“Together We Go”: Southeastern at the SBC Recap

Highlighting its Great Commission partnerships, Southeastern themed this year’s efforts “Together We Go,” focusing on the importance of cooperation to serve the Church and fulfill the Great Commission. Southeastern is a Great Commission seminary because its students, staff, faculty, and alumni are all committed to working together to advance God’s kingdom.

That is why Southeastern believes that its mission is best fulfilled in partnership with churches, associations, and other entities who share a common vision for equipping the local church and reaching the nations.  This spirit of cooperation and mission fuels Southeastern’s everyday efforts to train and resource students, which is why Southeastern’s events and involvement in the SBC this year focused on Great Commission partnerships.

2023 Pastor’s Conference

On Sunday and Monday, June 11-12, pastors and church leaders gathered to worship and hear expository preaching during the pastor’s conference. Entitled “Character Matters in Ministry: Beatitudes of a Pastor,” the conference featured sermons from Southeastern faculty and alumni.

On Monday, Jim Shaddix, senior professor of preaching and W. A. Criswell Chair of expository preaching at Southeastern, preached from Matthew 5:6 on a pastor’s need for personal and practical righteousness. Shaddix clarified that the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 are not intended as criteria for salvation but as descriptions of those who have already experienced God’s salvation.

“Beatitudes are couched in grace,” Shaddix reminded attendees. “When we come to the Beatitudes, we don’t come to a list of requirements for salvation. … What Jesus is doing here is making pronouncements about the character and conduct of those who are already Christians. What he is talking about here is not requirements for salvation; he’s talking about results of salvation.”

As descriptions of the results of salvation, the Beatitudes call Christians — including pastors and other church leaders — to be who they have been declared to be in Christ. The Beatitudes call Christians to exemplify the gospel in their character because it is the gospel that produces truly righteous character.

“We must understand that the gospel fosters certain behavior in our lives,” noted Shaddix. “The gospel supernaturally fosters good works; it fosters righteous living. … This gospel compels us to a particular way of living.”

Monday afternoon, DJ Horton, Southeastern alum and senior pastor of Church at The Mill, preached a sermon entitled “Peacemakers” on Matthew 5:9, continuing the theme of gospel character in ministry. On Monday evening, Southeastern alum and adjunct professor, Phil Newton, director of pastoral care and mentoring for the Pillar Network, preached on gentleness from Galatians 5:22, explaining how the fruit of the Spirit should characterize a Christian’s ministry.

Southern Baptist Conference of Associational Leaders

On Monday, Danny Akin, president of Southeastern, addressed associational missionaries during the two-day SBCAL meeting. Expressing his gratitude for their vital ministry, Akin commended their efforts to support and equip pastors and other church leaders to remain faithful in ministry.

“I appreciate so much all that you do for the cause of Christ and to serve our churches,” Akin told attendees. “One of the reasons I’m so grateful for you all is … that you encourage pastors to hang in there. And secondly, you are shepherds of shepherds. You shepherd the pastors in your association.”

Offering a charge from 1 Peter 5:1-4, Akin reminded associational leaders that the Church is Jesus’s body — it is God’s flock, not theirs. The stewardship pastors have of shepherding God’s flock means that what matters most is that they please Jesus. As shepherds of shepherds, associational missionaries play a strategic role in helping pastors fulfill their stewardship before the Lord, Akin noted. Associational missionaries can help provide the essential accountability, encouragement, and support that pastors desperately need.

“We need to draw close to partners in the service of ministry because there is no place for lone rangers,” Akin commented. “We need men and women in our lives who can love us, who can encourage us, and who can keep us accountable. … So, love [pastors]. Serve them. Give them counsel. … Let them know that you’re in their corner and you have their back.”

We need to draw close to partners in the service of ministry because there is no place for lone rangers.

Calling attendees to remember Jesus’s sacrificial suffering when they face hard days, Akin urged associational missionaries to gain strength and joy in knowing that Jesus understands and that his suffering gives purpose to their challenges and hope as they persevere in ministry.

Together We Go Booth Talks

On Monday afternoon, Southeastern hosted three Together We Go talks at its exhibit hall booth — informative panels for ministry leaders on calling out the called, church planting and revitalization with the North American Mission Board (NAMB), and missions with the International Mission Board (IMB).

Monday’s first panel on calling out the called featured several Southeastern faculty, Danny Akin; Jim Shaddix; Scott Pace, provost; and Ronjour Locke, instructor of preaching and urban ministry. Panelists noted how fewer church leaders are now talking about the call to ministry or helping their churches respond to God’s call on their lives. Panelists urged attendees to share personal stories about their call to ministry and to teach about calling in community. Panelists noted that the same applies to missions: Church leaders can create a Great Commission culture in their churches by modeling a passion for the nations and teaching about God’s vision for the nations.

In the second panel, Keelan Cook, instructor of missiology at Southeastern; Tim Dowdy, vice president of evangelism at the NAMB; and Catherine Renfro, Southeastern alum and director of evangelism at the NAMB discussed trends in North American missions and offered counsel for churches to develop intentional evangelism strategies. Dowdy shared that he is encouraged to see more churches talking about evangelism and that he hopes to see even more churches begin to filter every ministry through a lens of evangelism and missions. Sharing about her experience at Southeastern, Renfro noted that her training at Southeastern helped her make that important shift toward prioritizing evangelism and missions in all of life.

During Monday’s final panel, Keelan Cook; Scott Ray, director of field personnel and deployment for the IMB; and Austin and Megan Holcomb, Southeastern alumni and seminary and pipeline liaisons for the IMB, talked about how churches can create a pipeline for preparing their members to pursue international missions with the IMB. Panelists noted that the goal is to give people the opportunity in community to pursue a pathway for missions within layers of accountability and support.

Re-forming Gen Z Panel

On Monday night more than 150 pastors, church leaders, and guests joined Southeastern for its panel discussion, Re-Forming Gen Z: Technology, Sexuality, and Human Formation. Hosted by Southeastern’s L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture, the event addressed significant challenges facing Gen Z and strategies for serving them through faithful gospel ministry.

Panelists urged attendees to disciple Gen Z on these issues by teaching them not only what God’s word says about technology and sexuality but also what questions to ask and by providing space for their hard questions. In order for Gen Z to learn and embrace a biblical vision for life, parents, ministry leaders, and churches need to take on the responsibility of modeling biblical attitudes, convictions, and practices on these issues. As Mark Liederbach, senior professor of ethics, theology, and culture at Southeastern, noted, “The way Christians live is the final apologetic.”

Panelists included Liederbach; Jason Thacker, assistant professor of philosophy and ethics at Boyce College; Rachel Gilson, a member of the leadership team for theological development and culture at CRU; and Jacob Shatzer, associate provost and dean of instruction at Union University.

Read more about this panel here.

IMB Missions Sending Celebration

During the Tuesday morning session of the SBC annual meeting, Southeastern celebrated the commissioning of several Southeastern alumni who participated in the IMB missions sending ceremony. During the ceremony, Southern Baptists commissioned 79 units to serve with the IMB — at least 19 of whom were Southeastern students or alumni — joining 3,521 missionaries and their more than 2,700 children already on the field with the IMB.

Having commissioned 41 students and families earlier this spring to serve internationally as missionaries, Southeastern is excited by the surrender and passion of its alumni and fellow Southern Baptists who are carrying the name of Jesus to hard-to-reach places all around the world.

B21 Panel Lunch

On Tuesday, Southeastern sponsored a B21 panel lunch that discussed pressing topics and important issues facing the SBC. Panelists included Danny Akin; Albert Mohler, president of Southern Seminary; Juan Sanchez, pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church; Jarrett Stephens, pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church; and J. D. Greear, Southeastern alum and pastor of The Summit Church.

Panelists discussed criteria for disfellowshipping churches from the SBC, noting what qualifies as first-tier or second-tier issues. Akin shared that even though complementarianism is not a first-tier issue (an issue that distinguishes Christians from non-Christians), it is a highly important second-tier issue (an issue that determines who a church or Christian can unreservedly partner with in ministry). Akin affirmed the Bible’s clear teachings on men’s and women’s roles in the home and in the church while also affirming the invaluable gifts and ministries of women, which God designed to strengthen the church.

Panelists also addressed proposed amendments and motions about the office of pastor, transparency in the operation of SBC entities, and the need to renew the Church’s efforts to fight for life even after the overturn of Roe vs. Wade. Akin urged attendees to remain vigilant in the fight for life and truth while maintaining a pastoral response to disagreements within the SBC — the kind of response that imitates Jesus by modelling grace and truth.

9Marks at 9

On Tuesday evening, Southeastern sponsored a 9Marks at 9 event that addressed the state of the SBC. Panelists included Danny Akin; Juan Sanchez; Albert Mohler; Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church and president of 9Marks; HB Charles, pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church; Jonathan Leeman, editorial director for 9Marks; and Nate Akin, executive director of the Pillar Network. During the panel, panelists discussed major issues facing the SBC and offered their perspectives on the future of the SBC. Urging that the SBC must remain missions-focused, Danny Akin expressed his hopefulness about the direction and biblical commitments of the SBC.

Women’s Leadership Breakfast

On Wednesday morning Southeastern hosted its annual women’s leadership breakfast. Themed “Keeping Jesus’s Mission at the Center,” the event encouraged women to not only treasure God’s word and his mission but also work together for the kingdom of God. Answering questions about what it means to live on mission and how women can partner on mission in their local churches, panelists urged attendees to embrace God’s purpose to use their stories and ministries to make himself known.

“I pray that the twenty-first century is characterized by Christians boldly going together,” commented Daub.

I pray that the twenty-first century is characterized by Christians boldly going together.

“Every one of you who is a Christian is called to be on mission,” Daub reminded attendees. “What that means is you are a participant in God’s mission. He wants to be known. So, you’re called to be a disciple, and you’re called to make disciples — no matter what you’re doing.”

Representing several SBC seminaries, panelists included Anna Daub, assistant professor of missions at Southeastern; Terri Stovall, professor of educational ministries at Southwestern Seminary; Emily Dean, assistant professor of ministry to women at New Orleans Seminary; Alicia Wong, associate professor of women’s ministry at Gateway Seminary; and Kathy Litton, director of planter spouse development at the NAMB.

Read more about this panel here.

Convention Sermon

During Wednesday morning’s session of the SBC annual meeting, Todd Unzicker, Southeastern alum and executive director and treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSCNC), preached the convention sermon from Revelation 5. Calling Southern Baptists to embrace their missional identity, Unzicker recounted his personal testimony of how God used Baptists throughout his spiritual journey to care for him, to share the gospel with him, and to disciple him in the faith once he was saved.

Unzicker urged attendees to be on mission together and to do so with a Revelation 5 vision of God’s glory, which is the ultimate goal of the Church’s mission. Encouraging Southern Baptist to orient their priorities around Revelation 5, Unzicker challenged attendees to be people marked by prayer who are willing to suffer, who preach salvation in Christ alone, who love and reach all peoples, and who worship God in all that they do.

Alumni and Friends Luncheon

On Wednesday, Southeastern hosted its annual alumni and friends luncheon to celebrate God’s ongoing work within the Southeastern community. At the luncheon, attendees heard updates about what God is doing through Southeastern to equip students around the world to serve the Church and fulfill the Great Commission.

Emphasizing the Great Commission partnerships that make the mission of Southeastern possible, the lunch offered attendees the opportunity to hear testimonies from alumni and faculty about how God is blessing and multiplying the impact of Southeastern’s training efforts.

Todd Unzicker and Quintell Hill, pastor of Multiply Community Church and president of the BSCNC, narrated how their Southeastern education deeply impacted their ministries by giving them a Great Commission vision for all of life. They also noted how Southeastern continues to serve North Carolina Baptists in partnership with the BSCNC, equipping generations of students and church leaders to lead Great Commission churches throughout North Carolina.

Following Unzicker and Hill, Chuck Quarles, research professor of New Testament and biblical theology at Southeastern, shared with attendees about Southeastern’s Caskey Center for Biblical Text and Translation (CBTT), which will launch this fall.

Quarles noted that as an extension of Southeastern’s commitment to the Bible and the Great Commission, the CBTT will help improve the quality of Greek and Hebrew editions of the Bible and ensure the accuracy and clarity of Bible translations worldwide, providing critical Bible translation resources for missionaries and church leaders around the world.
Concluding the event Danny Akin, encouraged attendees by sharing some of the ways God is uniquely blessing Southeastern in its efforts to equip students to reach the nations.

Read more about the luncheon here.

Akin’s Presidential Report

During Wednesday afternoon’s session of the SBC annual meeting, Danny Akin presented his annual seminary report, celebrating Southeastern’s expanding Great Commission impact around the world. Excited about what God is doing at Southeastern, Akin highlighted several important ways Southeastern is accomplishing its mission of glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the Church and fulfill the Great Commission.

Akin reported that Southeastern commissioned 41 students and families this spring to serve with the IMB and 18 students and families to serve in church planting and revitalization ministries with the NAMB. These commissioned students and families are joining the 94 current Southeastern students already serving with the International Mission Board and the thousands of Southeastern alumni already serving churches across North America and throughout the nations.

“Southeastern Seminary continues to send in large numbers men and women to the hard places, and we could not do that without your assistance,” Akin told messengers during his report. “Most of those students are on some level of scholarship — many of them are fully being scholarshiped.”

Southeastern Seminary continues to send in large numbers men and women to the hard places, and we could not do that without your assistance.

Akin shared about the historic graduation earlier in June for its Persian Leadership Development program, which now trains more than 3,500 Farsi speakers in some of the hardest-to-reach countries in the world. Akin also reported the ongoing success of its prison programs, which recently celebrated their third graduation, sending incarcerated graduates to be ambassadors for Christ in the North Carolina prison system.

Read more about Akin’s report here.

Because Southeastern believes the Great Commission is best done together, the SBC annual meeting is a highlight for the institution as an opportunity to deepen its connections and commitment to partner with alumni, churches, associations, and fellow entities. Southeastern is grateful to serve and partner with SBC churches in the mission of reaching every nation, tribe, people, and language with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

*Some of the content in this article has been reproduced from earlier headlines and can be accessed in the links above.