FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) — Jeff Iorg, president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee, challenged Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) graduates at their fall commencement on Dec. 6 to remain committed to God’s eternal mission of bringing the gospel to the lost.

Almost 300 graduates, representing a variety of degree programs as well as 24 countries and 33 states and U.S. territories, were awarded degrees and certificates.

“Graduates, God has called you and equipped you to serve Him, including allowing you to receive a world-class education at this outstanding seminary,” said Iorg, who himself received the doctor of ministry from Southwestern in 1990. “He has given you the privilege of leadership in the greatest endeavor in history: the pursuit of God’s eternal mission.”

Reading from Ephesians 3:8-13, Iorg emphasized the eternal, inclusive, enlightening and demanding qualities of God’s mission for His people and the church.

“Christians seem to have an inborn disposition to be on mission. Our challenge is staying on the right mission, a mission centered on God’s eternal purpose,” Iorg said, adding human needs and injustice can often lead believers to pursue separate missions concerning current but temporary needs.

While there are other missions that Iorg said are worthy of limited attention, listing areas of focus such as political activism, social justice, denominational reform and doctrinal conformity, he said each of these falls far short of God’s eternal mission of bringing the gospel to every person and can even become a distraction from it. Even if Christians brought resolution to each of these other areas perfectly, Iorg said it still would not solve the issue of the world’s separation from God.

“In our imaginary world, people die happy,” Iorg said after describing a world that had ideal leadership, no injustice and churches perfectly united. “But they would still be dead in their sin and separated from God. … As seminary graduates rising in leadership, responsibility and stature, you have both the privilege and responsibility of keeping your focus and the focus of the people you lead on God’s eternal mission.”

Just as Paul’s goal expressed in Ephesians was to share the gospel of Christ with anyone, including the gentiles, Iorg said the gospel today is also intended for anyone, no matter their race, culture, language, background, political stance or immoral lifestyle.

“In short, our message is for lost people,” Iorg said. “Lost people are not the enemy. Lost people are the people that Jesus loves. Lost people are the mission field, and the gospel is for every one of them.”

Iorg also said God’s eternal and inclusive mission is one of enlightenment, revealing the mystery of the gospel of Jesus Christ which resulted in the universal church, uniting redeemed individuals in their allegiance to Christ in a way that seems irrational to those outside the church.

Iorg described the church as a diamond with unlimited facets, each facet representing the broken people from every background who become something beautiful by God’s grace and wisdom in His church.

“The gospel brings light to our world and supernatural change to us and reflects these changes and the glory of God, in all of His glory, as the church,” Iorg said.

In conclusion, Iorg said God’s mission is also a demanding one, pointing out Paul’s own willingness to suffer for the sake of sharing the gospel.

“Graduates, when you fulfill God’s eternal mission, the afflictions are worth it,” Iorg said. “Whatever God’s mission costs you in this life, knowing people will experience eternity in God’s presence because of your witness of the gospel makes every hardship endurable.”

The commencement ceremony also included times of prayer for the graduating class, as Texas Baptist College Dean Carl Bradford, Board of Trustees Chairman Jonathan Richard and Research Doctoral Studies Director Joshua Williams each voiced a prayer for the graduates as they continue in their pursuit of God’s calling.

Iorg served as the president of Gateway Seminary for 20 years and as the executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention for 10 years. Prior to those roles, he was a pastor and church planter. Iorg was named a distinguished alumnus of Southwestern in 2022.