Caleb Lowe
Theological Studies Major, Clarksville, Tenn.
In the final months of high school, Caleb Lowe began his college search with a desire for a small Christian community where he wasn’t taught what to think, but how to think. The problem was, of the handful of choices that fit the description, not many schools offered both of Lowe’s desired study routes.
Lowe discovered Union University while searching for schools that offered a pair of unlikely collegiate studies: zoology and theology.
“Union is one of the few small Christian schools that offers a zoology program and has stuff for apologetics and theology, which was what the Lord was leading me toward when I was searching for colleges,” Lowe said. Lowe explained how Union allowed him to make the choice to take zoology or theology, or even both. His campus visit helped solidify his decision.
“It was just a beautiful campus, and we loved the community and all the welcome leaders we met,” Lowe said. “It was just a really cool environment. And I think everyone in my family knew that this was where the Lord was leading me.”
Lowe tried the best of both worlds his freshman year at Union, but he soon realized God was calling him to studies in theology. Now a junior majoring in theological studies, Lowe has appreciated the fact that he is picking up the crucial cultural conversations that have lasted generations.
“Over the course of my theology and philosophy classes, I’m able to identify the traditions I’m tapping into, the different questions we’re asking, the ideas we’re presenting, and just being able to think about those things in greater depth and actually participate in conversations that have been happening for centuries,” Lowe said.
After arriving at Union his freshman year, Lowe has developed a goal to teach apologetics and theology at a collegiate level.
But Lowe’s interests aren’t limited to books. In the corner of his room is a punching bag and rack of official UFC fighting gear like boxing gloves and helmets. Lowe is the vice president of the unofficial Defense Club, a weekly group that meets in Lowe’s dorm to practice self-defense techniques through the art of boxing.
“Defense Club is about bringing together guys on campus to learn how to fight so we can be stronger men to protect our families one day,” Lowe said, pointing to the rack of pads and gloves.
For a dorm, the blend of evident interests mixed beautifully. Lowe was surrounded by shelves of books and lit by spotlight lamps that shined on knighthood décor on the shelves. Beside him was a dark-stained table decorated with a plethora of books and metal-pieced chessboard, which complimented the opposing table that housed a 20-pound metal centerpiece of a lion. With the fighting equipment, the dorm was like the mancave of a well-read theologian.
Lowe explained the care and dedication he and fellow students put into their Defense Club training sessions.
“I think there's a lot of weakness in every respect in our culture right now,” he said. “Weak men cause weak societies. It’s really just about bringing guys together who want to honor the Lord, honor their bodies and learn how to defend themselves and protect others.”
Lowe and his fellow self-defense trainees are waiting for the green light from campus officials to make them an official Union club. Until them, Lowe is jumping into the new year with the hopes of glorifying God in his studies and with his companions in Defense Club.
By Ethan Orwig ('25)