Southeastern digs in to help fellow Baptist institution

by Lauren Crane

Very little evidence remains of the F-4 tornado that struck Union University on February 5, and Southeastern students did their part to aid the undergraduate university in reconstructing campus and moving onward.

Union’s 200-acre campus, located in Jackson, Tenn., received over $40 million dollars in damage when the tornado swept through in February. Despite the extensive damage to the housing complexes and one of the academic buildings, there were no lives lost at Union, despite having approximately 1200 people on campus at the time. A few mangled road signs, water stains on some of the buildings and a constant buzz of rebuilding activity is nearly all that is left to tell visitors about the tornado that hit Union, little over two months ago. Instead of devastation and destruction – the images so recently seen on campus – there is a flurry of activity as construction crews erect new dormitory facilities.

On April 24-26, Southeastern students and staff traveled to the fellow Southern Baptist institution to aid in the continuing efforts at restoration. Approximately 25 people spent a portion of their spring break helping in the continuing clean-up efforts by landscaping, a task which had largely been neglected as maintenance and rebuilding efforts were focused on more urgent matters, as well as lending support to the Union family.

Southeastern Seminary and Northeast Piedmont Chorale to present Mendelssohn’s Elijah on May 2

The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Male Chorale, the Seminary Choir, and the Northeast Piedmont Chorale, under the direction of Dr. John Davis, will present Mendelssohn’s Elijah this Friday, May 2, at 8:00 pm in Binkley Chapel. Dr. Doug Crawley will perform the role of Elijah. A pre-concert lecture on Felix Mendelssohn and the composition of Elijah will be presented by Joshua Waggener in Eitel Auditorium at 7:00 pm preceding the concert.

Hunt challenges Southeastern family, future missionaries to obey the call

by Lauren Crane

The greatest call of God on your life is not the call to an opportunity, but first to Christ and then to a place of service.

In a message entitled “The Call,” Johnny Hunt challenged the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary family to examine how and to where they have been called, and think about what the call of God has meant for their lives. Hunt, pastor of First Baptist Church of Woodstock, Ga., spoke during Southeastern’s chapel service on April 15. The service, which is known as the commissioning service, also was a special time to pray over the many students and families about to enter service on the mission field.

“Over and over again I have heard God saying, ‘Preach on the call. Preach on the call.’ Then, when I come in here and hear all the news on the call – and I wish I could say this every time I preach – I thought, ‘Jesus, we got it right,’” Hunt said. “Oh, if we only knew the difference God’s call makes.”

Trustees approve fund-raising campaign goals

by Jason Hall

The trustees of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary today unanimously approved plans for the second phase of the school’s decade-long fund-raising campaign, with a stated goal of $17 million.

Projects to be funded through the campaign include renovations to the school’s library, scholarships for undergraduate students, endowed faculty chairs, and the school’s Lewis A. Drummond Center for Great Commission Studies, among others.

In other action, trustees approved a $21.3 million budget and elected three new members of Southeastern’s faculty.

School administrators, who have been working on plans in the so-called “silent phase” of the capital campaign for years, were pleased to have such enthusiastic approval from the board.

“Fundamentally, this campaign is not about money,” said Daniel Akin, Southeastern president. “It is about fulfilling the Great Commission by equipping students to serve the church and spread the fame of the Lord Jesus Christ by every Christ-honoring means possible. We never tire of dreaming about the advance of the gospel. We need and pray for godly men and women to catch this vision and support us generously in this endeavor.”

Southeastern undergraduate program highlighted with new majors, name change

by Jason Hall

Trustees of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary approved key changes to the school’s undergraduate program during their spring meeting here Tuesday, including new majors with an express focus on missions and pastoral ministry, as well as a new name for the school.

Changes approved by the trustees include a name change for the school’s flagship degree program, the Bachelor of Arts, and new majors within that program. The school will now offer a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies degree, as opposed to the former Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies.

Further, the school will now offer bachelor’s level studies concentrating in Pastoral Ministry and Missions.

Trustees also decided the undergraduate school will now be known as The College at Southeastern, a change which better reflects one of its biggest strengths – its status as an undergraduate school of a thriving Southern Baptist seminary. The college was previously known as Southeastern College at Wake Forest, a name which sometimes caused confusion with Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Cowen to begin new Bible institute and seminary in Central America

from staff reports

Dr. Gerald Cowen, senior professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and former dean of Southeastern’s undergraduate college, will begin a new Bible institute and master’s level school at Vida Nueva Baptist Church in San Salvador, El Salvador.

It is hoped that the school will open in the fall, and the plans are for a fully accredited program of study to be implemented in the near future. Cowen will serve as the school’s first president.

Southeastern professor makes e-book available as preaching resource

by Lauren Crane

Individuals and groups alike can easily obtain a resource to help them prepare biblically faithful messages, thanks to Southeastern professor Wayne McDill.

McDill, who began working at Southeastern in 1989, released a 20-chapter workbook as a resource for people who need assistance in developing solid sermons and messages. Preparing Bible Messages contains 20 lessons on teaching and preaching Biblically-faithful messages. The book is available, in its entirety, online for free download through McDill’s website, www.waynemcdill.net.