Southeastern at the SBC – Dallas 2025

Leading up to the SBC, Southeastern alumni and faculty participated in this year’s pastors conference. Monday afternoon included a recognition of Debra Shaddix and the legacy of the late Jim Shaddix, senior professor of preaching at Southeastern, who was known for his profound impact as a mentor to young, aspiring pastors.

Equip Breakfast

Partnering with Logos and CSB Bible and Reference, Southeastern hosted its Equip Breakfast Tuesday morning. This gathering hosted pastors from across the country who are passionate about developing leaders within their local churches, the primary goal of Southeastern’s Equip Network, which exists to empower local churches and ministry organizations to take an active role in the theological education of their students. The Equip Breakfast plays a unique role in not just encouraging the leaders of these churches but in fostering connections and communication between those pastors and leaders.

“The Equip Network Breakfast at the SBC is such a meaningful gathering — churches of all shapes and sizes from across the country coming together to wrestle with how to identify, train, and mobilize church leaders,” expressed Beau Landers, director of church partnerships at Southeastern. “This year’s panel featured pastors from diverse contexts who are actively building leadership pipelines and paving the way for future ministry impact.”

IMB Sending Celebration

During the Tuesday morning annual meeting, attendees gathered for a time of worship and the International Mission Board (IMB) sending celebration.

In God’s great faithfulness, Southern Baptists prayed over and sent out 58 men and women for the work of international missions, driven by a passion for the gospel and a love for those who do not yet know Jesus Christ. Southeastern is proud of its 26 students and alumni represented among that number who have committed to give their lives for the cause of Christ as they obey his Great Commission.

Southeastern Events

Tuesday also included a variety of other Southeastern events, including a Southeastern Alumni Association meetup, a Doctoral Alumni Meet and Greet, and a Worship Training Network event titled Multiplying Worship: Leadership Beyond the Stage. Each event provided space for students and alumni to make connections with their professors and fellow graduates and to receive encouragement in their ministries.

“The doctoral meet and greet offered a special time of gathering for our doctoral alumni,” commented Kristin Kellen, associate professor of biblical counseling and director of EdD studies. During the event, attendees and faculty “were able to spend time reflecting on what the Lord has done through these degrees. It was also an opportunity to network and encourage one another. It was a joy connecting with many of our graduates and seeing what the Lord has done in their lives and ministries!”

Similarly, Multiplying Worship brought together worship leaders from a variety of backgrounds to discuss emerging needs in worship ministry today. Discussion was led by Jonathan Welch, assistant professor of worship at Southeastern and director of the Worship Training Network, and Andrew Lucious, Southeastern alum and Worship Training Network coordinator.

“One significant issue facing the Southern Baptist Convention is a distinct lack of faithful leaders for worship ministry,” said Welch. “We designed this event as an opportunity to create greater awareness of a pressing need. Our prayer is that more SBC worship ministers will see the many opportunities for leadership development and multiplication that already exist in their contexts.”

Southeastern Women’s Breakfast

Wednesday morning featured Southeastern’s annual women’s breakfast, in which Rebekah Naylor, a retired IMB medical missionary and distinguished professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, joined in conversation with Kelly King, assistant professor of Christian Ministry at Southeastern. Click here to read more about the event and Naylor’s insights into what it looks like to cultivate a missional legacy.

Presidential Report

Following Wednesday’s breakfast, annual meeting attendees received presidential reports from the SBC seminary presidents. During his report, Southeastern President Danny Akin highlighted areas of encouragement and growth that Southeastern has witnessed this past year, including the celebration of Southeastern’s 75th anniversary, the renaming of Judson College, recent faculty hires, continued growth within the Master of Divinity program, and encouraging reports on Great Commission faithfulness within the Southeastern community.

Akin also expressed Southeastern’s sorrow at the loss of three of its beloved professors to battles with cancer this past year. He thanked Southern Baptists for their support of the institution and for their giving through the Cooperative Program, which uniquely enables the mission of Southeastern.

“Southeastern Seminary is your Great Commission seminary,” Akin told attendees. “It’s embodied in our mission statement. Our purpose is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ by equipping students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.”

“In other words,” he said, “we seek to train men and women that will follow the final marching orders of the Lord Jesus. That is to go and make disciples of all the nations. We’re grateful for your trust in what we’re doing.”

Read more about Akin’s seminary report here.

Alumni and Friends Luncheon

The Southeastern family gathered for its eagerly anticipated Alumni and Friends Luncheon, during which attendees heard from speakers Landon Dowden and Daniel Ritchie, both of whom have deep connections to the Southeastern community. The luncheon centered around the theme of gospel and Great Commission legacies and closed with an address from Akin.

“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,” said Akin, “and that is fulfilling the Great Commission.”

Southeastern exists to equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission and is thankful for the partnership of Southern Baptist in this work. The SBC offers a unique opportunity for the Southeastern community to come together around its shared mission, to consider the Great Commission legacies of those who came before, and to urge one another on towards greater faithfulness and obedience to King Jesus. To learn more about Southeastern and its mission, sebts.edu/about.