When Clayton and McKinley Martin graduated from Union in 2016, they walked away with more than degrees. They walked away with a calling and a vision that would take them around the world.
Clayton, who came to Union on a soccer scholarship and majored in sports management, had his trajectory forever changed during a 2014 mission trip to Haiti. It was there that God called him to ministry and planted the seed for what would become Among the Nations, a missions nonprofit he now leads as founder and CEO. He also serves as lead pastor of the Springville Campus of Faith Community Fellowship in Springville, Alabama.
McKinley's life as a student-athlete took an unexpected turn when an injury ended her softball career and her scholarship. But she chose to stay because Union had become home.
"From the moment I stepped on campus, there was a genuine sense of joy, purpose and light that's hard to describe but easy to feel," she said.
After graduating with her elementary education degree, she returned home to teach second grade at the very school she attended growing up. She also serves alongside Clayton in ministry and as co-founder of Among the Nations.
Together, they are raising three daughters and building a family centered on faith and the Great Commission — something they both credit, in large part, to their time at Union.
"My life would look drastically different if Union wasn't a part of our story," Clayton said. "I'm grateful for the degree, but even more than that, I'm grateful for meeting my wife, the community, the deep care for people and the experiences where my faith grew beyond my own borders."
McKinley echoes that sentiment. "I came in as a freshman with a weak faith, but through friendships, leadership on campus and being connected to a local church, my faith became my own," she said. "Union created an environment where I was constantly encouraged and challenged to grow, and those years were truly foundational for who I am today."
Clayton and McKinley have simple but sincere advice for those considering Union. "If you're looking for a place where you'll be challenged academically, grow spiritually and be surrounded by people who truly care about you," McKinley said, "Union is that place. Lean in, and it can truly shape the trajectory of your life."
Clayton's encouragement is more direct: "If the Lord is leading you here, go for it. He will provide."
What began on Union's campus in classrooms, on athletic fields and through experiences that stretched their faith has grown into a shared life and a mission that spans the globe.
