Southeastern taking gospel to people of every tongue, tribe, Akin reports

by Lauren Crane

The gospel is relevant not only for those overseas who have not heard its message, but also for those unreached people groups within the United States who have not heard of salvation through faith in Christ.

Jan Vezikov, a May 2009 graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, is trying to reach one of those unreached people groups – Russian-speaking Jews living in Boston. He is one of many graduates of Southeastern that has the nations on his heart, said Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern, in his annual seminary report during the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention. Akin, who leads Southeastern in becoming a Great Commission seminary, spoke about a number of Southeastern alumni – serving both domestically and internationally – who answered God’s call on their lives while studying at Southeastern.

“Our Great Commission passion extends beyond the borders of North America,” Akin said. “We can track 460 graduate units serving around the world.

“We want to raise up Apostle Pauls. At Southeastern, we believe you can’t be a good missionary without being a good theologian. We also believe that to be a good theologian, you have to be a missionary.”

Akin said Southeastern is seeing more and more students every year answering God’s call to give their lives in service to Christ Jesus, serving as missionaries – both foreign and domestic. “It’s a joy to see how God indeed is pouring out his blessing at our seminary.

“There’s never been a greater day than to see what God is doing in our six seminaries, giving students the finest theological education at the most bargain basement price,” Akin said. “That is possible because of the generosity of Southern Baptists. Thank you for believing what we’re doing and for supporting us.”