On June 1, Ray Van Neste, professor of biblical studies, will begin his role as the new dean of the School of Theology and Missions at Union University, where he strives to lead and teach students to live like the servant attitudes reflected in 2 Corinthians.
Van Neste graduated from Union and has served as a professor at Union University for 18 years. As he prepares for this new journey, he said he strives to keep the words of Apostle Paul front and center of his ministry from 2 Corinthians 4:5, “We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servant for Jesus’ sake.”
Reflecting these words, Van Neste said he wants to continue furthering the work of the School of Theology and Missions by training students to lead with servant spirits not only at Union University, but also in local churches.
“One of my great desires is for Union to play a part in a great renewal of our churches,” Van Neste said. “We want to be turning out students who have that servant’s heart of loving the church, wanting to serve people and wanting to serve the Lord.”
John Netland, provost at Union University, expressed his excitement and confidence in Van Neste in a recent Union University news release.
“God has blessed us with the right person in our very midst, someone who can step up to assume the responsibilities of this office, and someone whom the faculty respects as a leader,” Netland said. “We can’t see the future, but we trust that God will continue to bless the School of Theology and Missions, and we have confidence that Ray will be the kind of leader who does not lean on his own understanding but will, in all of his ways, trust in the Lord and follow his guidance.”
Van Neste will become the third dean for the School of Theology and Missions at Union, and he said it is an honor to be trusted with this task of leading as the new dean. He said that there is good work being done, and there is also good work to be done.
“Being an alum, being from West Tennessee and spending half of my life here, I love the school, and I want to be a part of its thriving,” Van Neste said.
