MILLIGAN, Tenn. (Sept. 2, 2025) — Milligan University welcomes alumnus Rev. Dr. Terence Z. Gadsden, campus pastor and athletic chaplain at North Park University, as the keynote speaker for the university’s Magness Lectureship on Jesus in the Arts.
Gadsden will provide a lecture and a hip-hop concert on Tuesday, Sept. 16. His lecture “What Does Hip-Hop Culture Have to Do with Jesus?” will occur at 11 a.m. and his concert will take place at 7 p.m. Both will be held in the Mary B. Martin Auditorium in Seeger Chapel.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Terence Gadsden back to Milligan as this year’s guest artist,” said Dr. Phil Kenneson, the Kenneth E. Starkey Chair of Bible and Christian Ministries. “As a Milligan student over two decades ago, Terence was already recognizing how hip-hop culture could be used to communicate the Gospel. Since that time, Dr. Gadsden has continued to hone his skills as a Christian hip-hop artist, research the history of hip-hop culture as a scholar and inspire others to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ as a pastor.”
Gadsden has lived in the Midwest for the past two decades serving as a student pastor, hospital chaplain, educator, coach, mentor and DJ. Prior to joining North Park University in 2016, Gadsden served on the pastoral staff at Lawndale Christian Community Church in Chicago’s West Side for 12 years. During his time at Lawndale, he helped mobilize and disciple many student leaders to deepen their faith in Christ.
Gadsden was first introduced to the Christian faith while growing up in a Baptist church in New Jersey, but he felt convicted by Jesus through Christian hip-hop. As a hip-hop artist and pastor, Gadsden has witnessed how both worlds can inspire ministry and spiritual growth. Gadsden, whose hip-hop DJ handle is DJ Rock On, realized that “God wasn’t just in the Sunday morning church worship service, but that he was also permeating through life and in all cultures, including hip-hop culture.”
Gadsden holds a bachelor’s degree in biblical studies from Milligan University, a Master of Divinity degree from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry from North Park Theological Seminary. His thesis, “Hip-Hop Preaching: Preaching Using the Culture of Hip-Hop to Inspire College Students to Develop Their Christian Faith,” connects Jesus’ own storytelling work to the Kingdom potential of hip-hop storytelling.
Jesus in the Arts Lectureship
The Jesus in the Arts Lectureship was established through a generous gift from beloved retired Milligan professors, Drs. Lee and Pat Magness. The lectureship focuses on the person, teachings and ministry of Jesus as reflected on and interpreted through the arts.
Offered every other year, the lectureship is interdisciplinary and recognizes musical, literary, kinetic and visual arts. The lectureship was also founded on the desire to offer the Milligan community the opportunity to encounter artists and artistic expressions from underrepresented ethnic groups.
Drs. Lee and Pat Magness
Drs. Lee and Pat Magness are retired Milligan professors who prominently shaped the university’s biblical studies and humanities programs. Lee, professor emeritus of Bible, served as the Vera Britton Chair of Bible until 2013 when he retired after 30 years in the classroom. Pat, professor emerita of humanities, taught for 28 years and retired in 2012 as the George and Janet Arnold Chair of Humanities.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Lee published dozens of articles and authored five books during his time at Milligan, including “Marking the End: Sense and Absence in the Gospel of Mark.” He chaired the Goah Scholarship Committee from 2007-2013, led multiple humanities and alumni tours and was very engaged with the university’s arts programs and soccer and swim teams.
Pat served as director of developmental studies, professor of English, director of the humanities program and chair of the area of humane learning. She served on and chaired various committees, including the university’s reaccreditation self-study, and led the Buffalo Ramblers Outdoor Club. Pat also came out of retirement to be interim director of the Goah Diversity Scholars Program.
Lee and Pat graduated from Milligan in 1969, where Pat was the valedictorian of their class. Lee received his Master of Divinity from Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan and his doctorate from Emory University. Pat earned her master’s degree from Vanderbilt University and a doctorate from Emory University.