Akin Encourages Fall 2025 Graduates: “He Will Be With You Every Step of the Way”
Mary Asta Mountain | December 08, 2025
On December 5, 2025, Southeastern Seminary and Judson College celebrated the graduation of 253 students at the fall commencement ceremony. These new alumni, graduating with a shared heart for the nations and for God’s Church, represent a total of 28 states and 12 countries.
In his commencement address, President Danny Akin examined the four titles of Jesus given in Isaiah 9:6-7: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (ESV).
From these titles, Akin encouraged graduates with the person of Christ and the promises of the gospel as they prepare to go out into their respective fields.
Reflecting on Jesus’s character as the Wonderful Counselor, Akin said, “I love to encourage these graduates today that no matter where they go, no matter what you do, no matter what you may encounter — his counsel is always available, and he is always by your side as a good counselor would be. And he’s always there to give you rest and give you peace and give you all that you will need to serve him wherever he sends you.”
Moreover, Jesus not only counsels his people, but he also fights for them as their Mighty God, Akin said.
“I want you to know that the greatest battle ever fought took place almost 2,000 years ago on a hill called Calvary, and on that day, the warrior God, the captain of our salvation, took the battlefield to engage the titan enemies of humanity: sin and Satan — death, hell, and the grave,” Akin proclaimed. “And I want you to know, this morning, that when the dust of the battle had settled, there was an empty tomb that stands as an eternal monument. He is the great, victorious, Mighty God.”
He also encouraged graduates with the truth that Jesus is the Everlasting Father.
For those who have not experienced the love of a good father here on earth, Akin said, “I want you to know that this Lord Jesus is not just a good Father. He’s a perfect Father.”
This is uniquely comforting for those who anticipate a difficult mission field ahead of them.
To the graduates, Akin said, “Some of you are going to be called to very hard assignments, very difficult assignments. Some of you will even be in very dangerous assignments. I want to comfort you by letting you know that there is one who will love you like a father and be there every step of the way.”
I want to comfort you by letting you know that there is one who will love you like a father and be there every step of the way.
Finally, Akin meditated on Jesus’s title: Prince of Peace. He shared with attendees six different passages throughout Scripture uniquely highlight the peace that Christ gives.
“And so, graduates,” Akin said in closing, “God promises you today that as you leave this place to serve him, he will be to you a Wonderful Counselor, a Mighty God, an Everlasting Father, and a Prince of Peace. What great encouragement to go where he sends you and to do what he tells you to do and to endure, because he will be with you every step of the way.”
Southeastern is thankful to God for his work in the lives of these men and women, bringing them to this point in their academic journeys and impressing on their hearts a love for his Kingdom and for the nations.
Please join the Southeastern family in praying for these graduates as they eagerly step forward into this new season of life, equipped to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission wherever God calls them, to the glory of King Jesus.