Meet the Faculty

Visiting Professor of Missions

AEET, B.BA, MDiv, DMin, ThD

Career Missionary with the International Mission Board. Brazil-side Coordinator for MTS Program through SEBTS.

Visiting Professor of Preaching
BA, MDiv, DMin
NAMB Send Network VP of Mobilization

He is the Lead Pastor of Sagemont Church in Houston, Texas. Prior to pastoring at Sagemont, Carter planted and pastored The Austin Stone Community Church in Austin, Texas, which began in 2002 and grew to six campuses with over 8,000 in weekly attendance. Carter is a graduate of SEBTS, earning his Doctor of Ministry in Expositional Preaching in 2015. He also earned his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Seminary in 2006. Carter has co-authored a number of books, including the Gospel of John in the “Christ Exposition Commentary” series. Carter and his wife Jennifer have three children: John Daniel, Annie, and Samuel.

Visiting Professor of Historical Theology

BS, MDiv, PhD

Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church (Durham, NC)

Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Prayer
BA, MDiv, DMin
Retired IMB President

After pastoring for forty-two years, Tom Elliff served the International Mission Board, first as Senior Vice President for Spiritual Nurture and Church Relations from 2005-2009, then as President from 2011-2014. Tom served pastorates in Arkansas, Texas, Colorado and Oklahoma and as an IMB missionary in Zimbabwe. Tom also served as president of the SBC Pastor’s Conference and two terms as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Visiting Professor of Evangelism and Missions

BA, MDiv, PhD
Senior Pastor, The Summit (Raleigh)

J.D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. He is the author of several books, most recently publishing, “Just Ask,” “What Are You Going to Do with Your Life?”, and “Above All.” Greear is a two-time graduate of SEBTS, receiving both his Master of Divinity and PhD from the seminary. Greear also served as the 62nd President of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2018-2021. Greear is married to Veronica, and they have four children: Kharis, Alethia, Ryah, and Adon.

Visiting Professor
MDiv, DMin
Pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church 1979-2021

Al Jackson has served as the pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church since 1979. He received his Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary and his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Jackson has a heart to share God’s Word throughout the world, having traveled to Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe. He is married to Kem, and they have three children and nine grandchildren.

Visiting Professor of Leadership and Discipleship

AS, BA, MDiv, DMiss

Cluster Strategy Leader for the Brazil Cluster of the Americas Affinity, International Mission Board

Visiting Professor
Doctor of Divinity & Doctor of Sacred Theology

He is a well-known pastor, author, and speaker. Loritts comes to SEBTS with decades of ministry experience, including most recently serving as Senior Pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Roswell, Georgia. Loritts has faithfully lead and planted a number of churches, including through serving with Urban Evangelistic Mission from 1976-1978; co-founding Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas; and founding Canton Bible Church in Canton, Mississippi. Loritts has written numerous, including “Leadership as an Identity” and “For a Time We Cannot See.” He has also and serving on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ (now Cru) with his wife, Karen, from 1978-2005. During that time, Loritts also served as the Associate Director of Cru. Loritts holds a Doctor of Divinity from Biola University and a Doctor of Sacred Theology from Philadelphia Biblical University. Loritts and his wife Karen have four children and 11 grandchildren.

Visiting Professor of Oral Strategies

BA, MDiv, PhD

Director of Orality Strategies, International Mission Board

Visiting Professor of Pastoral Theology

BA, MDiv, DMin, PhD

Director of Pastoral Care and Mentoring – The Pillar Network

Phil A. Newton began South Woods Baptist Church, Memphis, TN, in 1987 and concluded his 35 years of pastoral leadership in May 2022. He served as pastor of three other churches in Mississippi and Alabama prior to moving to Memphis, as well as serving on two church staffs as a college student. He received his education at the University of Mobile (BA), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv), Fuller Theological Seminary (DMin), and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (PhD). Both natives of Alabama, he and his wife Karen met in Mobile, AL and married in 1975. They enjoy discussing biblical issues, reading, cooking, traveling, and interacting with their family. They have five children and six grandchildren. He has spent the past three decades training young men for the ministry and leading local church sponsored international mission trips. He authored Elders in Congregational Life, Elders in the Life of the Church (with Matt Schmucker), Conduct Gospel-Centered Funerals (with Brian Croft), Venture All for God: Piety in the Writings of John Bunyan (with Roger Duke and Drew Harris), 40 Questions About Pastoral Ministry, The Mentoring Church, and Shepherding the Pastor: Help for the Early Years of Ministry (released in 2023; with Rich Shadden). He has contributed to several journals including The Gospel Coalition and 9Marks e-Journal. Phil and Karen live in Germantown, TN. He is available to serve pastors and churches in the Pillar Network.

Visiting Professor of Leadership and Discipleship

BA, BRE, MA, PhD

Regional Consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention

Visiting Professor of Preaching

BA, MDiv, PhD

Pastor, Bell Shoals Baptist Church (Brandon, FL)

Visiting Professor
ThM, EdD Candidate
Pastor of Ozama Baptist Church (IBO)

Otto Sanchez has been the pastor of the Baptist Church (IBO) for more than thirty years. He is a publicist by profession, later earning his Master of Theology (SBSTS)  and is an EdD candidate (SEBTS). He is an international professor, lecturer and the author of several books. He is the founder of ESSER, an educational institution that promotes discipleship through the local church. He has been married to Susana for more than 20 years and they have two daughters.

Visiting Professor of Theology

BBA, MDiv, PhD

Pastor, Cave Spring Baptist Church (Roanoke, VA)

Visiting Professor
Lead Pastor of Family Church
BS, MDiv, PhD

Jimmy Scroggins is the Lead Pastor of Family Church in South Florida, where he has served since July 2008. He and his wife, Kristin, have 8 children and 3 grandchildren – James (Reilly, James VI, Wyatt), Daniel (Mary-Madison, Willow Kate), Jeremiah, Isaac, Stephen, Anna Kate, Mary Claire and Caleb. Under Jimmy’s leadership, Family Church has grown to a network of neighborhood churches across three counties and in four languages. Family Church is passionate about building families by helping them discover and pursue God’s design while carrying out their vision of taking the gospel to every person, in every family and neighborhood in South Florida. Jimmy is the author of Full Circle Parenting and Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations and hosts the Church for the Rest of Us podcast at familychurchnetwork.com. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. Scroggins teaches as a visiting professor at both Southern and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries.