Union University Archives - Baptist & Reflector

UNION STUDENTS HELP WAVERLY FLOOD VICTIMS

October 22, 2021

By Suzanne Rhodes
Union University news office

Katherine Anne Thierfelder, sophomore at Union University, helps remove ruined flooring in disaster relief efforts. — Photo by Kristi Woody

JACKSON — Since the deadly floods that hit Waverly in late August, Union University has sent multiple groups of volunteers to assist Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief with flood relief efforts.

One of these students is Kathryn Anne Thierfelder, a sophomore communications and creative writing double major. As she helped remove the ruined flooring from a local resident’s house, Thierfelder observed there is much hurt and need right now. She felt called to help Waverly flood victims because as a native of nearby Jackson, it was important for her to help “those in my own backyard.” [Read more…]

LEWIS DONATES MOST OF PASTORAL LIBRARY TO UNION

September 8, 2021

By Grace White
Union University

Lewis

JACKSON — Pastor Frank Lewis of First Baptist Church, Nashville, has donated approximately 2,000 books from his personal library to Union University to be used by students and faculty.

Lewis’ collection is expansive, including various Bible commentaries and devotionals as well as books that he inherited from the two pastors who served before him at FBC Nashville.

As part of Union’s library, Lewis’ collection will be used to help train the next generation of pastors. His collection includes books that had belonged to his mother and books bought with money that his uncle had given him while he was a seminary student.

“What’s the possibility that some student from Union is going to write a sermon and preach it in a youth camp, and a kid is going to give their heart to Christ?” Lewis asked. “And it may be from an illustration that was provided by a book that my uncle gave me. That’s amazing!”

Lewis, who has been pastor of FBC Nashville since 1997, is not the only FBC Nashville pastor to donate his personal library to Union. Franklin Paschall, who served as the pastor there from 1956-1983, gave his library to Union. Also included in this donation was the library of Paschall’s predecessor, William Francis Powell, who served from 1921-1956. [Read more…]

ANOTHER ‘FIRST DAY’ FOR STUDENTS, STAFF

August 27, 2021

By Todd E. Brady
Vice President for University Ministries; Union University, Jackson

Tuesday (Aug. 17) was the first day. It started again. We did it last year and we’ll do it again next year. For almost 200 years (Union celebrates its bicentennial in two years.) Union University has been starting school every fall. After the summer of an empty campus, the lifeblood has come back into this place. Students have returned. The hallowed halls are again teeming with what makes this place tick — students.

In our weekly meeting on the first day of school, several of us who work at Union shared about how many “first days” we have experienced as employees at an institution of higher education. One shared that he had experienced 32 first days. Another colleague said that this is her sixth first day. For me, it was was my 22nd first day. [Read more…]

UNION NAMES JEFF PALMER AS 2021 DODD AWARD RECIPIENT

July 22, 2021

By Suzanne Rhodes
Union University news office

Jeff Palmer, founder and former CEO of Baptist Global Response, has been named Union University’s 2021 M.E. Dodd Award recipient.

JACKSON — Union University has named Jeff Palmer, founder and former CEO of Baptist Global Response, as the 2021 M.E. Dodd Award recipient, the highest denominational service award given by the university.

Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver presented Palmer with the award June 15 at First Baptist Church in Nashville during Union’s alumni and friends dinner as part of the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

“Through his work as an international missionary, as the director of a global relief organization and now as a transitional pastor for a local church, Jeff’s ministry has been faithful and compassionate and has touched literally millions around the world,” said Todd Brady, vice president for university ministries at Union.

“Union University and Southern Baptists are grateful for God’s work through Jeff Palmer,” he said.

Attaining a bachelor’s degree in biology at Union and a master’s degree in agriculture at Murray State University, Palmer has used his education to serve as an International Mission Board missionary in Southeast Asia for over 20 years. In 2006, Palmer and his wife, Regina, were asked to head the formation of Baptist Global Response, a Southern Baptist international relief and development organization. [Read more…]

SBC: MISSION, TRUST, TRANSPARENCY, UNITY

July 6, 2021

By Todd E. Brady
Vice President For University Ministries, Union University, Jackson

In mid-June, I was one of the 15,726 Baptists who attended the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Nashville — the most attended convention since 1995 and the first large gathering in Nashville since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Having done research this past year in high school for a research paper and learning about the SBC’s deliberations at an earlier convention, my son Jack asked to attend with me. In all the years of going to Southern Baptist Conventions, I learned that it is a much better experience when your son goes with you. [Read more…]

UNION TRUSTEES APPROVE $95M BUDGET

April 21, 2021

Union University news office

JACKSON — Union University trustees celebrated the 25th anniversary of the McAfee School of Business, approved a $95 million budget and granted tenure and promotions to several professors during their April 9 meeting on the Union campus.

In his report to trustees, Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver updated them on the status of the university’s “United in Spirit. Grounded in Truth.” strategic plan, which was adopted in 2015.

Oliver shared success stories from each of seven strategic themes that the plan emphasizes: bearing witness to the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ, expanding enrollment across the university, enhancing operational effectiveness and efficiency to advance the mission, revising the liberal arts core curriculum, supporting meaningful research among faculty and students, developing leaders for the future, and bolstering student life and building community. [Read more…]

UNION, SOUTHERN SEMINARY LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP FOR MBA, M.DIV. DEGREES

March 19, 2021

Union University president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver, right, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. sign a partnership agreement between the two institutions at a March 16 signing ceremony. Certain credits earned by students in Union’s Master of Business Administration program will also count toward a Master of Divinity degree at SBTS. Likewise, students in the Master of Divinity program at SBTS can earn credits toward their MBA degree at Union. The partnership essentially reduces the time it takes for students to complete both degrees. — Photo by Kristi Woody.

JACKSON — Union University and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary have signed an articulation agreement in which certain credits earned by students in Union’s Master of Business Administration program will also count toward a Master of Divinity degree at SBTS.

Likewise, students in the Master of Divinity program at SBTS can earn credits toward their MBA degree at Union. The partnership essentially reduces the time it takes for students to complete both degrees.

Union president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver and SBTS President R. Albert Mohler Jr. officially signed the agreement on the Union campus March 16. [Read more…]

UNION’S CLASS OF 2020 PLACEMENT RATE AT 98 PERCENT DESPITE DIFFICULT YEAR

February 16, 2021

Union University news office

JACKSON — Ninety-eight percent of Union University’s class of 2020 were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of receiving their degree, according to an “Undergraduate First-Destination Survey” conducted by the Vocation Center for Life Calling and Career.

The placement rate for Union’s class of 2019 was also 98 percent. For the classes of 2018 and 2017, placement rates were 95 percent, and in 2016 it was 91 percent.

These studies were conducted in compliance with standards of the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Union’s 98 percent placement rate is about 12 points above NACE’s national placement rate average of 85.7 percent in 2018 (the most recent available data).

“The year 2020 has been an unusual and difficult year for everyone, but with 98 percent of the class finding placement within six months of graduation, our May 2020 graduates have shown an incredible resilience and persistence as they were sent out into a challenging economy and shifting work force,” said Alex Huguenard, director of the Vocation Center. [Read more…]

‘MK’ FROM ITALY FINDS NICHE AT UNION

February 6, 2021

By Sarah Goff
Union University news office

Emma Worthy, a freshman at Union, grew up in Italy, where her parents are IMB missionaries. — Photo by Kristi Woody

JACKSON — Like so many seniors, Union University freshman Emma Worthy’s last year of high school looked very different because of the COVID-19 pandemic. What makes her story different is she was separated from her family by hundreds of miles and a few countries.

Worthy’s parents are International Mission Board missionaries in Tuscany, Italy. She was born in Fort Worth, Texas, but her family moved overseas when she was 18 months old. She grew up in Italy and considers Naples her home.

Emma and her older sister, Micah, were studying at Black Forest Academy, an international Christian boarding school in Germany, when lockdowns due to the coronavirus started to take place in early March. The school shut down and tried to get all the students back to their families.

“We tried to get home, but we couldn’t because Italy had already locked down,” Worthy said. “It was really, really bad. My family didn’t leave the house for 63 days.” [Read more…]

UNION MOURNS LOSS OF FORMER FIRST LADY JOYCE BAREFOOT

January 27, 2021

Union University news office

Joyce Lynn Barefoot was the wife of Union’s 14th president, Hyran Barefoot.

JACKSON — Former Union University First Lady, Joyce Lynn Barefoot, wife of Union’s 14th president Hyran Barefoot, died Jan. 23 at Maplewood Nursing Home in Jackson at age 93.

“Joyce Barefoot was a Union treasure,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “Her graciousness and encouragement were hallmarks of her faithful life. Her service to Union University and, more specifically, the people of Union cannot truly be measured this side of heaven. Even still, we give thanks to God for all of the lives she impacted in Jackson, Tennessee and around the globe by her hospitality and friendship.”

Mrs. Barefoot graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana, and continued her education at Louisiana Tech University. She earned her degree in elementary education in 1948 and immediately began teaching in the Ouachita Parish Schools. [Read more…]

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