The Great Commission Magazine of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary - Spring 2016 by Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

spring 2016

Cultivating a Life on Mission

Discover your mission. GO change the world. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than a college. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a calling.

collegeatsoutheastern.com /collegeSE

Planting the Seeds for a Great Commission Life

A Letter from the President

@DannyAkin

a thrill is a huge understatement! Durassion for the Great Com- soon got out that Tuesday night was ing the week we saw a number of permission was planted in my “spiritual hit man night” when Danny sons, particularly children, profess heart at the age of 19. I re- would come knocking on your door, so faith in Christ. It was also on this trip a number of my friends begin to find a pented of my sin and trusted in King that God called me into fulltime gospel Jesus when I was 10 years old. Unfor- way to be away from home on Tuesday ministry. I really had no paradigm for nights. At that time I did not have tunately, I did not grow much in my what happened at a Monday night reenough sense to go on a different night! faith during my teenage years, and few vival service, but I have never doubted of my friends knew that I was a Chris- It was a time of great spiritual growth what God did that evening in my life. in my life. tian. I still look back on those years That mission trip was life changing But, it was in the summer of 1977 with much sadness and regret. Our that I came to a radically new under- for me in so many ways. I now had a God, however, is a faithful and loving Father who, as Hebrews 12:6 teaches, standing of just who my neighbor is. new sense of calling and direction as to my future service to Christ. I also came “disciplines the one He loves” (cf. Prov. Our church was not only active in local home with a new set of eyes as to who missions and evangelism, it was also 3:12). My heavenly Father got up close is my neighbor, which I have never lost. active in mission work thousands of and personal in His disciplinary work My neighbor may live across the street, in my life in the summer of 1976, put- miles away. For several years our but he or she may also live across the church had adopted a Native American ting me flat on my back for a month and train-wrecking my college base- tribe in and around Sells, Arizona, nation or in a different part of the known as the Tohono O’odham Nation. world. If they need to be loved and ball career. I am so glad He did. cared for in Jesus’ name, no matter Alcoholism and poverty were rampant As I was recovering from a serious who they are or where they live, they among this tribe. The gospel witness injury, a wonderful group of teenagers was a faint light as syncretism domi- are my neighbors. John Wesley said, and young adults reached out to me nated the religious landscape. I will “Do all the good that you can, by all the and began loving me unconditionally means you can, in all the places you always remember my fascination of in Christ. An older man named Jack can, at all the times that you can, to all standing at a religious shrine with a Fordham taught me how to share the statue of Mary and a totem pole stand- the people you can, as long as ever you gospel and to start doing the work of a can.” I would say that is a very good ing side by side. “soul winner,” a term I wish we could formula for loving well your neighbor. I We spent a week with the Tohono reclaim. I started going out on what we would say it is a very good foundation called “Tuesday Night Visitation” O’odham doing backyard Bible clubs for a Great Commission life. and nightly revival meetings. We also where we would go door to door and tell drove out to villages, some as far away others about Jesus. We did not care who was in the house. If they were hu- as 100 miles. Since there were no speed limits in the desert, we could and man, we knew they needed Jesus just did make the trip in less than an hour! like us. I, in particular, went after my To say that this part of our mission was friends from high school. The word Daniel L. Akin, President

Around Southeastern Christmas at Southeastern Left: The Joyful Collective Concert was held December 5, 2015, featuring a worship band with members from Imago Dei Church, Journey Church and First Baptist Church Durham. Right: Kingdom Christmas was presented December 2, 2015, in partnership with Vision Church of Raleigh, the ATTAM922 worship team, and Southeasternâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music and worship program, including the Kingdom Choir.

Photos by Maria Estes

Around Southeastern Southeastern Society Fall Cookout Left: Southeastern students communicate their gratitude for the support of trustees, Southeastern Society members and other ministry partners. Below: Southeastern Society members fellowship with students during the fall cookout.

Photos by Maria Estes

Around Southeastern Calibrate: Student Worship Left: The College at Southeastern students gather for a time of worship. Below: Duce Branch, Assistant Professor of Preaching and Bible and Coordinator of Calibrate for The College at Southeastern

Photos by Maria Estes

Around Southeastern Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chapel Left: Elyse Fitzpatrick speaks to Southeastern women in chapel on April 16, 2016. Below: Southeastern women worship together during womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chapel.

Photos by Maria Estes

VISIT us We would love for you to visit campus for a

Pre vie w Day or campus tour For more information about your visit and to arrange accommodations for a campus tour, please call

1.800.284.6317

or visit

iamgoing.org

We look forward to seeing you on campus!

The Great Commission Magazine of

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Spring 2016 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

Alumni Staff Jonathan Six, Director Sheldon Alexander Chris Allen Michelle Ard Communications Staff Amy Whitfield, Director Maria Estes Harper McKay Sam Morris Jordan Parris Bailey Shoemaker Ryan Thomas 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

Contents Spring 2016 Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Happening at Southeastern

Read and share online! sebts.edu/magazine

12 Keith Whitfield Elected VP for Academic Administration at Southeastern 12 Southeastern Announces Changes to Master of Divinity and Master of Arts 12 Southeastern Offers IMB Retirees Two-year Advanced Degree Waiver 13 Third Annual Southeastern Theological Fellowship Honors Scholars at ETS 13 Theologians Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Gospels 14 Timothy+Barnabas Hosts Exchange at Southeastern 14 Rosaria Butterfield Talks Gender Identity at Southeastern 15 Russell Moore Propels Southeastern Students Onward to Cultural Engagement 15 Bring on the Robots: Gregory Thornbury Speaks on Cultural Engagement

18 GO Conference Calls All Christians to Obey Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Call to the Nations 20 Anne Graham Lotz and the Difference One Prayer Can Make

Featured Stories

The

GREAT COMMISSION in all of LIFE

25 Building Great Commission Families | Danny Akin 28 The Great Commission Woman | Kathy Litton 30 10 Ways to Become a Great Commission Christian | Chuck Lawless 32 Breaking the Ministry Mold: How The College at Southeastern is Training Students to be Tent Makers | Harper McKay 34 Freedom to Study: A Call to Keep Going | Harper McKay

Profiles | See How We Are Going

39 Matt Mullins | Faculty 41 Michael DeBoer | Alumni 43 Hannah Stokes | Student 44 Kenny and Debra Goetze | Ministry Partner

47 Southeastern Donors End Year With Record Giving 47 Using Your Time, Talents and Treasures for the Great Commission | Jonathan Six, Director of Alumni and Financial Development

What’s Happening at Southeastern \

Keith Whitfield Elected Vice President for Academic Administration at Southeastern outheastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s board of trustees named Keith Whitfield as the new vice president for academic administration at its biannual meeting on October 12, 2015. Whitfield joined the Southeastern faculty in 2012 as an assistant professor of theology and was soon named the associate dean of the College at Southeastern. Since 2014, he has served as the associate vice president of institutional effectiveness and faculty communications. The vice president for academic administration position is a new addition to the leadership of Southeastern. In his new role, Whitfield will assist the provost and deans in the management and implementation of academic matters. The position also oversees institutional effectiveness, the registrar’s office and library services. “Through his previous role as associate vice president for institutional effectiveness, Dr. Whitfield has come to be known as a thoughtful and exceptionally competent administrator,” said

Southeastern Announces Changes to Master of Divinity and Master of Arts

Southeastern Offers IMB Retirees Two-year Advanced Degree Waiver outheastern Baptist Theological Seminary is excited to announce that it will waive tuition and fees for the first two years of any doctoral degree or the first 12 hours of a Master of Theology (Th.M.) degree for returning International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries who have opted to take the Voluntary Retirement Incentive (VRI). “Everyone knows about the massive transition taking place at the IMB as missionaries submit a blank check to God and seek His will for their future,” said Southeastern President Danny Akin. “[The waiver is] a small way of saying thank you for giving your lives for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.” This is a one-time offer to any IMB

12 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

outheastern Baptist Theological Seminary has made significant changes to its Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Arts (M.A.) degrees. Beginning fall 2016, the total hours required to complete an M.Div. will be reduced from 90 to 81-84 hours, and the core hours for the vocational M.A. programs will increase from 30 to 36 hours. “Our faculty and administration spent months asking ourselves, our graduates and our constituents this question: ‘What curriculum best prepares our students to take the gospel to our neighbors and the nations today?’” said Chuck Lawless, dean of graduate studies and professor of evangelism and missions. “We believe these changes help us prepare our students biblically, theologically and practically for the future.” The M.Div. with Christian Ministry can now be completed in a total of 81 hours, and other M.Div. programs may go as long as 84 hours depending on the student’s desired track. The vocational M.A. programs will now require 36 hours in the core curriculum. Additionally, core requirements for both M.Div. and M.A. tracks have been modified. Theology III will now be covered in Theology I and II, while Church History II is now a part of Church History Survey. Hermeneutics will now be taught in three courses: Biblical Exposition, Old Testament and New Testament. “These changes reflect the work of a cross-disciplinary team,” said John Ewart, associate vice president for Global Theological Initiatives, and chairman of the curriculum review committee. “We worked closely together to create a stronger and better core curriculum to equip our students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.” Any student wishing to change to the new degree requirements should contact the registrar’s office for more information at registrar@sebts.edu or 919.761.2215.

Provost Bruce Ashford. “Keith Whitfield is a godly man devoted to Christ and His Church,” said Southeastern President Danny Akin. “He is without question the perfect person for this job and will be a welcomed addition to our leadership team.” Whitfield received his Bachelor of Science from Clemson University and earned his Master of Divinity in biblical and theological studies and Master of Theology degrees from Southern Seminary. He received his Doctorate in Philosophy from Southeastern in 2013. personnel who took the VRI in the first phase of IMB’s new financial plan, by the December 11, 2015, deadline. The waiver includes the one-time program fee and each semester’s student enrollment fee. Southeastern will not cover room and board, books or any other cost not associated with tuition. Those returning from the mission field as part of the VRI have two years to apply for this offer and be accepted into a program, subject to existing application schedules. There may be no application deferrals, and normal application procedures will apply for each program. Any internal or external scholarships will be applied before the waiver. After two years of doctoral study or 12 hours of Th.M. study, students will be charged regular tuition and fees for the remainder of their program. To apply to any of the programs included in this offer, go to sebts.edu/advanced.

/ What’s Happening at Southeastern

Third Annual Southeastern Theological Fellowship Honors Scholars at ETS outheastern Baptist Theological Seminary recognized five evangelical scholars during the Southeastern Theological Fellowship dinner at the 67th annual meeting of The Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) in Atlanta. “Southeastern sponsors this event in order to facilitate fellowship and scholarly collaboration across the evangelical community and to award selected persons for their contributions to evangelical scholarship,” said Bruce Ashford, provost of Southeastern and master of ceremonies for the event. The first four honorees were Susan Booth, professor of evangelism and missions at Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary and College; Michael Shepherd, associate professor of biblical studies at Cedarville University; Douglas Moo, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College; and Gregg Allison, professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dean of Beeson Divinity School Timothy George received the fifth award. George brief ly addressed attendees on the benefit of scholarship in building up the church. He closed by emphasizing the difference between knowledge and wisdom, and expressed his desire for everyone in the room to grow in both areas. “It was a wonderful evening in which we had evangelical Baptists, Anglicans, Presbyterians, and Methodists together at the banquet, not only dining together, but building friendships, sharpening one another, and even in some instances conceiving of writing projects upon which they wish to collaborate,” Ashford said. Over 20 Southeastern students and faculty presented papers at the meeting in the areas of theology, biblical studies and ethics.

Theologians Offer Fresh Perspectives on the Gospels n Tuesday, October 20, 2015, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted “Theologians Reading the Gospels,” with guest speakers John Behr, dean of St. Vladimir’s Seminary and professor of patristics, and Steve McKinion, associate professor of theology and patristic studies at Southeastern. McKinion presented his research on how the gospels should be read as a summary of God reconciling us to himself through Christ. “Often we treat the gospels as biographies of Jesus so that we might follow his ethics and do what he instructs,” McKinion explained. McKinion proposed that the Bible is not a grand narrative with Jesus as the centerpiece. Instead, Jesus is the story. “What are the gospels doing then? They are going back to the Old Testament as they understand it to let us know that the one the scriptures describe is Jesus,” he said.

Behr then presented his research that centered on the opening of Old Testament scriptures that point to Christ. “The primary material for understanding Christ historically and theologically is not the New Testament but the Old Testament read through the light of the cross,” Behr explained. Behr agreed with McKinion that the Bible is not one long historical narrative starting with the Old Testament and continuing with the New Testament. “What we have is scripture which is opened by the passion to show how it speaks about [Jesus] from beginning to end,” he said. McKinion described the event as an opportunity to respect scripture and the biblical community that it forms. “We come together to have these kinds of discussions because we really do believe that our way to know God and enjoy him and learn Christ and his way of life is through these scriptures,” McKinion said. “We are always a community of people formed by the book.”

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 13

What’s Happening at Southeastern \

Timothy+Barnabas Hosts Exchange at Southeastern uring fall 2015, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted the Exchange conference with Johnny Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Woodstock in Woodstock, Georgia. Southeastern’s Center for Pastoral Leadership and Preaching sponsored the event in partnership with Hunt’s organization, Timothy+Barnabas. John Ewart, director of the Center for Pastoral Leadership and Preaching began planning the event with Hunt and Southeastern President Danny Akin around a year and a half ago. Hunt, who serves on the center’s advisory board, was excited about working with Southeastern. To open the conference, Hunt preached from Philippians 2:12-13 and reminded students of God’s power through them. “What you’re able to do is not what you bring to the table but what God can do with you,” he said. “God gives the person the will. He energizes us to do the work.”

14 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

Students also attended break out sessions geared toward men and women. Johnny Hunt encouraged men about their future church leadership roles. “Turn ministry over to your people and they will turn leadership over to you,” he said. “A church will not continue to grow unless it produces new leaders,” he added. Women attended sessions facilitated by Janet Hunt. Speaker Kathy Litton challenged attendees to always be missional in their ministries. “When you do ministry make sure it’s mission-engaged,” Litton said. “As leaders you will set an example as someone who is oriented both to people inside the church and outside the church.” Timothy+Barnabas is a ministry of Johnny and Janet Hunt that seeks to instruct and encourage church leaders. I n it s mor e t h a n 20 ye a r s, Timothy+Barnabas has hosted events all over the United States and in 29 countries. Everywhere they go the Hunts seek to invest in church leaders who will impact the world.

Rosaria Butterfield Talks Gender Identity at Southeastern n a special chapel service at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, author and speaker Rosaria Butterfield joined a panel of Southeastern faculty members for a discussion on gender identity and sexual orientation. Vice President for Student Services and Dean of Students Mark Liederbach moderated the panel, which included Sam Williams, professor of counseling, and Dan Heimbach, senior professor of Christian ethics. Together the panelists offered thoughts on current issues, specifically the redefinition of marriage and national focus on sexual orientation. Butterfield claimed that the real issue at stake is a redefinition of personhood, a categorical mistake as old as Freud. Butterfield expounded on this idea during a luncheon with faculty and Ph.D. students. Reading from a chapter in her new book “Openness Unhindered: Further Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert,” Butterfield explained that the term “sexual orientation” should not be so easily accepted by Christians. “Everyone loses when we define ourselves using categories that God does not,” said Butterfield. “Sexual orientation defines selfhood as the sum total of our fallen human desires. Through it we get no glimpse of how the covenant of grace defends our real identity in Christ or why, say, biblical marriage is a God-designed creation ordinance and a living reflection of Christ and the church and not merely a man-made convenience.” Butterfield is a former English professor who came to faith in Christ while researching for a book on the religious right from a lesbian perspective. Since becoming a Christian, she has developed a ministry to college students to share about her journey to faith and has written two books about her experiences. Southeastern regularly hosts “Casual Conversations” during chapel services for faculty and guest speakers to help students think about and discuss current issues from a biblical perspective.

/ What’s Happening at Southeastern

Russell Moore Propels Southeastern Students Onward to Cultural Engagement s he wrapped up two days of lectures at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ELRC), Russell Moore, charged students to keep their focus on the gospel in an ever-changing culture. “Our future is not at stake as long as Jesus of Nazareth is still alive,” Moore encouraged. “He has promised in the short term a cross on our backs but in the long term a crown of glory.” Every fall Southeastern holds the Page Lectures where theologians deliver lectures on a subject of concern to the Christian community. On November 3-4, Russell Moore gave two lectures exhorting students, faculty and guests to respond to present cultural challenges with confidence in Christ—messages from Moore’s newest book “Onward: Engaging the Culture Without Losing the Gospel.” For his first lecture, Moore spoke from Galatians and proposed that conserving gospel authority, community and ministry must be priorities in the church today. “If we are going to conserve the gospel for future generations, we must be people that know the authority of scripture and must not be embarrassed by the Bible,” Moore said. Moore warned in his second lecture that Christians cannot give into fear but must stick to the truth of the Bible to confront the present culture. Christians should cling to God’s promises and remember what Christ has done. “The worst thing that could happen to you has already happened,” Moore said. “The worst thing that could happen to you is to be crucified outside the gates of Jerusalem under the curse of God.” He also reminded students, “The best thing that can happen to you is being raised from the dead, forgiven of sins, given an inheritance and seated at the right hand of God. You are already there because of Jesus.”

Bring on the Robots: Gregory Thornbury Speaks on Cultural Engagement outheastern Baptist Theological Seminary held its annual CarverBarnes Lectures on February 22, 2016, featuring Gregory Thornbury, president of King’s College in New York City. Thornbury offered new thoughts on cultural engagement with his lecture titled, “Cain, Abel and Kanye.” While Thornbury said he was all for cultural engagement and figuring out good ways to share the gospel, he argued that Christians are already suffused in culture. “Culture has already engaged you. You are soaking in it,’” Thornbury said. “To pretend that you are outside of it and that it’s something that you can sort of bomb in and engage piously and triumphantly is maybe not going to get you much of a hearing with people who are a part of culture.” Instead, Thornbury suggested that Christians should do all they can to create, invent and participate in culture. He based this argument from his understanding of the story of Cain and Abel, saying that Abel made the most of the situation he was given. “He refuses just to accept the bad news of the curse of the fall. He figures out a way to fulfill the cultural mandate, the creation mandate by employing sheep as a new technology,” Thornbury said. Referring to Kanye West, Thornbury proposed a “thought experiment” and presented West’s desire to learn everything and do everything he can as a

prime example for how Christians can engage culture. Instead of adopting an anti-technology bias as many in Christian circles have done, Thornbury suggests that the way to reach people in this culture is to embrace the good parts of cultural advancement. The Carver-Barnes Lectures are named in honor of W.O. Carver, professor of missions at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and W.W. Barnes, professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The annual lectures center on issues regarding the history and mission of the church.

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 15

Discipleship 9/30 - 10/1, 2016 sebts.edu/9marks

WITH A STRONGER CORE

BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL, PRACTICAL Learn more at sebts.edu/mdiv

What’s Happening at Southeastern \

Tony Merida welcomes guests to the GO Conference.

CALLS ALL CHRISTIANS TO OBEY GOD’S CALL TO THE NATIONS Story by Harper McKay | Photos by Maria Estes

ore than 700 students, fac- from all nations. “There are 11,000 different people groups out there… ulty and staff joined in for the eighth annual Go Con- and Jesus has said that this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed to evference at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Main speak- ery single one of them,” he said. Like the Israelites, Christians today ers David Platt, Afshin Ziafat and have a choice to trust God at his word. Danny Akin offered multi-faceted approaches to this year’s topic, “To “I challenge you based on God’s word to say to him, I’ll go wherever you the Ends of the Earth,” challenging attendees to go wherever and how- want me to go,” Platt said. Lead Pastor of Providence Church ever God calls them. in Frisco, Texas, Afshin Ziafat, taught Opening the conference was David from Ephesians chapter two on the Platt, president of the International Mission Board (IMB), who urged stu- importance of remembering the gospel. “I really believe that the foundadents to trust God’s word. “My prayer tion and fuel for missions is a proper for this conference plainly put is that God would raise up college students, understanding of the gospel of grace,” he said. “It’s going to move us to love men and women all around this room who will take God at his word,” people who we normally wouldn’t love. And if you really do love, then you will said Platt. be compelled to count the cost to go.” Platt spoke from Numbers about Speaking from personal experience the Israelites’ refusal to enter the as a former Muslim, Ziafat addressed Promised Land. He pointed out that the Israelites disregarded God’s good- how the gospel compels Christians not ness, doubted his greatness and dis- to shrink back in fear of those who are different but to have compassion for obeyed God’s word. those who do not know Christ. In applying this passage to Christ “Do you get the grace of God and followers today, Platt reminded listendoes your heart beat with love for ers of God’s promise to redeem people

18 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

those you normally would hate?” Ziafat asked. “You haven’t done anything uniquely Christian until you love someone who hates you.” Ziafat also encouraged listeners to consider the great movement of refugees from other nations to the United States as a gospel opportunity. He explained that we live in a unique time

There are 11,000 different people groups out there…and Jesus has said that this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed to every single one of them.

- David Platt where the ends of the earth are coming to our doorsteps. “We cannot applaud missionaries who have a good eternal perspective and are going to places that are dan-

/ What’s Happening at Southeastern

David Platt participates in a panel discussion

gerous and all of a sudden when the mission field comes to our Jerusalem, we board up our doors and say get out,” he challenged. In his second sermon, Platt reminded listeners that the Great Commission is not just for missionaries who move to other parts of the world but for every follower of Christ. All Christians have the responsibility to pray, give and go in some form to make the gospel known. “This is how the gospel will spread to the nations, through disciples who are making disciples right where they live and then as we do it right where we live, we are open to doing it wherever God leads,” he said.

To wrap up the two-day conference, Danny Akin, president of Southeastern, taught from the book of Jonah, weaving in quotes from missionaries whose writings have shaped Akin’s life. Quoting from a journal of Henry Martin, Akin reminded students, “The spirit of Christ is the spirit of missions. The nearer we get to Jesus, the more intentionally missionary we become.” Akin warned students not to be like Jonah who first ran from God and then ultimately ran against God when the Ninevites repented. Instead, Akin reminded that lost people matter to God and should therefore matter to Christians, no matter where they come from

or where we have to go to tell them about Jesus. “The question is what will you and I do,” Akin said. “The Great Commission is not an option to be considered, it is a command to be obeyed. Let’s obey for the good of the nations and the glory of the God who is worthy of all our praise.” The Go Conference included “Go Talks” with Tony Merida, pastor of Imago Dei Church and associate professor of preaching at Southeastern, Keelan Cook, urban resource coordinator at the Center for Great Commission Studies at Southeastern, and Sebastian Traeger, executive vice president of the IMB. Attendees also had the opportunity to visit break out sessions led by Southeastern faculty and staff. Afshin Ziafat

More at thegoconference.com/last-year

Josh Via and team lead worship

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 19

What’s Happening at Southeastern \

Anne Graham Lotz and the Difference One Prayer Can Make

Story by Harper McKay | Photos by Maria Estes

outheastern Baptist Theo-

with a mess or a disaster?”

pled to the Lord to deliver his people.

logical Seminary recently

“Our world is in a mess,” Lotz said.

She encouraged listeners to be like

hosted “An Evening with

“My challenge to you tonight is…wrap

Daniel who was compelled to pray,

Anne,” featuring Anne Graham Lotz,

your mind around your sphere of in-

centered in prayer, clear in his ask-

renowned author and speaker and

f luence—your family, your church,

ing and persistent in his petitions.

daughter of Billy Graham. More than

Like Daniel, Christians should

900 guests attended the event host-

pray the promises of God back to the

ed by Women’s Life. To open the evening, Lotz expressed thanks to everyone who has supported her family since the passing of her late husband, Danny Lotz. “I know many of you have been praying for me and my family,” she said. “The Lord has heard your prayers,

I don’t know what the problems are in your world, but whatever they are would you ask God to give you the promise to match it and then pray those to him?

and we are doing so well.”

Lord. “Daniel was compelled by the promises in God’s word,” she said. “So I don’t know what the problems are in your world, but whatever they are would you ask God to give you the promise to match it and then pray those to him?” Lotz also showed how Daniel centered on God in his prayers, turning

She also gave an update on her fa-

from everything else to focus on

ther saying that at age 97 he was do-

your nation…and [say] God I will not

God. We likewise, she said, should

ing well and is stronger than he has

let you go until you bless those who

put everything else aside and get in

been in some time.

are in my circle.”

our quiet places to petition the Lord

Speaking from Daniel chapter

Lotz outlined a pattern of prayer

nine, Lotz posed a question, “What

exemplified in the life of Daniel, spe-

Daniel also prayed for forgiveness

can one person do when we’re faced

cifically in chapter nine when Daniel

of the sins of Judah in a very unique

20 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

in prayer.

/ What’s Happening at Southeastern

way. “He was so identifying with the sins of his people that he took them upon himself,” Lotz pointed out. “He stopped pointing the finger at them. He stopped blaming others, and he took on the sin of his people as though it were his own.” Lotz said that likewise Christians today should keep short accounts of their own sins, confessing every day, and stop seeing “others” as the problem in this world. “The basic problem in Judah was sin,” she reminded. “And in America the basic problem in our nation is not political, not immigration. The basic problem in America is sin.” In closing, Lotz urged listeners to continue in prayer until an answer comes. “My challenge to you this evening is, what difference does the prayer of one person make,” she said. “You’re not going to know until you choose to be that one person. Would you pray until God delivers his people and takes them home?” Lotz speaks around the world seeking to bring revival to the hearts of God’s people. Once named one of the five most influential evangelists of her generation by the New York Times, Lotz has held revivals in more than 30 cities and 12 countries through her organization, AnGeL ministries. She is the best-selling and awardwinning author of several books, including “Wounded by God’s People,” “Fixing My Eyes on Jesus,” “Expecting to See Jesus” and “Heaven: God’s Promise for Me.” Lotz spoke on material from her newest book, “The Daniel Prayer,” which will be released in May of 2016.

featured stories \

24 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

/ featured stories

Building Great Commission Families

or mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, obeying the Great Commission should begin in the home, though it should certainly not end there. Starting at home is both biblical and strategic. Just as the Shema (Deut 6:4–5) of the Old Testament was to be passed on through generations (Deut 6:6–9), so the command to make disciples of all nations should be intentionally passed on to children and grandchildren. Strategically, good theology and good missiology are more caught than taught. Children often adopt the loves, values and passions that consume their parents. One of the most effective ways to develop Great Commission Christians is to cultivate Great Commission families. But what do we do to embed the Great Commission into the DNA of our children? Though this list is not intended to be exhaustive, I propose ten biblical, theological and practical considerations.

1. Be incarnational in your parenting (2 Cor. 8:9; Phil. 2:5–11) The Incar nation was a manifestation of God’s redemptive love for His world. Incarnational parenting models God’s love and communicates our love for our children. In order to know and love them well, we have to be with them, working hard to see life as they do.

Children often adopt the loves, values and passions that consume their parents. 2. Love well your mate (Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4) Great partners almost always make great parents. The number one need in the life of children related to love is security, which largely comes from seeing their parents in a healthy, loving relationship. Children should

learn about God’s love for the nations through their parents’ love one another. Remember this powerful biblical image: the church among the nations constitutes the bride of Christ, the bride that the Bridegroom loves and gave his blood to redeem.

3. Spend time with your children (Deut. 6:7–9) The fulfillment of the parental charge in Deuteronomy 6:7–9 requires an investment of time in the lives of our children. Unfortunately, many children spend exponentially more time w ith “technological babysitters” than they spend with dad. Love is a beautiful four-letter word. Sometimes it is best spelled T-I-M-E!

4. Learn to listen to your children (James 1:19) Do you know your children’s heart? Do you know what matters to them? Hearing your children’s heart may happen in casual conversations, but

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 25

featured stories \

there should be nothing casual about your listening!

5. Read missionary biographies to your children (Heb. 11) There is power and inspiration in story. There are wonderful and worthy role models available to help cultivate a missional life. The stories of these missionary heroes should be a regular staple of the spiritual diet of your children.

6. Expose your children to missionaries and their lives Our lives are impacted and shaped by the people we meet. They are molded by the people we get to know and grow to admire. Have missionaries in your home. Share a meal with them and listen to their stories.

7. Go on mission trips and take your children with you Begin with short-term and easier access trips. Then move to mid-term and tougher conditions. Plan the trips according to the age and maturity of your children, but do not wait until they are grown to expose them directly to what God is doing among the nations. Most career missionaries first caught the missionary bug on a short-term trip.

8. Teach your children what the Bible says about missions Teach them the grand redemptive storyline of the Bible. Teach them the biblical answers to foundational worldview questions. Who am I?

Article by

26 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

Danny Akin

President

What went wrong with the world? How did God fix it? What is my role in this drama? Where am I going? Teach them the missionary components of the gospel (Mark 10:45; Luke 19:10; Matt 28:18–20; Rom 15:14–24). Remember, good theology will be missionary theology!

9. Pray for the nations and missionaries by name A. B. Simpson rightly said, “Prayer is the mighty engine that is to move the missionary work.1” By leading your children to pray for the lost and those who are sent out, you are already leading them to take part, even now, in fulfilling the Great Commission. So pray. Pray systematically for the world with resources like Operation World and the Joshua Project. Adopt an unreached people group, a nation that needs the gospel, or specific missionaries.

10. Model missional living as a life priority before your children Do you share the gospel boldly with non-Christians in front of your children? Are you a member of a Great Commission church? How often do you do national and international missions? Do you pray that your children and grandchildren would become overseas missionaries? Do you personally and sacrificially give to missions? Do you have a missions savings account set up for your children and grandchildren or a Great Commission ministry in your will and estate planning?

@DannyAkin

These suggestions are not hard, but they will not simply happen. Fulfilling the Great Commission in our families will require work, and we must put forth the effort! The Great Commission is not an option to consider. It is a command to obey. Let our obedience begin but not end with those closest and dearest to us. Let it begin in our homes.

By leading your children to pray for the lost and those who are sent out, you are already leading them to take part, even now, in fulfilling the Great Commission. 1 Quoted in Marvin J. Newell, ed., Expect Great Things: Mission Quotes That Inform and Inspire (Pasadena, Calif.: William Carey Library, 2013), 215.

/ featured stories

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 27

featured stories \

the Great Commission Woman

he present culture beckons a fresh skill set for women who truly want to live Great Commission lives. Society has radically changed, and the worst thing we can do is deny or ignore that reality. The skills that my generation saw as necessary for “international missions” are now demanded for all believers everywhere. Our context is not what it was 20 years ago. What features mark a Great Commission woman in our present context?

She grasps understanding and pursuit of total life stewardship God has purpose in each of our lives—to bring glory to Him. And every moment is an opportunity to make His Name known. No sacred spaces versus secular spaces. This means any time, any place, any experience provides the opportunity to put him on display, in joys or sorrows, in success or failure or at work or play. The Great

28 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

Commission woman functions with the understanding that the gospel can be inserted any place in her story.

She functions as an everyday missionary There is a difference in using our giftings as teacher, leader or servant in ministry than living life on mission every day. Unfortunately most of us function well in the church but outside its friendly confines we struggle. Many of us in the American church are missiologically illiterate. We might be highly skilled to lead a Bible study, yet we know nothing about incarnating the gospel in daily life.

She engages the world as a “double listener” John R. Stott coined this unique phrase in his book, “The Contemporary Christian.” He says, “By double listening, I mean listening, of course, to God and to the Word of God, but

listening to the voices of the modern world as well…We listen to the modern world in order to understand its cries of pain, the sighs of the oppressed… relevant communication grows out of this process of double listening.” We cannot decry culture and simply vacate it. We must engage and listen to it. I love Stott’s language of listening to understand “its cries of pain.” He warns us that our message will be irrelevant without the type of understanding only listening provides us. Sequestering ourselves is not an option for Great Commission women. We lean in to learn about souls.

She has two unique intelligence quotients The epic transition of American culture towards greater ethnic diversity and its rapid transformation to secularism demands we expand our capacity in these two ways: The first is cultural intelligence or

/ featured stories

cultural quotient. This can be understood as the capability to relate and work effectively across cultures. We must exegete our own culture and we must be able to relate and communicate to it. Look around. Do you see the ethnic diversity? Do you see the irreligious and anti-religious? How can we move in and out of those spheres without a desire and ability to relate effectively to them? “I cannot love my neighbor unless I understand him and the cultural world he inhabits,” says Kevin Vanhoozer, research professor of systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. We cannot cling to the comfort of Christian culture and its familiar nomenclature. Great Commission women move toward cultural differences and not away from them. The second is gospel intelligence, or gospel quotient. Pastor’s wife and IMB leader Lori McDaniel recently coined the phrase “Gospel IQ” with this definition: “The ability to apply the gospel in daily tasks by identifying and harnessing an opportunity to share the gospel effectively in situations characterized by spiritual diversity.” Even in the country we call home we must be able to make a never-changing gospel understandable in our increasingly secular society. Our ability to communicate a vibrant, Biblical personal experience with the gospel combines with an understanding of diverse worldviews related to God (or gods) and spirituality. What would a high Gospel IQ look like? It would be a heightened awareness of gospel sharing moments combined with the ability to communicate an understandable gospel message to

Article by

Kathy Litton

diverse hearers.

She identifies with God’s interest in people Oswald Chambers pens some version of this: “To be a disciple means that we deliberately identify ourselves with God’s interests in other people.” What is God’s interest in man? Man was created in the image of God and to be in relationship with God. Although he did indeed fall, he has the hope of the gospel to redeem him back to God. God is interested in their salvation so much so that: “The Son of Man came to seek that which was lost,” (Luke 19:10).

We recognize that going to the highways and hedges means leaving safety and familiarity behind Watchman Nee uses similar language: “It is absolutely essential for you to see the dearness of man in the eyes of God because man is created by Him according to His image. You must be a person who loves all people before you can go into their midst and serve them with the gospel.” Identifying with God’s interests means we will see their preciousness to God and they will become precious to us. This fresh skill set fits women beautifully. Without over stereotyping, we are often stronger listeners, skilled at multitasking and innately more nurturing and relational. Yet, can we harness all of those things under the call to “seek and save that which was lost”? While we may

use these skills to raise a family, build a marriage or advance a career, will we use them with great intentionality to advance the gospel? It won’t be automatic. A gospel lens IS the deal breaker. The woman who understands the great urgency of redemption and the vast sea of lostness MUST be compelled to GO by the boldness of the Holy Spirit. Going will mean a 24/7 version of “mission” in every moment, to every person in everyday life. Like being a mother, a life on mission is never “off duty.” We will use our front porch and not stay in the safe but sequestered confines of the back yard. We will see the international woman in the airport floundering with three small children and luggage and offer her aid. We recognize that going to the highways and hedges means leaving safety and familiarity behind. With great intentionality we will work toward more exposure to a broken world, not less. Our mission field will be the car line, the pediatrician’s office, a work meeting, serving refugees, in that support group with other parents of drug addicts or the cancer center with other chemo patients. We will obtain passports, learn new languages or walk across the street. We will spend less on ourselves and make eternal investments. Our interest in others will grow while our self-interest diminishes. I will be a “woman on a mission.” Here I am. Send me.

National Consultant for Ministry to Pastors’ Wives, North American Mission Board

@kferg16

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 29

featured stories \

10 ways to become a

Great comm 1

Listen to the news with Great Commission ears.

We should hear newsworthy happenings as calls to prayer. If we pray as we hear needs, God will grab our heart for the nations.

Talk with your children about their classmates and their cultures.

Invite your children’s friends to your home. Teach your kids to appreciate and respect others even while we believers seek to lead all others to the gospel truth.

Put a map on a wall in your home.

It’s easy to ignore the spiritual needs of the world when people are anonymous. You will be more interested in the nations and praying for them when a map is always before you.

Serve the refugees and immigrants in your community. God is bringing the world to North America. Check with

local government and church leaders to find out who is living in your area, and get to know them. Meet their needs, and share Christ with them.

Meet a missionary. It might take some work to connect with a missionary on stateside assignment, but your pastor can likely help. I wish I could introduce you to S, who served in Southeast Asia during a time of war or C, who has used sports evangelism to reach Muslims. Every one of these missionaries would love to tell you his or her story.

Visit ethnic restaurants in your community.

Ask to meet the owners and introduce them to your kids. Even if you don’t like the food, you’ll probably like the people – and thus pray more for them, their family, and their country of origin. 30 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

/ featured stories Article by

Chuck Lawless

Dean of Graduate Studies

@Clawlessjr

mission Christian Invite international students to your home.

If there is a university near your home, you’ll likely find international students there. Many of those students will never be invited to visit an American home, and some will spend holidays alone. Opening your home will invite fellowship and learning, as well as open the door to sharing your faith.

Learn another language and encourage your children to do so. In a world that is increasingly global,

Americans are notoriously monolingual. Start learning a second language, even if progress is slow. It’s difficult to learn another language without also learning about the people who speak it.

Read missionary biographies.

Depending on the missionary and the setting, these life stories have much to offer: travel, adventure, answered prayers, changed lives, sacrifice. You might even discover some new heroes along the way.

Take a mission trip.

John 20:21

Go and make disciples...

Mark 16:15

I’m astonished by the number of North American believers who’ve never taken the gospel outside of their local community. Wherever you go, prepare well, pray fervently, and take a risk for people who need Jesus.

Acts 1:8

Matt 28:18-20

Luke 24:45-47 SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 31

featured stories \

Breaking the ministry mold How The College at Southeastern is Training Students to be Tent Makers

hen they were still in high school, Brianna Weir and her friends couldn’t be silent about social justice for trafficking victims. With the words of Isaiah 61:1, 3 beckoning them on, the six high schoolers started Save Our Sisters, an anti-human trafficking ministry. Weir and her friends visited The College at Southeastern to speak to classes about their ministry. Weir was drawn to the school’s mission that stresses the importance of the Great Commission, and she began taking classes as a senior in high school. “Being a Great Commission school means that we are about obeying Christ,” Weir said. “Being at this school has helped me to understand

32 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

and practice this: that Christ is my life—my whole life.” Weir is now majoring in English at The College at Southeastern, with a minor in Christian studies. Although she is unsure of what she will do after college, Weir is certain of one thing—she will be faithful to Jesus Christ. “I see all of life as an opportunity for missions and ministry, and I want to be ready for whatever the Lord has in store,” she said. For students at The College at Southeastern, this is what their education is about—glorifying God by taking the gospel wherever He sends them, whether to the local church as ministers, overseas as missionaries, to schools as teachers or into the business world. Whatever career path students choose, The College at

Southeastern helps them train well for their vocation and know how to make disciples along the way. “When students graduate from The College at Southeastern, I hope they walk away with a disposition that points them and compels them toward serving Christ,” said Jamie Dew, dean of The College at Southeastern. “I want them to use their occupation and their lives for the Kingdom of God in whatever field they pursue.” The College at Southeastern offers 11 majors and 19 minors in its bachelor’s degree program, along with two associate’s degrees and one master’s degree. Students at The College at Southeastern have the opportunity to focus on a variety of areas including Biblical studies, English,

/ featured stories

jor they choose, all Bachelor of Arts degrees have a built in ChrisNot only can students be equipped to become tian studies minor. pastors at the college, but they can study to Providing multiple pathways for be missionaries, writers, teachers, counselors students to receive theological and vocational training is an area or business professionals. where The College at Southeastern hopes to grow substantially in the history/pre-law, pastoral ministry planning to pursue missions, next few years—with goals to offer and philosophy to name a few. whether internationally or in more options for students to beFounded in 1994, The College at North America. Likewise, students come “tent makers” or bi-vocationSoutheastern has a wide view of who feel called to what has been al ministers of the gospel. what the word “minister” means. traditionally labeled as “non-min“Our mission is clear,” said Dew. Not only can students be equipped istry” work but who also want to be “This fits our mission by equipping to become pastors at the college, trained theologically can do both more of the saints for the work and but they can study to be missionar- at The College at Southeastern. clearly articulates the church’s ies, writers, teachers, counselors or “People who were once thought of ministry for all people.” business professionals. It’s easy to see that The College at as ‘merely lay people’ are now “We’ve got to shatter the mindset rightly counted as key players in Southeastern has an impact on the that’s been in place a long time of the work of fulfilling the Great lives of students like Weir. Though ministry versus non-ministry,” said Commission,” said Dew. The Col- she is busy taking classes, Weir Dew. “We want to cast a much lege at Southeastern wants to help also values fulfilling the Great broader vision where we see the these students in whatever God is Commission while a student. She whole body involved in fulfilling calling them to do. disciples younger female students the Great Commission.” as a resident assistant in the Lolley Dew sees the future of ministry residence hall and through her loshifting to more bi-vocational setcal church. We want to cast a ting. This means that people comWhen asked about her view of monly thought of as “non-ministry much broader vision ministry, Weir said, “Whether our professionals” will also be consid- where we see the attention and calling is for the local ered ministers of the gospel, work- whole body involved church, inner-city ministry, orphans, ing to reach their spheres of influthe elderly, medicine or international in fulfilling the ence both locally and abroad. This missions, God has called and shift inf luences the way The Col- Gre at Commission. equipped us all for different avenues lege at Southeastern seeks to train of this one commission.” its students both theologically and vocationally. The college already has pro“The whole paradigm is a para- grams in place to train students in digm like Acts chapter 18,” ex- theology and vocation. Currently, plained Dew. “Paul was a tent mak- The College at Southeastern offers er and used tents as a platform to “going-out programs” where stushare, and we want to do the same. dents can complete one to two We want to create various curricu- years of theological training and lar pathways whereby students can then transfer to another college or prepare for ministry and various university to receive vocational types of jobs.” training. Students can also choose Dew believes that these “tent- one of the 11 Bachelor of Arts demaking” trades will be valuable grees and complete their four years ministry tools for students who are at the college. No matter what ma-

Article by

Harper McKay

Photo by

Maria Estes

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 33

featured stories \

Freedom to study n their first visit to SouthNow that the couple can worship eastern Baptist Theologi- God freely, they see this opportucal Seminary, Kambiz Sa- nity to study as a way to help Farsighaey and Sepideh Gholibeigi speaking churches grow. “Our thanked God for the freedom they churches are young,” said Kambiz. were once denied. “They are growing quickly, but not Kambiz voiced a prayer in a chapel full of Southeastern students, reminding them of the great privi- I am so glad God gave lege they have. “I am so glad God me the opportunity to gave me the opportunity to be here,” be here. I am thankful he said. “I am thankful that here you have the freedom to study [the Bi- that here you have the ble] and worship God.” freedom to study the These freedoms are not common Bible and worship God in the Middle East where Kambiz and Sepideh come from. In fact, they have both faced persecution, and deeply...They should have strong Kambiz was once imprisoned for roots in the faith.” planting churches. “The word of God is very deep,”

34 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

A Call to Keep Going

Sepideh added. “We are thirsty for God’s word and want to know more for ourselves and others.” With this attitude, Kambiz and Sepideh are stepping into their theological educations with goals to continue to plant churches among Farsi speakers and reach Muslim people wherever God leads them.

Arguing their way into Christianity Kambiz and Sepideh were both once Muslims who made it their mission to stop a church in Central Asia from converting their people. When they visited this church, someone offered them a Bible, and they took it so they could argue against it. Even during the first night of

/ featured stories

reading, questions arose about the Bible that surprised the couple. “Here it was written that the things we eat do not make us unclean but what is in our hearts,” Kambiz recalled. “As a Muslim, all day I thought about this question. We care about what we eat but not what we say.” Reading the Bible caused Sepideh turmoil over whether she was a Muslim or a Christian. She performed the prayers of Islam and worshipped at the Christian church. Then one day she put the Islamic prayers away and asked God to give her a deeper understanding of Christianity if it was the right way. “I brought Matthew 5-7 to God and put it before him,” Sepideh recalled. “It was like a sky rocket for my weaknesses, like a stamp on my life. I knew God could change me, and I started worshipping him only.” The Bible also made Kambiz doubt his Islamic beliefs. “I did not accept that after this many years God would come to tell me [Islam] was wrong,” Kambiz said. For three weeks Kambiz requested to see God so that he could know God was real. As he sat in church

Soon enough God turned the still wondering about this question, John 3:7-8 caused new thoughts to couple’s attention toward their flood into his mind. “The verse talks home country in the Middle East, a about how we don’t know where the place where Christians do not worwind comes from,” Kambiz ex- ship freely. Sepideh was reluctant to go until plained. “God said to me, ‘You want to see me? I came. I am inside you.” God spoke to her through scripture. Kambiz knew from then on that “God gave me Philippians 3:7-8 he had bec ome a fol lower of where Paul says that everything of

It was like a sky rocket for my weaknesses, like a stamp on my life. I knew God could change me, and I started worshipping him only Christ. Changed by the Lord, the family began to share his love with other people.

From church critics to church planters If the church leaders in Central Asia thought that Kambiz and Sepideh were going to leave them alone once they turned to Christ, they soon found out they were wrong. The couple had even more questions as they studied the Bible. Within a year, Kambiz became a pastor at that very church.

value to him he counts as trash,” Sepideh recalled. “I wanted to have Jesus as my most valuable treasure. Paul didn’t decide to have it all. He had persecution, but he followed Jesus. It was his treasure.” As they obeyed God and moved back home to share the gospel in a place controlled by Islam, Kambiz and Sepideh saw God bless their ministry. They began hosting new believers in underground churches— eventually having three churches meeting each week. These churches also caught on to the Great Commis-

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 35

featured stories \

sion and began praying and going to different tribal groups in their country to proclaim the gospel.

Giving everything to Christ After serving the church for seven years in their home country, Kambiz and another church member were arrested during a Christmas party. The next several months were a whirlwind of prison time, court dates and frustrations. Kambiz’s crimes were twofold—against the government and against Islam. He was charged with starting churches, publishing Christian materials and teaching Muslims about Jesus. One particular judge made it his mission to see Kambiz killed for his crimes. While Kambiz faced persecution inside the prison, Sepideh dealt with pressures on the outside. Friends who had once supported them kept their distance for fear of being arrested. Problems with Kambiz’s business partner led to accusations about the family’s integrity. Sepideh tried to be strong but had weak moments. “I would be outside crying because I didn’t want our kids to see,” Sepideh recalled. “I said to God, you know him and he tried to do his best for you. But now his reputation is going to fail.” Every day Sepideh went to pray outside the prison walls. As she sat pleading to God one day, the Lord reminded her of 2 Corinthians 12:10. God showed her that being content with insults for the sake of Christ meant losing their reputation. “This was bold for me. I said

Article by

36 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

Harper McKay

Photo by

to God, Okay, if you want it, it’s for you. Everything is yours,” she recalled. After Sepideh had this revelation, miracles began to unfold. During one court appearance, Kambiz was astounded to hear that he had made bail in the government court and been given a year of probation. He later found out that the judge who had been so intent on killing Kambiz had died. The other officials were hesitant to prosecute Kambiz for fear of their lives.

People say that it’s persecution, but it’s not. It’s really the closest relationship with God Another judge who had been meeting with Sepideh, trying to intimidate her into denying Christ, asked Sepideh to give him a copy of the Bible. Later he accepted a copy of the Jesus film and passed it on to a friend. The Islamic court was expected to imprison Kambiz for at least two years. In a confusing series of events, Kambiz’s paperwork got mixed up and he was released. He had spent a total of three months in jail. God provided for Kambiz, Sepideh and their children to leave quickly for Central Asia. Just two days after they left, the Supreme Cour t issued an arrest warrant for Kambiz. By the time the city court received the document the

Maria Estes

family was gone. They remained in Central Asia for four years, planting two Farsispeaking churches before they made it to America as refugees.

Faith to keep going God has given the couple great faith in him through their trials. When Kambiz spoke of the persecution he faced, he smiled confidently and said, “People say that it’s persecution, but it’s not. It’s really the closest relationship with God.” Sepideh echoed this attitude. “The name is persecution but the meaning of that is the great sweetness of God,” she said. “You can feel him, hug him, cry with him, laugh with him and have a deeper relationship with him.” The family is thankful to be able to become students at Southeastern in freedom. They see it as a gift that they can pass on to their people. “I am going to reach Muslim women,” Sepideh wrote on the Southeastern “I am going” sign. Likewise, Kambiz said that he is going to reach Farsi-speaking people for Christ and looks forward to going deeply into God’s word at Sout hea ster n. He concluded, “Church planting is [just] the beginning. [Our people] should understand deeply about the gospel and after that they can live the gospel.”

Join us for the 10th annual Southeastern Classic September 12, 2016 sebts.edu/seclassic

To become a sponsor, contact Robby Scholes, Special Gifts Officer, at rscholes@sebts.edu or 919.761.2354

profiles \

FREE E-BOOK Every member of your congregation lives, works and plays in an increasingly secular world. They engage culture every day, whether they know it or not.

Do you equip them to engage it with the gospel? A Pocket Guide to Christianity and Culture can help. In this FREE e-book, Dr. Bruce Ashford gives you a framework to understand what culture is â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and the tools to engage it with the gospel.

BRUCE RILEY ASHFORD

Learn how to download your FREE e-book: HTTP://iamgoi.ng/ebook

intersectproject.org

Special thanks to the

38 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

/ profiles

SEE HOW WE ARE GOING FACULTY

Matt Mullins

Assistant Professor of English and History of Ideas at The College at Southeastern by Harper McKay favorite periodicals are The New York Review of Books, Harper’s and The Atlantic.

with Matt Mullins

Tell us about yourself. I am the only faculty member who completed a bachelor’s degree at The College at Southeastern. I then earned an M.A. from North Carolina State University and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, both in English.

What do you do at Southeastern? I teach students how to ask good questions, how to read well and how to develop empathy for others. I think they learn how to enjoy a good book, practice their faith in their daily lives, and love others as God loves us.

What have you been reading recently? If we don’t count what I read for teaching and for research, I’m actively reading about four or five books usually, along with three favorite periodicals. The books I’m reading right now are Emily St. John Mandel’s “Station Eleven,” Marilynne Robinson’s “The Givenness of Things,” Mark Greif’s “The Age of the Crisis of Man,” Naomi Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine” and Alberto Manguel’s “A Reading Diary.” My three

Who are your role models? My parents are two of the bravest people I know, and my in-laws are outrageously generous. If I can be half the parent to my children that they’ve been to me, I’ll count it a true blessing. I look up to a number of our faculty here who taught me as an undergrad: Ivan Spencer and Steve Ladd especially, and Michael Travers, who is now at OBU, is a big part of why I do what I do. Rita Felski, at the University of Virginia, is a scholarly role model for me, and I admire James K. A. Smith’s insistence on the importance of Christians serving as public intellectuals.

Where are some of your former students? Some teach in local high schools, both public and private, some have gone on to graduate school, one works in a library, and others work various jobs. One just returned from a few years in China and finished her last class for graduation.

We always say that every classroom at Southeastern is a Great Commission classroom. What does that look like for your class? Reading and writing are skills that, if developed, can make a person a sophisticated communicator. These skills teach us how to listen until we truly understand someone else’s point of view. They teach us how to find common ground between ourselves and others and to communicate effectively, even when that common ground is a small place. I want students to leave all my

classes better equipped to communicate the gospel with anyone because they have learned the complex set of skills and dispositions required to read and write well.

How do you equip students to faithfully follow and share Christ amidst our ever-changing culture? I try to create a learning environment in which students will come to see culture not as a war that needs to be fought but as a puzzle that needs to be worked out. It’s easy to rail against the “culture” as if culture could be one uniform thing. It’s much more difficult to examine the many diverse people, institutions, laws, traditions and works of art that are being assembled into any given culture at any given moment. As Christ-followers we must look at a problem like racial inequality, for instance, and consider that its many systemic, multifaceted causes will require systemic, multifaceted solutions. A class like Survey of American Literature can provide the kind of historical perspective required to understand such problems more fully so that those who call themselves Christians can contribute to the solution and not the problem.

Why is it important for Southeastern to train students to fulfill the Great Commission in any career they choose? We are not all called to vocational ministry. I am not called to vocational ministry. And yet, we are all called to love God, to love neighbor and to share the good news that Christ’s sacrifice makes such a love possible. Whether you are planning to become a church leader, go to graduate school, get a job in marketing, or raise a family, as a Christian you are called to love everyone with the message of the gospel. Southeastern exists for this reason. It exists to equip all its students, regardless of calling, to serve their local church and to share the good news of Christ’s love.

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 39

/collegeSE

/sebts

/southeastern

/southeasternseminary

Discover us. sebts.edu/multimedia | sebts.edu/missions | aroundsoutheastern.com exploringhope.com | betweenthetimes.com | dannyakin.com collegeatsoutheastern.com

iamgoing.org

/ profiles

SEE HOW WE ARE GOING ALUMNI

Michael DeBoer

Associate Professor of Law at Faulkner University, SEBTS Alumnus by Chris Martin soon be a flourishing evangelical institution. Also, I love the North Carolina/ Virginia area, so that was a plus.

with Michael DeBoer

What was your most influential moment at Southeastern? The most significant thing for me was the reflective process I went through. Southeastern gave me the opportunity to critically evaluate the biblical and theological knowledge I had gained as a minister’s son and as a student at Christian schools. The training I received at Southeastern solidified my theological foundation, which is critically important in my work.

Tell us about your ministry and family. I grew up in the Midwest and moved to Florida as I was entering middle school. I went to college at Liberty University, graduated in 1992 and received some seminary training there. After that, I went to Southeastern in 1993 to complete my master of divinity. I graduated from Southeastern in 1995 and headed to law school at Valparaiso University. After law school, I served as a state Supreme Court justice and a federal judge, and I practiced law representing religious and nonprofit institutions. After obtaining additional training in health law and bioethics, I was appointed as associate professor of law at Faulkner University in Alabama, where I currently serve. My wife Jennifer and I have been married for 15 years and have four children.

Why Southeastern? I was skeptical of Southeastern at first because of its early history as a liberal theological institution, but a pastor friend told me about significant changes under the leadership of Dr. Paige Patterson. He convinced me that Southeastern would be a good fit and would

What is the greatest joy that you have as a professor? I delight in helping students learn the law and prepare to enter the legal profession, but I especially want my students to plug what they’re learning about law into a broader framework of the truth about God, the world and humanity.

What challenges do you face in your role as a professor? As a teacher and scholar, I face the challenge of critically analyzing the law while communicating deeper truths in a winsome and convincing way to those who may not embrace the Christian faith.

What advice do you have for current and future professors? I would encourage them to be diligent students. Because a professor has the unique opportunity to read, think, teach and write as a full-time job, it’s important to become a serious, careful and skillful thinker. Being a good student makes you a better professor.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? We have four children, so we enjoy our “free” time with them and their church, school and sports activities. I also like to read theology, church history and Christian ethics.

What was your favorite class or professor at Southeastern? I was a student of Dr. Daniel Heimbach and found his Christian ethics courses fascinating and helpful personally and vocationally. I continue to reflect on the Christian Ethics and the State course I took from him, and the subject matter of that course is a substantial part of my work today. Dr. Edward Buchanan also comes to mind. He too had a significant, shaping influence on my life.

What is one book that everyone should read? I think every pastor should read Daniel Dreisbach and Mark David Hall’s book “The Sacred Rights of Conscience,” which provides a primary-source treatment of religious liberty in early America. It’s an invaluable resource. Every pastor should also read Richard Hammar’s book “Pastor, Church, and Law.” That book is a comprehensive resource for pastors to learn about the legal issues that affect them and their ministries.

Southeastern is known as a Great Commission seminary. How did Southeastern prepare you to be a Great Commission professor? I look at the world of law and policy as my mission field, and Southeastern equipped me to do that. As I understand it, Southeastern gave me the ability to take the gospel and truth to the mission field of law and public policy.

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 41

profiles \

2nd Annual Women’s Leadership Breakfast at the SBC Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 15, 2016 7:00 - 8:15am | Room 120 at America’s Center Convention Complex in St. Louis Admission is $10 Register today at iamgoi.ng/sbcwomensbreakfast

WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP LUNCH SBC ad

The Southeastern Center for Pastoral Leadership and Preaching exists to equip and encourage pastors to lead healthy disciple-making churches for the glory of God around the world.

919.761.2308 pastorscenter@sebts.edu sebts.edu/pastorscenter 42 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

/ profiles

SEE HOW WE ARE GOING

Hannah Stokes

Student at The College at Southeastern

Southeastern has prepared me to fulfill the Great Commission through its love of

STUDENT

the church, the Word, evangelism and

by Chris Martin

with Hannah Stokes

What are you currently doing as a student to fulfill the Great Commission where you are? Throughout my first year here, I struggled with how to fulfill the Great Commission on a campus of Christians who, for the most part, believe in the same things I do. I talked through this with my RA and found that because of this season of life, the Great Commission is going to look a lot different from what I pictured when I thought about going off to college.

Tell us about yourself and where you’re from.

To me, it looks like actively going to the city or to refugee apartments for tutoring.

I am sophomore at The College at

But mainly, in the everyday, it looks like

Southeastern. I grew up in Atlanta, Geor-

discipleship with the girls in my dorm

gia, love the outdoors and have always

and in my small group.

been involved in the arts.

What are you studying?

How has The College at Southeastern prepared you to fulfill the Great Commission?

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I finally decided on theology with a mu-

Free time…During the semester, free

sic minor. Theology is something that

time is like finding buried treasure. I love

sparked my interest more and more as I

spending time with the girls that I live

studied here, and I think it will help with

with and playing music with friends. But,

what I want to do career wise, and just

mostly in my free time, I either try and

life in general.

read a book unrelated to school, write for

What challenges do you face as a college student?

crochet, weave, play guitar or listen to a

discipleship. Southeastern has showed me how vital it is to incorporate all of these four components in order to fulfill the Great Commission.

How has The College at Southeastern equipped you to live out your faith in our changing culture? In all the classes I’ve taken so far, each professor has made a point to show the relevancy of the materials we are reading. Whether I am studying Greek or philosophy, I’m learning how these subjects relate to what is going on in the world today, and the role scripture-based faith plays in all of it.

Why would you recommend The College at Southeastern to prospective students? I would recommend Southeastern to any student who wants to learn more about the Bible, their faith, and the Great Commission. I wouldn’t just recommend it to people wanting to be in ministry, but even people who want to work for secular companies.

my blog or take a walk. I also like to paint, new album.

When I got here, initially it was hard for me to find community. I had grown up in the same town my whole life, so I had no idea how to make new friends. Thank-

What do you plan to do after graduating from Southeastern? Ideally, I would love to write books,

fully, getting involved in the residence

work as a full-time staff at a summer

life program on campus and Imago Dei

camp or go out West with a church plant.

Church in Raleigh helped build community in my life.

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 43

profiles \

SEE HOW WE ARE GOING MINISTRY PARTNER

with Kenny & Debra Goetze

Tell us about your family and how you came to know Christ. Debra: I grew up in Raleigh with one sister. My mom took me to church where my grandparents were members. In Sunday school as a nine year old, I saw my need for Christ and accepted Jesus. But it was probably my college years before I really understood what salvation is and what it means to follow Jesus, Him being my Lord. Kenny: I grew up in Raleigh, the fifth of six children. I had the blessing of being born to a wonderful, devoted Christian mother who took us to church every Sunday. It was also at age nine when I recognized that I was a sinner and needed a Savior, and Jesus was that Savior. When Debra and I met, God really grew us in our relationships with Him. We became part of a great Bible teaching church and the growth began to accelerate.

How is Southeastern influencing your life and work? Debra: Southeastern has been a part of our lives for about 30 years. It has intertwined in our life so it’s kind of hard

44 \ SEBTS.EDU \\ SPRING 2016

Kenny & Debra Goetze

SEBTS Ministry Partners, Southeastern Society Members by Harper McKay

to separate it. It has been wonderful just coming to chapel and getting to know the students and the faculty. Kenny: Our lives have been intertwined with Southeastern for decades. We have had students live with us in our home, and our kids got to see young people who love God deeply. That continues today with our relationships with students and faculty and the leadership here. God has blessed us financially. We’re at the point now where we don’t have to work to support ourselves, but I want to keep working to give to Southeastern. It is wrapped up in everything we do and has been such a blessing.

What is the greatest joy that you have as you work to impact others for Christ? Kenny: I think the greatest joy is knowing that we’re pleasing our Heavenly Father. Beyond that, the greatest joy is seeing people’s lives transformed by the gospel. The pinnacle may be when we see others trust Christ, but there are so many opportunities in the day when you get to share God’s truth and see it impact someone’s life.

What advice do you have for current students? Debra: I would say take advantage of the relationships not only with other students but also with the faculty and staff. I wouldn’t want students to come and go and miss these precious opportunities. Kenny: There are so many demands on the lives of our students, and school can be so hard. I think at times there can be a tendency in midst of the academic rigors to let classes and study replace an intimacy with Christ. I would say, please remember to feed that personal relationship at all times.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Kenny: We’ve always been a sports family. We love baseball, and I am on the baseball staff at our local high school. That’s ministry and free time. Debra: We enjoy doing stuff together. It’s a new phase in our lives where we are newly empty nesters. Our older three kids and our grandkids are local, and I love spending time with them. Other than that I am a crafting and scrapbooking kind of person.

What is one book that everyone should read? Kenny: I have had a lot of books influence my life. One of the more powerful books would be “Radical” by David Platt. It’s one of those books that you read that you can’t read without being shaken by it.

What has God been teaching you lately? Debra: We are leading a Monday night Bible study on the book of Romans. God has been teaching me about His sovereignty and mercy in that book. It’s just amazing to study that book and be reminded how great and sovereign He really is. Kenny: God has been teaching me about His sovereignty, grace, mercy and my need to respond properly to that every day. Those have been weighty topics in the book of Romans and I’m trying to let them shape me daily.

Why do you support Southeastern? Kenny: We’ve watched Southeastern have a tremendous impact on our community, the church and the world by training leaders. We just think there’s no greater place to give our time and resources to have a kingdom impact than Southeastern. And the blessing is ours. We receive ten times the blessing here being a part of this family.

GIFTS SAVE

675 $ in tuition

ANNUALLY

each full-time student

To become part of Southeasternâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mission to equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission through giving, visit sebts.edu/ses.

Have a global impact through your institution for $4 a month.

sebts.edu/alumni @SEBTSAlumni

The Locker is now online! Purchase Southeastern apparel and other items at sebts.edu/locker

Southeastern Donors End Year With Record Giving ecember was a record-breaking month of giving for Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. As part of a “December to Remember” initiative, a group of leading donors agreed to match, dollar-fordollar, every gift donated in the month of December to the Southeastern Fund up to a total of $225,000. Southeastern’s donors stepped up to the challenge and raised a total of $515,000 for the Southeastern Fund.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity and support of our donors towards the December to Remember initiative,” said Southeastern President Danny Akin. “How I praise our God for moving in such a wonderful way in the hearts of His people. These monies will have an immediate impact on Southeastern’s equipping and sending efforts.” The December to Remember initiative offered donors unique ways to give: $25 helped to send training resources to international missionaries, $50 provided a hardcover book in the library, $75 placed a desk in a classroom, $400 trained an international church leader through a class, and $2,800 trained an international church leader through an entire program. A total of 377 donors contributed to this special campaign. “We can do more because God’s people gave more,” Akin said. “The continual support of our alumni and

hat do you think when you hear the word stewardship? Maybe you think of tithing or sacrificial giving or even volunteering. All of these are certainly related, but stewardship at its core is an application of the gospel in every area of life. Stewardship is as much about lordship as it is anything else. When people come to faith, they submit themselves to the lordship of Christ. Every part of life is now not our own—it is the Lord’s. This means that all of “our” time, talents and treasures are to be used to bring glory and honor to the Lord. In the economy of God, it is not that God needs us, but He invites us to worship Him through this glorious submission. One way to evaluate how well the gospel permeates all of life is to inspect our wallets and calendars. During tax season we all get the blessing of seeing our investing, spending and giving laid before us. This most often demonstrates

what we value most. That is not to say that many of the things we do are not good, but they often replace the supremacy of God in our lives. A great joy of our work at Southeastern is that we get to work with Alumni and Friends who lead the way in modeling Christ-honoring stewardship. There are countless examples of men and women who have given themselves to be used of God, while at the same time being lavishly generous. We get to see the gospel on display in both their service and in their giving. At Southeastern we work to help others be good stewards of their time, talents and treasures. You might say that we are here to help you worship. I am often asked if I dread soliciting monies for Southeastern. My response is simple: “I get to help people worship through giving.” In our office, we don’t just see ourselves as fundraisers but as ministers who assist in helping others find joy through giving.

Article by

Jonathan Six

Director of Alumni and Financial Development

friends enable us to carry out our God-called task of equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.” The Southeastern Fund is the annual fund that provides an opportunity to support the ongoing operational needs at Southeastern. It is the primary way for donors to impact every aspect of Southeastern’s mission through financial support. In 2015, gifts to the fund offset tuition by $675 per full-time student. Southeastern hopes this initiative will have an even greater impact on the tuition burden for every student in 2016. Currently Southeastern has graduates serving in some of the most unreached cities in North America and in over 41 countries around the world. Because of ongoing support from donors through the Southeastern Fund, the seminary continues to equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.

Using Your Time , Talents and Treasures for the Great Commission

@jonathansix

SPRING 2016 // SEBTS.EDU

/ 47

IMPACT THE NATIONS.

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

Tell us where youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going!

Take a picture and tag @sebts and use #iamgoing

iamgoing.org

Communications Office P.O. Box 1889 Wake Forest, NC 27588-1889 (ISSN 2327-154X) (Occupant) or Resident

Meet us in St. Louis! SEBTS Alumni & Friends Luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention Wednesday, June 15, 2016 12:00 - 2:00pm | America’s Ballroom on Level 2 at America’s Center Convention Complex The event is FREE but you must register at iamgoi.ng/alumnisbc Email mard@sebts.edu or call 919-761-2293 with any questions.

By Daniel Schwen (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons