Student Q&A with Anna Daub

Anna Daub is a Ph.D. student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where she also works in the Global Theological Initiatives office. Anna shares about her time as a doctoral student and how she helps to empower people to make disciples around the world. 

1. Tell us about your ministry and family.

I am from a little town called Brownwood, Texas. My dad is a professor at Howard Payne University and my mom is a nurse. I have one brother. I just moved to North Carolina about a year ago and am getting plugged into a church. I work as an administrative assistant for the Global Theological Initiatives office and am pursuing a Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a concentration in missiology.

2. Why Southeastern?

I completed my M. Div. at Southwestern seminary in Texas, and when I finished, I was trying to figure out where to do my Ph.D. My mentor helped me walk through the pros and cons of each school, and Southeastern, with its missions focus, was the best fit. 

3. What has been your most influential moment at Southeastern?

So far, the most influential experience I’ve had has been working in the Global Theological Initiatives office. Our job is to equip schools and denominations around the world with solid theological teaching. The logistical work I do serves people around the world. I love being able to empower people in other parts of the world to do the work of the gospel.

4. What challenges do you face in your ministry?

The greatest challenge so far has been balancing everything time-wise. This involves figuring out how to balance a 40-hour work week, the reading and writing required for the Ph.D. program, having a social life, doing ministry and being a good neighbor. 

5. What advice do you have for others who pursue a ministry like yours?

The best piece of advice I have is to make sure that you know you are called to do it. That is what keeps me going on days when it’s really rough. You also have to know, sometimes, that giving your best doesn’t mean it will necessarily be perfect. God asks for our best; he does not ask for our perfection.

6. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Free time? When I have free time, I like riding my bike, going to coffee with friends, singing and visiting museums.

7. What has been your favorite part of the SEBTS Ph.D. program?

So far, my favorite part has been getting to interact with professors. It is great, yet challenging, to feel like, “I am working to become your colleague.” The professors are great: you can ask questions about the reading and all sorts of things. They will take time to answer your questions.

8. What is one book that everyone should read? (Besides the Bible)

A book that has shaped me is Evangelism in the Early Church by Michael Green. This book provides a historical look at evangelism, showing that the early believers were creative in sharing the gospel and that everyone was sharing. Evangelism is everyone’s job.

9. What has God been teaching you lately?

I’ve given perfectionism to the Lord multiple times in my life, but I continue to fight it. The Lord is where I find my identity, and sometimes I need to remind myself of that.

10. Southeastern is known as a Great Commission seminary, how is Southeastern preparing you to live out the Great Commission in your ministry? 

I am not 100% sure of what I want to do. I either want to be on the field or equipping people for the field. The idea of being able to rub shoulders with professors who want to see what the Great Commission looks like in every classroom has been a challenging and exciting experience. It has also been good to be able to rub shoulders with so many people who have been or are going overseas for missions; that has been encouraging.