Navigating College Amidst COVID-19
I’m sure we are all tired of hearing about the repercussions of COVID-19, I know I am. But I’ll say it one more time for the people in the back, these are weird times we are going through. One of the weirdest adjustments that UT students have been making is switching...
God Is Bigger Than We Think
Like most of you, I have spent the past week deep in zoom and facetime calls, working with my peers to figure out a way forward, a way to navigate this unprecedented and uncertain time. We are all navigating these unsteady and shaky steps, doing the best we can with...
Virtual Ministry, Virtual Community
Some of us remember the Jetsons cartoon, always wondering what the future would be like. Would we be driving flying cars, using robot vacuums, video calling friends and family, having robot maids and assistants in our home? The Jetsons was set in 2062 and yet in 2020...
Welcome to the Wilderness
Welcome to the wilderness. It’s fitting that we are in the season of Lent, walking with Jesus through unknown territory. No one knows what to do here, we are all anxious, uncertain, and fearful. And yet, when I think about this time, I am reminded of an article I read...
UKirk Beatitudes
Blessed are the college students In brick buildings and behind computer screens Those with a trust fund and those on financial aid Those in their first year, those finishing a fifth, and all the spaces in-between For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the...
Remembering Sabbath at Montreat College Conference
One thing I love about UKirk at the University of Tennessee is it’s group dynamic and the individual bonds between each member. No matter how long I’ve been away from UKirk, it seems I can always pick up where I left off with everyone as though no time has gone by....
The Community I Needed In College
When I was in college I took a writing class in which we had to read a book on the topic of writing. One of the options was Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird. I chose this book without really knowing anything about it or the author. I never could have foreseen that this...
Why I Give As A Current UKirk Student
My parents taught me from a very young age to give back, even when nothing is expected in return. This was taught at my home church, Fountain City Presbyterian, from the time I started attending at the age of two. The ability to give something to someone or to...
A Message From Our New Campus Minister
We live in a world where there are so many things trying to get our attention. Phone calls, texts, emails, notifications, news alerts, all vying for a spot in our lives, which already feel stretched to the limit. It’s hard not to feel exhausted and drained in this...
Renovated and Always Renovating
There’s a video saved in the very back of my phone. It’s a snapchat of the old living room in the UKirk house. It was finals week during Advent and late in the afternoon. The Christmas tree stood, decorated with glitter and ornaments, in the corner by the back door....
“Why is UKirk so important to you?”
I get asked a lot, “Why is UKirk so important to you?” For starters, I’m on the board for UKirk at the University of Tennessee and get to see first hand this amazing ministry. My job is to help support and encourage the staff and students here and make sure we are...
UKirk is doing GREAT!
In the late spring our campus minister resigned to take a new call. With the timing of everything we knew we would not be able to have a new campus minister in place by the time the new school year started, but we were ready for the challenge. The Board of Directors...
A Home Away From Home
UKirk has a special place in my heart, and it really has been a home for me during my time at UT. You may have heard us call it a home over and over, but we keep saying it because it is true. I have made some of my best friends in this place. When I am at UKirk I know...
A Farewell from Rev. Andy Morgan
Leaving a place you love is always difficult. As I prepare for the conclusion of my tenure as the Pastor of UKirk-UTK, it’s difficult to put into words the swirl of emotion that I feel as this great time of my life comes to a close. I feel grateful. I want to thank...
Why Fundraising is Important
When I took the position as Communications Coordinator here at UKirk, I knew part of my job would be fundraising and grant writing. I wasn’t intimidated, but I wasn’t completely confident either. I dabbled in fundraising some in a previous job as a youth director and...