Education

As the 2026–2027 school year begins, the Southern Union Conference Education Department steps forward with gratitude, purpose, and renewed hope. Across 175 campuses, more than 13,000 students—from birth through 12th grade—are being welcomed into places where learning is more than the pursuit of knowledge; it is the nurturing of hearts, minds, and lives for God’s calling. This sacred work is carried forward by more than 1,300 dedicated education professionals who serve faithfully in early childhood centers, classrooms, administrative offices, student support services, and conference education departments throughout the territory.

The reach of this mission extends beyond ECE–12 education to include three treasured tertiary institutions—AdventHealth University, Oakwood University, and Southern Adventist University—which together serve more than 6,000 students. In all, more than 19,000 learners are part of the Southern Union’s Adventist education family, each one representing a story of possibility, a life of promise, and an opportunity to reflect the love of Christ in the world.

Rooted in the timeless wisdom of Proverbs 22:6—“Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it”—the Education Department embraces this new year as a God-given opportunity to inspire excellence, deepen faith, and prepare students for lives of service. With Christ at the center, Adventist education seeks not only to inform the mind, but to shape character, awaken purpose, and equip young people to become thoughtful leaders, compassionate servants, and faithful witnesses wherever God may lead them.

As this new school year unfolds, the ministry of education across the Southern Union remains vibrant, expansive, and deeply meaningful. In classrooms, chapels, offices, playgrounds, campuses, and communities, God is at work through the dedication of educators and leaders who believe that every child is created with value, gifted with potential, and called to a life of purpose. Through His continued guidance and blessing, the Southern Union Conference Education Department remains committed to supporting educators, strengthening schools, and encouraging students and families to make lasting decisions for Christ, for learning, and for service.

For more information about the Education Department or the Adventist EDGE program during the 2026–2027 school year, please visit the Adventit EDGE website.