Contact Union

402.486.2600
ucinfo@ucollege.edu

3800 S. 48th St.
Lincoln, NE 68506 USA

Enrollment Services

402.486.2504
enroll@ucollege.edu
Admissions homepage

Alumni/Giving

402.486.2503
alumni@ucollege.edu
Advancement homepage

Personnel directory
×
×

background trapezoid Union College Union College | Finding purpose. Unlocking potential.
Union College – Experience the Spirit

About
  • About Union College
    • About Seventh-day Adventists
    • Accreditation
    • College Symbols
    • Consumer Information
    • Employment
    • Employee Resources (login)
    • Mission and Vision
  • Connect with Union
    • News from Union College
    • Contact Us

  • College Leadership
    • Board of Trustees
    • Employee Directory
  • Lincoln, Nebraska, a great place to learn
    • things to do |
    • places to eat |
    • where to stay


Thumbnail of an illustration of campus. Campus map
  • Google Maps
  • Map with accessibility features
Academics
  • Find majors and programs
  • Academic Support
    • Computer labs
    • Library
    • Records Office
    • Studio for Writing and Speaking
  • Information and resources
    • Academic bulletin
    • Academic calendar
    • Canvas
    • Class schedules
    • Final exam schedules
    • Accommodations and accessibility
    • Graduation information
    • Transcript request
  • Student Success
    • Academic and life coaching
    • Disability information and access
    • Career services
    • Tutoring
  • Professional Excellence Program
  • Adventist Colleges Abroad
Alumni
Stay connected to Union
    • Join us for Homecoming!
      • April 13-16, 2023
    • News from Union College
    • Read CORDmagazine
    • Watch live events
    • Find event photos on Facebook
    • Update your info and share news
    • Read Pastor David Kabanje's daily devotionals
  • Advancement Office
  • Ways to give
    • Give online
    • Planned giving
    • More giving opportunities
  • Request transcripts
    (via Parchment)
  • Explore our history
    • Clocktower archive (1927-2010)
    • Educational Messenger (1905-1926)
    • Library photo collections
Campus Life
  • Student Life Office
    • About the Student Life Office
    • Residence Halls
    • Campus apartments
    • Find clubs on uGroups

  • Athletics
    • Varsity calendar
    • High school tournaments
  • Campus Ministries
    • Upcoming events
    • Good Morning Union
    • International Volunteers and Taskforce
    • Project Impact
    • Watch worship services on uTV
  • Services for campus
    • Campus Health
    • Campus Safety
    • Campus Store
    • Information Systems
    • Integrated Marketing Communications
    • Library
    • Student Employment
    • Plant Services
    • Accessibility Services
    • Union Market
Community
  • Services for our community
    • George Stone Elementary School
    • Guest Services at the Ortner Center
      • Guest rooms
      • Meeting spaces
      • Reservations
    • Union Market Dining Services
  •  
    • Larson Lifestyle Center
      • Become a member
      • Facility rental and parties
      • Swimming lessons
    • Library
      • Lincoln-Lancaster County Genealogical Society
  • Events for our community
    • Athletics
      • Athletic calendar
    • Arts and performance calendar
Parents
  • Prospective parent links
    • Why Union students succeed
    • Finding a calling: read examples
    • Financing a Christian education
      • Scholarships and financial aid
      • Tuition
      • Financial FAQ
      • Financial checklist
      • Financial aid forms
      • Contact Student Financial Services
    • Help plan a campus visit
    • Learn about Lincoln, Nebraska
  • Current parent links
    • Services for parents
      • Order a Party Pack
      • Order LifeSavors
      • Make a payment online
    • Events
      • Parents Weekend (Sept. 23-25, 2022)
      • Graduation (May 5-7, 2023)
      • Watch uTV
      • See photos on Facebook
Thumbnail of the Boones. Watch: parents share how Union helped their daughter find her calling.
Thumbnail of Pastor Rich Carlson. Watch: the 5 biggest decisions in life.
Prospective Students
  • Admissions Office
    • Apply online
    • Union's guarantee
    • Plan your campus visit

  • Financial information
    • Scholarships
    • Grants and loans
    • Costs
    • Financial FAQ
    • Net price calculator
    • Financial aid forms
    • Student Financial Services
  • Learn more about Union
    • Academic and life coaching
    • Residence Halls
    • See our majors and programs
    • Interactive campus map
    • Follow us on Instagram

  • Checklists
    • After you're accepted
    • Financial clearance
    • International students
    • Transfer students
Thumbnail of Mary with play button. Union inspired Mary to excel in nursing and gain spiritual confidence.
Thumbnail of Joslyn with a play button. When a letter arrived from a little Nebraska college, Joslyn heard God calling.
April 19, 2022

Jefferson Gibson: listening for God in the cafeteria

If you’ve eaten at Union Market in the last four years, you’ve probably seen Jefferson Gibson. The senior theology major serves meals, stocks shelves and rings up purchases, all with his characteristic easygoing smile. If you ask him what his plans for the future are, he’ll answer quickly and confidently: “I know what my calling is because God has directed me to pastoral ministry.”

Gibson wasn’t always so sure of his path. When he started working at the cafeteria during his freshman year, he was a general biology major. Although he had a passion for biblical studies and ministry, he felt that theology was too big of a task for him to do. However, his roommate, his friends, and even his pastor seemed to think it would be a good fit for him.

Feeling conflicted about his career choices, Gibson decided to ask God for a sign. “At the time, I liked this girl,” he said. “She was really busy and never came to the deli at Union Market, so I would never get to see her. Early one morning I prayed, ‘God, if you really want me to study theology, as a sign I ask that she come to the cafeteria and order something at the deli.’”

Gibson didn’t take his prayer too seriously, and he forgot about it as he began his day. But while he was working in the deli that afternoon, one of his friends pulled him aside. “My friend said, ‘Okay Jeff, don’t freak out, but the girl you like is right behind you, and she’s ordering something from the deli,’” said Gibson. “I was really upset and frustrated because now I knew what God wanted me to do, but I didn’t want to do it. It was such a big step.”

Gibson switched his major to psychology as a sort of compromise. “I kept hearing this small voice trying to tell me, ‘Jeff, you should do theology,’” he said. “So I went up to the Religion Program office, took a leap of faith and switched my major. Since then, my whole path here at Union has been so peaceful, and I know that this is the right direction for me.”

One of Gibson’s favorite classes is Church Leadership, taught by Dr. Thomas Toews. “We learn about the rules of how a church is operated, how to run a church business meeting and what to do if there are problems in the church,” Gibson said. He put these lessons to use during his practicum at Allon Chapel. “I got to do what a pastor would do under a senior pastor. I saw what ministry is like with real people, and because of that, I think I’m prepared to do well at my job when I graduate.”

Following graduation, Gibson will begin serving full-time as a pastor. “I got a job at Omaha Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church,” he said. “I will be an associate pastor for two to three years and then I will be shipped off to seminary at Andrews. That’s my plan for the future so far, and we’ll see what God has in store.” Even though God’s signs may not always be as clear as it was in the cafeteria, Gibson has his eyes open for whatever form His guidance might take.

Media contact

Ryan Teller
Director of Public Relations
402.486.2600 ext. 2272
ryan.teller@ucollege.edu

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter

 

Footer – About/Contact

Finding Purpose.
Unlocking Potential.

Union College is an accredited, Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher learning in Lincoln, Nebraska since 1891.

  • Learn about Union College
  • Consumer Information
  • Employment
  • Website privacy policy

Contact us

ucinfo@ucollege.edu | 402.486.2600
3800 South 48th Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68506 USA

Footer – Campus systems

Personnel Directory

Employee directory and biographies.

Directories

Employees | Students (login required)

Portal

Register for classes, see grades, make a payment and more.

Canvas

Participate in classes, online.

Footer – Campus systems 2

Library

Access resources and find your study spot.

Calendars

Events | Academic and Class Schedule.

uGroups

Connect and communicate with campus.

Good Morning Union

A devotional thought for every school day.

Footer – Column 4

 

Apply

$

Affordability

Academic Programs

 

Get directions

Ranked top tier by US News
 
News ...
  • News from Union College
  • Union launching three new graduate programs
  • Choral ReUnion: old friends, new music and new memories
  • Student Success brings Bollinger home
  • Union College hosts choral reunion
  • Union welcomes back Ysabella Dieguez
  • From parent to prof: Union welcomes Carlton Robinson
  • Midland boys and Sunnydale girls win the Spring Tournament 2023
  • Union closed Thursday, February 16
  • Matt Talbot honored with Community Appreciation Award
  • Expedition Malawi 2023
  • Tethered to hope
  • Building community and competency: welcome back, Noah!
  • Home
  • About Union College
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Advancement Office
  • Campus Ministries
  • Campus Services
  • Services for Parents
  • Student Life
  • Student Success