Chapel
The chapel experience is the central and focal event of the university — a time when we give public expression to who we are as a community. Understanding that nothing takes the place of the local church in a student's life, the purpose of chapel at Union University is to worship God while fostering biblical formation, servant leadership, and global engagement as well as encouraging the integration of faith, learning, and living.
Along with exposure to a variety of worship styles and traditions in chapel, the University community experiences a variety of influential Christian ministers and leaders who are laboring to advance God's Kingdom throughout the world. These include preachers, ministers, missionaries and Christians who promote leadership and marketplace ministry throughout the world. Others provide challenges to serve society as they speak from a Christ-centered perspective about education, business, government, medicine, science, family and various contemporary issues. While services are most often designed as worship experiences, the purpose of chapel at Union University is somewhat different from the systematic spiritual development students receive from their local churches.
Gatherings throughout the semester provide opportunities for:
- Christ-exalting worship
- Biblical literacy
- Spiritual growth
- Worldview formation
- Ministry development
- Global engagement
- Community enhancement
- Integration of faith and learning
The following special emphases are typically part of the chapel program each academic year.
Chapel Video
Vimeo (live) Vimeo (recent archives) Video Project (older archives)
Upcoming Chapel Services
Chapel: Jay Barbier
Wed, Jan 14, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Jay Barbier, Harvest Field 3 Team Leader, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
Word Series Chapel: Matt Brown
Fri, Jan 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Matt Brown, Senior Pastor, Germantown Baptist Church
Chapel: Bartholomew Orr
Wed, Jan 21, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Bartholomew Orr, Senior Pastor, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Southaven, Mississippi
Chapel: Nick Glenn
Fri, Jan 23, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Nick Glenn, Campus Pastor, Brown Missionary Baptist Church, Brownsville, Tennessee
Chapel: Ben Hoskins
Wed, Jan 28, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Ben Hoskins, Cluster Leader, International Mission Board
Founders Day Chapel: Sing Oldham
Wed, Feb 4, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Sing Oldham, Gospel Leader Catalyst, Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
Chapel: Mark Whitacre
Wed, Feb 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Mark Whitacre, Vice President, Culture & Care; Executive Director, t-factor
Chapel: Don McCulley
Fri, Feb 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Don McCulley, Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dresden, Tennessee
Chapel: April Bunn
Wed, Feb 18, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
April Bunn, Director, Prayer Office, International Mission Board
Word Series Chapel: Justin Wainscott
Fri, Feb 20, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Justin Wainscott, Associate Dean, University Ministries and the School of Theology & Missions
Crabtree Family Life Series Chapel: Rosaria Butterfield
Wed, Feb 25, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Rosaria Butterfield, Author
Crabtree Family Life Series Chapel: Rosaria Butterfield
Thu, Feb 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Rosaria Butterfield, Author
Crabtree Family Life Series Chapel: Rosaria Butterfield
Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Rosaria Butterfield, Author
Word Series Chapel: Ray Van Neste
Wed, Mar 11, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Ray Van Neste, Dean, School of Theology & Missions; Vice President, University Ministries
Chapel: Brandon Moore
Fri, Mar 13, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Brandon Moore, Replant Specialist, NAMB; Pastor, Calvary Commons, Knoxville, Tennessee
Chapel: Eddie Wren
Wed, Mar 18, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Eddie Wren, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Zachary, Louisiana
Chapel: Scott James
Wed, Mar 25, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Scott James, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Chapel: Dan Darling
Fri, Mar 27, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Dan Darling, Director, The Land Center for Cultural Engagement, Southwestern Seminary; Assistant Professor for Faith and Culture, Texas Baptist College
Word Series Chapel: Don Roe
Wed, Apr 1, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Don Roe, Head of School, University School of Jackson
Chapel: Justin Hiens
Wed, Apr 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
Justin Hiens, Pastor, Second Baptist Church, Union City, Tennessee
Faculty of the Year Chapel: David Thomas
Wed, Apr 15, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
David Thomas, University Professor of History, Union University
Chapel: Chapel Reflections
Fri, Apr 17, 2026, 10:00 a.m.
