Southeastern Magazine Spring 2020

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25 Years of Great Commission Ministry

THE COLLEGE AT SOUTHEASTERN 20

More Than a College 25 Years of Equipping the Called to Fulfill the Great Commission

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Fearless Karen Swallow Prior's Path From Pro-Life Spokesperson to Christian Professor

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A House Away From Home How the College House System is Shaping Students for a Lifetime of Discipleship

It’s more than a college.

It’s a calling.

The College at Southeastern equips students to give their lives for the cause of Christ in the Church, among the nations and in every aspect of society.

Come visit us or learn more at

collegeatsoutheastern.com.

Wake Forest, NC

A Letter From the

President President Daniel and Mrs. Charlotte Akin

What you think and believe about Jesus will determine how you serve Him and how you live your life. We know this is true for every follower of Christ. We tell every young man aspiring to pastor that comes through our seminary that what he believes about Jesus will shape his ministry. If you believe Jesus is good, then you will trust him with your very life. If you believe Jesus is worthy, then you give your all to see him receive worship from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. If you believe Jesus is powerful, then you will go confidently wherever God calls you. If Jesus is your Lord and Savior, then you will preach a gospel full of his forgiveness to all who call upon him as King over their life. Jesus should shape every part of our ministry.

It has sometimes been the case in the church, however, that we only tell this to those called to vocational ministry.

It ought not to be this way! The preachers need it—but so do the businessmen. Every young woman that becomes a teacher needs to be shaped by Jesus. Every young man who wants to work in marketing needs to be standing on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every college student needs to begin their adult life shaped by this truth: Jesus has called them to a life of service to Him, working to fulfill the Great Commission wherever they are and however God sends them. Our work is more than a job; it’s a calling. That’s why The College at Southeastern is more than a college. It’s a calling.

It has not always been easy to find a conservative, confessional four-year college in the state of North Carolina. Twenty five years ago, the trustees of

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary saw a need and committed themselves to the Lord to fill that need.

North Carolina needed a school with an undying commitment to the Word of God above all. It needed a school that would hold fast to what Baptists have always believed.

North Carolina needed an outpost for Great Commission advance. God, in his mercy, raised up that very school here on the campus of Southeastern Seminary.

In the 1850s, a series of horrible things happened one right after another. Land speculation led to a stock market crash. Bank runs crippled the New York banking system. The Boston banks failed soon after. It seemed like the whole nation was collapsing in on itself. Heman Humphrey, President of Amherst College said of that time that “men went to bed dreaming all night of their hoarded treasures, and woke up in the morning hopeless bankrupts.” In the midst of such pain and loss, Jeremiah Lanphier began to invite businessmen to pray during their lunch hour. These businessmen prayer meetings grew tremendously, and by 1858 over 10,000 businessmen were meeting for prayer daily. These faithful businessmen would spark a revival that would ultimately sweep the nation and lead to thousands coming to know Jesus Christ as Savior. This revival would spread to college campuses throughout America and soon reached the Albemarle Female Institute in Charlottesville, VA. There a young woman named Charlotte Diggs Moon would come to an evening revival and put her faith in Christ. By the end of her life, Lottie Moon would lead hundreds in China to Christ and inspire a missions movement that continues to this day through the Lottie Moon Offering for the International Mission Board.

Over the course of Christian history, tremendous impact has been made by preachers and businessmen of great renown. Some of the greatest servants of Christ were reached in a revival that began when faithful businessmen working regular jobs devoted themselves to the mission of Jesus Christ. At The College at Southeastern, we want to raise up these kinds of students. Our hope is that the students who leave this school will be on mission for King Jesus whatever their vocation may be.

The College at Southeastern now exists to train young men and women for service in the kingdom of God. If we are going to reach the nations for Christ, it’s going to take more than a missionary force of 5,000 missionaries. It’s going to take faithful men and women in every sphere of society faithfully serving King Jesus. That’s who we have been for 25 years, and that is my prayer for The College at Southeastern from now until the Lord returns. Join us on this mission. It is a journey worth taking!

Daniel L. Akin, President

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1.Dr. Stephen Eccher lectures in John Newton’s church (2019 Oxford Study Tour)

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4. Southeastern Society members commission former director of communications Amy Whitfield as she begins her role as

3. Professors proceed to

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 P hotogr aphy by Rebecca Hankins

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December 2019 graduation in the rain

2. Kingdom Diversity hosts the annual African-American Read-In during Black History Month

associate vice president for convention communications of the SBC Executive Committee

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Table of Contents

Spring 2020

What’s Happening at Southeastern

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Faculty Hire and Chair Installations Library Dedication Honors George Braswell, Missionary to Muslims “God Does Not Give Needless Gifts”: Hundreds of Women Gather for Layered Hybrid at Southeastern An Eternal Difference: Donors and Trustees Hear About SEBTS Impact, Pace Elected Dean of The College Celebrating Scholarship: SEBTS Honors First Female Ph.D. Graduate, Other Outstanding Evangelical Scholars 9Marks at Southeastern Focuses on Prayer Southeastern Classic Raises Over $100,000 For Tuition

Features Fearless: Karen Swallow Prior’s Path From Pro-Life Spokeswoman to Christian Professor

More Than a College: 25 Years of Equipping the Called to Fulfill the Great Commission

Breaking Down Barriers The Field Minister Program

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A House Away From Home

How the College House System Is Shaping Students for a Lifetime of Discipleship

Student Feature Sarah Shoaf

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Great Commission Magazine of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Spring 2020 Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Wake Forest, NC Daniel Akin President

Articles written by Lauren Pratt unless otherwise credited

Bruce Ashford Provost Keith Whitfield Dean of Graduate Studies, Vice President for Academic Administration Ryan Hutchinson Executive Vice President for Operations Art Rainer Vice President for Institutional Advancement Marketing and Communications Griffin Gulledge, Director Jesse Chaney- Assoc. Director of Marketing Sharon Chung- Assoc. Director of Design Emily Flowers - Graphic Designer Rebecca Hankins - Photographer Pamela Pfeffer - Administrative Assistant Lauren Pratt - News and Information Specialist Ryan Thomas - Senior Graphic Designer

At the Office with Dr. Scott Pace

Financial and Alumni Development Jonathan Six, Director

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Graduation Spotlight: RamĂłn Osorio

George Harvey - General Counsel & Director of Planned Giving Drew Davis - Associate Director

Donors Give Over Half of Needed Funds for For the Mission Campaign in Year One

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Joining His Work: A College at Southeastern Student on Mission in Eastern Europe

Michelle Ard - Events & Alumni Relations Coordinator Natan Carvalho - Data Management Coordinator Chandler Donegan- Gift Accountant Jonathan Goforth - Development Officer Jeff Hedgepeth - Grant Writer

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Becca Warren - Development Officer Billy Vernon - Administrative Assistant

Faculty Works

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Chris Allen - Denom. Relations & Ministry Teams Coordinator

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A Lasting Impact: Timothy Society Members Leave a Legacy of Faithfulness

Who I’m Becoming: How The College Equipped One Graduate for a Life of Great Commission Service

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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.

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 Read and share online! sebts.edu/magazine

FACULTY HIRE

CHAIR INSTALLATIONS Research Professor of English and Christianity & Culture Richard and Gina Headrick Chair of World Missions Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism ast fall, Southeastern had many exciting changes among its faculty, namely the hiring of Karen Swallow Prior and installing professors Chuck Lawless and George Robinson in endowed chairs. Prior will join the faculty in the fall of 2020 as a full-time research professor of English and Christianity & Culture. She will be the first research professor in the history of The College at Southeastern (The College). While Prior will primarily teach undergraduates at The College at Southeastern, she will also regularly teach at the graduate and doctoral levels.

“My mission in teaching has always been to have students leaving my classroom loving life, literature and God more than when they came in,” said Prior. “I look forward to continuing in that mission as I move into this new assignment at Southeastern.”

On September 10, 2019, Chuck Lawless and George Robinson were honored during Tuesday’s chapel service as both were installed in Southeastern’s two original faculty endowed chairs. Lawless was installed in the Richard and Gina Headrick chair of world missions, and George Robinson was installed in the Bailey Smith chair of evangelism.

The Headricks are faithful donors of the school, serving as lifetime Southeastern Society members.

An international author and speaker, Richard Headrick currently serves as the CEO of The Headrick

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Companies, Inc. in Laurel, Mississippi. He has served on multiple boards for a number of organizations, including Bailey Smith Ministries, Kendrick Ministries, Alpha International Ministries and Grace International Outreach. The Headricks founded Hope Foundations, the Good Samaritan Foundation, Hellfighters International and Mission at the Cross Ministries. In 2012, the couple helped produce a full-length film titled “Last Ounce of Courage.”

The Bailey Smith chair of evangelism was named after Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) president Bailey Smith. Smith followed Adrian Rogers as the second SBC president after the Conservative Resurgence and was the youngest in that role, serving as the 42nd president from 1980-1982. During his lifetime, Smith also served simultaneously as

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My mission in teaching has always been to have students leaving my classroom loving life, literature and God more than when they came in. president of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma and president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference. At 34, Smith became the youngest pastor to serve at First Southern Church in Del City, Oklahoma, the second largest church in the denomination at the time. In 1986, Smith left his church in Del City to pursue his calling as a crusade evangelist, the only former SBC president to do so. His ministry comprised of Bailey Smith Ministries and his 30-year evangelistic crusades called Real Evangelism Conferences. Smith passed away this past year on January 14 at age 79 after battling pancreatic cancer.

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Lawless, who was honored with the Richard and Gina Headrick chair of world missions, serves as Southeastern’s dean of doctoral studies, vice president for spiritual formation and ministry centers and professor of evangelism and missions.

Robinson, who was named the Bailey Smith chair of evangelism, has served as associate professor of missions and evangelism at SEBTS since 2008.

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Don & Lucy Dancer Both Alumni 2016 SES Members Since 2014

The Southeastern Society is a group of generous men and women from all walks of life, who share a desire to assist Southeastern Seminary as she seeks to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the Church and fulfill the Great Commission.

About SES 1995 23 355 71

The year SES was founded.

Original Number of Individuals & Families.

Current Number of Individuals & Families.

Percent of charitable giving came from SES members last year!

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Due to the faithful giving of SES members, Southeastern is able to keep tuition affordable.

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As a result, graduates have more financial freedom as they heed to God’s call to serve Him wherever He leads.

How To Join Join by giving $1,000 or more annually to fund the work of training gospelready champions for Christ.

For more information or to become a member, contact Drew Davis at ddavis@sebts.edu WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

Library Dedication Honors George Braswell,

missionary to muslims On September 12, 2019, the George Braswell Missions and World Religions Library was dedicated in honor of George Braswell, Emeritus Professor of Missions and World Religion at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Braswell has attained five degrees: a Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University, a Master of Divinity from Yale University Divinity School, a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina and a Doctor of Ministry from SEBTS.

Braswell and his wife, Joan, served as the first Southern Baptist missionaries to Iran from 19681974. “We are so thankful that in God’s kindness, he brought you to Southeastern Seminary and you are a part of this family,” said Akin.

At a reception following chapel, Braswell cut the ceremonial ribbon to the newly dedicated library, where guests could view his collection of books and Iranian memorabilia. During the reception, Akin noted how Braswell played a significant role in establishing the Great Commission fabric of Southeastern Seminary over the years.

The library, which is located in the Sam James Conference Room in the Lewis A. Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies, displays books and memorabilia highlighting Braswell’s service in Iran and deep study of Muslim peoples. The library is open to all students and is an extension of the main library, where students can check out books from the Sam James Conference Room.

Thursday’s chapel service featured a video with Braswell about his call to the mission field and lessons he learned while on the field. Braswell, who began his first pastorate in 1962 at Cullowhee

and doctoral theses on the subject.

He has published 13 books and numerous articles on outreach to Muslims, including “What You Need to Know About Islam and Muslims,” “From Iran to America: Encounters with Many Faiths,” and “Understanding World Religions” (published in English and Korean).

Braswell has won numerous awards from Southeastern, including the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award in 1987 and a Distinguished Professorship by the Board of Trustees in 1998. Along with more than three decades of teaching at Southeastern, Dr. Braswell has served as senior professor of world religions at Campbell Divinity School in North Carolina since 2005. He also formerly served as an associate director at the Armaghan Institute in Iran, professor of history at Damavand College in Iran and professor of English and comparative religions at the University of Tehran. He has held positions as president of the Beckett Center for Christian Understanding of Islam in Virginia and was also the founding director of the World Religions and Global Cultures Center at Campbell Divinity School.

Baptist Church in Cullowhee, North Carolina, had a passion to see the 25 younger congregants in his church go to the nations. He didn’t realize, however, that the Lord would end up calling him and his wife overseas. “I thought, ‘I’m going to get one of them to be a foreign missionary,’” said Braswell during the interview. “I preached more foreign missions sermons from the pulpit. … Lo and behold, the Braswells were called to missions.”

Braswell advised students to listen to the wisdom of older people in the church and to remain a learner as they seek to follow God’s call.

Over the years, Braswell and his wife, Joan, have worked faithfully to reach the lost, and have trained others to do the same, serving and teaching throughout North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia.

Braswell has committed much of his life to researching the Muslim context, writing both his masters

Visit Southeastern’s YouTube Channel for the full-length interview.

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God Does Not Give Needless Gifts

Hundreds of women gather for layered hybrid at Southeastern Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s (SEBTS) Master of Arts in ministry to women (MAMW) made an idea a reality as women gathered together for the program’s first layered hybrid intensive on Oct. 2-6.

“My desire for our Ministry to Women intensive week is to expose our students to faithful women who serve the church through Bible exposition and godly leadership, as well as to pastors who view women as co-laborers in doing the work of the Great Commission,” said Julia Higgins, associate dean of graduate program administration and associate professor of ministry to women.

On Oct. 3, women participated in Bible Exposition for Ministry to Women taught by Jen Wilkin, who serves as director of classes and curriculum at The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. Wilkin told students how from an early age God cultivated in her a love for teaching.

She received her bachelor’s degree in English and communication and then an MBA in five years and thought she would go into business as it seemed more viable than a teaching career. However, the Lord gradually redirected her plans and allowed her to use her gift of teaching to serve the churches of which she was a part. She recalled watching a Beth Moore Bible study and thinking, “I didn’t know I could do that. I did not know that was an option.”

Wilkin saw the need for churches to have women’s ministries that did more than have pseudo-Bible studies. She wanted to give women the tools they needed to study the Bible for themselves.

“When we call something a Bible study, and what’s

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happening in there has little to nothing to do with studying the Bible, we are not just not teaching our women the Bible; we are telling them they are learning it when they’re not.”

Wilkin, author of “In His Image” and “None Like Him,” highlighted the importance of teaching women to see the communicable and incommunicable attributes of God. The communicable attributes speak of God’s characteristics that can be seen in his imagebearers while the incommunicable attributes of God focus on characteristics that belong solely to God. Wilkin also participated in a panel discussion during chapel with SEBTS President Danny Akin and Keith Whitfield, dean of graduate studies and vice president for academic administration at SEBTS as part of Southeastern’s “Casual Conversations” chapel series.

The Casual Conversations are wide-ranging in their topics and more conversational in tone than a typical chapel service. In this conversation, they discussed topics ranging from lesson preparation, how women’s roles in the church are vital to the congregation’s overall health and how God led Wilkin to begin serving in women’s ministry.

One of the biggest challenges to developing female leaders in the local church, said Wilkin, comes with the “misunderstanding that the gifts that God gives to women are nice but not necessary. God does not give needless gifts, so if a woman has the gift of teaching and she’s in your church and there’s nowhere to utilize it, that is a wastefulness the church cannot afford.”

Bible teachers need to put considerable thought into

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

their lesson preparation and vocal delivery as the two are equally important in teaching God’s Word to others.

Wilkin discussed these topics and how to best implement these practices during the afternoon session of Bible Exposition on Thursday.

Thursday evening concluded with a dinner featuring a panel with Dean and Krissie Inserra, Micah and Tracy Fries, Keith Whitfield and Julia Higgins. The Inserras are the pastor and pastor’s wife at City Church in Tallahassee, Florida, and the Fries are the pastor and pastor’s wife at Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

On Oct. 5, students taking Biblical Theology of Womanhood heard from author and Bible study teacher Nancy Guthrie. Guthrie gave a comprehensive study on the grand narrative of Scripture. She explained that the sequence of events in Scripture better inform the reader’s comprehension of the biblical narrative.

Likewise, the themes in Scripture provide a lens into the author’s original intent.

Guthrie spent a significant portion of her morning session looking at the theme of “kingdom” in the Bible.

The theme of kingdom is seen from creation to redemption as God establishes his kingship over creation in Genesis and will one day bring all things on earth back under his rule in Revelation. Nineteen other themes exist throughout books of the Bible, which ultimately point people to love and long for Jesus, she explained. Some of these themes include blessing and curses, salvation and judgment and priest and priesthood.

“What I learn from studying these themes over and over is that they show me how essential Jesus is,” said Guthrie, explaining that the biblical narrative points people to Christ.

On Sunday morning, students also heard teaching from Kelly King, women’s ministry specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources. King taught the women in

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

SEBTS offers a number of other degrees in the area of ministry to women, including the MAMW and biblical counseling, Th.M. program and D.Min.in ministry to women. For more information about Southeastern’s degree programs, visit sebts.edu/academics. attendance the essentials for building a healthy team, including women who are servant-hearted, visionary and evangelistic. Along with building teams to reach women, it is vital to develop and call out leaders from among these teams. Prayer and seeking out the unlikely are a couple of key considerations to this process of finding team leaders.

Investing in the next generation is another critical aspect of women’s ministry, and this includes various types of mentorship. Mentorship can take on many forms, King noted, such as a teacher, discipler or counselor. Women can be mentored through more non-traditional ways like reading biographies and through divine appointments with other believers who provide godly wisdom.

Students participating in Biblical Theology of Womanhood also attended a Sunday morning service at The Summit Church and heard a message from pastor and president of the Southern Baptist Convention J.D. Greear.

“A number of students expressed how meaningful it was to learn from leaders in the field of women’s ministry and for the opportunity to do so in a hybrid format that allows them to get their degree without having to move to Wake Forest,” said Higgins. “We are already looking forward to Fall 2020 and the speakers who will join us to teach about various foundations for ministry to women and how to counsel women well.”

Visit flickr.com/southeastern page to view photos from the hybrid weekend and the Nancy Guthrie Biblical Theology of Womanhood Workshop.

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D i f ferenc e DONORS AND TRUSTEES HEAR ABOUT SEBTS IMPACT, PACE ELECTED DEAN OF THE COLLEGE

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outheastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) donors and trustees gathered together to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The College at Southeastern (The College) during their biannual meetings Oct. 13-15.

“The days are evil. The need for soldiers of the cross is great.

We are a school that absolutely is making an eternal difference,” said President Danny Akin during a dinner Monday night for trustees and donors.

He highlighted significant growth within The College and the need for continued gifts to fund the For the Mission campaign.

On Tuesday, trustees voted on a number of items, including the following: · The election of Dr. Scott Pace as dean of The College and vice president for undergraduate studies · Approved a resolution on the 25th anniversary of The College · Approved a motion made during the 2019 SBC annual meeting for entities to report efforts made to address the sexual abuse crisis within the convention · Approved mandatory training on sexual abuse prevention and care for all students New trustees began terms this fall, including Beth Wooten, Danny Rumple, Michael Cummings, Jay Hardwick, Stewart Holloway and Chuck Jennings.

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Celebrating 25 Years of The College at Southeastern During his Monday night address, Akin highlighted the numerous ways in which The College is bolstering its Great Commission impact. By Fall 2019, The College had an enrollment of 1,378 students. In the past decade, The College has developed numerous programs for training and community life. The North Carolina Field Minister Program, which began in 2017, equips inmates in the North Carolina prison system to receive a Bachelor of Arts in pastoral ministry.

The Hunt Scholars Program, which was created in 2015, allows students to receive their Bachelor of Arts in pastoral Ministry and Master of Divinity in pastoral ministry in five years. Akin explained that theological conviction and cost are the two primary reasons that fueled the start of The College.

The For the Mission campaign, which publicly launched at the spring trustee and donor meetings April 7-9, 2019, is now 50 percent funded. The purpose of the campaign is to fund four strategic initiatives in four years.

These initiatives include funding a new dining hall, renovations to Simmons Hall to provide campus housing, student aid, the Southeastern Fund and faculty endowments.

As of Fall 2019, SEBTS celebrated its enrollment at 4,776 students, Akin told donors and trustees.

Members of the Southeastern Society also had an opportunity to commission Amy Whitfield, who has transitioned from her role as director of marketing and communications at SEBTS to associate vice president of convention communications for the Executive Committee.

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Donors Get A Personal Campus Experience Sunday night, donors heard from Dylan Anderson, a student in the Hunt Scholars Program and college minister at Englewood Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.

“It is because of you running your races well that I am here,” Anderson told donors as he preached from Hebrews 12:1-2.

The College seeks to train students to live out the Great Commission in their vocation.

Donors had the opportunity to learn about what that looks like from literature professors Matt Mullins and Adrianne Miles.

“I believe God gives us literature to leave us longing for more,” said Miles, assistant professor of English and linguistics.

“Whether they go to the mission field or not, they have all been trained as missionaries to whatever field God may call them,” said Mullins, assistant professor of English and History of Ideas and associate dean for academic advising.

Daniel Ritchie, an evangelist from Charlotte, North Carolina and a graduate from The College at Southeastern, preached on Acts 20:17-35.

“The moment we make grace about us is the moment that we’ve missed it. Grace has nothing to do with us; it has everything to do with [Jesus].”

Southeastern also welcomed Keith and Kristyn Getty to campus for a day of workshops and a concert Tuesday evening as part of their Sing! Fall Tour.

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CELEBRATING SCHOLARSHIP

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outheastern Baptist Theological Seminary faculty, staff and colleagues gathered for the Southeastern Theological Fellowship dinner to celebrate the outstanding scholarship of five individuals during the 71st annual Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) meeting.

SEBTS acting provost Keith Whitfield welcomed guests from schools from all across the nation, noting the dinner’s purpose was to “elevate and celebrate the work of God’s people for the kingdom.”

The Southeastern Theological Fellowship seeks to build camaraderie and foster fellowship between scholars of multiple denominations and encourage excellence in scholarship for the glory of Jesus Christ.

SEBTS Honors Top Scholars Every year, SEBTS honors five colleagues in various categories of scholarship. These include those who have exemplified extraordinary work in a Southern Baptist college and university, a Southern Baptist seminary, an evangelical college and university, an evangelical seminary and a SEBTS alumnus. Award winners included the following:

SEBTS Honors First Female Ph.D. Graduate, Other Outstanding Evangelical Scholars · Kelly Kapic, professor of theological studies at Covenant College in Lookout Mountain, Georgia · Craig Keener, F. M. and Ada Thompson professor of the New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky · Roy Ciampa, former professor of New Testament and chair of the division of biblical studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina · Stephen Presley, associate professor of church history and director of the Southwestern Center for Early Christian Studies in Fort Worth, Texas · Elizabeth Mburu, associate professor of New Testament and Greek at Pan Africa Christian University as well as the International Leadership University and African International University in Nairobi, Kenya

Mburu Keynote: Complete The Unfinished Song In 2008, Mburu became Southeastern’s first female Ph.D. graduate, leading the way for more women to follow in the path of pursuing advanced degrees in theological education. She is the African regional coordinator for Langham Literature and is a curriculum evaluator for the Association of Christian Theological Education in Africa.

During the Evangelical Theological Fellowship dinner, Mburu gave the keynote address in which she challenged fellow scholars to consider how partnering together in the work of scholarship can bring unity among believers of all ethnicities.

“The Church, as it stands, is like a half-finished song—one beautiful to listen to but has an unfinished quality that leaves one yearning for more,” said Mburu.

DE V E L OP YOU R

Dr. Ken Coley

Senior Professor of Christian Education & Director of Ed.D. Studies

TEACHING SKILLS NE W C ONC E N T R AT ION IN

DISCIPLESHIP & MENTORING C OHOR T MODE L F OR

BUSY PROFESSIONALS train the next generation. sebts.edu/edd

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

ED.D.

Doctor of Education

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Danny Akin led the third session of the conference, preaching from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22. Akin laid out eight exercises given by Paul that are designed to help believers stay spiritually fit for ministry.

As Paul exhorted the Thessalonians to pray unceasingly, so believers today should make prayer a habitual part of life. “Our God is a listening God, and if he is always listening then we should always be praying.”

Akin addressed Paul’s command to thank God in all circumstances, noting the important distinction of the word “in” rather than “for.” It is in this thanksgiving that believers trust the overarching and good purposes of God in an evil world.

“For a lost person to say thank you in everything is foolishness.

For a child of God to say thank you in everything—that is faith.”

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Brian Davis opened the conference teaching about the necessity and quality of Christ with regard to prayer. Preaching from Luke 10:38-42, Davis explained that serving void of a dependent posture and communion with Christ is empty.

“It’s possible to do things about Jesus without Jesus,” said Davis. He noted that Martha feverishly attempted to do many tasks in order to serve Jesus while Mary chose the better portion—communion with Jesus himself. “Martha was chasing after the plates that would perish; Mary was after the portion that wouldn’t.”

John Onwuchekwa followed Davis, drawing upon Matthew 6:9-15 to preach on the power of prayer.

He explained that Jesus is telling his disciples to both make the aim of their prayers God’s glory and to posture themselves in dependence on God for their earthly needs.

“When we pray, all we’re doing is recounting the faithfulness of God. We’re asking God to do things that he already wants to do,” said Onwuchekwa. “You know what that means? That means this: Christian, you are a better historian than you are a detective. Your hindsight works much better than your insight.”

Onwuchekwa said that Christians should enter each day in dependence on God while simultaneously confident in his ability to provide for them.

“Where God’s glory is the aim, his gifts are the ammunition,” he said.

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Shai Linne closed out the afternoon session with a message on Isaiah 12. He explained how this passage reveals singing as a form of prayer. He noted that singing in response to God is done both individually and corporately. Singing to God as an alternative way to pray, he said, is a gift from God that can soften hearts.

“If you’re feeling cold towards the Lord, one of the gifts he’s given you is the gift of song,” said Linne.

Linne also explained that praying to God through song can and should be done corporately.

“The drama of redemption is a musical,” said Linne.

“What we get to do every single time we meet corporately with the people of God—we get to rehearse. It’s a rehearsal for what we’re going to be doing for all eternity in heaven.”

H.B. Charles, Jr. closed out Friday evening with a message from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 describing the passage as “mutual prayer for difficult times.” In his message, he laid out spiritual priorities that should characterize the mutual prayers of pastor and congregation.

Charles emphasized the priority of the Bible in prayer. Charles noted, “Prayer and scripture are inextricably linked to one another. Both must be alive and well if the church is going to be healthy.”

2019 FOCUS

prayer

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Charles reminded attendees that Paul’s concern in this passage was that Lord would direct the church to love him and the gospel with all their heart.

“Do not judge God’s love by your circumstances; measure his love by the bloody cross and empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he said.

Mark Dever opened the Saturday morning session highlighting nine ways his church seeks to incorporate prayer into the life of the congregation. Dever explained that he seeks to incorporate various forms of prayer in his church—long, short and spontaneous. He then explained that pastors need to preach the gospel to their people continually as a way to “marvel afresh at [God’s] grace.”

“The gospel is our mast to make it through this world,” said Dever. Dever closed his message reminding attendees that prayer gives witness to the reliability of God. “Our prayers advertise our dependence on God and that God is dependable,” said Dever.

Thabiti Anyabwile closed out the conference on Saturday with a message from Luke 18:1-8. In his

“

Our God is a listening God, and if he is always listening then we should always be praying.

message, he described the widow’s persistent plight to an unjust judge as a “scene where brokenness meets brutality.” The story, he explained, symbolizes the dependent posture that should be exemplified in God’s people. “A prayer that stops at nothing can achieve anything,” said Anyabwile.

Anyabwile insisted that the purpose of this passage is not meant to produce guilt in the believer. The purpose of the passage is to encourage the believer to lean into God through prayer, who desires to answer his people. “If by persistent request, a widow with nothing and no one can move a judge who cares for no one and nothing, then surely God, who loves each one of us, will answer the persistent prayers of his people,” said Anyabwile.

Over the weekend, a lunch panel discussion on hot topics in pastoral leadership was held for attendees hosted by the doctoral programs at Southeastern Seminary. Saturday morning, the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership hosted a breakfast panel discussion about the role of pastoral prayer.

For more information, visit sebts.edu/9marks

The speaker lineup for 2019’s gathering included Danny Akin, president of SEBTS; Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.; H.B. Charles, Jr., pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida; Brian Davis, pastor of Risen Christ Fellowship in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Shai Linne, Christian rapper and elder at Risen Christ Fellowship; Thabiti Anyabwile, pastor of Anacostia River Church in Washington, D.C.; and John Onwuchekwa, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta, Georgia.

Nex t year, the focus of 9Marks at Southeastern will be on church government.

In 2021, the conference will relaunch to revisit the nine marks of a healthy church. 9Marks seeks to provide resources to churches nationally and internationally that help develop healthy, growing congregations.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

SPRING 2020 / 17

Joi n

al nu

the 14 th for an s u

9 14 2020

13th Annual Southeastern Classic Raises over $100,000 for Tuition “Fore!” the Students Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) celebrated another record-breaking year of fundraising, sponsorship and participation at this year’s 13th annual Southeastern Classic Golf Tournament. The event was hosted at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 23, 2019. This year’s Southeastern Classic saw the most participation yet with 88 sponsors, 45 teams and 180 registered players.

“At Southeastern, we have almost 4,800 students that are, right now, being trained and equipped to be pastors, ministers and missionaries who will go out from Wake Forest, North Carolina literally to the ends of the earth,” said Art Rainer, vice president for institutional advancement at SEBTS, to golf tournament participants. “Right now, you all are a part of supporting that very cause.”

“We’re out here to support because, being an alum, I understand the benefit of theological education, particularly with what Southeastern’s doing,” said Mike Kuckel, who represented OneAscent Financial during the afternoon flight. “I was here in a different era, but I follow along and try to support because I realize just how vitally important it is that we have the kind of education people are getting at Southeastern. Frankly, it’s just great to be a part of a school that’s really focused on taking the gospel to the nations.”

18 \ SPRING 2020

13 Years of Helping Student Tuition This year’s tournament raised $100,000, the highest amount raised in the Southeastern Classic’s 13-year history. Over the course of its existence, the Southeastern Classic has raised $820,000. All money raised from the tournament goes toward The Southeastern Fund, which helps to provide funding for school operations and alleviates tuition costs.

“I’m here because my wife and I love Southeastern, and more than that we love Jesus,” said Scott Reed, president of the Southeastern Society. “Southeastern is a Great Commission seminary trying to get the gospel to all the nations.”

Crenshaw Consulting Engineers was the 2019 Title Sponsor, and Sela Building Corporation was the 2019 Flight Sponsor. Teams sponsored by Jack Davis (morning flight) and Charles Boyd Chevrolet Buick GMC (afternoon flight) took home first place.

Drew Davis, associate director for Financial and Alumni Development at SEBTS, thanked participants for their generosity and support of the school during the morning and evening awards ceremonies.

“Every dollar that we raise through this golf tournament which supports the Southeastern Fund is one less dollar we have to charge our students in tuition.

The tournament is making an incredible impact in the lives of our students.”

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

O V E R T H E L A S T 13 Y E A R S , T H E S O U T H E A S T E R N C L A S S I C H A S R A I S E D

$820,000 T H AT IS EQUA L TO

PROVIDING FULL ACADEMIC SCHOL ARSHIPS FOR

100

STUDENTS FOR ONE YEAR

To learn more, play or become a sponsor, please visit sebts.edu/classic

The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation

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More Than a College:

25 Years of Equipping the Called to Fulfill the Great Commission

Fearless:

Karen Swallow Prior’s Path From Pro-Life Spokeswoman to Christian Professor

A House Away From Home

How the College House System Is Shaping Students for a Lifetime of Discipleship

MORE THAN A COLLEGE 25 ed l l a Yea h eC rs of Equipping t

ruce Ashford has seen The College at Southeastern (The College) from practically every possible angle during his 23 years at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS).

From his time as an M.Div. and then Ph.D. student in the late 90s to the early 2000s, to his role as dean of The College from 2009-2012 to his role now, where he serves as provost of SEBTS, Ashford has witnessed countless historic developments in the life of The College. These changes include immense changes in student age, gender and racial diversity.

Founded in 1994 as Southeastern Baptist Theological College, the school offered the last two years of the Bachelor of Arts degree. Admission required an Associates of Arts or 58 hours from an accredited college. The first dean of The College, Gerald Cowen, hired qualified faculty and staff to get The College up and running. This included R. Logan Carson, senior professor of theology, The College and seminary’s first African-American professor. The College’s first Statement of Purpose shows its commitment to missions from the very start:

e Great Commission h t l lfil u to F

“Southeastern Baptist Theological College seeks to prepare God-called men and women for vocational service in Baptist churches and in other Christian ministries throughout the world.”

“North Carolina Baptists needed a four-year college that was conservative and confessional, without apology,” said Danny Akin, who became the president at SEBTS and The College in 2004. “It needed a school that would stand firmly upon an inerrant Bible and hold without mental reservation or hesitation to the great truths Baptists have always believed. It needed The College at Southeastern and God raised it up.”

The Great Commission emphasis and commitment to teaching the inerrant Scriptures remained foundational to the school’s mission. Every student is trained to think critically and missionally, in any culture and vocation they enter. The College is equipping students to give their lives for the cause of Christ in the Church, among the nations and in every aspect of society. These convictions are the reason you often hear it said around The College: “It’s more than a college. It’s a calling.”

OCTOBER

HISTORY COLLEGE

MAY

Trustees vote to form Southeastern Baptist Theological College to offer a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies.

JANUARY 18

1994

1995

First Day of Classes

The College’s first graduate is Thomas D. Dalton from Fuquay-Verina, NC

JANUARY Dr. Gerald Cowen is appointed the first Dean of the College.

Dr. Logan Carson is the first African-American elected to the faculty at the college and seminary as Senior Professor of Theology.

“We have a very strong emphasis on taking a missionary posture toward God’s world. That means that many of our students do end up as missionaries in other nations,” said Ashford. “It also means that the students that we train take a missionary posture towards their ministry in America.”

That is certainly the case for current freshman Alex Renner.

Before he even stepped on campus, he heard about the Great Commission focus that pervaded campus and shaped Southeastern graduates who moved on to serve in other areas of the world.

Each year, The College sends out students across the world on longterm assignments or short-term mission trips. In his first semester, Renner immediately connected with the Great Commission emphasis at Southeastern by spending his fall break in Portland, Oregon with other students. It was through this trip that the Lord further confirmed a call to go back and serve Sojourn Church, with whom he worked during his first visit. Because of the initial opportunity to go to Portland, Renner is returning to bring his classroom experience to bear in a post-Christian cultural context.

As professors like Ashford and many others continue to invest in the

Drs. Adrianne Miles and Greg Mathias celebrate the 25th anniversary of The College at Southeastern. lives of the approximately hundreds of on-campus students through courses like History of Ideas, theology and missions, they are forming a new generation to think holistically, missionally, and practically about how to serve the Church and minister to a broken world.

As Renner puts it, his professors are equipping him at a young age to learn how to “dialogue and digest” the different worldviews around him and engage them with the truth of God’s Word.

From its founding, The College has emphasized understanding and engaging different worldviews.

The History of Ideas program began in 1998 to properly prepare students to critically consider differing worldviews. This distinctive program drew interest and applicants to The College.

Other offerings included a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education focusing on English and social studies. The Secondary Education degree, established in

APRIL College Enrollment Passes 250

Trustees vote to approve a 4-year program, leading to a Bachelor of Arts in one of two majors – Biblical Studies or the History of Ideas.

1997

1998

JANUARY

The Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies is added.

2000

APRIL

The College name is changed to Southeastern College at Wake Forest.

2001, was the only program of its kind at a Southern Baptist seminary. This degree program grew under the leadership of the school’s second dean, Dr. Peter Schemm, Jr., who served from 2005-2009. Current students can continue their studies in education at either Liberty University or North Carolina State University and earn a master’s degree in education.

Whether focusing on education, missions or history, each program is firmly rooted in Scripture.

It was programs like these that initially drew Bailey Jackson, a senior social studies major, to The College in 2016. The opportunity to study under professors who have challenged her to see the value of wedding theology and social studies education has proven invaluable.

While Jackson did not initially see the connection between the two, she distinctly remembers a conversation with one of her professors in which he helped bring this understanding to light.

“I asked him, ‘Why is this important for me.’ I genuinely did not understand,” said Jackson. “It was cool because he and some other people…told me, ‘You’re going to be dealing with the world when you get out of here. The world has these questions. You need this biblical foundation and education to be able to then lead into the gospel.”

This statement greatly impacted Jackson’s view of her teaching, and the sentiment expressed there continues to shape her pursuit of a teaching career today.

It

's m ore than

. It 's a calli e g e l ng l o . c a Students head to Stealey Hall to celebrate The College's 25th anniversary with cake and camaraderie.

APRIL

MARCH

A Secondary Education major is added. This leads to partnerships with Liberty University and North Carolina State University to offer masters degrees in education.

The College name is changed to The College at Southeastern.

JUNE

Dr. Bruce Ashford is appointed the third Dean of the College.

2008

2001 2005 JUNE

Dr. Peter Schemm, Jr. is appointed the second Dean of the College.

2007

2009

A.Div. & A.A. become available completely online.

AUGUST

First distance learning courses are offered online.

College Enrollment Passes 500

College enrollment continued to grow during the tenure of its fourth dean, Jamie Dew, who served from 2013-2019. These years saw an increase in non-duplicating headcount of 111 percent. As the student population grew from 547 in 2013 to 1,357 in 2019, the school also inaugurated a partnership with Nash Correctional Institution in 2017. This partnership offers inmates with a minimum sentence of 15 years the opportunity to earn a Bachelor of Arts in pastoral ministry. The goal is to prepare ministers who work within, and understand the context of, the North Carolina prison system. With such diverse and innovative programs, The College is training believers to engage different contexts with the gospel.

“The College at Southeastern is a perfect complement to the seminary,” said Scott Pace, who became dean The College in June of 2019. “While most seminary students are training for some form of formal ministry or missions position, The College is designed to mobilize both those students as well as others who are called into a public vocational field to serve as ministers and missionaries for Christ.”

Ashford attributes the success of The College to its commitment to the Word of God. Just as the school was founded on the Word of God, it will continue to be built on that foundation of truth in the years to come.

“We want to remain faithful, absolutely faithful to the written Word of God, which is to say to the Lord Jesus himself, because the Bible is his inscripturated Word,” said Ashford. “We want to remain absolutely faithful to him and to our confessional documents.” These documents include The Baptist Faith & Message 2000, the Abstract of Principles, the Chicago Statement of Biblical Inerrancy and the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

JUNE

Dr. Jamie Dew is appointed the fourth Dean of the College.

2013

The Hunt Scholars Program is founded. This program allows both a B.A. & M.Div. in 5 years.

2015

The House System, the undergraduate residence life program, is implemented. Houses are named after significant figures in Christian history.

2016

House system students took an icy hike during a mission trip in spring 2019.

AUGUST

JUNE

The North Carolina Field Ministers Program, a partnership with Nash Correctional Institution, begins.

2017

2018

“I would like to see more students,” said Ashford. “We want to grow with every demographic of student that we have because we think we’ve got a very good thing going at Southeastern. We want as many students as possible to experience the education that we have to offer.”

For 25 years, thousands of students have been trained to be sent out to their neighbors and the nations equipped with the gospel of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, The College will continue to train thousands more to give their lives for the cause of Christ in the Church, among the nations and in every aspect of society.

rit ten by

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The history of The College serves for many as an inspiration to help build its future, as the school adds to its legacy of faithfulness and expansion through new courses, campus renovations, and more. This is one reason why the For the Mission campaign is vital to the growth of The College in the coming years. The fouryear campaign was publicly launched in Spring 2019 to raise $20.5 million. The campaign will fund four strategic initiatives, including campus renovations and construction, student aid, the Southeastern Fund and faculty endowments.

In 1994, Southeastern offered one Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies. Today, Southeastern offers 16 majors and 19 minors, containing approximately 200 core classes. As Southeastern celebrates 25 years of growth, new programs and greater diversity, the hope is that a new generation of students will benefit and build upon the foundation already laid.

Dr. Scott Pace is appointed the fifth Dean of the College.

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College Enrollment Passes 1,300

2019 Jose Abella, B.A. '06, is elected 2nd Vice President of the Southern Baptist Convention.

s

The College offers two associate degrees, and A.A. and A.Div., and two bachelor degrees, B.A. and B.S., with 16 majors and 19 minors.

2020 OCTOBER

Dr. Karen Swallow Prior is hired as the first Research Professor in The College.

The College celebrates 25 Years of Great Commission Ministry

breaking down barriers In August 2017, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS), in partnership with Game Plan for Life (GPL) and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS), launched the North Carolina Field Minister Program (NCFMP), which provides a college education to inmates with long-term sentences through The College at Southeastern. Students in the Field Minister Program produce their own magazine, telling stories of what they are learning through their education.

Below is an excerpt from the Summer 2019 magazine where one student, TJ, wrote about how the program was started.

Mark Howard, director of Prison Ministry Outreach at Game Plan for Life, could not possibly have known that Dr. Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern, had been waiting for his email for nearly a decade. Akin had already been praying for almost ten years for the opportunity for SEBTS to educate and train persons who are incarcerated. Although Akin could not make out how or when Southeastern would join in an effort like that at Angola and Darrington, he felt a compulsion to fulfill the vision.

The intense aspiration to see the seminary under his leadership involved in preparing incarcerated persons for ministry yielded an immediate response. While Akin was ready and willing, approval was needed from the SEBTS Board of Trustees prior to moving forward.

Despite the numerous potential complications, the trustee board rapidly and unanimously voted to support the effort to partner with GPL and DPS. By early 2016 all of the key partners were on board.

Howard and Renaldo Wynn, director of Outreach at Joe Gibbs Racing and Game Plan for Life were heading the efforts for GPL, with Gibbs as a philanthropic resource. SEBTS was committed on the academic front, and support in Raleigh from state administrators

FEATURED

and DPS was swelling. A series of meetings ensued and things started to happen fast. “We would leave a meeting and I would look at Renaldo [Wynn] and say, ‘You believe what just happened in there?’” said Howard. Still, a location for such a program had to be selected.

Ultimately, Nash Correctional Institution (NCI) was selected over Central Prison in Raleigh for the program’s site. In 2016 Talena Lee, NCI’s Programs director at the time, led Howard, Wynn and two educators from SEBTS, Dew and Dr. Drew Ham on a tour of NCI. The location looked ideal for a place to start a prison Bible college.

In the summer of 2017, the first class of students arrived at NCI. Gibbs and GPL funded the launch of the program, and ongoing donations are sought to maintain the program’s future. The program is sustained through private efforts, at no cost to the state. Last summer, NCI and the NCFMP welcomed the third consecutive class of freshmen. Stakeholders hope that program graduates will take what they’ve learned to prisons throughout the state and begin to change prison culture from the inside.

This article was edited for length and clarity.

SPRING 2020 / 27

K K Fearless:

Karen Swallow Prior's Path From Pro-Life

Spokeswoman To Christian Professor

"I'm preparing myself to go to federal prison."

BY GRIFFIN GULLEDGE

Karen Swallow Prior had already been arrested four times by February of 1992 at abortion protests around the city. Now there was an injunction against abortion protests that would eventually go before the U.S. Supreme Court. In a profile by The Buffalo News, Prior was labeled “The Unlikely Extremist”. Unlikely is a fitting descriptor.

One pro-choice activist who opposed her remarked to the paper, “I have trouble imagining someone who is as intelligent and articulate as she is actually being a part of that group.”

Her kind approach made her an enigma to pro-choice writers: “Here is an extremist you can talk to.”

In the fall of 2020, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior will join the faculty of The College at Southeastern as the first research professor of English and Christianity & Culture after more than 20 years as professor of English at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Over the span of her career, Prior has been called a fundamentalist and an extremist. The Buffalo News called her “spokeswoman for the radicals.” How does a young woman studying for her doctorate in English Literature become the firebrand spokesperson for the pro-life cause?

28 \ SPRING 2020

FEATURED

K

“Do I have to choose?”

Prior was raised in rural Maine and saved in a Methodist Church. After moving to Buffalo, New York, her family joined a fundamentalist Baptist church, where she was baptized. Her church had little in terms of resources, so from a young age Prior volunteered teaching Sunday School.

Looking back, Prior still feels grateful that the church loved her and taught her the Bible, but there was also an unfortunate current of anti-intellectualism that was hard to grapple with for a young woman passionate about reading and language. “It made me think that I had to choose: the life of the mind, or love of God.” At college, Prior realized that majoring in social work wasn’t the best fit for her. She quickly changed her major to English. Unsure if she wanted to write, but certain she did not want to work in an office job thanks to a summer internship at a marketing agency, Prior decided to continue her study of English and was accepted into the Ph.D. program at The University at Buffalo.

FEATURED

There Prior made a discovery: “I discovered what God created me to do. He created me to teach.”

There Prior made a discovery: “I discovered what God created me to do. He created me to teach.” In her doctoral program, Prior found a truth she was searching for: she did not have to choose between the life of the mind and loving Christ. A professor introduced her to puritan writers that were influential in the English literary tradition who didn’t divorce their faith from their scholarship.

Their faith was integral to their scholarship and the foundation of their convictions.

None influenced her more than John Milton. One of Milton’s first essays, “Areopagitica,” is among the earliest modern defenses of free speech.

Milton says Christians should read widely—even reading those who are deeply wrong. Milton says there that “… a wise man like a good refiner can gather gold out of the drossiest volume, and that a fool will be a fool with the best book…” Like Milton, Prior thinks that truth has nothing to fear by standing toe-to-toe with falsehood. We can learn from their insights, but ultimately, we have nothing to fear where they go astray—if we are discerning readers. “It’s only by reading those whom we oppose that we actually begin to own what we believe as our own, and not just assume it because we’ve been told what to believe.”

Seeing the world through a Christian worldview, Prior says, is still what excites her about teaching today.

“Discovering that we are to love God with our minds is empowering and exciting for me! That’s what this is all about. I want my students to love life, literature and God more than when they came in. Whatever they do, however they came into my class, I want them to be more when they leave. ... I think it is about shaping the person, shaping their character, and developing habits that breed more of the same. The way I teach that is by trying to embody everything that I'm talking about.”

Before her time in Buffalo was finished, Prior would also learn that commitment to the Christian worldview does not come without a cost.

SPRING 2020 / 29

During the season in which Prior was developing her convictions on the Christian worldview’s importance in shaping all of life, she had her eyes opened to the horror of abortion after seeing “The Silent Scream,” a 1984 film which exposes the gruesome, violent abortion procedure. Not long after, she began to work at a crisis pregnancy center. Prior began to think she may want to join the abortion protests at a nearby clinic. Her husband, Roy, was more hesitant. Rather than argue, Prior began to pray. Almost immediately, the Holy Spirit began to work in Roy’s heart. It was not long before he came to her and said, “The next time they are out there [protesting], we are going.” Months later, they would be arrested together for the first time after a sit-in at a clinic.

Prior did not win any popularity contests for her stand while getting her Ph.D. at a state university.

Some professors wouldn’t work with her. Frequent appearances in the paper and on the news stopped her from blending in.

For Prior, there was no question if what she was doing was right: “Reason and intellect tell me that abortion is wrong.

You shouldn't kill an innocent human being."

In a season 1 dedicated to shaping the mind, hers was shaped by a commitment to biblical justice and a conviction that the Christian worldview shapes not just what we think, but what we do. It shapes what we stand for what we refuse to stand for, and what we cannot help but speak out about.

1 Prior at Buffalo, NY abortion protest

Conviction That Carries Over For Prior, coming to Southeastern as professor of Christianity & Culture, in addition to research professor of English at The College, is not a change in direction from her work of the last 20 years.

“It really isn’t a turn at all. It’s a culmination. From college through graduate school, when I thought about writing, I thought about it as a way to engage the culture as a thinking Christian. I have always loved literature because of what it teaches me about life and culture.”

“ It really isn’t a turn at all.

It’s a culmination. From college through graduate school, when I thought about writing, I thought about it as a way to engage the culture as a thinking Christian. I have always loved literature because of what it teaches me about life and culture.

“

The Cost of Standing for Truth

Prior isn’t afraid of the conflict that awaits from opposing ideas or those who disagree with her message whether it’s the gospel, her stand on ethical issues such as abortion or traditional marriage or any other topic.

“I have always been a Christian and a conservative Christian specifically, in hostile, hostile spaces. I am very thankful to be able to be published at places like The Washington Post and Vox and The Atlantic. This is not only what I think God has called me to do—to go out into the public square as a Christian. I think more of us should be doing it.”

In her time at Southeastern Prior hopes to be able to shape a generation of college students who, like her, see that you do not have to choose between loving God and the life of the mind. It takes both to effectively engage the world for Christ. This shapes her teaching philosophy.

“When I'm teaching texts, I'm teaching the context and then I'm asking the students to look at how that applies to our life today, in general, but particularly our calling as Christians and our place in the church today.”

In the fall of 2020, Prior will begin teaching students just that at The College. After 20 years in the same place, she is excited to get started. “I'm excited to work with fellow Southern Baptists with whom I know I share so many doctrinal commitments. I feel like I'm going to be sharpened by that and hope that I can sharpen in turn.”

THE CENTERS AT

SOUTHEASTERN

UPCOMING EVENTS

2020

CENTER FOR GREAT COMMISSION STUDIES

AUG. 25

Ministry Fair

SEP. 1-NOV. 30 OCT. 2

Steadfast Vision Art Exhibit Drummond Bush Lecture with Dr. Malcolm Yarnell

SEPT. 28

CENTER FOR FAITH AND CULTURE

PASTOR’S CENTER

Pastor’s Roundtable Breakfast

Seeks to engage culture as salt and light, presenting the Christian faith and demonstrating its implications.

intersectproject.org

Exists to equip and encourage pastors to lead healthy, disciple-making churches for the glory of God.

pastorscenter.org

Exists to mobilize and equip students, faculty and staff in the fulfillment of the Great Comission.

thecgcs.org

House Home A

AWAY FROM

HOW THE COLLEGE HOUSE SYSTEM IS SHAPING STUDENTS FOR A LIFETIME OF DISCIPLESHIP

The House System is transforming The College at Southeastern (The College). Jake Hatfield, director of college life at Southeastern, and any number of students are quick to share how their respective Houses have become like family. Since its foundation in 2016, the House System has provided a space for community and spiritual formation that compliments the education they are receiving throughout their time at Southeastern.

Residence life was not always like this, though.

Before 2016, campus life in the college consisted of basic room and board with R.A.s for each hall. The problem with this model was that college students felt isolated from one another and did not have a sense of ownership and belonging within their own school.

Southeastern cabinet members and staff began discussing what changes could be made to create a more vibrant and inviting place for traditional undergraduate students. Thus, the House System was born.

This spring’s college graduates will be the first class to go through all four years of the House System. This significant milestone marks an important development in the 25-year history of The College, which continues to grow into a community that is both educationally rigorous and spiritually formative.

A PLACE TO CALL HOME

Jesse White is one student who has experienced all four years of college with the House System model. He never imagined he would be part of its leadership until his peers nominated him in 2018. He has seen his time in the House System provide a space for him to both lead his peers with confidence while developing future leaders in the process.

“Being able to participate in the House leadership forced me to grow and be challenged in ways that I would not have chosen on my own,” said White, a senior global studies major in the Judson House, who plans to serve in East Asia for five months following graduation.

Jordan Gibson, a chancellor in the Fuller House, who is currently enrolled in the Hunt Scholars Program, has learned the value of creating a clear vision for his group and delegating responsibility to others.

“It’s been hard, but I feel like it’s been really 32 \ SPRING 2020

rewarding being given the opportunity and the challenge to lead my peers,” said Gibson, who explained that the House System, coupled with his courses in the Hunt Scholars Program, have prepared him well for ministry.

“Being able to participate in the House leadership forced me to grow and be challenged in ways that I would not have chosen on my own.”

The ownership within Southeastern’s House System has become the sustaining force that guides the fouryear residence life program. It is the community where students build friendships that intentionally equip and encourage each other to look more like Christ. Each House has a different name for their House family hangouts. Whether it is Fuller Fam Night, Judson Jam Night, Schaeffer Shenanigans or Liele Koinonia (Greek for fellowship), they all have one thing in common: building a community that is both life-giving and spiritually enriching.

A CULTURE OF DISCIPLESHIP

Discipleship occurs among each House through worship nights, which happen six times a year, and through small groups, led by all 20 House leaders.

These groups incorporate Bible study, prayer and encouragement among smaller segments of the House.

For Katie Baity, a junior in the Schaeffer House, she saw how vulnerability among her peers led to deeper, biblical friendships.

Based on a model from King’s College in New York City, the House System divides itself into four individual Houses—Fuller, Schaeffer, Liele and Judson.

The four Houses are named after heroes of the faith Andrew Fuller, Francis Schaeffer, George Liele and Adoniram Judson.

"Don’t hold everything in. You’re not strong enough to do things on your own anyway,” said Baity. “God tells us that very clearly. [I have seen] how that has helped me not only get through hard times myself but be better at the things that I am called to do. It’s really cool to look back now and see how much I have changed personally through having a close-knit group of girls with me.”

Students not only take time to study the Bible together weekly but also serve together. Each House participates in service projects year-round in Wake Forest and throughout Raleigh-Durham. Likewise, Southeastern offers mission trips throughout the year both nationally and internationally. These include trips to places like towns within the Appalachian Mountains and Southeast Asia, all for the purpose of equipping men and women for the Great Commission task.

The House System is where theological education and spiritual formation meet. However, Hatfield noted that the House System is never intended to replace local church involvement but rather encourage it. He believes it is where Southeastern college students thrive.

“The students that we’ve seen thrive have been the ones who early on have understood that this community at Southeastern is great, but the real formation happens by committing to a local church.”

As the House System celebrates four years, Hatfield looks ahead with anticipation for the continued growth and development of what once was just an idea. Yet, while the program may grow, he understands that the ultimate goal of the House System is still the same: “When they leave here, both in their mind and in their character, we hope they look and smell like Jesus.”

SPRING 2020 / 33

Sarah Shoaf knew The College at Southeastern was the perfect fit for her from the minute she stepped onto campus for Preview Day. “It just felt like home,” recalled Shoaf, a freshman majoring in Christian counseling.

Shoaf is from Thomasville, North Carolina and learned about The College through Wellspring Community Church, where her father, Dan Shoaf, is pastor. Attending Southeastern is transforming the way that she understands her faith and her calling to fulfill the Great Commission through counseling. Without the faithful giving of donors, Shoaf would not be able to manage the workload of school coupled with her job at Milton’s Pizza & Pasta in Wake Forest. “I’m able to focus my time on my work and do everything excellently instead of being stressed out about [how to pay for school],” said Shoaf, who receives both a general scholarship and a scholarship through Christ Baptist Church.

Shoaf’s classes are equipping her to do what she loves most— caring for others by counseling them through personal pain. As she prepares herself for future ministry, Shoaf sees the value generosity has made in her life.

STUDENT FEATURE

Sarah Shoaf, Christian Counseling Major

Southeastern is giving me not only the tools and the specialized knowledge for what I want to do but the confidence to step out in what I believe.

34 \ SPRING 2020

FEATURED

BECAUSE YOU GIVE, WE

FOR THE MISSION. WAYS TO GIVE Online

Matching Gifts Many companies offer their employees a gift-matching program. The percentages and amounts may vary, but you can inquire with your respective Human Resources Office to see if this is available to you. This is a great way to maximize your giving to Southeastern!

SEBTS.EDU/GIVE Cash or Check Please make checks payable to Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and send to the address below: Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Attn: Financial and Alumni Development P.O. Box 1889 | Wake Forest, NC 27588

FEATURED

IRA Give a tax-free gift to Southeastern directly from your IRA. IRA distributions to Southeastern qualify for the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD). You must be age 70 1/2 or older and the annual maximum donation is $100,000.

Donor Advised Funds Donor-advised funds are tremendous giving vehicles that allow donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from their fund over time.These funds are established at a public charity, and there are numerous organizations (including faith-based organizations) that provide this service across the country for donors to choose from when opening a fund.

Stock When you donate appreciated securities, both the gift amount and charitable deduction are the fair market value of the stock and there is no capital gains tax.

SPRING 2020 / 35

At the Office

with Dr. Pace

Some know Scott Pace as a compelling preacher, a caring professor and, most notably, the newest dean of The College at Southeastern. Take some time to chat with him in his office one day, and you’ll learn much more. His shelves are lined with sports memorabilia, like the photo he took with Duke University’s Coach K., the size 18 shoes that were worn and signed

by Kevin Durant and the photo of Michael Jordan from his early days playing for the University of North Carolina. Just as striking is the prominent display of his grandfather’s Bible. Pace can show you the page where his grandfather marked the 49 times he read through the Scriptures completely. Just as Pace’s grandfather influenced him, he aspires to influence a new generation of students seeking to fulfill God’s call on their lives. Dr. Pace set aside some time to share his thoughts on how he hopes to see college students capitalize on their season of life by serving the Church and fulfilling the Great Commission.

36 \ SPRING 2020

You were appointed to serve as dean of The College last June.

How has it been so far?

I probably go home three or four days a week thinking, “Man, I love what I do!” Usually, it’s for different reasons. Some days it’s because of an interaction I had with a student.

Some days it’s because we make progress on an initiative. Sometimes it’s with faculty. It’s been, at some moments, overwhelming, but it’s been extremely gratifying and fulfilling. I don’t think I realized just how much I was missing working with college students and being able to speak into that area of our school.

To now have the responsibility and privilege to oversee that—I’m humbled by it.

What is a book that you would recommend to students?

A book that was really formative, in terms of ministry, for me was by Kent and Barbara Hughes called “Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome.” I read that

This article is edited for length and clarity.

book early on in my ministry, and it changed my whole perspective.

In terms of spiritual formation, I’d recommend “Knowing God” by J.I. Packer and Donald Whitney’s “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life.”

What were the formative lessons you learned in college?

My junior and senior years, I was involved in the local church at Providence Baptist, and I had the opportunity to be a part of a thriving young adult ministry there. The most valuable part of that is it helped me discern my gifts. That’s where I began to see my calling in life. I also learned the value of being a witness, a quiet influence and how to live with people under the same roof who didn’t hold the same views as me.

What is something you hope students come away with upon leaving Southeastern?

I hope what they graduate and leave with is a heart that’s been

FEATURED

1

2

3

4

1. Diet Sun Drop, Pace’s drink of choice 3. Bibles, commentaries and books line Pace’s shelves formed and shaped for Jesus and for people. I don’t think they’ll be able to maintain it or fulfill God’s plan for their lives if they don’t keep the fire stoked for intimacy with Christ and a genuine love for people.

What unique ways can college students be a part of fulfilling the Great Commission in their stage of life?

FEATURED

2. Pace has collected Duke memorabilia throughout the years 4. Preaching by the Book, which Pace published in 2018

Being on mission with the local church. That’s crucial; it’s vital. I remember one of our leaders here, years ago said, “I actually pray that all of you who are called to be church leaders would be filled with church members that are as active in the local church as you are while you’re here in school.” The other thing I would say is, don’t waste

your breaks. Whether it’s Christmas break or spring break or summer break, leverage those on mission. I think that’ll help continue to cultivate that missional mindset. As you prepare for your vocation, continue to try discerning more of how that vocation is going to be used as part of the Great Commission.

SPRING 2020 / 37

GRADUATION SPOTLIGHT How D.Min. graduate Ramón Osorio is equipping Hispanic church planters to fulfill the Great Commission Ramón Osorio is no stranger to the world of church planting. After serving as a pastor and church planter for two decades, Osorio now serves as the national church mobilizer for the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) Hispanic church plants. It’s a responsibility he does not take lightly. His experience has taught him that churches form as a result of disciples being made.

“The Great Commission is to make disciples, and as you make disciples, churches will start,” said Osorio. “In ministry, I really hope that churches will catch the vision of making disciples of all nations and in the process that they would reach more people.”

Osorio, who now lives in the Atlanta area near NAMB’s Alpharetta headquarters, grew up in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He remembers what it was like to be religious without a true relationship with God. Osorio’s family was Roman Catholic, and he went to a Christian high school where he learned more about who God was.

Despite all of this, it was not until after college that he surrendered his life to Christ. Osorio was more than ready to pursue life in the business world. In 1999, God totally changed the direction of his life. “In the midst of [building my career], I knew that the Lord was calling me to serve him in ministry,” Osorio said.

He remembers packing up his belongings and moving nearly 3,000 miles with his wife and two daughters from Tegucigalpa, Honduras to Louisville, Kentucky to plant in 2000. Over the course of 13 years, Osorio planted Amistad y Vida Hispanic Church and Highview Baptist Church Campus La Respuesta in Louisville.

In 2013, Osorio joined the team at NAMB. He knew how to connect with bivocational church planters, but felt that he lacked the training he needed to work strategically among the 3,500 Hispanic church plants that exist within the Southern Baptist Convention. This is what prompted him to pursue his Doctor of Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS).

As a self-described “get it done kind of guy,” the D.Min. program at SEBTS was exactly the kind of training on which this church planting strategist thrived.

“I loved the fact that it was a really good combination between theory and practicality,” said Osorio. Now he is using his training to train other pastors to think strategically about their church plants. Osario explained that one of the greatest struggles Hispanic church planters

38 \ SPRING 2020

have is thinking through the processes of making disciples and developing leaders within the local church.

Part of the difficulty is due to how many planters serve bivocationally, creating less time for ministry responsibilities. This is where Osorio’s strategic training is helping pastors best use their time for ministry.

Osorio hopes that with the right training more pastors can learn what it looks like to lead multiplying churches. Mike Dodson, Osorio’s major professor and assistant professor of church planting and evangelism, saw tremendous growth throughout Osorio’s time in the D.Min. program.

“Going through the D.Min. program has transformed the way Ramón strategically approaches his ministry at NAMB as he works to multiply the hope of the gospel among ethnic churches and peoples across North America,” said Dodson, who also serves as associate director of North American missions of the Center for Great Commission Studies at SEBTS and multiplication pipeline specialist for NAMB. Osorio will be the first to tell you that pursing an advanced degree is not about the accolades; it’s about being better equipped to fulfill the Great Commission no matter the location.

“In ministry, somebody who is going for a doctoral degree has two reasons: (1) the love of learning and (2) the ability to fulfill their ministry with better tools,” he said.

Charles Harvey, director of Doctor of Ministry programs at SEBTS, has witnessed this firsthand in Osorio’s time at Southeastern. “Dr. Osorio contributed greatly in the classroom with his experience, insights, and comradery and demonstrated an infectious and uplifting spirit among the students and faculty. Ramon represents the kind of D.Min. graduate we want representing our program and school. We hope his association with our program will continue in the D.Min. work with Spanish speaking ministers.”

SEBTS now has 11 specialized D.Min. programs, ranging from expository preaching to biblical counseling.

To learn more about these and other degree programs at SEBTS, visit sebts.edu/academics.

FEATURED

In ministry, somebody who is going for a doctoral degree has two reasons: the love of learning and the ability to fulfill their ministry with better tools.

- Dr. Ramรณn Osorio

Doctor of Ministry, Fall 2019 National Church Mobilizer for Hispanic Church Plants, NAMB

D.MIN.

Doctor of Ministry

TAUGHT BY GREAT COMMISSION FACULTY

31

HOURS

3-6

YEAR

PROGRAM

COHORT LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

TOTAL ON-CAMPUS MEETINGS DESIGNED TO FIT A BUSY MINISTRY SCHEDULE The Doctor of Ministry degree program is designed for those in active vocational ministry to receive advanced training that maximizes their effectiveness in ministry.

Learn more at sebts.edu/dmin

FOR THE STUDENTS

FOR THE FACULTY

85 percent raised, amounting to a total of $1,270,511.

78 percent raised, amounting to a total of $2,346,594.

God has given Southeastern a distinct vision of being a school committed to training Christians for Great Commission work. Every year, Southeastern sends 500 gospel-prepared warriors to join over 16,000 graduates who are on mission for Christ and advancing the kingdom of God. On April 10, 2019, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary launched For the Mission: 4 Years, 4 Strategic Initiatives, For the Glory of God. The purpose of the campaign is to raise $20.5 million to fund multiple projects that serve to aid in the Great Commission work of

Southeastern. These projects include a new dining hall, renovations to Simmons Hall to provide campus housing, financial aid, the Southeastern Fund and faculty endowments. With your help, Southeastern can continue to fulfill its mission by preparing the next generation of pastors, counselors and community leaders to serve in towns and cities in North Carolina, across the nation and around the world. Southeastern has raised more than half of its total goal for the campaign as of February 2020 thanks to many generous donors.

“

Southeastern exists to glorify the Lord

Jesus Christ

by equipping students

to serve the Church

”

and fulfill t he

Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

4 YEARS | 4 STRATEGIC INITIATIVES | FOR THE GLORY OF GOD

FOR THE CAMPUS

FOR THE CAUSE

35 percent raised, amounting to a total of $2,941,652.

65 percent raised, amounting to a total of $4,912,218.

FOR THE STUDENTS

FOR THE FACULTY TOTAL RAISED

AMOUNT

$11,470,975

85

%

78%

35

%

65%

FOR THE CAMPUS

FOR THE CAUSE TOTAL RAISED

PERCENT

56%

Learn more at ForTheMission.com

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.” Acts 1:8 ESV

JOIN ING H I S WOR K A C ollege a t Sou t heas tern S t uden t On Mis sion in E as tern Eur ope Callie Beasley, a junior at The College at Southeastern (The College), remembers feeling called to go to Eastern Europe like it was yesterday.

It wasn’t her first choice. In fact, it was her last.

Staying in North Carolina for the summer was a much more realistic option for her. Staying allowed her to be a bridesmaid in her best friend’s wedding and stay near family. However, during her interview at Camp Caraway’s Summer Ministries Interview Weekend, she answered the question, “How do you know God’s will for your life?” The answer was simple: God’s will can be found in God’s Word. Ironically, that was exactly how God was going to call her to Budapest.

“For a week, I just fought God. I had this list of very compelling reasons why I shouldn’t go to Hungary,”

42 \ SPRING 2020

Beasley remembers. As she continued to pray, the Lord began to call to mind the Great Commission. She began to feel as if the Lord was asking her, “Callie, how do you know my will for you? Matthew 28:19-20, ‘Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.’” As she wrestled with God in prayer she came to a realization. “[If] I really believe that people are dying and going to Hell, then I can’t stay in the States this summer no matter how much my list of very good reasons makes sense,” said Beasley.

Walking in Obedience

In the summer of 2018, Beasley left for Hungary, Romania and Ukraine, cautiously optimistic of how the Lord would use her and what he wanted to teach her.

FEATURED

Beasley and her teammates worked with the Roma people, a widely marginalized group in Hungary. The team hosted day camps for children in which they told them about American life, played games and, most importantly, taught them stories from the Bible.

Beasley was reminded of Corrie Ten Boom’s famous statement, “Sometimes you don’t realize that Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” This statement encompassed the ever-present reality of the Lord throughout Beasley’s summer in Eastern Europe.

In moments of fear, uncertainty and consistent unfamiliarity, Jesus was the only constant in her life.

It was during this time that Beasley, an English major, began to see the value of storytelling and mission.

Beasley’s love of stories coupled with her love for working with underserved children has given her a desire to give a voice to the voiceless.

“I’ve always been really passionate about making sure every voice is heard, and my time overseas really [influenced] that,” said Beasley.

Future Ministry

Beasley is hoping to continue her education by pursuing both her master’s and doctoral degrees. While she is not yet sure the specific path the Lord is calling her to take next, she knows that it will involve teaching

He loves us, and part of his love for us is letting us join him in the work he’s doing others and helping them know Christ more deeply, whether they are age 5 or 50.

“There’s something about taking these big, deep, theological truths about God and trying to make [them] as simple as possible that I feel like is so beautiful,” said Beasley. “I feel like kids are capable of a lot more than we think they are.”

Though the road to and from Eastern Europe was filled with great sacrifice, walking in obedience to the Lord’s call brings surpassing joy. Beasley sees this invitation to live on mission as a sweet gift from God. “He loves us, and part of his love for us is letting us join him in the work he’s doing.”

EXPERIENCE SOUTHEASTERN Engage in gospel-centered teaching with exceptional faculty Tour Southeastern’s historic campus Experience a classroom driven by world-class curriculum Learn what it means to be a Great Commission student

VISIT US FOR PREVIEW DAY SEMINARY | SEPT. 4 sebts.edu/preview COLLEGE | NOV. 6 collegeatsoutheastern.com/preview

FEATURED

SPRING 2020 / 43

NEW AND UPCOMING

SOUTHEASTERN

40 Questions About The Great Commission

THEOLOGICA L REV IEW

Daniel L. Akin, Benjamin L. Merkle, George G. Robinson Kregel Academic, 2020 Jesus’ Great Commission is one of the key pillars of the church’s evangelistic work and has been the guiding principle for missionaries throughout church history. In “40 Questions about the Great Commission,” scholars Daniel Akin, Benjamin Merkle and George Robinson unpack the meaning, history, theology and practical applications of Jesus’ command to go and make disciples. Ideal for personal or group study, this volume will reignite your passion for evangelism.

Academic Excellence for Thoughtful Ministry Leaders

Available now from

This free resource is perfect for pastor-theologians and Christian academics. This spring’s journal is full of topnotch Evangelical scholarship on Scripture and theology, as well as book reviews of the most significant current titles.

Read or download your copy at

southeasternreview.com

or

Christ-Centered Exposition Exalting Jesus in The Sermon on the Mount

The Gospel of Our King Bible, Worldview, and the Mission of Every Christian

Daniel L. Akin

Bruce Riley Ashford and Heath A. Thomas

Holman Reference, 2019

Baker Academic, 2019

They Will Run and Not Grow Weary 52 Devotions to Lighten Your Running Load

Priesthood of All Believers

David Alan Black

Stephen Eccher

Energion Publications, 2019

In The Legacy of the Reformation, 2019

The Theological Intention of the Reformers and a Subsequent Crisis in Application

FAC U LT Y WOR K S The Future Inheritance of Land in the Pauline Epistles

Building a Marriage to Last Five Essential Habits for Couples

Miguel Echevarria

Brad Hambrick

Pickwick Publications, 2019

New Growth Press, 2020

CAMPUS STORE

M-F 9 am - 4 pm SAT 11 am - 2 pm Daily Life in Old Testament Israel Chip Hardy In The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary, 2020

Exegetical Gems from Biblical Hebrew A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation Chip Hardy Baker Academic, 2019

SEBTS.EDU/LOCKER 24/7

USE THE CODE

sebtsmagazine TO GET 15% OFF YOUR ONLINE ORDER NOW THROUGH 12/31/2020

Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture Chuck Lawless and William F. Cook III B&H Academic, 2019

Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek A Refreshing Guide to Grammar and Interpretation Benjamin L. Merkle Baker Academic, 2019

Find More Money Increase Your Income to Tackle Debt, Save Wisely, and Live Generously

For God So Loved the World A Blueprint for Kingdom Diversity

Art Rainer

Walter R. Strickland II and Dayton Hartman

B&H Books, Feb. 2020

B&H Academic, June 2020

To purchase these or other SEBTS faculty works, visit sebts.edu/books

Leave A Legacy of Faith The Timothy Society exists for supporters of Southeastern Seminary to make an impact though legacy giving dedicated to equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.

Training gospel-ready champions requires the support of Christians who believe in this mission. When the time comes that you are home with Christ, your support can continue to make a Great Commission impact for those in need of the gospel.

Become a part of the Timothy Society by including Southeastern in your estate planning.

“

As a Southeastern graduate, my education and current ministry for our great God is a direct result of those faithful givers that planned years before I arrived in Wake Forest.

Richard Lee,

Southeastern Alumnus ’04

Commander, United States Navy Chaplain Corps

To join or for more information, visit sebts.edu/give or email jgoforth@sebts.edu

A LASTING

IMPACT

Timothy Society Members Leave a Legacy of Faithfulness eorge Harvey has seen the lasting impact of legacy giving firsthand. “If you want to put it down to pure, monetary return on investment, it’s a tremendous return,” said Harvey, who has served for 30 years as Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary’s director of planned giving and general counsel. “You’re multiplying your impact tremendously.”

Harvey came to Southeastern on June 5, 1989. He was practicing law in Raleigh when his friend invited him to attend the 1986 SBC annual meeting amid the Conservative Resurgence. It was at this meeting that Harvey began seeing the tremendous effect seminaries had on Southern Baptist churches across the globe. He knew then that the most strategic way to create change within the Convention and to make an impact throughout the world would come through these institutions.

“The key to theological orthodoxy was in our educational systems,” said Harvey. “I said, ‘If I ever get a chance to do something about it, I will.’”

For 30 years, he has. Since then, Harvey has played a crucial role in establishing two major giving societies.

The Southeastern Society began in 1995 (then called the Board of Visitors). This pool of 23 donors has grown to over 355, who have given over $27 million to support students as they are equipped to serve the Church and fulfill the Great Commission.

In 2011, Southeastern established the Timothy Society for supporters of the seminary who choose to invest in Great Commission work through planned giving.

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT SOUTHEASTERN

The members of the Timothy Society will leave a lasting legacy through their planned gift because a planned gift allows everyone to be a major donor. These planned gifts will provide funding for students to be theologically trained with sound doctrine and a global focus to reach all nations with the gospel. Donors can designate gifts to the Timothy Society through a number of ways, and Southeastern’s Financial and Alumni Development Office is ready to help people take that next step. By allowing Southeastern Seminary to become beneficiaries, donors are leaving a legacy that far exceeds their lifetime.

As Southeastern has grown its student population to more than 4,500, support from generous donors has grown as well. Harvey has been amazed as donors surpass giving thresholds decade after decade, from hundreds of thousands to now giving millions of dollars to Great Commission impact. Harvey also explained that it’s not just the wealthy who make an impact but those who are generous even with a little in this lifetime. These kinds of donors inspire him. “Their commitment strengthens my commitment,” said Harvey, who explained that he and his wife have been donors themselves for the past 30 years.

They have watched as the Lord has multiplied their giving in the lives of countless students through the Ann and George Harvey Student Aid Fund. Ultimately, Harvey believes that for potential and existing donors, there is no greater fulfillment than leaving a Great Commission legacy for generations to come.

“You’ve been a faithful, committed Christian all your life,” noted Harvey. “What’s your lasting testimony going to be?”

SPRING 2020 / 47

Stay Connected!

Hey

Alumni!

Find and reminisce with fellow graduates, see what they have been up to and stay in touch.

Leverage your professional network to get introduced to people you should know.

Introduce, employ & offer to act as a mentor to fellow alumni.

Expand Your Network!

Give Back!

southeastern network.com free for alums!

MAKE AN IMPACT

You’ll Help Future Alumni Go Your membership dues, $50 per year or $600 lifetime, help us equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission while keeping tuition affordable for students.

JOIN THE GIVING SOCIETY EXCLUSIVELY FOR ALUMNI

You’ll receive these great benefits: • Audit courses for free • Retain access to the ATLA Religion Database • Retain access to the Share Shop • Join an intramural sports team • 50% Off transcripts • 40% Off on conference registrations at SEBTS • 10% Discount at the Locker • Use of Ledford Center Fitness Room

For more info or to join the Alumni Association, connect with us @

sebts.edu/saa 919.761.2293 alumni@sebts.edu

WHO I’M BECOMING:

How the College Equipped One Graduate For A Life of Great Commission Service No concept resonates more with Jonathan Parnell as he thinks back on his time at The College at Southeastern (The College) than this: the primacy of Scripture. Parnell graduated from The College in 2008. Today, he serves as pastor of Cities Church in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and the North American Mission Board’s Send City missionary for the Twin Cities. “Southeastern prepared me so well to get the most I could out of my seminary experience,” said Parnell. “That [education is] also what instilled in me the value of the primacy of the Word of God, which has been the central piece of our church.”

THE CALL TO PREPARE

Parnell grew up 30 minutes east of Raleigh and attended a small Baptist college where he could play baseball and major in art. Ministry and seminary training were certainly options on the table, but it was not until 2003 that he decided to pursue theological education. While Parnell attended his undergraduate religion class, he came away feeling unimpressed. He came away wanting more. “I felt a strong desire in my heart... to learn the Bible,” said Parnell.

“I want to teach the Bible. I want to help people see Jesus in the Bible as a pastor.”

In the Spring of 2004, Parnell walked away from baseball and an art degree. However, he walked into a community much more vibrant and a ministerial pursuit more significant than himself. “I got [to The College], and I was immediately surrounded by friends who cared deeply about their walk with God, and I had not ever been around friends like that,” said Parnell.

He learned early on in his time at The College the importance of maintaining a posture of repentance in ministry. As he listened to chapel speakers stand up before students and warn them of the potential for moral downfall in ministry, the Lord prompted Parnell to form a habit that lasted throughout his days in The College. After chapel, he would head to the library to pray and journal what he described as “appropriate trepidation for ministry and a pattern of earnest prayer for God’s mercy.” It’s a habit that he has carried beyond the confines of the Wake Forest campus to his church in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

FEATURED

The Call to Church Planting

During his time at The College, Parnell began reading the book “Desiring God”

by John Piper upon the recommendation of his professor, Bruce Ashford.

After Parnell graduated from The College in 2007, he began an elder training apprenticeship at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis. While there, he served with Bethlehem’s small group ministry team and then for Desiring God’s website as a content editor and writer. Amid many ministry opportunities in the Twin Cities, Parnell and his wife, Melissa, sensed the call to church plant in Minneapolis in 2010. However, Parnell noted that this wasn’t a new sense of calling.

He said that he “caught the church planting bug from friends I had at Southeastern.” On January 21, 2015, the idea became a reality as Cities Church opened its doors for the first time. For the first couple of years, Parnell and his congregation met at Minnehaha Academy. However, on August 2, 2017, the church and city at large faced a tragedy as the building exploded from a gas leak. While the explosion harmed no church members, the church was forced to become “nomadic,” as Parnell described it. Despite this and other times where Cities Church faced hardship, their church has now grown to a weekly attendance of over 500.

As the congregation celebrates their five-year birthday, now in their own building, the centrality of God’s Word continues to be a theme that has carried over from Southeastern. “The thing I think I’ve learned most as a pastor is the primacy of God’s Word,” said Parnell. “The preaching of the Word—if it’s to lead to worship—is the heartbeat of the church. The preaching of the Word is central to worship.” As Parnell looks back on his time in college, his most significant encouragement to students today is to remember that theological education is not about information but formation.

“It’s not about what I know; it’s about who I’m becoming,” said Parnell, explaining that this very sentiment is the premise of the book, “How to Stay Christian in Seminary,” which he co-authored with David Mathis in 2014. Who Parnell became—church planter, writer, and pastor—began with a young College at Southeastern student praying in the library with a notebook after chapel.

SPRING 2020 / 49

The centrality of the gospel in all things. I remember being a college student reading about this profound concept. I was absolutely blown away by the idea that God’s redemption in Christ wasn’t simply my “get out of Hell free card,” but a profound truth that would revolutionize my life and the whole of my Christian thinking. What now seems so elementary at the time was revolutionary. When I arrived at Southeastern Seminary and The College at Southeastern, I was struck by this same profound gospel focus. As I @SEBTSAlumbegan my studies at Southeastern, Dr. Akin was beating the drum of Great Commission emphasis. His call for Southeastern to be a Great Commission school, with a Great Commission faculty, which produces Great Commission graduates was and continues to be the resounding message.

At Southeastern, the Great Commission is not merely an obligatory command, but it is rooted in the centrality of the gospel. Our love for Christ and the reality of his death, burial and resurrection produces for us an impetus to make disciples. This reality drives every component of the educational and preparatory processes, and it forces our students to be confronted and challenged with both God’s gospel and his mission.

The centrality of the gospel and the Great Commission focus is the distinctive of Southeastern Seminary

A Letter From the Director

and The College at Southeastern.

There is no better school at wedding together these emphases. For this reason, I am convinced that there is no better place to send students and to invest financially.

As this year marks the 25th anniversary of The College at Southeastern and the 70th anniversary of the Seminary, we find ourselves in the midst of our For the Mission campaign, an initiative that will strategically position Southeastern to more effectively train and send generations of students to come. As you reflect on the mission and ministries in which you will invest and give your life to support I want to encourage you to find an organization that holds the gospel of Jesus as central in all things and his mission to make disciples as a key outworking of this great gospel. What I am confident in is that Southeastern Seminary and The College at Southeastern is unwavering in its commitment to the gospel and God’s mission of redemption. So, would you join us in helping fund For the Mission?

Jonathan Six

Director of Financial and Alumni Development

Southeastern received $7.7 million last year because of Southern Baptist churches like yours committed to the spread of the gospel to all nations, tribes and tongues.

www.sbc.net/cp

Dr. Akin invites you to

MEET

Southeastern

MEET SOUTHEASTERN gives prospective donors the opportunity to get an up-close look at what our school is all about. By coming to campus, they will learn more about how the Lord is working through our students to reach

the nations with the gospel and what it looks like to partner together to accomplish this goal.

This event includes an overview of the history of the school, a campus tour, a faculty panel and dinner with President Danny Akin.

“

I want to personally invite you to join us for Meet Southeastern.

Come and see for yourself how God is using Southeastern to accomplish the Great Commission. I hope to meet you there.

- Danny Akin

For future dates and more information Email Becca Warren at bwarren@sebts.edu

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

Every year at the Southern Baptist Convention, Southeastern hosts the best event in town for our Alumni & Friends. Unfortunately, this year's Convention is cancelled out of concern for the health and safety of messengers and attendees.

However, the Southeastern Alumni&Friends event is still on!

Join us at the

Join us for a time of encouragement, worship, and an update on all things Southeastern!

Southeastern Alumni&Friends

Wednesday

June 10

12

pm You don't want to miss this!

Sign up today at register.sebts.edu