy students score nation’s 12th best NAPLEX pass rate
February 12, 2026 - The Union University College of Pharmacy’s class of 2025 scored a 95.8 percent pass rate for first-time attempts on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination, giving Union the second highest pass rate in Tennessee and 12th highest nationally. The 95.8 percent is Union’s highest pass rate in the last five years. The Tennessee average this year was 90.9 percent (up dramatically from 77 percent last year), while the national average was 86.8 percent, compared to 75.9 percent last year. Union was also the highest performing p... READ MORE
Union EDGE program moves into new home
February 6, 2026 - Union University’s EDGE program dedicated its new lab space Feb. 5, officially opening the renovated home for students with intellectual or developmental disabilities. “Ultimately, a space like this helps people to learn how to extend hospitality,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “We want our students to be able to show Christian hospitality, to love others in their homes, to cook a meal and share a meal with people. So, what a blessing to have a place that’s going to allow them to do that.” The Union EDGE program encou... READ MORE
Hoskins to give annual Powell Missions Lecture Jan. 29
January 20, 2026 - UPDATE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED Ben Hoskins of the International Mission Board will deliver the W.D. Powell Missions Lecture, entitled “From Everywhere to Everyone: How the Global Church Is Taking the Gospel to the Nations,” at Union University Jan. 29. Hoskins, a 2002 and 2007 graduate of Union, serves as the IMB’s cluster leader for global Chinese ministry. He graduated from Gateway Baptist Theological Seminary in 2022 with a Doctor of Ministry degree. Appointed by the IMB in 2008, Hoskins has served in East Asia plan... READ MORE
Union to dedicate new EDGE facility Jan. 30
January 14, 2026 - Union University will hold a dedication ceremony for the newly renovated home of its EDGE program on Jan. 30 at 3 p.m. The Union EDGE program provides a holistic, post-secondary education for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, encouraging increased independent skills that lead to a better quality of life and aligning with Union’s mission of providing Christ-centered education. EDGE is an acronym for employment training, daily living skills, godly focus and educational enrichment. Located in the Penick Acade... READ MORE
Whitacre to speak at Union’s annual Faith in the Marketplace luncheon
January 8, 2026 - Union University’s McAfee School of Business will host Mark Whitacre, the highest-ranking executive in U.S. history to become a whistleblower, for its annual Faith in the Marketplace luncheon Feb. 10. Whitacre’s extraordinary true story inspired the Matt Damon film “The Informant” and the Discovery Channel documentary “Undercover,” recounting his role as the FBI’s key informant during the Archer Daniels Midland price-fixing scandal in the 1990s. Drawing on more than two decades of executive leadership, extensive international business exp... READ MORE
Moore urges Union graduates to choose the ‘hard path’
December 13, 2025 - In a culture that often prizes convenience and the path of least resistance, Union University graduates were challenged Dec. 13 to pursue a different route: the “hard path” that leads to character, integrity and life. Kelvin Moore, who retired in 2024 as professor of Christian studies after serving the university for 33 years, delivered the keynote address to a class of 206 graduates during the fall commencement ceremony at West Jackson Baptist Church. Drawing from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, Moore contrasted the “wide gat... READ MORE
Retired professor Moore to speak at Union’s Dec. 13 graduation
December 10, 2025 - Retired Union University professor Kelvin Moore will deliver the commencement address as part of Union University’s graduation ceremonies Dec. 13 at West Jackson Baptist Church. Moore joined the Union faculty in 1991 after serving as pastor of churches in Alabama, Louisiana and West Virginia. He taught Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Hebrew Grammar and a variety of Old Testament classes before retiring in 2024 as professor of Christian studies. He is the author of “The New Testament for the 21st Century: A Concise Guid... READ MORE