WAKE FOREST, N.C. (BP) — For Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and Judson College, the year 2024 brought with it significant milestones and celebrations in the institution’s history, increased partnerships with local churches and a continued emphasis on the Great Commission of King Jesus.

During the May and December graduations, a total of 539 students graduated as Southeastern and Judson alumni. Full-time enrollment, as of July 31, reached 5,053 students, and charitable giving far surpassed the year before, with over $8.5 million raised in support of the institution, its students and the mission.

Looking back on the many ways God has been at work, here are 10 highlights from this previous year:

The Akins’ 20th anniversary at Southeastern

In January, Southeastern celebrated the 20-year anniversary of President Danny and Mrs. Charlotte Akin, honoring their faithful Great Commission service to the school. At events throughout the year, the Southeastern family expressed their deep appreciation for the Akins — their commitment to the mission, to the students of Southeastern and to the authoritative, inerrant Word of God.

During the trustees’ spring meeting, the Charlotte Akin Student Aid Fund was established in Mrs. Akin’s honor, supplying financial assistance to full-time students who have received care from the Baptist Children’s Homes (BCH) of North Carolina, South Carolina, or Georgia — a cause that is dear to Mrs. Akin as a former resident of a Baptist Children’s Home.

During Southeastern’s alumni and friends luncheon at the 2024 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) annual meeting, students and faculty shared testimonies of the impact that Dr. Akin has had, not only on the culture and mission of the institution, but also on the individual lives of so many students and faculty.

“I feel honored,” Akin shared at the banquet, “that God, in His kindness, has allowed Charlotte and me to have 20 years here at the most wonderful school, I believe, in the world.”

The year in mission trips; Global Missions Week

As an expression of the Great Commission vision that the Akins have championed over the past 20 years, Global Missions Week in February was one of the highlights of the year for the Southeastern community. Each year, this week is a clear reminder of why ministry preparation, theological equipping and church engagement are so vital. During the week, students learned about opportunities to serve with the International Mission Board (IMB) and North American Mission Board (NAMB), connecting with missionaries, hearing testimonies from the field and dedicating time to pray for the unreached and those sent to reach them.

This past calendar year the Center for Great Commission Studies facilitated a total of 10 mission trips, taking students and faculty to locations around the world where they shared the gospel, served IMB missionaries on the field and worked alongside Southeastern alumni who have dedicated years of their lives to the proclamation of the good news of Jesus Christ.

Serving the local church

As a Great Commission institution, Southeastern believes that seminary was never meant to take the place of the local church. In fact, the work of spiritual formation and commissioning for ministry is the responsibility of the church and its leaders, which is why Southeastern partners with local churches to equip students to make disciples.

To better serve and partner with local churches, Southeastern announced its new Southeastern Church Fellowship, which promotes cooperation among churches and between churches and the seminary through networking, collaboration and learning events.  Southeastern was also excited to announce its new Small Group Leader Training Go Certificate — designed to equip leaders in the local church to make disciples in a small group setting.

Extending this local church focus worldwide, Southeastern hosted its first Asian Strategic Partnership Summit to discuss mission partnerships and opportunities for theological education among Asian communities in the U.S. and in East and Southeast Asian countries.

Equipping local leaders to serve their churches, Southeastern faculty taught at several regional training events throughout the year, including the Leading Through Preaching Bible Conference at Fruitland Baptist Bible College and Southeastern’s sixth Associational Mission Strategist (AMS) Conference on the theme of missional vitality.

Announcing Judson College

This fall Southeastern celebrated the renaming of its undergraduate program to Judson College, an announcement made in October following a unanimous vote by the Southeastern board of trustees.

The name Judson College honors Adoniram Judson, pioneer Baptist missionary in the early 1800’s to Burma (modern-day Myanmar), whose life, ministry and mission perfectly reflect the college’s mission to equip students to give their lives for the cause of Christ in the church, among the nations and in every aspect of society.

Following the announcement, Southeastern and Judson students, family, faculty and staff gathered on the quad for a celebration lunch and the unveiling of the official Judson sign outside Appleby Hall, the primary building for undergraduate studies. This renaming coincided with the college’s 30-year anniversary, which was also celebrated as the second consecutive year of unprecedented enrollment growth for the college.

Ledford Student Center renovations

As God calls increasing numbers of students to study at Southeastern Seminary and Judson College, Southeastern continues to update and expand its campus buildings. Due to the overwhelming generosity of Southeastern donors, this year Southeastern began a major renovation project on the Ledford Student Center, a central hub for student activity and community. These renovations were announced in April during the trustees’ spring visit and set into motion with an official groundbreaking ceremony behind Ledford.

Construction work began during the summer term, and by the fall semester the first half of the expansions were completed with a renovated kitchen and cafeteria as well as an expanded dining space. The second phase of renovations are scheduled for completion in 2025 with newly updated work-out facilities, an event space and outdoor seating. 

Inaugural Engaging Exposition Preaching Conference

This year Southeastern also welcomed over 150 guests to campus for its first Engaging Exposition Preaching Conference, with this year’s theme being the pastor’s character. This annual conference reflects Southeastern’s heart to see local church leaders equipped to faithfully exposit and preach the authoritative, inerrant and infallible Word of God — the focus of President Akin’s Adams Lectures in the spring.

Hosted by Southeastern’s Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership, this year’s Engaging Exposition conference welcomed pastors and church leaders from surrounding states who heard from key speakers Robert Smith Jr., Jimmy Scroggins, James Merritt and Scott Pace. Next year’s theme for the conference will address “The Preacher’s Commission.”

Women’s prison programs established

This year Southeastern also significantly expanded its prison programs, celebrating the launch of two new programs to equip incarcerated women as ambassadors for Christ in the prison system.

In February, these newly enrolled students attended their first convocation at the North Carolina Correctional Institution for Women — less than 20 miles from Southeastern’s Wake Forest campus. Later in August, Southeastern launched a sister program in Florida at Lowell Correctional Institute in Marion County, the largest women’s prison in the state of Florida and the only Florida prison with inmates on death row. The Marion County Extension Center welcomed its first incoming class of 20 new students, eager to pursue training for ministry and gospel proclamation in their context.

Faculty updates

As the Southeastern family celebrated many blessings this year, it also grieved and honored the memory and homegoing of one of its beloved college professors, Adrianne Miles, professor of English and linguistics. Miles passed away after a faith-filled battle with cancer, leaving a deep impact on the lives of countless individuals, including many students, staff and coworkers.

Southeastern celebrates its faculty and the many ways in which they serve and support the institution as teachers, mentors and department heads. This year the following changes occurred:

• Keith Harper, senior professor of church history, retired after 28 years of teaching.
• Kelly D. King was hired as visiting professor of Christian ministry.
• Deanna Rogers was hired as assistant professor of English.
• Craig Williams was hired as professor of business and coordinator for business programs.
• Steven McKinion, professor of theology and patristic studies and John Leadley Dagg chair of systematic theology, was named director of Ph.D. and ThM studies at Southeastern.
• Benjamin Quinn, associate professor of theology and history of ideas, was named director of the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture.
• Kristin Kellen, associate professor of biblical counseling, was named director of EdD studies.
• Scott Pace, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry, provost, and dean of graduate studies, was installed in the Jim Shaddix Chair of Expository Preaching, which was established in honor of the ministry and impact of senior professor of preaching, Jim Shaddix.

New faculty books

As world-class faculty, Southeastern’s professors exhibit not only a passion for academic excellence but also a zeal for discipleship. As they seek to equip and prepare students as experts in their disciplines, Southeastern professors are great champions of the work of Christ and His Great Commission.

This year the faculty released a wide variety of published works. These titles included:

• “Expositional Leadership” by Scott Pace and Jim Shaddix
• “Zwingli the Pastor” by Steven Eccher
• “Christian Academic Writing” by Ben Merkle and Adrianne Miles
• “1 John: A New Testament Greek Reader” by Benjamin Merkle
• “10 Women Who Changed the World” by Danny Akin
•  “Engaging the New Testament” by Miguel Echevarría
•  “Transformative Friendships,” “Overcoming Addiction” and “Navigating Destructive Relationships” by Brad Hambrick
• “The Way of Christ in Culture” by Benjamin Quinn
• “The Work of Christ” by John Hammett and Chuck Quarles
• “Faith and Science” by Kenneth Keathley
• “What Is Reality?” by Ross Inman
• “God Is Great, God Is Good” by Scott Hildreth  
• “Swing Low” by Walter Strickland 
• “40 Questions About Suffering and Evil” by Greg Welty

New year, same mission

The turn of a new year is an opportunity to reflect on God’s faithfulness and kind provision. It also presents a time of anticipation for the things to come in 2025. Southeastern remains committed to God’s Word, His church and to the final marching orders of King Jesus to “go and make disciples of all nations.” This mission shapes every student’s journey at Southeastern Seminary and Judson College — from the start of ministry preparation in the classroom to gospel proclamation on the mission field. Southeastern requests prayer in the following specific areas:

• Pray that students would remain faithful as they seek to honor God in their studies and their involvement in the local church.
• Pray that faculty would be strengthened and encouraged in their work as they equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.
• Pray for alumni, that they would continually seek the kingdom first as they make disciples in their individual contexts.
• Pray for Southeastern’s partnerships with local churches, that through them God would strengthen and prepare the bride of Christ till He comes again.
• Pray for God’s hand to be over the many mission trips students will take this coming year, that the gospel would be proclaimed, and that many would come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.