2023-2024

Summer Graduation (Jul 27, 2024)
Speaker: Mary Anne Poe, university professor of social work, who is retiring from Union after joining the faculty in 1998. She was the founding dean of the School of Social Work and the director of Union’s Center for Just and Caring Communities.
Spring Graduation: Commissioning Service (May 4, 2024)
Spring Graduation: Graduate and Non-Traditional Ceremony (May 4, 2024)
Speaker: Hunter Baker, provost at North Greenville University and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Union
Spring Graduation: Traditional Undergraduate Ceremony (May 4, 2024)
Speaker: Hunter Baker, provost at North Greenville University and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Union
Chapel: Awards Day (Apr 19, 2024)
Chapel: Michael O'Neal (Apr 17, 2024)
Speaker: Michael O'Neal, Evangelism & Missions Pastor, First Baptist Church, Cumming, Ga.
Word Series Chapel: Ray Van Neste (Apr 12, 2024)
Speaker: Ray Van Neste, Dean and Professor of Biblical Studies, School of Theology & Missions; Vice President, University Ministries, Union University - Address from Philippians 4:10-20
Chapel: Hal Poe (Apr 10, 2024)
Speaker: Hal Poe, Charles Colson University Professor of Faith & Culture, Union University
Chapel: Kelvin Moore (Apr 5, 2024)
Speaker: Kelvin Moore, University Professor of Biblical Studies, Union University
Chapel: Hance Dilbeck (Apr 3, 2024)
Speaker: Hance Dilbeck, President and Chief Executive Officer, GuideStone
Chapel: Sandy Willson (Mar 27, 2024)
Speaker: Sandy Willson, Interim President, The Gospel Coalition
Dockery Lectures: Robert Smith: Afternoon Session (Mar 25, 2024)
Speaker: Robert Smith Jr., Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Ala. - Theme: "Sitting at the Feet of a Baptist Preacher: Spurgeon's Influence on Thielicke"
Dockery Lectures: Robert Smith: Evening Session (Mar 25, 2024)
Speaker: Robert Smith Jr., Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Ala. - Theme: "Sitting at the Feet of a Baptist Preacher: Spurgeon's Influence on Thielicke"
Chapel: Jonathan Pennington (Mar 22, 2024)
Speaker: Jonathan Pennington, Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
Chapel: David King (Mar 20, 2024)
Speaker: David King, Senior Pastor, Concord Baptist Church, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Chapel: Chad Poe (Mar 8, 2024)
Speaker: Chad Poe, Teaching Pastor, Grace Bible Church, Clute, Tex.
Family Life Series Chapel: Jacob & Keshia Shatzer (Mar 6, 2024)
Speaker: Jacob Shatzer, Associate Provost and Dean of Instruction; Associate Professor of Theological Studies, Union University; and wife Keshia.
Music: Night of Worship (Mar 3, 2024)
The service included music selections that celebrate the Majesty of our Savior, the work that He accomplished for us at Calvary, and the present and future hope we enjoy because of our salvation. Groups who led worship represent the combined choirs of Union Department of Music and the Union Studio Orchestra.
Cultivating Christ-Centered Relationships Chapel: Courtney Powell (Mar 1, 2024)
Speaker: Courtney Powell, Director of Ministry Content, Women & Work - Address: Better Together: How Men and Women working together is a God-ordained good
Word Series Chapel: Andy Davis (Feb 28, 2024)
Speaker: Andy Davis, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Durham, NC - Address from Philippians 1:1-11
Missions Chapel: David Carothers (Feb 23, 2024)
Speaker: David Carothers, Missionary in Residence
Word Series Chapel: Phil Newton (Feb 21, 2024)
Speaker: Phil Newton, Director of Pastoral Care & Mentoring, Pillar Network - Address from Philippians 4:1-9
Word Series Chapel: Justin Perry (Feb 16, 2024)
Speaker: Justin Perry, Lead Pastor, Covenant Life Church, Tampa, Fla. - Address from Philippians 3:1-21
Word Series Chapel: Ken Lewis (Feb 14, 2024)
Speaker: Kenneth R. Lewis, Dean and Professor of Pastoral Ministry, Memphis College of Urban and Theological Studies, Union University - Address from Philippians 2:19-30
Founders Day Chapel: David J. Brady (Feb 7, 2024)
Speaker: David J. Brady, Senior Pastor, Christ Community Church, Mount Airy, NC
New Academic Building Topping Out Ceremony (Feb 5, 2024)
Video shown at the Topping Out Ceremony on Feb. 5, 2024.
Word Series Chapel: Hershael York (Feb 2, 2024)
Speaker: Hershael W. York, Victor and Louise Lester Professor of Christian Preaching; Dean of The School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary - Address from Philippians 1:27-2:18
Powell Missions Lecture: Victor Hou (Feb 1, 2024)
Speaker: Victor Hou, Associate Vice President for Global Advance, International Mission Board - Address: "Advancing the Gospel, Pushing Back Lostness"
Chapel: Victor Hou (Jan 31, 2024)
Speaker: Victor Hou, Associate Vice President for Global Advance, International Missions Board
Word Series Chapel: Brian Arnold (Jan 26, 2024)
Speaker: Brian Arnold, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Paducah, Ky. - Sermon from Philippians 1:12-26
Faith in Practice Chapel: Joe Ball (Jan 25, 2024)
Speaker: Joe Ball, Director for Student Leadership and Engagement
Faith in Practice Chapel: Justin Wainscott (Jan 24, 2024)
Speaker: Justin Wainscott, Associate Dean, School of Theology & Missions - Address from Psalm 77
Leadership Chapel: Dub Oliver (Jan 12, 2024)
Speaker: Dub Oliver, President, Union University
Fall Graduation: All Undergraduate Degrees except Associate Degrees, BSOL & MCUTS (Dec 16, 2023)
Keynote address: Elijah Brown, general secretary of Baptist World Alliance
Fall Graduation: Associate Degrees, BSOL, MCUTS and all Graduate Degrees (Dec 16, 2023)
Keynote address: Elijah Brown, general secretary of Baptist World Alliance
A Union Christmas: Behold: Our God Has Come (Dec 7, 2023)
Faculty of the Year Chapel: Ted Kluck (Dec 1, 2023)
Speaker: Ted Kluck, Associate Professor of Communication Arts
Chapel: Dan Riley (Nov 29, 2023)
Speaker: Dan Riley, Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tenn.
Chapel: Lee Tankersley (Nov 17, 2023)
Speaker: Lee Tankersley, Pastor, Cornerstone Community Church, Jackson, Tenn.
Service Chapel: Frank Anderson (Nov 15, 2023)
Speaker: Frank Anderson, Stephen Olford Chair of Expository Preaching and Associate Professor of Ministry and Missions; Director, Center for Racial Reconciliation
Identity and Character Chapel: Dub Oliver (Nov 10, 2023)
Speaker: Dub Oliver, President
Identity and Character Chapel: Phil Davignon (Nov 8, 2023)
Speaker: Phil Davignon, Chair and Associate Professor of Sociology
Music: University Singers Concert (Nov 7, 2023)
The Union University Singers present "From Darkness to Light" with video art by Angela D. Lee, M.F.A., Professor of Art
Homecoming Chapel: Lance Parrott (Nov 3, 2023)
Speaker: Lance Parrott, Pastor of Preaching and Vision, Christ Fellowship Church, Bowling Green, Ky.
Local Church Chapel: Joey Cadden (Nov 1, 2023)
Speaker: Joey Cadden, Young Adults Pastor, West Jackson Baptist Church, Jackson, Tenn.
Music: Symphony Orchestra Concert (Oct 31, 2023)
The Union University Symphony Orchestra perform Brahms Symphony #1 and music from Harry Potter.
Chapel: Shawn Parker (Oct 27, 2023)
Speaker: Shawn Parker, Executive Director-Treasurer, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board
Service Chapel: Rick Morton (Oct 25, 2023)
Speaker: Rick Morton, Senior Vice President of Engagement, Lifeline Children’s Services
Music: Commercial Music Ensembles (Oct 23, 2023)
Surrender, Bluegrass Band, the Gospel Singers, and the Union University Jazz Band perform
Leadership and Stewardship Chapel: Roy A. "Soup" Campbell (Oct 20, 2023)
Speaker: Roy A. "Soup" Campbell, Executive Director, Eikon Ministries, Memphis, Tenn.
Music: Symphonic Band Concert (Oct 19, 2023)
Leadership and Stewardship Chapel: Jason Pyron (Oct 18, 2023)
Speaker: Jason Pyron, Ministries and Leadership Development Pastor, Bellevue Baptist Church, Cordova, Tenn.
Chapel: Deepak Reju (Oct 11, 2023)
Speaker: Deepak Reju, Pastor of Biblical Counseling and Family Ministry, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
Global Focus Chapel: Phil Barnes (Oct 6, 2023)
Speaker: Phil Barnes, Pastor of Missions and Equipping, Grace Church, Waco, Tex.
Global Focus Chapel: Timothy O'Day (Oct 4, 2023)
Speaker: Timothy O’Day, Pastor, Christ Fellowship Church, American Fork, Utah
Global Focus Chapel: Gus Hernandez, Jr. (Sep 27, 2023)
Speaker: Gus Hernandez, Jr., Director for Sending Churches, North American Mission Board
Music: Symphony Orchestra Concert (Sep 26, 2023)
An exciting program of Orchestra music including Beethoven's Symphony #7 in A Major and selections from Pirates of the Caribbean by Klaus Badelt.
Global Focus Chapel: GO Trip Panel (Sep 22, 2023)
Chapel: Justin Wainscott (Sep 20, 2023)
Speaker: Justin Wainscott, Associate Dean, School of Theology and Missions; Assistant Professor of Ministry
Constitution Day Discussion: Threat or Defense of Democracy (Sep 18, 2023)
Former President Donald Trump has been indicted four times regarding hush money to a porn star, mishandling classified documents, and seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Many Democrats and liberals believe that these indictments demonstrate that no person is above the law and pursuing these indictments are key to defending democracy. However, many conservatives and Republicans believe Democrats are weaponizing the judicial system to go after their opponents. Are both correct, wrong, or partially correct and wrong?
This is a discussion of the Trump indictments and their impact on American democracy with the Political Science faculty. They reviewed and contextualized the indictments, led a discussion on their impact on democracy, and answered questions people may have.
Global Focus Chapel: Scott Gilbert (Sep 15, 2023)
Speaker: Scott Gilbert, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Jackson, Tenn.
Global Focus Chapel: Will Watson (Sep 13, 2023)
Speaker: Will Watson, The Traveling Team
Wholeness Chapel: Chase Sears (Sep 8, 2023)
Speaker: Chase Sears, Senior Pastor, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Nashville, Tenn.
Wholeness Chapel: Shane Pruitt (Sep 6, 2023)
Speaker: Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director, North American Mission Board
Faithfulness and Perseverance Chapel: Jay Strother (Sep 1, 2023)
Speaker: Jay Strother, Campus and Teaching Pastor, Brentwood Baptist Church, Brentwood, Tenn.
Chapel: Ray Van Neste (Aug 30, 2023)
Speaker: Ray Van Neste, Interim Vice President for University Ministries; Dean, School of Theology and Missions; Professor of Biblical Studies
Music: Voices of Proclamation - "My God Fights" (Aug 25, 2023)
Fall Convocation: Dub Oliver (Aug 25, 2023)
Dub Oliver spoke to the Union community during fall convocation and based his message on Genesis 1:27: "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."
Welcome Week: Blessings Service (Aug 17, 2023)
Welcome and Worshipping as the Union Community