Graduate Spotlight: Megan Sullivan’s experiences at Lipscomb challenge her to a newfound faith
Lipscomb community inspires student athlete’s journey from the volleyball court to a master's in Christian ministry.
Keely Hagan | 615-966-6491 |
Megan Sullivan, Lipscomb Academy’s athletics, academic and spiritual formation director and assistant volleyball coach, first joined the Lipscomb community as a volleyball student athlete at the university. She earned a bachelor’s degree in fitness and sport studies in 2020, and on May 4, she will receive a Master of Arts in Christian ministry.
She came to Nashville from Cypress, Texas, and says, “When I first arrived on campus, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. I was in Bible classes and attending chapel services on a recurring basis for the first time in my life.”
She found herself immersed in an intentionally Christian environment at Lipscomb, which fueled her desire to learn more. It was a journey that took her from Bible classes and chapel services to meaningful college ministry gatherings.
Sullivan with the Church family
Starting her freshman year, she connected with Bryan and Natalie Church, and began attending the weekly 4:12 college ministry at Hillsboro Church of Christ. She admits that at first she was motivated by the free dinners but soon the people she met there, like Philip and Vera Hutcheson, and Stan and Anne Lowry who opened their home and shared their lives with Sullivan, became pivotal figures in her spiritual journey.
Despite initial skepticism and a plethora of questions, Megan found herself in a Bible study with Bryan and Natalie Church, diving into the Gospel of Luke, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. During this time, the pandemic caused Sullivan to return to her home in Texas, where she finished her senior year, yet they continued their Bible study via Zoom.
Sullivan's baptism in the Osman Fountain in Bison Square celebrated with 4:12 family and mentors
“In May of 2020 as we got to Luke 18, Natalie passed away which led to absolute devastation and more grief,” Sullivan says. “We continued reading Luke and as we got to the end with a more clear understanding of who Jesus was and is, I chose to put my faith in the story that provided hope.”
She says, “He is just as present when I am on the mountain tops as He is when I am crawling through the valleys. I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ in September of 2020 and while I was confident in my ‘yes’ then, I am even more confident in God’s faithfulness and character with each passing day.”
Her newfound faith ignited a hunger for knowledge and spiritual growth. She gained an insatiable curiosity about Scripture, the history of Christianity, and the inner workings of the Church. It was a pivotal moment that would shape her future in ways she had never imagined.
The community she found at Lipscomb, from her volleyball teammates to professors Earl Lavender, Josh Graves and JP Conway, as well as many others, played a crucial role in her journey. The support and encouragement she received from friends, family and mentors were instrumental in her academic and spiritual development.
Lipscomb Academy volleyball mission trip
As Sullivan prepares to graduate with a Master of Arts in Christian ministry, she looks forward to applying everything she has learned to her current role at the academy. Whether she’s coaching volleyball, leading a mission trip or teaching in the classroom, Sullivan says she sees every interaction as an opportunity to shine the light of Jesus Christ.