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JACKSON, Tenn. — Dec. 13, 2014 — Union University graduates must be prepared to make decisions that will define them as they embark on the next stage of their journeys, Memphis area pastor Bartholomew Orr told them Dec. 13.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to be facing a lot of changes after today,鈥� said Orr, senior pastor of Brown Missionary Baptist Church in Southaven, Mississippi. 鈥淏ut make the decision not to change who you are. Remember whose you are.鈥�

Orr, who holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union, was the keynote speaker during fall commencement exercises of the 190th graduating class at West Jackson Baptist Church, where 329 Union students received their degrees.

鈥淐ommencement is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates,鈥� Union President Samuel W. 鈥淒ub鈥� Oliver said. 鈥淚t is a time to reflect upon the power of the relationships that have had such a transformative effect during their time here. And it鈥檚 a time to look with hope to the future.鈥�

Orr used the story of Daniel as a captive in Babylon to illustrate how decisions can be defining moments. When Daniel refused to eat the food offered by the king and opted instead for vegetables and water, he was making a decision that would define him for years, Orr said.

That decision by Daniel also required discipline.

鈥淲e need to recognize what every decision is going to cost,鈥� Orr said. 鈥淥n the surface, sometimes it is good just to deny the flesh and develop discipline that will follow us the rest of our lives.鈥�

Orr said that every decision Daniel made affected his destiny, and that God always has a way to allow people鈥檚 destinies to be tied to decisions they make. Orr encouraged graduates to make decisions that ultimately will bring glory to God.