The Great Commission Magazine of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Fall 2017

FALL 2017

Marks of a Great Commission Seminary

Discover your mission.

Go change the world.

It’s more than a college. It’s a calling.

collegeatsoutheastern.com /collegeSE

@DannyAkin

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

Last words are meant to be lasting words, words that stick and make an impact. So important are the final words of our Lord Jesus Christ that they are recorded in each of the Gospels and the book of Acts. Of all the things that Jesus could have left his church with, he left her with what we know as the Great Commission.

In Matthew 28:16-20 it reads: The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has as its mission statement, “We seek to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.” It is my prayer that we would be a college and a seminary consumed by the Great Commission.

As a result, I want us to be a school that focuses not on good things; I want us to focus on the most impor-

tant things. Certainly, I want us to focus on the things that were important to the Lord Jesus Christ.

In that context, we remind ourselves regularly around here of a simple but basic truth. The church can live without the seminary, but the seminary cannot live without the church. However, when seminaries do their job well, they provide an invaluable service to the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ. That is our calling and that is our mandate.

In recent weeks and months we have considered where we want this school to go during the next ten years.

Over the next decade, what is it that we want to be known for? What are the marks of a Great Commission seminary?

Our leadership has identified those marks that demonstrate who we want to be, and it is my joy to share them in this issue.

I want us to be a faithful Great Commission seminary until the day when Jesus returns. By his grace and for his glory, we will be that school.

Daniel L. Akin, President

DANNY AKIN

JIM SHADDIX

DWAYNE MILIONI

President, Professor of

Professor of Preaching,

Assistant Professor of Preaching

Preaching and Theology,

W.A. Criswell Chair of Expository

Ed Young, Sr. Chair of

Preaching, Director of the Center for

Expository Preaching

Preaching and Pastoral Leadership

/sebts

Around Southeastern Graduation At the spring commencement ceremony, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and The College at Southeastern sent out 234 graduates to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.

Maria Estes

Around Southeastern SBC Annual Meeting’s IMB Sending Celebration Commissioning Southeastern students and graduates

Maria Estes

Around Southeastern Global Missions Week Left: Praying over students as they prepare to GO Below: Calling out the Called panel discussion

Maria Estes

Around Southeastern Convocation Left: Dr. John Burkett and Dr. Chip Hardy, who were elected to the SEBTS faculty in April, signed the Abstract of Principles and the Baptist Faith & Message.

Right: Dr. Sam Williams, professor of biblical counseling, was installed in the ninth faculty chair, the Fulp Chair of Biblical Counseling.

Maria Estes

Around Southeastern Hispanic Leadership Luncheon Lunch hosted by the Hispanic Leadership Development Office, with a panel discussion on the importance of theological education for the Hispanic world

Maria Estes

Around Southeastern Esther Meek Evangelical Voices in the Academy Lecture Series featuring Dr. Esther Meek, sponsored by the Society for Women in Scholarship and the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture

Maria Estes and Ryan Thomas

The Great Commission Magazine of

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Fall 2017 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC Daniel Akin President Bruce Ashford Provost Ryan Hutchinson Executive Vice President for Operations Art Rainer Vice President for Institutional Advancement Financial and Alumni Development Jonathan Six, Director Chris Allen - Denom. Relations & Ministry Teams Coordinator Michelle Ard - Administrative Assistant Jacob Ball - Alumni Network Coordinator Mandy Bramlett - Administrative Assistant Natan Carvalho - Data Management Coordinator Drew Davis - Development Officer Cristie Dowda - Grant Writer Barbara Harvey - Administrative Assistant George Harvey - General Counsel & Director of Planned Giving Emily Lyons-Wood - Graphic Designer Billy Vernon - Administrative Assistant Marketing and Communications Amy Whitfield, Director Jenna Anderson - Graphic Designer Maria Estes - Photographer, Graphic Designer Sam Morris - E-Marketing Specialist Jordan Parris - Administrative Assistant Lauren Pratt - News and Information Specialist Ryan Thomas - Lead Graphic Designer Nathaniel Williams - Intersect Project Marketing Specialist To inform us of address changes or if you would like to receive the magazine, please contact us at 919-761-2203 or e-mail alumni@sebts.edu.

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).

Southeastern is an institution of higher learning and a Cooperative Program ministry of the Southern Baptist Convention. Support comes through the gifts of the Cooperative Program and the individual friends of the seminary who provide assistance through wills, estates and trusts.

The Great Commission Magazine of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (ISSN 2327-154X) is published by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary P.O. Box 1889 Wake Forest, NC 27588 www.sebts.edu

Visit us We would love for you to visit campus for a PREVIEWDAY or campus tour!

To arrange a visit, simply contact our Admissions office at 1-800-284-6317 or visit iamgoing.org.

Contents Fall 2017 What’s Happening at Southeastern

Read and share online! sebts.edu/magazine

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12 Akin Celebrates Great Commission Efforts at Southeastern 13 Southeastern Highlights Preaching Programs at 2017 Pastors’ Conference 14 Akin Brings Challenge and Encouragement at SEBTS Alumni Luncheon 15 LifeWay’s Kelly King Speaks at Third Annual Women’s Leadership Breakfast 15 Kristin Kellen Appointed to Full-time Southeastern Faculty 16 Al James Named the EQUIP Network Coordinator 16 Walter Strickland Appointed as Associate Vice President of Kingdom Diversity Initiatives 17 Jim Shaddix Named New Director of Southeastern Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership 18 Daniel Heimbach Addresses Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C. 19 Women Around Southeastern: A Renewed Focus on Women’s Discipleship 20 Meet Executive Chef Virginia Spencer 21 Book Review: Save our Sisters

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Featured Stories Marks of a Great Commission Seminary

24 Marks of a Great Commission Seminary | Danny Akin, adapted by Lauren Pratt 30 Spiritual Formation, Prayer and Theological Education | Chuck Lawless 34 Learning Theology and Engaging Culture in Service to the Great Commission | Trevin Wax 38 Why the History of Ideas? | Jamie Dew 43 The College at Southeastern House System | Lauren Pratt 48 Southeastern Students Attend Logos Conference at Oxford | Lauren Pratt 50 Doctoral Graduate Seeks Ministry Through Christian Education | Lauren Pratt

STORIES 54 Couple Serving the Unreached for More Than a Decade 56 Equipped to Reach the Unreached in Central Asia 58 Southeastern Alumnus Talks IMB, Training and Missionary Calling 60 Making Disciples in the 4/14 Window

64 A Letter from the Director | Jonathan Six, Director of Financial and Alumni Development

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN \

AKIN CELEBRATES GREAT COMMISSION EFFORTS AT SOUTHEASTERN Lauren Pratt

Maria Estes

DANNY AKIN, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, began his presentation to the Southern Baptist Convention quoting 18thcentury missionary Henry Martyn who said, “The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Him, the more intensely missionary we become.”

Akin highlighted the Great Commission as the heartbeat of Southeastern throughout his June 14 report as he spoke of numerous initiatives that the seminary has begun throughout the world.

“We are to serve the churches of the SBC by training and equipping disciple-makers who will make disciples among the nations here in America and around the world,” Akin said.

Southeastern is making disciples through its Global Theological Initiatives, he said, by providing theological training on five continents throughout the world. These efforts to provide seminary training include the Persian Leadership Program, Hispanic Lead-

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ership Development Initiative, starting a new Vietnamese Baptist seminar y and prov iding strategic theological training in Sub-Saharan East Africa.

Another way Southeastern is making disciples within the state of North Carolina is through its North Carolina Field Minister Program, which seeks to disciple long-term prisoners through theological education through The College at Southeastern.

Akin noted that this will be provided in Fall 2017 in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and Joe Gibbs as well as Game Plan for Life.

Chuck Lawless’ new role as vice president of spiritual formation was described as an effort by Southeastern to more effectively emphasize the spiritual formation and prayer of its students.

“We’re known as a Great Commission seminary but we also want to be known as a praying seminary,” Akin said.

Southeastern’s Kingdom Diversity

Initiative has helped the seminary expand its minority enrollment, moving from 8.3 percent in 2011 to 18.1 percent in 2017.

In relation to the vote on amendment 10 to oppose the alt-right movement, which messengers passed overwhelmingly Wednesday afternoon, Akin said emphatically of Southeastern, “We will be there and we will vote.”

Akin noted some of Southeastern’s key academic programs, including expository preaching on the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels as well as a master’s degree in Christian marital and family counseling and a Ph.D. in biblical counseling.

Akin concluded by thanking the messengers for their support of Southeastern.

“We could not do what we do without the love and support of Southern Baptists,” he said.

Article originally ran in Baptist Press

/ WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

SOUTHEASTERN HIGHLIGHTS PREACHING PROGRAMS AT 2017 PASTORS’ CONFERENCE Lauren Pratt

Maria Estes

SOUTHEASTERN Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) emphasized its preaching programs throughout the 2017 Pastors’ Conference in Phoenix, Arizona June 11-12.

Highlights from SEBTS included four students and alumni who preached at the conference, the GO Preach booth, featuring information about the school’s preaching programs and Keith and Kristen Getty’s leading of the SEBTS hymn, “For the Cause.”

This year’s conference theme was “Above Every Name,” in which pastors drew upon the importance of gospel centrality in conversations and in demonstration as they preached through the book of Philippians. All speakers had the opportunity to preach from a replica of Charles Spurgeon’s pulpit throughout the conference.

Pastor John Onwuchekwa of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, Georgia was the first of SEBTS students to speak Sunday night to those who attended the conference.

Onwuchekwa spoke on Philippians

he said.

1:12-28, focusing on how suffering can Abella also challenged pastors as he reveal where false hope is being found said, “If we’re not careful we can start and how Christ can fulfill the need for assuming the gospel and not pursuing lasting joy. the gospel.”

In drawing upon personal examples Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Bapof hardship, Onwuchekwa spoke of a tist Church in Woodstock, Georgia, failed adoption, his brother’s death encouraged pastors to model evangeand issues within the church he was lism to the people within their conleading. gregations.

“The gospel loves to advance down “I love the message of getting the the avenue of adversity,” he said.

On Monday morning, J.D. Greear, gospel right, but there’s another mespastor of the Summit Church in Ra- sage: We have to get the gospel out,” leigh-Durham, gave a short testimony, Hunt said.

In his sermon to pastors Hunt said, encouraging pastors of small churches that he was the result of a small “At the end of the day, we (pastors) need to ask ourselves, ‘Have I made church himself.

“It is big faith, not big churches, much of Jesus this week?’”

Southeastern offers multiple that God uses to transform the preaching degrees ranging from the world,” he said. undergraduate to doctoral level.

Jose Abella, pastor of Providence For more information about preachRoad Baptist Church in Miami, Florida, spoke Monday afternoon on Phi- ing programs at SEBTS, visit sebts. edu/preaching. lippians 3:1-11 on the importance of communicating the gospel clearly.

“We must get the gospel right. Gospel clarity protects us from heresy,” Article originally ran in Baptist Press

See more photos of SEBTS at the SBC at sebts.edu/sbc

FALL 2017 // SEBTS.EDU

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN \

Akin Brings Challenge and Encouragement at SEBTS Alumni Luncheon DANNY AKIN, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, gave a clear and direct word about the issue of racism in the Southern Baptist Convention to more than 300 attendees at the Southeastern Alumni & Friends Luncheon Wednesday at noon.

“Can I talk for a moment to the family? Yesterday was not [Southern Baptists’] finest hour. We fumbled the ball.

We lost ground,” Akin said about the tumultuous events that transpired Tuesday regarding a resolution to stand against the alt-right movement.

Akin told alumni that they all have a part to play in this issue of racism, noting what The Southern Baptist Seminary President, Al Mohler, noted at the Baptist21 Luncheon on Monday, saying that while we have made strides towards racial reconciliation, we will always “bear the stain of the sin of racism.”

“We need to speak this afternoon at 2:45 with a crystal clear clarion call that we stand steadfastly against any form and every form of racism, bigotry and racial supremacy no matter where that may come from and no matter who may express it,” said Akin.

In his address, Akin updated alum-

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ni on news from the school, including the goal to increase The College at Southeastern enrollment to a minimum of 1200 students, Seth Bible’s leadership of the North Carolina Field Minister’s Program to theologically train long-term prisoners and the school’s work among South Sudanese refugees.

Jose Abella, pastor of Providence Road Church in Miami, Florida and recently elected second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, also gave an encouraging word to those in attendance as he preached out of Revelation 7.

“Jesus is the obsession of heaven and He must be our obsession as well.”

Abella spoke on the importance of

finding humility, joy and confidence in Christ while pursuing a church that reflects heaven.

“How in the world are we going to accomplish this?” said Abella, speaking of the Great Commission and the desire to see every nation, tribe and tongue worshipping together as Revelation 7:9 says.

“I think the reality is we can’t and we don’t, but Christ can,” he said.

The Austin Stone Worship team led in a time of worship to close out the luncheon.

Article originally ran in Baptist Press

See more photos of SEBTS at the SBC at sebts.edu/sbc

/ WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

LifeWay’s Kelly King Speaks at Third Annual Women’s Leadership Breakfast TRANSITION was the topic of the 2017 Women’s Leadership Breakfast, in which Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the North American Mission Board partnered together to host more than 92 women on June 14.

Denise O’Donoghue, outgoing director of women’s life and assistant professor of ministry to women at SEBTS, introduced LifeWay Christian Resources’ Kelly King as the guest speaker.

King was appointed last fall as the women’s ministry specialist for Lifeway Women. She was formerly the women’s missions and ministries specialist for the Baptist General Convention in Oklahoma. She shared with women that morning about many life experiences that led her through times of transition and dependence on the Lord.

“We’re not just talking about one transition,” King said. “We’re talking about life transition.”

King shared that within months, her husband Vic had lost his job and she had been asked by Lifeway to take on the position she finds herself in today. This set the stage for them to move from their home of Oklahoma to Nashville, Tennessee.

Also during this time, on Father’s Day in 2016, King shared that she found out she had diverticulitis, a disease that causes inflammation in the digestive system.

“I ended up in the hospital for five days – three weeks before my daughter’s wedding,” she said, but she counts

it as a blessing.

“In the midst of all that, God was so good. God was so sweet because in the midst of all those scans, they also found that I had a mass on my kidney that would not have been detected if I had not had those pains.”

King used these stories to highlight the importance of God’s sovereignty in the midst of life’s seasons and taught out of Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 (CSB).

“New leadership – new transitions – mean new opportunities,” she said.

King spoke of the process of grieving that comes with transition and talked about the difficulty that came in uprooting her life in Oklahoma.

In her explanation to women of Ecclesiastes 3:5, King asked, “Can we gather the things that are meant to trip us up and use them for God’s glory so that we prepare the way for His coming?”

She encouraged women that are in new seasons of leadership to learn from those who have had more experience, explaining that God has been teaching her the value of learning to be silent and listen as well as speaking with wisdom.

King also challenged women to remain faithful in their time in God’s Word.

“If you’re in a transition of leadership, there is no better place to be than starting in God’s Word every single day,” said King, “and submitting yourself to Him and saying, ‘OK God, today is yours and in your time, you will make things beautiful.’”

In closing, King led women in a time of prayer over those who were transitioning into a new leadership role in the past year.

LifeWay provided resources for the guests who attended the breakfast.

Article originally ran in Baptist Press

Kristin Kellen Appointed to Full-time Southeastern Faculty DR. KRISTIN KELLEN, who has been a parttime assistant professor of biblical counseling, has been appointed to a full-time teaching position with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) beginning Aug. 1.

Kellen received her M.A. in biblical counseling and Ph.D. in applied theology and biblical counseling from SEBTS in 2015.

“Kristin Kellen is a gifted and gracious biblical counselor that makes the excellent biblical counseling department at SEBTS even stronger,” said SEBTS President Danny Akin. “Her winsome personality makes her a magnet that draws students both to her classes and the coffee shop to learn from this talented lady. One of our own PhD graduates, she is a welcomed addition to our faculty.”

“I believe wholeheartedly that this is what God was preparing me for when he brought me to SEBTS a decade ago,” said Kellen. “I’m also honored to be able to teach alongside those who have spent that last decade pouring into my life.”

Keith Whitfield, dean of graduate studies, expressed his excitement of Kellen’s appointment to full-time faculty and the expertise she brings to the biblical counseling programs at SEBTS. “We are excited to have Dr. Kristin Kellen join Southeastern’s faculty full-time,” said Whitfield. “She will make a significant contribution to our counseling programs. She is a gifted counselor with biblical and theological depth.”

Kellen, her husband Josh and their one-year-old son David, live in Kittrell, North Carolina, where they love working on house renovation projects as well as spending time in the mountains.

As a couple, Kellen and Josh attend New Life Baptist Church in Henderson, North Carolina, where they both serve in youth ministry.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN \

Al James Named the EQUIP Network Coordinator

credit while serving in a local church conON AUG. 1, Dr. Al James was appointed text. The EQUIP Network, formerly led as the EQUIP Network coordinator at Southeastern Baptist Theological Semi- by Dr. Jim Shaddix, is a part of the Center for Pastoral Leadership and Preaching. nary (SEBTS). James, associate dean of “Al James is absolutely the right perministry studies and professor of missions, is overseeing the network’s part- son,” said SEBTS President Danny Akin.

“One of the many former missionaries nership with local churches. currently on the SEBTS faculty, a profesThe EQUIP Network is a partnership between local churches and SEBTS to al- sor of missions, pastor and superb administrator, he will help us take EQUIP low hands-on ministry experience for students while receiving course credit. to the next level as we serve more Both graduate and undergraduate stu- churches even better.”

Dr. John Ewart, associate vice presidents can earn up to 36 hours of course

Walter Strickland Appointed as Associate Vice President of Kingdom Diversity Initiatives

WALTER STRICKLAND is being promoted to associate vice president of Kingdom Diversity Initiatives at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) beginning Aug. 1. Strickland was formerly the special advisor to the president for diversity.

“Having served our school with distinction as a key administrative leader, I am thrilled to appoint him as associate vice president for Kingdom Diversity Initiatives,” said Danny Akin, president of SEBTS. “God continues to bless Southeastern with a godly and gifted team of faculty and staff. These are exciting days for this Great Commission seminary.”

Kingdom Diversity Initiatives (KDI) began in 2013 as an effort to increase the diversity of underrepresented rac-

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es, both male and female, among the SEBTS faculty, staff and student population. Through KDI, SEBTS hopes for both this number and the female student population to be at 20 percent and 35 percent, respectively, by 2022.

Student enrollment was at 18.1 percent for minorities and 26.4 percent for women for the 2016-2017 academic year.

In March, the Kingdom Diversity Missions Initiative (K DMI) was launched in the effort to mobilize a greater number of minority students to fulfill the Great Commission through international ministry. KDMI was launched with the desire to bridge the gap of minorities that are unrepresented on the mission field. KDMI offers short-term trips to help students gain experience in overseas mission

dent for Global Theological Initiatives and missions, understands that the experience James has to offer will benefit The EQUIP Network greatly.

“As an experienced seminary professor and administrator, he understands the details of training and equipping that will make this partnership between church and seminary the most effective and successful,” said Ewart.

“I am excited to serve as The EQUIP Network coordinator as we seek to build upon the innovative work developed by the previous coordinators, Drs. Steven Wade and Jim Shaddix,” said James.

James has been teaching at SEBTS since 2002. He and his wife Cathy live in Wake Forest, North Carolina with their youngest son Chris, who is a senior in high school. James and Cathy also have three older children as well as six grandchildren. James serves as a pastor at Hales Chapel Baptist Church in Zebulon, North Carolina.

work and to better understand their role for international ministry.

“I’m eternally grateful for the opportunity to serve the kingdom at Southeastern. The structural change in my role will propel the Kingdom Diversity Initiative into greater effectiveness as we strive to reach our goals.”

Strickland is also moving from an instructor of theology to assistant professor of systematic theology at SEBTS beginning Aug. 1. In June, he received his Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland. Strickland has also received his Master of Theology and Master of Divinity from SEBTS. Strickland was elected first vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June.

“He will serve our president Steve Gaines and our people with grace and wisdom,” said Akin. “Southeastern has been blessed and continues to be blessed by Dr. Strickland’s service as a teacher and administrator.”

Strickland and his family live in Wake Forest, North Carolina and attend Imago Dei Church.

/ WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

Jim Shaddix Named New Director of Southeastern Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership

JIM SHADDIX, professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), was appointed as the director of the Southeastern Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership on Aug. 1.

“Words are not adequate to express my excitement as Jim Shaddix takes on the directorship of the Southeastern Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership,” said Akin. “As a model preacher, writer, mentor and friend to pastors, he is the perfect man for this position.”

The Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership provides resources and training tools for students pursuing pas-

toral ministry. Opportunities are provided through Southeastern’s partnership with local churches in order for students to receive course credit through The EQUIP Network, of which Shaddix was formerly the coordinator. “[Shaddix] has and continues to mentor students, pastors and leaders across our denomination,” said Dr. John Ewart, associate vice president for Global Theological Initiatives and Ministry Centers and former director of the Southeastern Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership. “…I believe it will become a magnetic point of engagement for pastoral calling, thought and practice.”

North Carolina Field Minister Program Holds First Convocation Service

THE NORTH CAROLINA FIELD MINISTER PROGRAM (NCFMP), offered through Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), had its first convocation service at the Nash Correctional Institution in Nashville, North Carolina Aug. 21.

“Welcome to The College at Southeastern,” Dr. Danny Akin, President of SEBTS and The College at Southeastern, said to the NCFMP inaugural class. “Words are not adequate to express how glad I am that you are students at our school.”

Jamie Dew, dean of The College at Southeastern, led in a time of prayer at the beginning of the service.

“We come to this moment with incredible amounts of excitement and joy for what you have done,” said Dew. SEBTS started the program in partner-

ship with the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and Game Plan for Life to offer a Bachelor of Arts degree in pastoral ministry with a secondary emphasis in counseling and psychology through The College at Southeastern. The Baptist State Convention of North Carolina is also using its funding to support the NCFMP for the first five years in order to cover the capital costs of the program.

The program is offered to inmates who have a minimum of 15 years on their sentence in order to theologically train them to minister in the context of the North Carolina prison system.

“Today we are meeting in a very ceremonial way to ring in the beginning of this academic school year and the start of this very important program,” said Seth Bible, director of prison programs at SEBTS. Joe Gibbs, founder and part-funder of Game Plan for Life, sees NCFMP as a per-

Shaddix is looking forward to this new role, believing that the center provides a training ground for future and current Great Commission pastors.

“My prayer is that Southeastern’s Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership can help equip both pastors and pastors-in-training to shepherd God’s people with the grace, mercy, integrity and skill of our good shepherd,” said Shaddix. “An army of men like that can lead the church to fulfill the Great Commission.”

“The Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership helps us help pastors, and I know no [one] across our Convention better equipped to do this than Jim Shaddix,” said Akin. “It was a great day when our Lord added Jim to our wonderful faculty.

His taking on the responsibilities of this center is another great day!”

Shaddix began teaching at SEBTS in 2012. He and his wife Debra live in Wake Forest, North Carolina and are members of Restoration Church. Shaddix also serves in interim teaching and pastoral capacities throughout the year.

sonal milestone and reflection of God’s character.

“I consider the field minister program to be one of the most important things I’ll do in my life,” said Gibbs. “The great thing about our God is our God is a God of second chances.”

Jane Gilchrist, general counsel for the Department of Public Safety, drew a spiritual metaphor of light and darkness in regards to the recent solar eclipse.

“Today is a unique day,” said Gilchrist.

“Most people are paying attention to an event that brings darkness to parts of North Carolina; however, there is no eclipse here at Nash Correctional. There is nothing but light and brightness as we begin the North Carolina Field Minister Program.”

Classes will be taught in person at the Nash County Extension Center and SEBTS is planning to admit 30 students into NCFMP each year, allowing for a 120 capacity within four years of the program’s existence.

The NCFMP was modeled after the programs at Angola Prison in Louisiana and Darrington Prison in Texas.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN \

Daniel Heimbach Addresses Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, D.C. ON AUG. 30 Dr. Daniel Heimbach, senior professor of Christian ethics at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), addressed the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) as a guest lecturer in Washington, D.C. with a lecture entitled, “The Greatest Military Leadership Challenge of Our Day: Cultivating the Warrior Sustaining Military Power.”

Heimbach argued that an effective warrior ethic depends on cultivating faith in a source of transcendent authority that sustains living for values greater than personal health and physical survival. He defined the warrior ethic as “a body of ethical beliefs needed to be a successful warrior.”

“In practical terms, human passions never submit to human reason and without faith in something transcending ourselves, human reason always succumbs to human passions,” Heimbach said.

Dr. Bruce Ashford, SEBTS provost, also attended the lecture with Heimbach.

“Dr. Heimbach spoke to an audience of intelligence officers and military leaders, arguing that the most consequential and difficult challenge military leaders face today is cultivating the warrior ethic that our soldiers need and on which America’s national security mission most depends,” said Ashford. “He urged the military to give its chaplains every opportunity possible to ground their ethic in something greater than life, which for Christians means faith in Christ and

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will cause others to examine what they are living for.”

Heimbach is following seven other lectures that have been given to the DIA in a series focused on military ethics beginning in 2015.

Previous speakers included Carl Wilkins, former head of the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Rwanda; Dr. Robert Wicks, clinical psychologist and professor who emphasizes spiritual practice as part of

In practical terms, human passions never submit to human reason and without faith in something transcending ourselves, human reason always succumbs to human passions.

psychological healing; Jessica Buchanan, who was taken captive by Somalia land pirates and rescued by Navy SEAL Team Six; Dr. James Giordano, professor at Georgetown University in the departments of neurology and biochemistry; Mark Coppenger, professor of philosophy and ethics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Clinton Longenecker, director of the Center for Leadership

and Organizational Excellence at the University of Toledo in the College of Business and Innovation.

Heimbach has nearly five decades of military and ethics experience.

“Dan Heimbach is one of America’s premiere “just war” theorists, having served as a combat officer in the Navy, an adviser to President George H. W. Bush, and an invited speaker at national symposia on the ethics of war and peace,” said Ashford.

Heimbach spoke of his ethics training at the USNA, noting that while it developed programs and results, there was something missing in the motivation of its actions.

“I saw a program strong on results but weak on what justifies and motivates them,” he said.

In his lecture, Heimbach cited historical figures such as George Washington, first president of the U.S., who noted the importance of religion to guide national morality during his “Farewell Speech” in 1796. Heimbach also cited Fyodor Dostoevsky, Russian author, who wrote in his book “Brothers Karamozov,” that all actions are acceptable apart from God’s existence.

“I have observed that an effective warrior ethic requires faith in a source of ethical ultimacy that, not only affects how service members live, but affects what they will risk dying for,” said Heimbach.

/ WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

Women Around Southeastern: A Renewed Focus on Women’s Discipleship “OUR MISSION is to cultivate teachable, theological and missional women who are empowered to seek out and accomplish God’s calling on their lives, to faithfully make disciples and to fulfill the Great Commission.”

This is the mission statement of Women Around Southeastern, the recently rebranded name of the former Women’s Life office.

Missie Branch has been named assistant dean of students to women at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and will be leading this rebrand to help disciple and equip women for ministry.

“We believe God has brought to us the perfect person in Missie Branch to fill the role of assistant dean of students to women,” said Mark Liederbach, vice president for student life. “Not only does she have a fire and passion for Christ, she has the vision and God-given gifts to rally our ladies to greater excellence.”

Liederbach expressed that while there is excitement for the renewed vision in Women Around Southeastern, there is also tremendous gratitude for the role that Dr. Denise O’Donogue played as she led Women’s Life for many years.

“Denise led our Women’s Life program for the previous decade and did an outstanding job caring for our ladies, leading and teaching them as well as building the foundations for where we hope to go now that she has gone on to other ministry opportunities,” said Liederbach.

O’Donogue formerly served at SEBTS as the director of Women’s Life and assistant professor for ministry to women.

In July, O’Donogue became the director of biblical womanhood and targeted learning at Academy 31, a Christian school for middle and high school girls that will open in Raleigh in 2018.

Branch initially began working at SEBTS in the summer as the student events coordinator before becoming the assistant dean of students to women.

Her role will continue under the oversight of the student activities and discipleship office.

Not only does Missie have a fire and passion for Christ, she has the vision and God-given gifts to rally our ladies to greater excellence.

“It is my passion to see the women associated with this campus operating as a community, holding each other to a high biblical standard and being willing to go deep into each other’s lives to help see this accomplished,” said Branch.

Branch will also be working closely with Southeastern’s counseling office, a new service to promote emotional and spiritual wellbeing by providing counselors who can meet with students for 15 hours a week.

The new Women Around Southeast-

ern website is already being constructed to help women at the school connect to all the resources available to them. The site will also include information about programs such as the Biblical Women’s Institute in certificate services coordinated by Laura Fylstra, discipleship of seminary women and seminary wives led by Cathy Horner, college discipleship led by Brittany Webb and Rebekah Callahan and mentorship to international women led by Chelsea West, according to Liederbach.

“As we look to move forward, it is our hope that the women who come to Southeastern will be equipped to lead Great Commission ministries in an increasingly diverse world,” said Liederbach.

Branch hopes to see Women Around Southeastern change the way female students connect by providing resources for them to be discipled and learn how to disciple others.

“This happens by equipping and empowering women to be leaders in their respective spheres of influence so that when they go, they do so prepared and excited to lead and serve as they represent Christ all over the globe,” said Branch.

Branch and her husband William, an assistant professor of preaching and Bible at The College at Southeastern, served as church planters for eight years in Philadelphia before moving to Wake Forest.

They have five children and have lived in Wake Forest for four years. The Branch family attends Imago Dei Church.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN \

to see him be able to translate that into his cooking and his food and how he teaches others.

IF YOU COULD BE ANY DISH IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? It’s probably Panang curry. Panang curry’s always properly balanced. It’s emulsified and it hits lots of different flavors on your palate. It’s smooth, it’s creamy, it’s cool, but it’s still got some heat to it.

SOUTHEASTERN Baptist Theological Seminary is welcoming its newest staff member to the team, Executive Chef Virginia Spencer. Spencer, who has been in the culinary profession for more than 16 years, will oversee Magnolia Kitchen, a newly renovated dining hall for students, faculty and staff in the Ledford Center. Learn more about her story and what she is looking forward to about her new role at Southeastern.

DO YOU MIND TELLING ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF? I was born in Houston, Texas. We moved to Dallas when I was 6 years old so I grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. That’s where I recently moved from. I am a Texas girl through and through. I’m the youngest of three children and I have an older brother and sister. My father is an ordained minister and I grew up in the church. I have just always loved being around God’s people.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE A CHEF? The [culinary] courses that I was taking required me to take a class that gives you hours in the industry. The opportunity that came to me was in Missouri at summer camps with Kids Across America. It was during that time that I learned more about what it means to be a chef. It’s taken me time to get to this point and I don’t take it lightly.

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WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT WITH WORKING HERE? Seeing the kitchen grow. It’s a major project for a lot of us right now. I’m rooting for the little guy, and to me the kitchen is the little guy right now because it’s taking on so much. There’s so much that’s going to happen and it’s going to change. I’m big on the details, so I imagine and walk through what that will look like. I’m really excited to see how it all comes together.

HOW DO YOU SEE FAITH INTERSECT WITH YOUR PROFESSION? I find more that through the gift of helps, I can feel when the Lord is using that specific gift through cooking and food because it satisfies in a way that is not just for sustainability. It’s also been good for me because it’s challenged me in my faith. There have been times where there are all these unknown factors where I’m truly having to trust the Lord in new ways. God’s in control and that’s the bottom line.

WHO DO YOU MOST ADMIRE IN THE CULINARY WORLD? Martin Yan was one of the first ones for me as a child. He was so full of life and I wanted to be able to emulate that.

I have a big personality and it’s not at the forefront. It waits to see, “Is this really an appropriate time for me to just bust out all of Virginia?” It’s nice

OTHER THAN COOKING, WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO IN YOUR FREE TIME? I love to go to the movies. It’s like my escape and it has always been. I love the theater and acting. It’s probably the one thing that I am equally as passionate about as food.

DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS FOR WHAT YOU WANT TO DO WITH THE NEW STUFF THAT’S ABOUT TO HAPPEN WITH THE KITCHEN? I have a very different approach to food. I don’t like to do things the same way that it’s always been done just because that’s the way it’s always been done. If you can do it a new way, then do it a new way. I am big on having a more healthy approach. I’m talking to local farmers [and] going to the farmer’s market and stuff out here because I want to be able to get local produce.

There will be something for everybody in the dining hall, not just the meal that we prepare for that day. I make my own spice blends and I create my own recipes, and in writing out the menu I’m keeping all that in mind.

/ WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

Save our Sisters Brianna Copeland (Author), Alvin L. Reid (Preface), Matt Capps (Introduction), Kimberly Merida (Afterword), McCall Barney (Contributor), Morgan Barney (Contributor), Elise Griffin (Contributor), Kristie Watkins (Contributor), Maleah Weir (Contributor) Gospel Advance Books, 2017

Available now from gospeladvancebooks

or

saveoursisterstoday.com

SEX TRAFFICKING is not something many of us have to think about everyday – mainly because we do not live in the reality of its horrors.

The story of Save Our Sisters (SOS) challenges us with the responsibility that comes from a better understanding of this issue of sex trafficking, and it is refreshing to hear of the tangible and amazing work that God is doing through this group. The book, “Save Our Sisters,” provides a raw look into the grotesque world of sex slavery. It not only provides a clear view for the issue at hand, but also continuously highlights the redemption of Jesus Christ in the midst of such brokenness. I am so thankful to have read a book that challenges us to shrug off apathy and to seek out justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

As the book takes an inside look at sex slavery, it is uncomfortable to face.

It is a hard reality to grasp, but the truth is that it is still a reality. One of the elements I appreciate most about this book is how the writers continuously point back to the brokenness that comes from sin and the reality that we all need the

gospel to free us from our own slavery to it. There are chilling statements that call the reader to look inside his or her own sinful heart. Take chapter five for example, where you find this statement: “Let us join in prayer for the captors of the innocent. We are more alike than we’d ever dare to dream, because we are all enslaved to something” (pp. 53-54). While its easy to look at sex slavery as an issue that seems daunting and unable to relate to, SOS members show us that the very sin nature that once enslaved us is the common ground we have with victims and traffickers alike. Repentance is the turning point for all.

Even in chapter four you find another bold statement and call to action from the writers: “Do you want to do something about the global slavery epidemic? Stop watching pornography…The connection between the sexslave industry and pornography can no longer go unnoticed.” There is this relentless call to look within at the sin in the reader’s own heart that not only helps reveal how he or she may be unintentionally aiding in this social jus-

tice issue, but also to see how desperately we all need the cross” (p. 47).

“Save Our Sisters” doesn’t just provide an understanding into the world of sex trafficking, the root of sin and the need for the hope of the gospel, but the book has practical steps at the end that help us know what to do next.

Rather than being left with a lot of knowledge, they soften our hearts to the problem and then provide specific steps to help.

I hope that you will take the time to pick up this book with a teachable heart and a willing spirit as you hear about how God used six teenage girls above and beyond what they could have ever thought in order to transform lives for the cause of Christ.

As one of the authors of “Save Our Sisters” wrote, “We are called to be abolitionists. To abolish slavery to sin, to self, to the lies of culture, and to the low expectations of teenagers in this generation. Consider how the Lord can use you to further the gospel and to walk in justice daily. The time for abolition is today” (p. 82).

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN \

Southeastern received $8.3 million last year because of Southern Baptist churches like yours committed to the spread of the Gospel to all nations, tribes and tongues.

Love In Action www.sbc.net/cp

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Thank you

to our sponsors for a successful 11th annual

Join us for the 12th annual Southeastern Classic Fall 2018 sebts.edu/seclassic

To become a sponsor, contact Jonathan Six, Director of Financial and Alumni Development at jsix@sebts.edu or 919.761.2349

FEATURED STORIES \

Marks of a Great Commission Seminary

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/ FEATURED STORIES

At Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, it doesn’t take long to notice that the Great Commission is the heartbeat behind all that the school does.

It is fitting, then, that the statement that shapes the school is “I am going.”

Southeastern has become the training ground for those who have gone out to parts of North Carolina all the way to parts of the world where the risks are costly to follow Christ. Southeastern faculty have trained up seminary and college graduates who have gone on to be pastors, church planters, international missionaries, teachers, lawyers, counselors and much more for the sake of reaching people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

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But where exactly is Southeastern going?

Southeastern President Danny Akin articulated his 10-year vision for the seminary on Aug. 17 at convocation in sharing what he calls the “marks of a Great Commission seminary.”

At the beginning of his address to students, Akin read Matthew 28:16-17, the verses that guide the school’s focus and passion.

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

What does a Great Commission seminary look like? There are four ways that Southeastern will pursue that end.

It is consumed with global focus.

That begins on the campus.

Through the Kingdom Diversity Initiatives, which began in 2013, Southeastern’s goal is to see an increase in the enrollment of minority students rise from 18 percent to 30-35 percent by 2027.

“There is no segregated church in

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heaven and there should be no segregated church on earth,” said Akin.

In a time when racial tensions are high, Akin encouraged students to remember the unity found in Christ during the 2017 fall convocation service.

“We will never divert from the clear affirmation of the Bible that we as believers in Christ all have the same father, we are indwelt by the same savior and we also are empowered by the same Holy Spirit of God. That is who we are.”

The global focus is also encapsulated in training both on and off campus.

This can come through the form of traditional classes on campus, distance learning and mission trips offered through the Center for Great Commission Studies, the missions hub of Southeastern. This year, there are opportunities to go to Houston, the Middle East, Central Asia, Japan and Dallas.

“The world is a mission field and we must approach ministry, every ministry, with that mindset,” said Akin.

It is certain in its doctrinal conviction.

“Southern Baptists agree doctrinally and theologically on a lot. In fact, we agree much more than we disagree and this should be both acknowledged and also celebrated,” said Akin.

Southeastern is a school that aligns itself with the following statements: Abstract of Principles, the Baptist Faith & Message 2000, Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and the

Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

“Our confessions are solid foundations for a sound theology for a convention of churches that avoids the pitfalls and quicksand of liberalism on the one hand and what I call a straitjacket theology on the other,” said Akin.

It is committed to expansive ministerial preparation.

This begins at the undergraduate level as Great Commission living is being fostered at The College at Southeastern. The school is making strides to not only increase its college student population, but also to foster a spirit of community and missional living that permeates the campus.

“God has tasked us to provide biblical and theological education for all peoples on the undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate levels of education so that they can leverage their lives for Christ in the church, among the nations and in every aspect of culture,” said Akin.

The Master of Divinity program is one of the primary ways that Southeastern is seeking to train, and even increase, the number of young pastors entering into ministry.

According to a Barna study, pastors ages 40 and under declined from 33 percent in 1992 to 15 percent in 2017.

Southeastern is seeking to change that number.

“We want to train pastors who are theologians who are missionaries who

Danny Akin

President, Professor of Preaching and Theology

@dannyakin

“the twin pillars of biblical Christianity.” are also evangelists,” said Akin.

Personal evangelism and missions, While pastoral ministry is a primaprayer and disciple making are three ry focus at Southeastern, the school areas Southeastern is seeking to redesires for all students to know how to talk about what they believe with clar- vive on its campus.

“Just as the Great Commission is the ity and assurance. air we breathe at Southeastern Semi“We train faithful teachers of the nary, we want prayer to be the air we word, male and female, to build healthy communities of faith who can go any- breathe as well,” said Akin.

One way that SEBTS is working towhere and talk to anyone about the ulward a greater spiritual vibrancy is timate truths that God has revealed to through its emphasis on prayer, which us in his revelation,” said Akin. will be primarily led by Dr. Chuck Lawless, who was named vice presiIt is characterized by dent for spiritual formation and minspiritual vibrancy. istry centers in June.

“We are committed to producing The Great Commission and the Great thoroughly equipped graduates who Commandment are what Akin calls

/ FEATURED STORIES

fulfill their calling through prayerful dependence on God,” said Akin.

Southeastern’s mission statement is that the school seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.

Through seeking a global focus, clearly affirming convictions, training a wide range of future ministry leaders and revitalizing spiritual vibrancy, Southeastern hopes to greater fulfill its mission.

We want to train pastors who are theologians who are missionaries who are also evangelists.

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Marks of a Great Commission Seminary It is consumed with a GLOBAL FOCUS. Training missionaries, pastors & church planters from every tribe, tongue & nation to Making theological education accessible from anywhere, helping the church on earth look like the church in heaven

It is certain in its DOCTRINAL CONVICTION. Abstract of Principles Baptist Faith & Message Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy Danvers Statement of Biblical Manhood & Womanhood

It is committed to MINISTRY PREPARATION. Training students at every level, Great Commission pastors through the M.Div. & faithful teachers of the Word, in partnership with the local church

It is characterized by SPIRITUAL VIBRANCY. Modeling personal evangelism and missions rooted in a

vibrant walk with God, praying for one another, making disciples, fulfilling callings through prayerful dependence on God

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IMPACT THE NATIONS.

GIVE. sebts.edu/give P.O. Box 1889 Wake Forest, NC 27588-1889 919.761.2203

To become part of Southeastern’s mission to equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission through giving, visit

sebts.edu/ses.

FEATURED STORIES \

Spiritual Formation, Prayer & Theological Education

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Chuck Lawless

Dean of Doctoral Studies, Professor of Evangelism and Missions

Across the table from me sat Robert Coleman, long-time seminary professor and author of the classic, “The Master Plan of Evangelism.” I was a young professor filled with zeal but having little understanding of the task ahead of me. “Invest your life in young students,” he told me. “That’s the way Jesus made disciples, and that’s the way we need to do it.” He had lived his life that way—and still does—so I took his words to heart.

That was my first challenge to tie together discipleship and theological education. To be honest, all I had ever heard was something like, “Be careful.

It’s common to lose your relationship with God during seminary, so don’t let that happen to you.” No one had challenged me to address this issue proactively, and Robert Coleman had just done so. Now, more than two decades later, I have the privilege of helping Southeastern Seminary hold together these two critical components of ministry preparation. Here is why that task matters much to me.

First Our task is to prepare men and women for the work of the gospel. In many cases, our graduates will serve local churches that desperately need to see genuine faith lived out. Others

@clawless

will go to the ends of the earth, where they will be the first persons to model Christian living among an unreached people group. Our graduates must know how to read the Word, pray, and walk in godliness—and we have the privilege of modeling that work for them.

/ FEATURED STORIES

students, and Southeastern wants to be different. At the risk of my passion sounding less than academic, it is my prayer that we send out graduates who so march forward on their knees that hell knows them by name (Acts 19:11-15).

Fourth

Second We are sending our students into a spiritual war. The Apostle Paul warned us that “we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers” (Eph. 6:12). The enemy particularly aims his arrows at gospel proclaimers; thus, our students must be wearing the full armor of God (Eph. 6:11) when we send them out. If any of our students or graduates fall, it should never be because we have not taught them and modeled for them how to put on the armor.

Third We have the privilege of leading students to know God through prayer.

Many seminaries excel at teaching the Word, but not so many do prayer well. In fact, academic institutions tend to lean toward self-reliance. We do not build a prayer DNA into our

We have a responsibility to help correct a discipleship weakness in most churches. Frankly, my generation did not make disciples well, and the results are often evident in a weakened church. As a seminary, we can stand apart from our churches and judge them for their voids, or we can strive to address the problem by producing a generation of God-centered, faithful disciples of Jesus.

Southeastern is choosing to take the latter approach.

Fifth Our students need to know how to disciple others. When we at Southeastern Seminary recently asked local pastors to help us review our curriculum, they encouraged us to increase our attention to teaching students to make disciples. That task might begin in the classroom, but it cannot remain there; it must be mod-

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eled as we personally invest in our students. They will become stronger disciple-makers as we help them be disciples.

Finally

My prayer is that... we would be both a Great Commission institution & a praying institution.

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We must show our students how to live in the tension of strong theological training and absolute dependence on God. Our students have the privilege of studying with an incredibly gifted faculty of the finest men and women in theological education. They have access to resources that students around the world would love to have. Our graduates ought to be the best equipped theologians and practitioners, and we are committed to reaching that goal.

I confess, though, that I live daily with the fear that we will unintentionally educate our students out of dependence on God. It is by re-connecting spiritual formation and theological education that we seek to avoid that error.

Needless to say, we need prayer support to do this work well. The task is bigger than any of us. We want to walk beside local churches in this

work, and that means connecting with many congregations and leaders.

Our students are already busy, and we are asking them to fit spiritual formation work into their schedules.

Then, we must determine how to do spiritual formation with online students, including international students and missionaries who join our classes from around the world. If God does not show us how, this work will not get done.

I was reminded again of this need for prayer a few months ago when I asked Dr. Coleman to join my discipleship class via Skype. He talked to us about his own journey, and he challenged us to pray and so walk with God that “hallelujahs ring out across that campus!� Those words are quintessential for a man who has, for decades, taught about spiritual awakenings, prayed for revival, and raised up leaders whose hearts burn for God. My prayer is that God would grant Southeastern that kind of movement, and we would be both a Great Commission institution and a praying institution. I invite you to join us in that prayer.

FEATURED STORIES \

Learning Theology & Engaging Culture in Service to the Great Commission

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The best way to understand your culture is to leave it, at least for a while.

For me, it took being out of American society for five years to understand certain aspects of the culture in which I was raised. Whenever I returned home from doing mission work in Romania, I noticed things I had never seen before: a way of life I had never questioned because I had always assumed this is the way everything is.

Cross-cultural mission work opens your eyes not only to new and unfamiliar cultures, but also to the place you came from. You begin to realize that hundreds of preferences, practices and systems you had always assumed were “normal” are strange and abnormal to people across the world.

I support well-planned and well-executed short-term and long-term mission trips because cross-cultural ministry not only bears fruit in other parts of the world, but can also make us more effective when we return home.

A Theological Foundation But how do we interpret all of these new experiences? When certain cultural blinders are removed, we can feel disoriented and confused. If we are not careful, our coming into contact with a multiplicity of cultures and values can lead us to an unhelpful pluralism that opens the door to relativism, leaving us unable to adjudicate between what is wrong or right

Without a vibrant relationship with Jesus, we cannot sustain the energy to be faithful to Jesus.

in our own culture or in others. We are left not with truth but merely a diversity of perspectives.

This is why we need a solid theological foundation—an education that immerses us in the Bible’s storyline so that we see the world through a biblical lens. We need theological education to show us the development of church history, where we discover how God has used men and women despite their own sins and struggles. Every culture and every era has its blind spots. Thankfully, not all of these blinders are the same.

Our vision gets clearer when we look to God’s inspired Word and to God’s flawed people over the centuries.

A strong theological foundation requires devotion. One of the aspects I most appreciated about my education at Southeastern was the devotional element to many of my studies. In a Great Commission seminary, all the courses are geared toward evangelism and missions, but never apart from personal devotion to Jesus.

Without a vibrant relationship with Jesus, we cannot sustain the energy to be faithful to Jesus.

Engaging Culture A theological foundation is vital for Great Commission ministry. So is a commitment to engaging people around us with the gospel.

Consider the role of preaching.

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C ENT ERS AT

SOU T HE A S T E RN

EQUIPPING YOU TO SERVE THE CHURCH AND FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION NEW WEBSITE AT SEBTS.EDU/CENTERS

THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF SCHOLARSHIP MADE COMPLETELY FREE TO YOU. SOUTHEASTERNREVIEW.COM

Trevin Wax

Bible and Reference Pub. at LifeWay and managing editor of The Gospel Project

Whenever I step onto the platform as the teaching pastor at my church, I aim to faithfully exposit the biblical text, stir up the embers of exultation in the hearts of my congregation and exhort the church to obedience in response to the gospel of grace. But I cannot be a faithful minister unless I realize that I am not preaching to people in the 1800’s or to people in Eastern Europe. I am tasked with delivering God’s Word to a particular people in a particular place and time.

To be faithful, I need to exegete God’s Word and exegete God’s people, so that I can best communicate timeless truth in a timely way.

Of course, preaching is only one of many places where we bring God’s Word to bear on reality. All Christians are called to live according to the kingdom of God, in all spheres of life, so that the world will know the one true God. We are Christ’s witnesses.

To that end, John Stott urged us to

something he called “double listening.” We listen carefully to the Word of God, and we listen carefully to the world around us. Then, we take the truths of God’s Word and express them in a way that is comprehensible to people in our spheres of influence.

As we come to understand the people around us, we learn to ask certain questions of the culture in which we are called to serve. Then, as we learn to identify the prevailing worldviews in a society, we look for ways to present the gospel of Jesus in ways that are more likely to resonate.

In Service to the Great Commission The goal of theological education, and of all our attempts to reach out, is to bring the gospel into a missionary encounter with 21st century. We want to see people trust Jesus and follow Him in baptism. We want to love our neighbors well by listening carefully–

@ trevinwax

/ FEATURED STORIES

considering their deepest longings and seeing through the lies they believe which have led them down false roads to happiness. We want to present the gospel in a way that exposes our culture’s biggest lies yet still fulfills people’s deepest longings.

To communicate that message with power and persuasion takes rocksolid confidence in the power of the gospel to save. It takes believing that the gospel is not only true, but also better than the stories on display in our world. It takes remembering that eternity is at stake, and so we should be ever ready to deliver the gospel message.

Theological education and cultural engagement are not distractions from the Great Commission, but ways of pressing further into it. We submit to the authority of King Jesus, rely on his promised presence and then go into the world with the good news for all people, everywhere.

Theological education & cultural engagement are not distractions from the Great Commission, but ways of pressing further into it.

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Why the History of Ideas?

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Jamie Dew

Dean of The College at Southeastern, Associate Prof. of the History of Ideas and Philosophy

We’re often asked, “Why the History of Ideas?” With all the things that might need to be studied and addressed from our current cultural climate, why spend so much time “reading a bunch of dead guys” from past centuries and even past millennia? I mean, it just seems so out of date!”

Freshmen, and even outsiders of our institution, have asked questions like these through the years. Interestingly, however, questions like these typically don’t persist after the first year of study. During their first year students may wonder why we read “all this stuff”, but after a semester or two they typically want more. But why? Why would they come to love this course of study, and why do we

insist on classical readings being an integral part of our curriculum? I’m sure my faculty would offer reflections of their own in answering these questions, but let me offer a handful of reasons of why we find so much value in the classics.

First Our curriculum in the History of Ideas helps us to understand the world we live in. As Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 1:9, “That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun.” We often think that the particular moral, ideological and cultural movements of our day are unique to us. That is,

@jamiekdew

/ FEATURED STORIES

we think “it’s never been this way”, or that “we’ve never seen anything like this before.” The truth is, however, our current situation is a direct outflow of the ideological developments of the History of Ideas. Studying this history is vital to helping us understand where we are now and how we got here. Our curriculum is designed to do just that!

Second Through a program like ours, students are introduced to a barrage of new ideas that awaken a passion for the mind and their creative intuitions.

The History of Ideas shows a student the diverse ways of thinking that the great thinkers have employed and invites them to do the same. Students learn that creativity is not just something we utilize in the fine arts, but it is also something that we use on the toughest questions and problems that we face. If the great thinkers were anything, they were problem solvers that used their intelligence and creativity to address and solve the problems of their day. Engaging these thinkers helps our students to see this and empowers them to follow in their footsteps.

Third The great thinkers also tutor us as critical thinkers. They not only used their creativity to solve problems, but they also modeled critical thinking and logical analysis. By reading through the classics, our students see

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example after example of clear thinking and critical rigor. At the same time, they see example after example of poor thinking, shoddy argumentation and sloppy ideas. As our students read through these counter example arguments, they quickly develop an eye for good arguments and are better equipped to offer strong arguments of their own.

Fourth Our History of Ideas program provides intellectual artillery for the raging battles for the contemporary mind. Like the times before us, we face a swarm of criticisms and arguments against our Christian beliefs and values. The good news is that, as mentioned above, most of the attacks are nothing new. They’ve been put forward before and have already been addressed. By studying the History of Ideas, our students are given the opportunity to see how the greatest minds of history have thought about the tough questions and see how they have responded. Today, we do not have to start from scratch in formulating a response. We have the privilege of standing on the shoulders of the giants before us. From the great minds of Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Anselm, Aquinas, Descartes, Bacon,

Lewis and many more, we have inherited a legacy of thought that continues to stand against the ongoing attacks and arguments against us.

Fifth The classics and the great thinkers often help us to clarify, understand and illustrate the essential doctrines of Christianity. Our faith is the faith that was once delivered to the saints and has been passed down from generation to generation. We, not the previous thinkers, now hold that faith and are stewards of it. This faith must be understood, it must be preserved, it must be proclaimed and it must be defended. These are hefty tasks that require everything we are and all the help we can get. This is where the great thinkers come in.

Dialogue partners are often the most essential aspects of learning. And, who better to be in dialogue with than the greatest minds of history?

They offer a richness, clarity, elegance, and appeal that is enticing, convincing and empowering. Those who read them are better for it.

At first look a program like this may seem unnecessary. But given our current cultural climate, it is absolutely vital. The classics speak to us, and we must be diligent to hear them.

The classics speak to us, & we must be diligent to hear them.

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When I moved to Milan, Italy as a newly graduated 21 year old, I felt ready to engage the naturalistic ideology, skepticism and atheism I always heard was pervasive in Western Europe. I had prepared apologetic defenses for a whole host of topics I expected to discuss while drinking cappuccinos in outdoor cafes. “Isn’t believing in God irrational wish-fulfillment?” “How could you believe in miracles?” “How do you know Jesus rose from the dead?” “How could you believe the Bible is historically reliable much less God’s Word?” Two of the four suitcases I claimed as the sum total of my possessions contained books highlighted and labeled for quick reference for answers to the various questions I expected to receive from the Italians about my faith.

One day, about nine months after I arrived, I stood in front of my bookshelf and thought back at the conversations I anticipated having. I was struck by how different my experience of living in Italy was compared to my initial expectations. The picture I had in my head of “the Italians” – what

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Amber Bowen Graduate, The College at Southeastern, B.A. 2008 Graduate, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A., 2017 Adjunctive Professor of History of Ideas, The College at Southeastern

they were like and how they thought – was so different from the actual people I had come to know and love. I discovered the questions they were asking in actuality were very different from the ones I was anticipating from the other side of the pond.

A few days later, I was hanging out with some friends of mine who were local college students. They were discussing different Italian authors they were reading in their classes and I noticed how frequently they referenced the ideas of significant philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Descartes and Marx. As a graduate of the History of Ideas program, I was familiar with these names and had actually read their works myself! I discovered the European school system requires their students to read primary texts in the history of philosophy as part of their standard curriculum. The conversation drove me back to my bookshelf, not for my quick-answer reference books, but to the other books I brought, the ones from the History of Ideas program.

The experience showed me God’s providential hand in all those years of

preparation in a way I never realized at the time. More than the “content” I learned – answers to specific questions and hot topics – I learned an invaluable skill: how to handle a text and how to engage it biblically from a contextualized position. It did not take me long to find the influential writers in the Italian context and begin engaging their texts as well. I was able to join in on the discussions with my friends over the dinner table or sitting in a park as they would talk about life, the human experience, meaning, being a self, etc. My love for and fascination with the Word only grew as I saw it illuminate and transform different types of questions and perspectives.

Whatever vocation or context the Lord leads you to, as a Christian you are called to encourage and work alongside that community to consider how the reality of Christ’s life, death and resurrection comes to bear on the ways of life, ideologies, questions, desires, definitions, practices and hopes present in that world. Texts are not just books, they are any and every kind of expression of meaning. Every

context is filled with texts that shape it and make it what it is. Cultural engagement is all about knowing what to do with those texts and to invite the community to consider them alongside you in light of the gospel. That kind of preparation requires learning and practicing a skill that you will use, instead of simply memorizing answers. This is what the History of Ideas program is all about: learning how to engage cultural texts as Christians and then going into all the world to continue doing the same thing for the glory of Christ.

Now I get to walk through the History of Ideas program with students and expose them to texts that have shaped our culture as well as other cultures. We listen to them, hold them under the authoritative word of the Bible, learn from them, wrestle with them and even speak back at them. As I see my students, I can’t help but wonder where the Lord will take each of them and which cultural texts he will call them to engage for the edification of the church and the advancement of the kingdom.

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History of Ideas What works are read in the History of Ideas classes?

We draw from the following list to select important passages, major text blocks, and in some cases the entire work is assigned:

Augustine City of God 8.1-13

C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity

Washington Up From Slavery

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Homer: Iliad Abridged, Odyssey Abridged, Bks 9-24 Selected texts from World Religions: Hume: “Of Miracles” in Enquiry Concerning Judaism/Christianity: “The Flood,” Gen 4-9; Human Understanding Judaism, The Talmud Julian of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love, Hinduism: The Bhagadva Gita Revelation 1 Buddhism: “Hare Mark in the Moon” and Kant: “Reason and the Question of God” in Critique “The Gateless Gate” of Pure Reason Islam: Qur’an 2 “The Cow” and sels. on Jesus Kierkegaard: Fear and Trembling, Prelude/ Aeschylus: Prometheus Bound, The Oresteia, Panegyric upon Abraham Agamemnon, Libation Bearers, Eumenides Lewis: Mere Christianity Bk. 1 Anonymous: Epic of Gilgamesh (std ver.), Locke: “Ideas” in Essay Concerning Human trans. Kovac Understanding 2.1-2.3, Second Treatise on Anonymous: “Martyrdom of Perpetua” Government Anselm: “Ontological Argument,” Lucretius: The Nature of Things Bks 2, 3, Proslogium 1-6 6 (sels.)

Aquinas: “Five Ways” and “Natural Law” in Machiavelli: The Prince Summa Theologica Marx-Engels: Communist Manifesto Aristotle: Nichomachean Ethics ML King: The Letter from Birmingham Jail Augustine: Confessions 8, City of God 8.1-13 Nietzsche: “Truth and Lie in an Extra Moral Sense” Bacon: “Idols” in Novum Organum Bk 1, (pp. 42-47); “The Gay Science” (pp. 93-102); “The Aphorisms 1-130 Genealogy of Morals” (pp. 447-454); “Human, All Too Calvin: Institutes 1.1-1.7 Human” (pp. 51-64); “Beyond Good and Evil” Camus: “Myth of Sisyphus” in The Myth of (pp. 443-54) Sisyphus and Other Essays, tr. O’Brien Plato: Republic, Apology Catherine of Siena: Dialogue of Divine Plutarch: Lives: “Julius Caesar,” “Cato the Younger”, Providence (sels.)

“Lycurgus,” “Solon” Dante: The Inferno Rousseau: Discourse on the Origin of Inequality Darwin: Descent of Man, ch. 1 Sappho: Poems from the 6th c. BC Descartes: “Certainty of Self and God” in Schaeffer: How Should We Then Live? (sels.)

Meditations, 1-3 Shelley: Fankenstein, The Modern Prometheus Dostoevsky: “The Grand Inquisitor” in The Smith, Adam: The Wealth of Nations, from Brothers Karamazov E. Butler’s Condensed Wealth of Nations Dubois: “Souls of Black Folk,” in Three Sun Tzu: The Art of War 5th c. BC Chinese military Negro Classics tactics/Taoism Epictetus: Discourses 1.6-1.16-17 Thucydides: Peloponnesian Wars1.1-88, Erasmus/Luther: Discourse on Freewill 2.1-58 (Thillwell) Freud: Civilization and Its Discontents Tocqueville: Democracy in America, (sels.)

Gutierrez: “Option for the Poor,” in Mysterium Liberationist: Fundamental Concepts of Liberation US Founders: Declaration of Independence; US Constitution, Bill of Rights Theology; tr. Barr.

Van Doren: History of Knowledge Herodotus: Histories Bks 1, (sels.)

Virgil: The Essential Aeneid 6-7 (McCauley) Washington: Up From Slavery Hobbes: Leviathan Bk 1, “Of Man”

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House System Jacob Collins-Gambill remembers the conversation well.

During his first year as a leader under the newly revamped residence life program at The College at Southeastern, his aim was to help students belong to community even in the midst of skepticism.

“I don’t want to join a local church,” he remembers the student saying to him. “I don’t want to be known by anyone here. You’re going to be like everyone else and you’re going to leave from my life. I give you four months before you’re gone.”

“Deal,” said Collins-Gambill. “Give me four months. I will prove to you that there’s something different about this campus and this housing system.”

It wouldn’t take long before he came through on that promise and began to see this student thrive in community.

“It’s stories like that that make the long days and short nights worth it,” said Collins-Gambill.

There is an ownership and excitement among students that is penetrating The College at Southeastern and revolutionizing the way the campus

has previously thought about residence life.

It’s called the House System and it launched in Fall 2016.

The idea started with a meeting between three key leaders from the college: Jamie Dew, dean of The College at Southeastern; Art Rainer, vice president for institutional advancement; and Mark Liederbach, vice president for student life.

Drawing upon the House System model of King’s College in New York City, the team began moving beyond simply providing room and board to a place of belonging for incoming college students.

Jake Hatfield, director of student activities and discipleship, spent the next year reimagining what residence life could be. Through a vision trip to King’s College, House System presentations and budget proposals, the House System for The College at Southeastern was moving from a dream to a reality with each step.

Then it was time for the hiring process. Hatfield held an initial interest meeting in which he presented this new

idea to those interested in being leaders.

“This is something I could get behind,” Collins-Gambill remembers thinking during the House System presentation.

For him and other leaders who were accepted into this new program, they knew they were embarking on something much bigger than themselves.

“I remember getting the email that I got accepted into the House System and being a fellow of the Fuller House and I remember immediately hitting my knees and saying, ‘God I can’t do this, but only you can,’” Collins-Gambill said.

The College at Southeastern’s House System is divided into four houses – Judson, Fuller, Liele and Schaeffer – and each are named after exemplary role models for Great Commission living, namely Adoniram and Ann Judson, missionaries to Burma (now Myanmar); Andrew Fuller, an English theologian; George Liele, a missionary to Jamaica; and Francis Schaeffer, an American theologian.

In the first year, each house had roughly 25 students each, which has doubled in size to about 40 members

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he hasn’t cleaned them in a week to this fall. Students are primarily housed the glory of God and the good of the in buildings Goldston and Lolly.

There are five college leaders as- nations?”

His answer is simple: Be faithful in signed to each house. First there is the chancellor, who oversees their as- the small things.

“If you wash dishes to the glory of signed house as well as the other leaders in it to ensure that the unified val- God and clean your room to the glory of God, you will love people to the ues of their house and the school as a glory of God and go to the nations for whole are being met. the glory of God,” he said.

Felix Berry, who is in his second The regent helps cultivate a sense year as chancellor of the Judson house, of tradition and community within has seen how the House System has their house through the help of other breathed life back into the residence life program and has allowed for deep- members.

One example of this is the Judson er community to take place.

House, who likes to call themselves “This is a time to build relationship the “Jud-muffins” and always has mufskills, to build tons of areas and the House System has opened up so many fins present at every event where food more avenues for that to take place,” is provided.

“Even that goofiness, it gives them a, said Berry.

Then there’s a male and female fel- ‘I’m a part of this Southeastern community; I’m a part of the college, but low for each house. These two play the these are my people’ muffins and all,” R.A. role in the house as well as spur on a posture of Great Commission liv- said Hatfield.

Then there’s the scholar, who aids ing among their members. students in academia by providing reThere is a balance that has to be sources to help answer their questions made of these two responsibilities merged into one role – or as Collins- and figure out how to handle the workload of college.

Gambill, a Fuller fellow, puts it, “How “They’re there to help them with do I throw away a guy’s dishes because

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study tips or anything like that,” said Hatfield.

A week before fall classes were to start, it’s time for house leader training to begin.

“It’s about eight days and it is intense,” said Hatfield.

The week begins with a formal banquet with an address from Dew. After that the work begins.

The leaders endure physically demanding challenges such as backpacking up North Carolina’s Mount Mitchell this year, teaching them the values of leadership and team building. All of this is done while carrying a brick that each house received at the banquet.

What is this brick? It represents the burden of leadership and they carry it for the entirety of the training as a reminder.

The second part of training involves leaders understanding their job description by hearing from various Southeastern staff. Finally, all of this leads to the culminating banquet, where the leaders hear from Liederbach, and they lay their burden of leadership (the brick) down by their house flag.

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and discipleship coordinator, noted, In this first year, no one fully knew what to expect, but they knew they “The cool thing is even with that, this year our team is solid.” were committing to something greater From here on out, the student-led than themselves. house elections are the norm and With the development of the House System came the merger of the stu- Webb and Smith are hoping to see the thrill of the campaigning process perdent life and discipleship offices. petuate throughout the campus.

Brittany Webb, House System and Catherine MacKay, last year’s Liele discipleship coordinator, noted that the idea behind merging the two of- House regent, intentionally didn’t run again because she wanted to see other fices was that the school “want[ed] the House System to be a discipleship pro- members succeed in leadership roles.

She said that this year, she is looking gram so let’s meld those two things forward to being a support to her together.” house leaders.

The first year of the House System “I’m just excited about being somegave the chance for the student acone who’s an advocate of the house— tivities and discipleship office to take just really wanting to be behind our the reins on the hiring process for leadership team and come alongside house leaders. But Webb remembers them and love them and love the feeling the vulnerability of having house and just be full force ready for less control over that process as each everything they do and everything house held their first leader elections they plan,” said MacKay. in February 2017.

The House System is growing and “We realized we’re setting this one thriving in its second year. It was a bit team up and then for the rest of the time, students will literally run this. I of a surprise to see the amount of ownership that took place in just the secthink it’s part of the advantage of the ond year, Hatfield remembers. He House System, but it’s also part of the thought it would take two or three risk,” said Webb. years for the idea to take root.

But as Cory Smith, House System

But it seems that the intentionality of building a diverse community is exactly what students have needed.

Katherine Liederbach, a freshman in the Schaeffer house, experienced this from the day she was accepted into the house as she received an email from the Schaeffer fellow that same day.

“That’s just really cool to already know that you already have somebody in your court before you even come to college,” she said.

For Katherine, who worked at the Ledford Center’s front desk in high school, one of the selling points of The College at Southeastern was seeing the dynamic change in community among college students compared to residence life in the past.

“If it weren’t for the House System, I probably wouldn’t have come here because working front desk, I got to see how much the House System built community that had been lacking in past years.”

Strong community is what the House System was built upon and what continues to drive it as the college expands.

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House Events House competitions bring out the spirit and loyalties of each house.

Throughout the year, houses earn points based on six competitions – four that are held by each house throughout the year and two by the student activities and discipleship office at the beginning of each semester.

Last year, houses creatively chose their theme – Fuller with a lip sync battle, Liele hosting a survival competition, Schaeffer putting on a dance competition and Judson with its family reunion competition.

Student activities and discipleship hosted its annual fall competition, kicking off this year with a kickball tournament in which Schaeffer came

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out on top. The office hosts another spring showcase competition, where each house does a musical performance. The culmination of these events comes at the end of the year at the House Tournament, which lasts two days and involves both academic and sports activities.

But in the end, Liele won the prestigious House Cup, earning the most in overall points for the year and making history as the first winners of the House System at The College at Southeastern.

House crests are lined up in Appleby based on who is currently in the lead at any given point throughout the year.

Calibrate is a worship service de-

signed specifically for college students that happens once each month. The first one is hosted by the student activities and discipleship office and throughout the year, different houses host the services. Calibrate is in Appleby Chapel from 9-10:30 p.m.

Preview Day is a separate competition for each of the houses. Leading up to preview day, each house tries to recruit as many prospective students as they can to be honorary house members for the day. Whichever house has the most students that come to preview day receives money to buy swag for the house.

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Fuller House: The Fuller House values are loyalty, perseverance and stewardship. The wavy blue and white pattern on the crest is a sign of facing and prevailing in difficulty. The anchor is a symbol of loyalty, as is the color blue. The rope gives reference to “Holding the rope,” a phrase for which Fuller is well known. The crest also includes a wolf and the color red, symbolizing perseverance in times of difficulty.

Judson House: Liele House: Service, devotion and delight make up the values of the Liele House. The house crest includes a sun, which symbolizes delight and a flower to symbolize joy. The “X” in the center of the crest honors Liele’s heritage with a reference to the African freedom symbol. The colors of the Liele House are yellow, green and black, representing the Jamaican flag where Leile served as a missionary.

The Judson House values sacrifice, meekness and steadfastness.

The crest colors, red, green and yellow represent Burma (Myanmar) where the Judsons served for many years as missionaries.

The start in the top right corner represents three important aspects of the Judsons’ lives: the Burmese flag, the flag of Massachusetts and the star that led the wise men to Jesus (one of Judson’s favorite Bible stories to study). The lion in the center of the crest represents meekness, power under control and compassionate watchfulness (Burmese cultural reference). The fanlike symbol coming from the lion is a double reference to a peacock and an umbrella, which are important Burmese symbols.

The red portion is taken from a pattern meaning steadfastness, and the bars below represent Judson’s time in prison, which speaks of his season of sacrifice.

Schaeffer House: Schaeffer House values are creativity, unity, faithfulness and humility. The colors white and silver portray truth, and the dark red historically represents fortitude or victory. The pattern featured in the background is a heraldic symbol for unity. The crest includes a torch to symbolize truth, which was much of what Schaeffer sought in his creativity. The flower and vine next to the torch is a broom plant, which is a symbol of humility, and the diamond- shaped symbol depicts honesty.

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Southeastern students attend Logos Conference at Oxford SAVANNA FRUHWIRTH AND LUCAS MONCADA, two students from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), were selected to attend the Logos Conference at the University of Oxford May 31-June 14.

Both Fruhwirth and Moncada had the opportunity to study under senior scholars through workshops and lectures focused on textual criticism and paleography.

“As a scholar, it has helped me to see the importance and the need for welltrained evangelical theologians,” said Fruhwirth, who is earning her master of arts in biblical languages.

The Logos Conference is hosted by the Scholarship & Christianity in Oxford institute on behalf of the Muse-

Here at Southeastern, we’re not just doing research for the sake of doing research, and your research is not meant to further your career.

Your career is meant to serve the church.

um of the Bible Scholar’s Initiative (MOTB). Only 35 students from

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around the world are chosen each year to participate in the two-week, fully funded trip.

Dr. Chuck Quarles, professor of New Testament and biblical theology at SEBTS, noted that Fruhwirth and Moncada were both eager to study at Oxford this past summer.

“They were both very excited about the opportunity to travel to Oxford and to get to sit under some worldclass scholars in the field of textual criticism and paleography,” said Quarles.

This summer will mark five years of the Logos Conference, which began at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and moved to the University of Oxford in 2013.

The MOTB Scholar’s Initiative, led

by Executive Director Dr. Michael Holmes, is a research extension that provides graduate and undergraduate students at more than 60 institutions the ability to conduct research on more than 90 projects.

Quarles’ spring class of four students, introduction to New Testament textual criticism, began its Scholar’s Initiative project in January, The Greek Paul Project, which focused on transcribing ancient manuscripts of the letters of 2 Timothy and Titus.

Registration for the class requires both a minimum 3.5 GPA and 18 hours of Greek.

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“I have to keep the enrollment low because it’s pretty intensive and I have to supervise the students’ work closely and make sure they’re transcribing these difficult manuscripts accurately,” said Quarles.

Quarles’ class had the opportunity to apply for the Logos Conference and much to Moncada and Fruhwirth’s surprise, they were the two chosen to attend the conference in May. Both Fruhwirth and Moncada see themselves as having been greatly influenced by the education at SEBTS, not only in their pursuit of higher education, but also in their pursuit of the Lord.

“Here at Southeastern, we’re not just doing research for the sake of doing

research, and your research is not meant to further your career,” said Moncada, who is pursuing a Ph.D. in biblical languages with an concentration in New Testament. “Your career is meant to serve the church.”

The two students see a very real potential for long-term work in the field of textual criticism.

“For me, I would like to be able to equip pastors to see the history of interpretation in textual criticism,” said Moncada.

Moncada also added, “I would like to work in this field to specifically train pastors to use this, not so much from the pulpit, but in their own personal study, in counseling, in evange-

lism, that way they are prepared to make a defense of the faith…and they can do it faithfully and accurately.”

Fruhwirth is open to textual criticism in her future and sees its value in the Great Commission.

“Our going isn’t always necessarily to a remote tribe in a different country. It can be at a seminary in North Carolina where you have a bunch of students who need someone…to teach them the Scriptures and to disciple them in order that they might go out and disciple and train others in the Word of the Lord,” said Fruhwirth.

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DOCTORAL GRADUATE SEEKS MINISTRY THROUGH CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

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WHEN MARY ANN McMillan began at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) in 2011, but she never intended to earn a full degree.

She just needed 20-30 hours of course credit to go back to the mission field full-time.

On May 12, McMillan received her doctorate in Christian education, adding on to her master’s degree in intercultural studies that she received in 2013. After coming to SEBTS and earning the necessary hours to go back overseas, she decided to complete her master’s degree, which she knew would prove useful for the future.

The Lord had cultivated in McMillan a strong desire to go overseas and minister in closed countries. She discovered that education would be a platform that could help her do just that and she even received a full scholarship to fund her education.

It’s still a pretty incredible realization for McMillan that she received her doctorate in May, knowing that she came from humble and challenging beginnings.

She was an orphan until the age of seven, moved into foster care and then was adopted “into a family that should not have adopted a child at all,” as she recalls. But when it came time to head to college, she was able to get out of this unhealthy family dynamic.

Her time in college was spiritually transformational as she became involved in a campus ministry and decided to follow Jesus as a junior in college.

McMillan’s missionary call was a little unexpected as it was not something she was initially interested in upon becoming a believer. However,

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she knew God was calling her to a purposeful life and she decided to pursue this purpose through missions. She spent the next two summers going on short-term trips and then the Lord continued to extend her call to go overseas long-term.

“Right before I was graduating college I really felt the Lord calling me to do missions full-time. I just didn’t know what that looked like so I actually went overseas with the IMB as a Journeyman,” she said.

Her first year was difficult as she faced obstacles to her ministry because of her race. McMillan, an African American woman, remembers times being chased down the street or having items thrown at her due to racial oppression.

“I had a curfew at four in the afternoon because it got dark at four and the majority of the ministries started at eight at night, but I had to be in early because of my race,” recalled McMillan, “so that’s why they decided to allow me to switch countries so I ended up in the Czech Republic my second year.”

Even in the midst of spiritual and racial oppression, God proved Himself powerful during that first year as McMillan and her teammates were doing ministry one day. While some women were gathered in a field and listening to a translator share his testimony, one of the women in the group stopped him.

“She stopped him and said, ‘I don’t want to hear your story. I want to hear hers,’” McMillan recounted, “and pointed at me. She said that ‘I’ve never seen a person of color before and I want to hear how she became a believer and why the Lord is so impor-

God’s just telling me, “Be where you are right now.

Continue to be plugged in.

Just trust me. I’ve got you.”

tant for her.’”

At that moment, McMillan had the opportunity to share the Gospel with that group of women.

She had recently finished her twoyear Journeyman term in Ukraine and the Czech Republic when she first stepped onto the campus of SEBTS. Everything was new and the difficulty of reverse culture shock was in full swing. But she remembers a professor who noticed she was struggling and encouraged her to meet with him. As they met, he listened as she explained the newness of everything and the struggle of coming home from the mission field.

“How’s your time with the Lord? Are you plugged into a local church,” he asked her.

“My time with the Lord is not going well. I’m not plugged in with a local church yet. I haven’t found that community,” she responded.

His response sparked change for McMillan.

“I can teach you anything you want to know in your classes, but your relationship with the Lord is more important than anything,” he said. “You can get all the schooling you want, you can have the best job, succeed in life, but if you don’t have a good rela-

tionship with the Lord you’re not going to make it.”

Every other week, conversations like these continued until McMillan found a diverse community at Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, where she attended for roughly three years.

McMillan was able to see professors live out their faith outside of the classroom.

“You see them in class and then you also see them with their families and you’re sitting next to them in Bible studies and small groups so you get to see them as a real person and not just a professor,” said McMillan.

BEYOND SEBTS “Fast, fluid and flexible” is the way that McMillan describes her job now as she works at Saddleback Church, pastored by Rick Warren. McMillan is the PEACE Center training director, a program that seeks for churches in different countries to partner together in church planting, leadership development, healthcare and educational needs. It was not the job she would have originally picked for herself, seeing as how she wanted to be a fulltime missionary. But God had other plans when she met her current supervisor while she was working at the SEBTS exhibit booth at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting.

After sharing her long-term plans with him, she was offered a job on the spot.

However, it would take some time before she finally decided to pack her bags and move across the country in April 2016.

“PEACE is a grass roots church to church strategy,” said Warren in a promotional video for the PEACE Plan.

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“Your church hooks up with another church overseas and that church hooks up with another church in another country. Every church is a sending and receiving church.”

The PEACE Plan became very personal to McMillan when she took a trip to Rwanda, a country that Saddleback has partnered with for more than 10 years. She was moved by the way local churches were caring for orphans. Because of this, 35 orphanages had been emptied because children were being given a home through families in local churches.

“If my birth parents would have been a part of a local church…[that] was actually doing what they were supposed to do,” said McMillan, “I could have stayed with my family and wouldn’t have had to go through an orphanage

and then have had to be adopted.”

McMillan was so impacted by this experience that she used this orphan care model within the local church to inspire her dissertation at SEBTS. A GREAT COMMISSION CLASSROOM, A GREAT COMMISSION LIFESTYLE “It was definitely there every single day,” McMillan said of the Great Commission emphasis in the SEBTS classroom, “just teaching us as students, but to hear what they were doing in the community as well, what they were doing overseas.”

Even in her time working for the school, she learned how to live selflessly and make others’ needs a priority.

“I learned how to be a servant at Southeastern,” said McMillan, refer-

ring to her time working in the admissions office.

Giving campus tours and listening to how God was leading students encompassed her job as an ambassador.

Preparing breakfast, cleaning sheets and maintaining overall hospitality encompassed her job as a Manor House hostess.

Personally, God is teaching her to live fully where she is currently. It was a difficult transition for McMillan to leave SEBTS, her church and the familiarity of what she had come to call home and to move to California to work at Saddleback Church.

However, she knows that God has confirmed to her that her time at SEBTS was a time of preparation for what she is doing now.

“God’s just telling me, ‘Be where you are right now. Continue to be plugged in. Just trust me. I’ve got you,’” said McMillan.

THE FUTURE The Great Commission is still the heartbeat of McMillan’s calling on her life. She hopes to one day either go overseas as a career missionary or stay in the States to train others’ to go from the classroom to the nations.

Graduation is a little surreal for McMillan this time around as she knows that this is her last degree she will be receiving from SEBTS. However, seeing how far God has brought her is an exciting reality.

“It’s so weird to think about this whole journey and going to seminary and it’s like, man, [I] started out as an orphan and now I’m becoming a doctor,” she said.

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STORIES

STORIES “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

From our local community to the outermost parts of the world, Southeastern students and alumni are reaching people with the gospel by fulfilling the Great Commission. Using the model of Acts 1:8, we want to highlight these stories of how our Southeastern family is serving in North Carolina, North America and around the world. Acts 1:8 Stories create a collective and consistent way to tell the story of Southeastern, one person at a time. From local pastors to missionaries among the unreached, God is doing a great work among students and alumni. Where are they now and where are they going? We can’t wait for you to find out!

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Couple Serving the Unreached for More Than a Decade

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*BENJAMIN O. BREEG remembers when he was first being called to reach Muslims that lived in unreached parts of the world.

He began reading a book called “Let the Nations Be Glad!” by John Piper for his missions class with Dr. Keith Eitel at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was through this reading that the specificity of reaching the unreached in the Muslim world became clear.

For his wife, *Abigail Breeg, her call to overseas missions came through her Journeyman term with the International Mission Board in Central Asia. She attended Southeastern after finishing her term, and is now living out that call with her husband.

More than twelve years down the road, the Breegs find themselves serving in a closed country, trying to find creative ways to share the gospel with Iranian religious and academic leaders. One of the most challenging aspects of ministry comes from being unable to live in the home country of such leaders.

“We’re working with the people who are killing Christians,” said Benjamin. “[They] are the ones that are persecuting Christians, that are developing laws that are against religious freedom.”

While seeing decisions among people in their area is not uncommon, the difficulty comes in the longevity of that decision to follow Christ.

“You see people making decisions, but whether or not they stick or not, that’s kind of where the rubber hits the road,” Benjamin said.

Benjamin wrote about one such experience with a man named Jack:

“*Jack was one of the first people we met from our people group. He was a student living and studying outside of his country. Soon after befriending him, he made a profession of faith, but Jack seemed only to want to eat pork, drink alcohol, and not be Muslim. His belief in Christ was incorrect. He believed Jesus was God’s son in

*Names changed for security reasons

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the sense that we have fathers and mothers, not in the sense that Jesus was ‘begotten, not made’ as the Council of Nicaea of 325 A.D. aptly explains. Jack did not believe in the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus. Nonetheless, he proclaimed to be a Christian and we gave him a Bible. About a year or two later, he got sick and had to go home.

Jack contacted us about six months ago. He admitted that when he first professed Christianity it was to be free from the constraints of Islam. He told us he found Christ with his wife a couple years ago. As there is no church in their city or province, he asked us to find him one. He realized the need to obey and be baptized. A bit apprehensive, we asked why he became a follower of Christ and what Jesus being God’s son meant to him. He described the meaning and the importance of the full divinity and full humanity of Jesus. He explained it was because Jesus was all God and all man that he could come to earth, live a sinless life, die and

resurrect to pay the punishment of our sins so we could have a right relationship with him. Recently, we put him in contact with believers from his people group. They are working with him and his wife to find a time for baptism.”

Sometimes decisions take many years. The couple had such an experience as they shared the gospel with a friend eight years prior to her becoming a follower of Jesus just last year.

“It’s encouraging to see that God works in His time and not ours,” said Benjamin.

The Breegs desire prayer as they seek to reach Iranian leaders with the gospel, while living distantly from them.

“It is challenging since we can’t and don’t live inside the country,” said Abigail. [We are] always needing to find new, creative ways to do things.”

The couple said it’s also difficult coming back to the States and hearing Iranians being spoken of negatively out of ignorance.

“Iran is very much misrepresented in America and misunderstood, said Benjamin. “It’s one of the most democratic and most stable countries in the Middle East and the people are kind. You can imagine [Iran’s misrepresentation is] a lot of what’s said in the media.”

Two ways he recommends for believers to correct their view of the Middle East is to read, “The Ayatollah Begs to Differ” by Hooman Majd and to watch Rick Steves’ tour through Iran, which was commissioned by the U.N. Despite differing ideological views from his own, Benjamin said “their assessment of Iran is quite accurate.”

The two believe that Southeastern prepared them for their time overseas among the unreached through theological education and conversations as well as learning practical ministry decision-making overseas.

And as long as God allows, they are going fulfill their call to the unreached.

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Equipped to Reach the Unreached in Central Asia

*DOUG COLEMAN dreams of a day when a large Central Asian minority will have an established church in its heart language.

“Unless the gospel gets to them in [their language], I don’t think that most of them are going to hear the gospel,” said Coleman.

It’s something he hopes and believes he will see in his lifetime.

Coleman and his ministry partner, *Emir, share this common desire for churches to be established among this people group. Their desire is something akin to the story found in Luke 2:25-32, where Simeon was promised by God that he would not die until he saw Jesus, the Savior of the world.

“For me, the equivalent of seeing Jesus as a baby in the temple is seeing a [minority] church before I die, said Emir upon first meeting Coleman. “That’s my heart’s desire.

And if I can see that before I die, then I can go to my fathers in peace.”

Coleman has been working among the Central Asian affinity since 1998 and has been in cross-

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cultural ministry since 1994.

In 1996, Coleman began taking classes at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. After taking a missions class with Dr. Keith Eitel, Coleman decided to pursue a Master of Divinity with an international church planting emphasis. After his two initial years of classes on the Wake Forest campus, Coleman and his wife were ready to go overseas for two more years in Russia.

God began stirring in the couple a desire to live among unreached people groups. The couple has now served with the International Mission Board (IMB) in Central Asia from 1998 to the present.

Coleman’s work among the Central Asian affinity has been diverse. He has had one-on-one gospel sharing and discipleship opportunities. He has overseen IMB personnel working among a Central Asia minority group. He now works to one day see that people group have a church in their heart language and also teaches theological education to Central

*Names changed for security reasons

STORIES

Asian believers.

He told Berat, “Look, I’ve wanted Ministry in Central Asia requires this for you for a long time. I’ve patient and consistent relationship never hidden that. But this is building. Seeing nationals come to something you have to believe. faith in Jesus is a decision that can Christianity is not like Islam. It’s take years. not like other things and you have C olema n had one such to make the decision that you experience with his language believe this is really true.” teacher, *Berat. He was a bit of an Berat’s response was short, simple internal processor and while not and very typical of his personality: initially interested in Christianity “I’ve pretty well accepted it.” on a personal level, would ask “I think that illustrates that questions of Coleman and his faith. sometimes it can take a long time They continued to meet for and multiple, multiple touches and language learning, sometimes sometimes multiple, multiple using the Bible as a tool and would people and multiple, multiple even share meals and holidays things,” said Coleman, who met together with each other’s families. Berat back in 2009 and heard of his Coleman remembers one night coming to faith in 2016. in particular texting his friend as “I think the key for him was when they joked back and forth. he finally engaged with God’s Word, Somewhat abruptly in the and that is frequently one of the conversation, Berat texted him and most significant factors for said, “Oh by the way, bring me a Muslims,” said Coleman.

Bible tomorrow.”

He wasn’t sure if Berat was still joking, but soon realized he was After Coleman had finished his very serious. The two continued to master’s degree, his time at meet and talk through what Berat Southeastern was all but over. He was reading in the Bible. remembers well a conversation Then the conversation came that with Dr. Keith Eitel in which the Coleman remembers clearly. professor encouraged Coleman of

**Photo by Timur Chernov on Unsplash

the importance of pursuing a Ph.D. “Ph.D. work is not just obtaining information,” Eitel told him. “It’s not just knowing theological positions. It’s not just hermeneutics and how to interpret the Bible. It’s really how to think well.”

Through their conversation, Coleman decided to start pursuing his Ph.D. in missions once he and his family returned for one year on stateside assignment in 2005.

“Any issue, any challenge that I come across now, I feel much more equipped,” said Coleman. “…

At a very foundational level, I think Southeastern prepared me for that.”

Workers like Coleman encounter many barriers when Christianity meets Islam. Some of those hindrances include the many misconceptions that Muslims often have about Christianity as well as the societal resistance to anything but Islam.

“In the Muslim world, anybody coming to faith is really a miracle of God, but God is still doing miracles, he said.

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Southeastern Alumnus Talks IMB, Training and Missionary Calling

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*KEN CARUTHERS is the associate vice president of training at the International Mission Board (IMB).

In 2000, Caruthers studied international church planting at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and in 2002, he and his family went to serve with the IMB in Central Asia for two years.

Within six or seven months, after finishing up his master’s degree at SEBTS, Caruthers and his family were back in Central Asia and served there for the next 10 years.

Car uthers now works in overseeing the training operations for missionaries at the IMB. He took some time to share about how his time at SEBTS and serving overseas helped equip him at the IMB as well as what it looks like to identify a God-given call to serve the Lord overseas.

To learn more about training tools through the IMB, visit imb.org/training.

WHAT DOES YOUR JOB AT THE IMB LOOK LIKE DAY TO DAY? I do operations for this whole training department so I help shape the processes and procedures so that we get stuff done – run the administrative, budget, human resourcing, things like that.

HOW DID SERVING OVERSEAS AFFECT THE WAY THAT YOU TRAIN NOW? Understanding field realities [and] letting our experiences speak into how we train. All of those experiences help speak into how we pursue our day-today task and how we pursue our mission so that the IMB’s mission can be successful.

HOW DID YOUR TIME AT SOUTHEASTERN PREPARE YOU FOR YOUR TIME OVERSEAS AND THEN AT THE IMB? Going to seminary I think really helped me to grow up. That whole experience came together to really help me both grow up as a person

*Names changed for security reasons

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and also grow up in the Lord. And so that was really an influential time for me and I thank God for it.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE IN TRAINING FOR A SUMMER PROGRAM VERSUS LONGER TERM? So the way it would look different when long-term is you’d spend more time before you actually left preparing you to go to the field. We would cover things like what it’s going to look like once you get there, checking your expectations, giving you some good handles and hooks to place things on because you’re going to be there a longer period of time.

But first we want you to get IMB vision and understand what that is so once you get to the field, the people who will train you there will know that you already have those things in place.

HOW WOULD YOU ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE CALL TO GO?

**This interview has been edited for length and clarity

I think you want to look at seven different things: 1. You want to look at the way that God has made you.

2. You have the specific circumstances of your life.

3. Is it the right time? There I think of Esther: “Who knows but that the Lord raised you up for such a time as this?” So the Lord is in control of that.

4. What is the Bible saying to you?

5. What is the church affirming that I’m good at where I can serve?

6. What does the Lord say to me as I spend time with Him in prayer?

7. What are my desires?

I want to hold all of these in a certain tension and at least understand and think through what are all of these things.

WHAT’S SOMETHING CHALLENGING AND ENCOURAGING THAT STANDS OUT TO YOU IN THE TRAINING PROCESS? In the past I think before the digital age, we were very focused on training as an event instead of training as a process. We were focused on learning as an event and the delivery mechanism being classroom. Instead, the delivery mechanism now can be YouTube for the right things, it can be webinars for the right things and it should be classroom for the right things. So that’s one of our big areas of focus. It’s always encouraging to hear what our missionaries are doing all over the place for the glory of God, for the spread of the gospel and for the increase of His church throughout the nations. That is always an amazing thing.

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Making Disciples in the 4/14 Window

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THE 4/14 WINDOW may not be the first area that comes to mind when thinking about the Great Commission.

However, it’s the age range where most people make a decision to follow Christ and was coined by Luis Bush in 2008, the same catalyst who presented the idea of the 10/40 Window.

The 4/14 Window is the heartbeat of what Stephanie Jackson, director of children’s ministries at North Wake Church, has been passionately pursuing for the past 14 years. Jackson oversees nearly 200 kids and 90 volunteers that attend the 27-year-old church in Wake Forest. In 2006, she came to The College at Southeastern to study biblical studies and history with a focus in education and believes children’s ministry is one of the greatest mission fields on which a church can focus.

“You have a whole bunch of souls that need to hear the gospel and come to Christ and it’s right there,” said Jackson.

“Why would we not consider wanting to invest in that?”

Jackson herself was impacted by

the children’s ministry in a local church as a child. She first decided to follow Christ as a sixth grader and at a young age was volunteering her time in children’s ministry.

“Being able to come back and serve in this role as a mature believer and as an adult has been a fantastic blessing because that was my first joy in the church,” she said.

With six church plants and roughly 40 missionary units overseas, North Wake is making an impact all across the world.

One way the church is making an influence locally is through The Runner’s Camp, a track and field event for ages 6-12. The camp has become a pinnacle at North Wake for outreach in its local community each summer. Started by North Wake outreach Pastor Rob Craig back in 1998, the camp allows kids in the community to come participate in races and various games while also hearing the gospel.

This past summer marks 20 years that the camp has been in existence and to celebrate this

STORIES

milestone, the camp was held three separate times throughout June and July. The Runner’s Camp has grown exponentially over the years, increasing from 43 campers in its first year to a total of more than 900 this past summer.

“It has been a fantastic outreach and it has been something that has really allowed us to be in the Wake Forest community and we have so many lost kids who come to it,” said Jackson.

According to Craig, 90 percent of campers who come to The Runner’s Camp are from outside of the church and, sometimes, outside of the country.

“This is year 20 and God continues to bless it, every year continuing to reach out to new families,” said Craig.

But beyond reaching the local community for Christ, North Wake is helping kids understand the importance of taking the gospel overseas to those who have never heard.

North Wake kids have the chance to pray for missionary kids and

*Photo by V B T on Unsplash

their families from the church as Jackson hopes that by providing this type of monthly support for well as send them gifts. leaders, they will be equipped and “It really helps missions become real for our kids here at North compelled to remain in ministry, rather than leave – the very reason Wake to know, ‘Hey, there’s a kid just like me in Southeast Asia that she began the mentorship.

“We just really want for the Chilis sharing the gospel with their neighbors just like I’m here in dren’s Ministry Mentorship to be America sharing with my neigh- something that’s very practical, something that these children’s bors,’” said Jackson. leaders who are feeling burnt out Kids at North Wake even get to hear from their peers when they can come to and be refreshed,” said come back from the mission field Jackson.

For Jackson, ministry support during the church’s annual mishas also come from her senior passions conference.

“Whenever they see an 8-year- tor, Larry Trotter, and elders within the church, making a huge difold come in, who’s an 8-year-old ference and inf luence in her just like them, and get to hear leadership. about their life in Southeast Asia or “I think that’s a really powerful Africa or wherever they are, it makes it really real,” said Jackson. thing to the church, too, to see Jackson now has the opportunity that the elders see the value of to provide support to other chil- children’s ministry enough to say, dren’s ministry leaders like herself ‘Hey, I’m going to be there for you through the Children’s Ministry and pray for you guys and make sure that you’re encouraged and Mentorship, which she started in stuff before you start your year,’” August of this year.

The mentorship provides a sup- said Jackson. “That’s definitely portive community of fellow lead- one of the things that has helped ers who discuss various aspects of me to be able to stay and have this children’s ministry each month. long tenure.”

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JOIN US AS WE TRACE THE STEPS OF PAUL! I am excited to be offering the opportunity to go on an 11-day journey visiting sites from Paul’s second Missionary Journey. I would like to invite you personally to join Charlotte and me as we cohost the tour with our good friends Drew and Judy Landry. We will spend part of our tour cruising through the Mediterranean, stopping off to visit famous sites like Ephesus and the Island of Patmos. The second half of the tour will consist of traveling via motor coach to memorable cities like Corinth and Philippi.

We hope you will join us for this exciting tour, which promises to be as fascinating as it is relaxing.

Sep. 25 - Oct. 5, 2018

Dr. Drew & Judy Landry Dr. Danny & Charlotte Akin

SUPPORT THE MISSION OF SOUTHEASTERN IN FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION

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THE PLACE FOR ALUMNI TO CONNECT ENCOURAGE DISCIPLE GROW Tell us how you’re going! Join today at sebts.edu/sen

@JonathanSix

FUNDING THE MISSION When I arrived at Southeastern in 2006, I had already heard that it was a Great Commission seminary, but little did I know how this mission permeated every aspect of the school. In the fall of that year, I remember sitting in Binkley Chapel hearing Dr. Akin explain who we were as an institution. I still remember the excitement of hearing how the Great Commission emphasis would not only be talked about passionately, but it would shape every part of the organization. I began to realize that the Great Commission— the call to make disciples, baptize them and teach them all things the Lord has commanded – was not just something we spoke of in our evangelism course. Rather, it was the foundation upon which our curriculum was built and the end to which our faculty taught.

Eleven years later I can say without hesitation that Southeastern is in fact a Great Commission school.

Our students are shaped by a curriculum that prepares them to be gospel messengers who take the good news of Christ around the world. Our faculty teaches in such a way that encourages, prepares, and

A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR

emboldens our students to be gospel warriors both domestically and abroad.

As President Akin looks forward to the next 10 years, I am excited that Southeastern continues to be a Great Commission school. Now, however, the success of the next 10 years largely rests upon our ability to fund the mission. With a desire to train and send more students, financial needs become clearer. If Southeastern is indeed to be on the leading edge of global missions, a commitment to affordable tuition and limited student debt is a must.

As we seek to increase our available student aid, it is with a missiological commitment that we do this.

Our goal is for students to not be hindered by student debt as they seek God’s assignment for ministry.

If we are to be a campus marked by doctrinal fidelity to the Scriptures, acquiring and maintaining a biblically faithful, world-class faculty is essential. Our students’ educational experience is only as strong as the faculty who prepare them.

Building a significant faculty endowment allows Southeastern to count on having biblically faithful

faculty in perpetuity. The long-term strength of the church rests upon a faculty committed to the word of God, who train men and women to stand firm for the gospel in an increasingly hostile age.

As increasing numbers of our graduates’ feet cross our stage and go across the globe proclaiming the gospel, so too must our campus footprint grow. With an anticipated student growth over the next 10 years of almost 40 percent, Southeastern must address significant physical needs. An example of this need is a dining hall. With an 86 percent anticipated growth in the undergraduate student population, the ability to meet basic student needs such as meals, fellowship and community is essential.

Over the next 10 years, we hope to look back and see that God has brought about “gospel patrons” who have seen fit to fund the mission that he has set before us. My prayer is that in the days ahead you will be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading of how you can partner to fund this mission.

Jonathan Six,

Director of Financial and Alumni Development

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