JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 3, 2023 — Happy birthday! Union University turns 200 years old Feb. 3, 2023. Those who started things in 1823 could never have imagined all that is now. The precursor to Union University, Jackson Male Academy, started when James Monroe was president of the United States.
It was the year that Pope Pius VII, who crowned Napoleon Bonaparte as the emperor of France, died. Edward Jenner, the creator of the world’s first vaccine, also died that year. Those in Hardeman County may remember it as the year that Simon Bolivar became the president of Peru.
Union has spent the entire year celebrating its bicentennial. There are bicentennial lapel pins, bicentennial stationery and bicentennial events. Drive down the bypass and you will see a bicentennial banner on Hammons Hall. Drive on campus and you will see a big bicentennial sign on the Logos.
Feb. 3 is the date, but because the weather is what it is in February, we decided to kick off the celebration with events in September 2022 and celebrate throughout the academic year. During the weekend of Sept. 23-24, over 5,000 alumni, family, friends and former employees gathered for the celebration.
Through it all, I was reminded of a tremendous truth as it relates to Christianity and institutional life--God brings just the right people to just the right place at just the right time for just the right purpose. This is one of the greatest things that God had done at Union over the years. The institution’s core values are Excellence-Driven, Christ-Centered, People-Focused and Future-Directed. While Union has always sought to live out these values, it is the people God has used to do his work.
Union’s bicentennial celebration in September began with a chapel. How appropriate that the celebration started there. We wanted to begin by looking to God himself—the same God to whom our forefathers looked when they decided to begin an educational institution in Jackson. It was appropriate that we were led in worship by the Tennessee Men’s Chorale and Randy Davis, president/executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. In a day when institutions are backing away from their Christian commitments and denominational affiliations, Union University realizes that the best way for us to move forward is to look back and realize that our roots have been and will continue to be in the Christian people in Baptist churches in Tennessee.
It was overwhelming to be a part of a luncheon recently where the last three Union presidents spoke – Hyran Barefoot, David S. Dockery and Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver. Each of these men was called by God to Union University and has served with excellence and Christ-centeredness, focusing on people and the future. Each of these men served with men and women who have given their lives in service to the students who come to Union.
On a Friday night at the Carl Perkins Civic Center, 1,000 people gathered to continue celebrating the history of Union University. Attendees heard different chairmen of the Board of Trustees talk about their experiences. Former and current administrators discussed their time at Union.
In the brisk early morning hours of the next Saturday, hundreds met to pray on the Union campus. Shortly afterward, many ran and walked a 5K. That afternoon, everyone mingled, watched students playing ultimate frisbee, reunited with former teachers and classmates—all the while celebrating God’s goodness to Union overs the last 200 years.
That evening, families gathered on the Great Lawn, kids rode carnival rides and everyone enjoyed a special performance by Union’s stage band from days gone by. Afterward, Christian recording artist David Crowder performed before thousands before all eyes turned upward as fireworks painted the skies.
In November 2022, Union reported to the annual meeting of the Tennessee Baptist Convention. I shared that we were claiming Psalm 126:3 as our bicentennial verse this year—"The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.” It is not without significance that the first two words of the verse are “The LORD” and not “Union University.” We do not celebrate the fact that Union University has done great things over the last 200 years. We are mindful that we are celebrating that God has done great things for Union University.
Indeed, we have much for which to be grateful. For 200 years, God has been good to Union University. Throughout two centuries, He has brought just the right people to just the right place at just the right time for just the right purposes. As we look back, there is much to celebrate. As we look forward, there is much to anticipate.