The Mission Endures: Southeastern’s Alumni and Friends Luncheon

“Looking out over the room this afternoon brings back so many wonderful memories and such emotion because it is a reminder of what God has been doing at Southeastern for a long time,” Akin said.

Nearing his final month as president after more than 22 years, Akin expressed his gratitude for the Southeastern family — those who have prayed for, studied with, and supported Southeastern over the years. For Akin, what makes this community so special is its singular focus on the Great Commission, which unifies and compels the Southeastern family to serve Jesus and champion his mission.

“The Great Commission is the air we breathe,” Akin said. “It is in our DNA. It’s not just a slogan; it is a reality.”

During a Q&A moderated by Steven McKinion, director of Southeastern’s PhD and ThM studies, Akin and Pace reflected on God’s kindness in Southeastern’s past, his faithfulness during this presidential transition, and his ongoing mission that will continue to motivate all that Southeastern does as a Great Commission seminary.

Akin shared how his own experiences on the mission field inspired him and his cabinet to reframe Southeastern’s mission statement around the Great Commission and move students, staff, and faculty toward increasing obedience to Jesus’s final marching orders to make disciples.

As an heir of Southeastern’s education and mission, Pace narrated his journey as a Southeastern student, first in 1999 as an MDiv student and later as Dr. Akin’s PhD student, during which time he saw firsthand how Southeastern intentionally wed theological education with real-world ministry preparation. By God’s providence in the years to follow, Pace applied his education and deep formation to local churches and another Baptist university before returning home to Southeastern. Since his return to Southeastern, Pace has further distinguished himself as a scholar, professor, and administrator while serving as dean of Judson College and then most recently as provost.

Reflecting on how God led Pace to the presidency at Southeastern, Akin shared that he had been praying for Pace to succeed him as president from the moment he and Mrs. Charlotte Akin decided to retire.

“When God began to work in my and Charlotte’s hearts about transitioning from serving as president, one person’s name came to my mind that I began to put before the Lord and that I prayed our trustees would call into this position. It was Scott Pace,” Akin said.

“I believe that God has uniquely gifted him for this particular moment in time. I think that he exhibits all the character that we would want in a president. He loves the Lord, he loves Dana, he loves his children, he loves the gospel, he loves his Bible, he loves the nations,” Akin said.

Passing along wisdom he learned as president over the past two decades, Akin encouraged Pace to lead from his knees and live to please Jesus above all.

As Pace looks to the future of Southeastern, the verse driving his decisions and setting the goals he hopes to see Southeastern achieve is Acts 20:24: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (ESV).

“It’s a verse that I have adopted as a life verse, which I think encapsulates what I hope every student, faculty, and staff will embrace for their own lives,” Pace said. “That is the call that God has placed on our lives. And if we will be willing to give him complete surrender and total control and dedicate ourselves to finishing the course and the ministry that we have received, then ultimately he will receive the glory and the Great Commission will be fulfilled.”

Pace’s vision for Southeastern is that its core identity will remain the same and its heart will continue to beat strongly and singularly for the Great Commission.

“The identity doesn’t change,” Pace said. “We are the Great Commission seminary. It is and will continue to be our marching orders. We don’t want to take a step back; we don’t want to let off the gas. We want to continue to propel forward with the Great Commission. And we understand that means taking the gospel to the nations.”

What Pace hopes to bring to Southeastern as president is a renewed focus on the local church as God’s means for fulfilling the Great Commission.

“We want to advance the global church by serving the local church,” Pace said. “And if we will be faithful to the local church and steward that well, we will begin to see the Lord multiply through the work of the local church to ultimately accomplish his Great Commission and build his global church.”

As the Q&A concluded, attendees stood to honor Dr. Akin’s faithful leadership for more than 22 years and to welcome Dr. Pace as the man God has called to lead Southeastern into the future. Before descending the stage for the last time as president, Akin prayed for God’s continued blessing on Pace, his family, and on his beloved Great Commission seminary.

In his concluding remarks, Pace invited attendees (1) to pray for him and his family and for the faculty, staff, and students of Southeastern, (2) to send students to join in this mission and give their lives to serve the church, and (3) to give to support the ongoing work of Southeastern through the Danny Akin Global Missions Endowment and the Southeastern Fund — both of which supply critical funds for students and the mission of Southeastern.

Leaving with Southeastern’s seminary hymn and the doxology resounding in their hearts, the Southeastern family redeployed to continue the task of serving the church and fulfilling the Great Commission across the country.

Southeastern rejoices in its financial health, doctrinal fidelity, and enrollment growth made possible — in large part — because of involved Southern Baptists and Southeastern alumni and supporters. Thanks to the Southeastern family, Southeastern’s mission endures: to equip students to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.

To learn more about how you can deepen your connection with Southeastern and fellow alumni, visit sebts.edu/alumni.