Great Commission Legacy: Southeastern Alumni and Friends Celebrate at SBC 2025 Luncheon

Each year, the Alumni and Friends Luncheon is the capstone of Southeastern’s visit to the SBC. During the lunch, attendees hear institutional updates as well as testimonies from faculty and alumni who are pursuing the mission of serving the church and fulfilling the Great Commission.

This year, Landon Dowden, associate professor of preaching and pastoral ministry, shared his own story of the many people who have had a strong gospel influence in his life, including his wife, Tara, and his mother, who faithfully discipled him as he grew up.

Another individual who had a deep impact on Dowden’s life was his longtime mentor and friend, the late Dr. Shaddix. Shaddix instilled in Dowden a passion for expository preaching and for equipping the next generation of leaders.

“I am the product of the ministry of Jim and Debra Shaddix, and I couldn’t be more thankful,” Dowden shared. “When I think about their ministry, I think about intentionality; I think about generosity; and I think about hospitality,” he said. “And in my last conversation with Dr. Shaddix at Shane’s house, I shared with him how much I loved him — how grateful I was for his ministry — and I committed, as best as I could by the grace of God, to be a good steward of his investments in me, to invest in those whom the Lord would entrust to me.”

Dowden also shared with attendees a brief message from 1 Thessalonians 2:8, encouraging them to “be concerned for others to gratefully grasp the gospel, grow in the gospel, and go with the gospel.”

“It mattered to Dr. Shaddix that we got the gospel right,” Dowden said. “But what I love is, even more, I learned from him to be grateful for the gospel.”

“Brothers and sisters, one of the keys to leaving a gospel legacy is that you and I never get over the gospel, that we are always grateful for the gospel.”

Brothers and sisters, one of the keys to leaving a gospel legacy is that you and I never get over the gospel, that we are always grateful for the gospel.

Secondly, he explained to attendees the importance of living life with other believers in order to demonstrate the truths of the gospel.

“Where we are, when we are, and with whom we are is never an accident — but appointed,” Dowden said. “God has placed us in this generation, in his providence, for his praise and purposes. And we live for his praise as we follow his plans. And those plans are about a gospel legacy.”

Following Dowden’s address, attendees heard from SBC first vice president and Judson College alumnus, Daniel Ritchie. Ritchie is a well-known speaker, author, and evangelist of the gospel of Christ. Throughout his years of ministry, he has leveraged his life and experience as someone born without arms to proclaim the hope that is found only in Christ.

Ritchie told the story of a student pastor who shared with him the hope of the gospel and helped lead him to Christ. He then recounted his experience at Judson and how God began shaping him during his time in school.

“God began stamping lessons on my life,” he said. “God began just working this gospel legacy in and through my heart that is in every fabric of the ministry that God has given me — and it very much so started in Wake Forest, North Carolina.”

Another person who had a strong influence in Ritchie’s life was President Danny Akin.

“Ever since [we first met], he has been one of my greatest encouragers,” Ritchie shared, “one of the men that I know prays for me on a daily basis, that cares for my wife and my kids. How many of us, with the circle of influence that we have, take that sort of time to express love to the people that God has surrounded us with?”

Ritchie challenged his listeners to carry forth the gospel with both love and truth, leaving neither behind. And he encouraged them to live with the Great Commission and a gospel legacy at the forefronts of their hearts.

“When we as shepherds and leaders sit in this room as those that God has called to go and take the gospel, we can’t be content to just simply settle into our single circle of influence to make the gospel known,” Ritchie said.

With the Southern Baptist Convention in mind, he challenged his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, saying, “May we decide that the lost will know the gospel as long as we have breath in our lungs. May that be the gospel legacy that we powerfully leave in the communities that God has sovereignly placed us in.”

May we decide that the lost will know the gospel as long as we have breath in our lungs.

After Ritchie’s testimony, Akin gave his own address to the luncheon attendees, sharing institutional updates and thanking them for their support of Southeastern.

“Thank you for loving, serving, giving, and caring for Southeastern Seminary and, now, Judson College,” he said. “The fact of the matter is, there are so many people that are involved and responsible for making our school the Great Commission school that it is.”

Akin reflected briefly on his early presidency and how God placed on his heart a passion for the lost and for foreign missions. He also took a moment to highlight the many Southeastern students who were commissioned the previous day during the International Mission Board sending celebration.

“All we can say is, ‘To God be the glory; great things he has done.’ In his kindness, he has allowed our school to be a part of what he is most passionate about, and that is fulfilling the Great Commission.”

All we can say is, ‘To God be the glory; great things he has done.’

Afterwards, the luncheon closed in worship led by Kenny and Claire Hilliard, husband and wife singer-songwriters and longtime members of the Southeastern family.

Southeastern is deeply thankful for the opportunity, once again, to gather with the many students, alumni, and families whom God has brought into the Southeastern community — whether on campus or through distance learning. By God’s grace and through his faithfulness, Southeastern alumni and friends continue to champion their shared mission to fulfill the Great Commission and serve the local church. It is Southeastern’s prayer that this mission will continue to be carried forth by faithful believers until the day that Christ returns.

To learn more about other opportunities for you to connect with fellow alumni, visit sebts.edu/alumni.