2017-2018 President's Report LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
FOR THE TRUTH | CHURCH | WORLD | GLORY OF GOD
2018 REPORT
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FOR THE
TRUTH | FOR THE CHURCH
| FOR THE WORLD | FOR THE GLORY OF GOD
TABLE OF CONTENTS
President’s letter Convocation Faculty news Faculty books Academics Bevin Center trips Academic centers Alumni Giving Days Here We Stand Fall and spring events T4G 2018 Ask Anything Tour Graduation Resources
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2018 REPORT
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A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
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As president of The Southern Baptist Theoising new venture in the life of Boyce College. logical Seminary, it is my privilege to report Forming a Christian worldview is an urgent good news. Across this country, institutions priority in this generation within our churches, of higher education are facing turmoil. Inand the academy has the potential to play a deed, the entire sector of higher learning vital part in that effort for young adults and is in flux. At Southern, the numbers tell a their families. different story. Also, the Board of Trustees unanimously For the last completed academic year (2017approved a recommendation to adopt “The 18), there was a record non-duplicating headNashville Statement” as an official part of the count of 5,489 students. school’s confessional documents. Southern The training of pastors is absolutely central Seminary takes its confessional responsito our mission. That’s the first assignment given bility with great significance. “The Nashville to us by the Southern Statement” is a statement WE THANK GOD FOR Baptist Convention, and of what we believe is rethe main mechanism vealed in Holy Scripture THE VITALITY OF AN whereby we do that is the regarding human sexuINSTITUTION, FOUNDED Master of Divinity degree ality, and thus beliefs to IN 1859, THAT IS EXPERIprogram. And I am very which we are fully acthankful to report that we countable and of which ENCING SUCH GROWTH have the largest group of we are not ashamed. AND MOMENTUM IN M.Div. students not only Students came this in Southern Seminary’s year from over five dozen THE 21ST CENTURY. history but most likely in countries and all 50 states, the history of the Christian church. and over the course of the year, hundreds went These enrollment numbers represent an out from Southern Seminary as preachers, incredible stewardship and a sign of God’s church planters, and missionaries. In fact, in good pleasure. We thank God for the vitality May, we celebrated the largest graduating class of an institution, founded in 1859, that is exin my tenure as president, bright students who periencing such growth and momentum in are already headed to every corner of the world. the 21st century. Please continue to pray with me that the This academic year, Southern Seminary ministry of Southern Seminary would be doubled down on its commitment to training faithful to Scripture and to the Great Compastors through the M.Div. program by mission as we seek to prepare God-called minlaunching the Evening M.Div. This initiative isters to preach the gospel in all the nations will allow students to complete a M.Div. degree of the earth. in eight semesters exclusively through courses offered in the evenings. This is another bold statement of our basic commitments. Additionally, Boyce College continued to expand. We announced the development of a new summer academy program. The Boyce R. Albert Mohler Jr. Academy represents a particularly promPresident
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‘COMMITMENT TO THEOLOGY DEFINES A FAITHFUL SEMINARY’ MOHLER 2018 REPORT
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ADDRESSED STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT FALL AND SPRING CONVOCATIONS
AND IN HIM ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER Preaching from Colossians 1:13-23 in an address titled “And in Him All Things Hold Together: Jesus Christ as Beginning and End of Knowledge,” Mohler said that Jesus Christ is not only the source of a “coherent” Christian faith, but the source of all coherence.
“WE BELIEVE IN TRUTH NOT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN OURSELVES, BUT BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE SOVEREIGN, OMNIPOTENT GOD OF THE UNIVERSE WHO BY HIS MERCY HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US.” RECOVERING AND SUSTAINING THE THEOLOGICAL MISSION OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SPRING 2018 An ironclad commitment to truth is the defining quality of a faithful theological institution, said Mohler during its spring convocation in Alumni Memorial Chapel. In an address titled, “Recovering and Sustaining the Theological Mission of Christian Education,” Mohler stressed the centrality of the theological disciplines in any truly Christian understanding of the world. “If The Southern Baptist Theology Sem-
inary and Boyce College mean anything, it must mean we are here in the name of truth. We are here to be obedient to the truth. We are here to teach the truth; we are here to be taught the truth,” he said. “We believe in truth not because we believe in ourselves, but because we believe in the sovereign, omnipotent God of the universe who by his mercy has revealed himself to us. He is there and he is not silent.”
Video for these messages is available at equip.sbts.edu.
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FALL 2017 There is no true education when Jesus Christ is not recognized as the center of all learning, said R. Albert Mohler Jr. at his convocation address for the 2017-2018 academic year at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
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SOUTHERN SEMINARY EXPANDS WORLDRENOWNED FACULTY FIVE SCHOLARS JOIN SBTS 2018 REPORT
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Kyle Claunch
Adam Howell
Kyle Claunch joined SBTS as assistant professor of Christian theology after earning his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). from the school in May 2017. He earned his advanced M.Div. from Southern in 2011. Currently he serves as lead pastor of Highland Park First Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.
Old Testament scholar Adam Howell is an assistant professor of Old Testament interpretation. Howell, an M.Div. and Ph.D. graduate of Southern Seminary, has served as an adjunct instructor of biblical studies at Boyce College since 2013 and as an adjunct instructor of Old Testament interpretation at Southern since 2014.
Andrew Rogers joined Boyce as an assistant professor of biblical counseling and program coordinator for the biblical counseling major. Rogers is completing his Ph.D. in biblical counseling at Southern Seminary. He is also a fellow and board member with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors.
Tyler R. Wittman Wittman returned to Southern as assistant professor of Christian theology, having recently completed his Ph.D. in divinity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He earned his M.Div. and Master of Theology (Th.M.) from Southern. Wittman was named an Earhart Scholar at Oxford University in 2014. He has lectured at churches and universities in both Scotland and the United States. He is also a member in the American Academy of Religion and the Evangelical Theological Society.
Wilsey, who has worked as an educator and pastor since 1992, is serving as associate professor of church history. Princeton University recently announced Wilsey as the William E. Simon Visiting Fellow in Religion and Public Life for 2017-18, where he has conducted research for a new biography of John Foster Dulles for Eerdmans’ Library of Religious Biography series. “JOHN WILSEY’S EXPERTISE, ESPECIALLY IN ISSUES OF CHURCH AND STATE AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY IN THE UNITED STATES, AND HIS CONCERN FOR ACCURACY AND APPRECIATION IN TERMS OF HISTORY, ALL OF THESE ARE GREAT GIFTS THAT HE BRINGS TO THIS NEW POSITION AT SOUTHERN SEMINARY,” SAID PRESIDENT R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.
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Andrew Rogers
John David Wilsey
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#SBTSMADNESS
AUTHORS ADD TO EXPANSIVE FACULTY LIBRARY 2018 REPORT
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50 CORE TRUTHS OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH: A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING AND TEACHING THEOLOGY by Gregg R. Allison In his recent book, 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith, released in February 2018, Gregg R. Allison understands doctrine is not just for theology students or pastors — it should be available for all Christians regardless of educational level or discretionary time. (Baker Books)
COVENANT AND GOD’S PURPOSE FOR THE WORLD by Thomas R. Schreiner Thomas Schreiner’s Covenant and God’s Purpose for the World shows that God’s redemptive plan, from Genesis to Revelation, can be seen in the way he has been covenanting with his people since the garden of Eden. (Crossway)
Faculty publications are a major attraction to the seminary. This year, the Office of Admissions recruited students with a chance to win these books on Twitter. SBTS Madness was held in conjunction with NCAA March Madness.
PUBLISHERS GAVE ADMISSIONS 500+ BOOKS TO GIVE AWAY, WHICH GENERATED:
395 PROSPECTS
35.9 THOUSAND PROFILE VISITS
447 NEW FOLLOWERS
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MILLION IMPRESSIONS
In their new book Southern Seminary professor Gregg R. Allison and Brad House, executive pastor of ministry at Sojourn Community Church, discuss the differences and benefits of a multichurch model for today’s growing congregations. (Zondervan)
TEACHING THE WORLD: FOUNDATIONS FOR ONLINE THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION by John Cartwright, Gabriel Etzel, Christopher Jackson, and Timothy Paul Jones This book holds a collection of essays about the origins of online theological education, the benefits, the objections, and prospective ways to produce a fruitful online theological education experience for distance learning students. (Baker Academic)
ENCOUNTERING GOD THROUGH EXPOSITORY PREACHING: CONNECTING GOD’S PEOPLE TO GOD’S PRESENCE THROUGH GOD’S WORD by Jim Scott Orrick, Brian K. Payne, and Ryan Fullerton Boyce College professors Brian Payne, Jim Orrick, and Immanuel Baptist Church’s senior pastor, Ryan Fullerton, explore various reasons expository preaching is necessary for pastors to implement in their church services. (B&H Publishing )
¡LATINOAMÉRICA DESPIERTA! 95 TESIS PARA LA IGLESIA DE HOY by Miguel Núñez Five hundred years after the Protestant Reformation, ¡Latinoamérica Despierta! 95 Tesis Para la Iglesia de Hoy (“Wake Up Latin America! 95 Theses for the Church of Today”) is a call to reclaim the centrality of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in Latin American churches. This book is only available in Spanish. (Poiema)
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MULTICHURCH: EXPLORING THE FUTURE OF MULTISITE by Gregg R. Allison and Brad House
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GROWING IN GRATITUDE Mary Mohler In her debut book, Mary Mohler, the first lady of Southern Seminary, encourages readers to pursue gratitude and offers strategies for how to grow in it. (The Good Book Company)
2018 REPORT
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CHRIST FROM BEGINNING TO END: HOW THE FULL STORY OF SCRIPTURE REVEALS THE FULL GLORY OF CHRIST by Trent Hunter and Stephen Wellum
MUSLIM CONVERSIONS TO CHRIST: A CRITIQUE OF INSIDER MOVEMENTS IN ISLAMIC CONTEXTS Ayman Ibrahim and Ant Greenham, eds.
Stephen J. Wellum, professor of Christian theology at Southern Seminary, and Trent Hunter wrote Christ from Beginning to End to help readers rightly read the Bible, to keep Christ in mind throughout the entire story. (Zondervan)
Critiquing “Insider Movements,” a missiological approach that claims Muslims can confess Jesus as Lord and remain Muslims, this book argues that Christianity and Islam are mutually exclusive religions. Edited by Ayman S. Ibrahim and Ant Greenham, Muslim Conversions to Christ engages this idea directly. (Peter Lang)
FROM THE PRESIDENT: THE PRAYER THAT TURNS THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN by R. Albert Mohler Jr.
ACTS 1-12 FOR YOU by R. Albert Mohler Jr. In this accessible and expositional book, Mohler explains the first half of Acts and casts a vision for what a biblical church should look like. Part of the “For You” series by the Good Book Company, Acts 1-12 For You takes the reader through the earliest days of the Christian church, while also providing teachers and group leaders with resources to meditate upon and faithfully apply the message of Acts to the contemporary church. (The Good Book Company)
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Most people recognize the familiar refrains of the prayer Jesus taught to his disciples in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4. It’s recited at graveside services and before high school football games. But people often don’t understand the words they’re saying, according to Mohler. Mohler hopes readers see the large-scale purpose of this famous prayer: The Lord alone reigns. The words in the prayer call for God’s kingdom to come and for his will to be done on earth as in heaven — Mohler calls these the “most revolutionary words human beings could imagine.” “With those words every empire falls, every throne other than the throne of Christ is shattered. With those words, the world is turned upside down.” (Thomas Nelson)
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THE SOUTHERN COMMUNITY REMEMBERED CHARLES W. DRAPER
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Charles W. Draper, professor of Boyce College and chair of the school’s department of biblical studies, died from a heart attack during the early hours of Sunday, June 25. He was 70. Draper was a founding professor of Boyce College in 1998, when the school relaunched as the fully accredited James P. Boyce College of the Bible, replacing the non degree-granting Boyce Bible School. From that time, Draper served as associate professor of biblical studies before becoming chair of the department of biblical studies in 2013.
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MOHLER PRESENTS INAUGURAL CHARLES W. DRAPER FACULTY AWARD TO DAVID BOSCH DURING BOYCE COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT The Charles W. Draper Faculty Award is named in honor of the late Boyce College professor who taught at the school for more than 20 years. Draper, a founding faculty member of the school, died in June 2017. The award was presented to David Bosch during Boyce College commencement much to the surprise of Draper’s wife, Retta, who did not know about the award beforehand. E S T. 18 5 9 | LOU., K Y
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GREGORY A. WILLS COMPLETES TERM AS DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, RETURNS TO THE CLASSROOM AND SCHOLARLY WRITING Church historian Gregory A. Wills will return to the scholarly pursuits of teaching and writing, with multiple large-scale publishing projects, after serving five years as dean of the School of Theology. “Greg Wills has been outstanding as dean of the School of Theology,” Mohler said. “He represents a return to the model of dean that was established at Southern Seminary in a previous generation: an academic proven in the classroom and scholarship who can serve as a model for others — and
who could serve for a season as dean. “Being dean of the School of Theology requires a sacrifice of time and something of a sabbatical from some of the scholarship that a professor like Greg Wills both wants and needs to undertake. I wanted to be certain we give Greg Wills relief from the responsibilities as dean to turn his attention to some scholarly projects that we all need him to do.” Mohler added that Wills not only serves as a model scholar, but his tenure as dean will serve as a model for future deans of that school.
HERSHAEL YORK NAMED DEAN OF THE SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY since its formation in 1954. “To be a part of the history of Southern Seminary has been an incredible joy of my life, and now to be a part of that particular position with those that have filled that role before — Greg Wills, Russell Moore, Danny Akin — those are dear friends and great heroes of mine. To be able to be a part of that tradition is an incredible blessing,” York said. “I see myself as just serving them and being a cheerleader-in-chief, exhorting and encouraging them as they do all that God is using them to accomplish.” York will begin in the role August 1, 2018.
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Pastor and New Testament scholar Hershael York will become dean of the School of Theology at Southern Seminary this fall, R. Albert Mohler Jr. announced in June. “Hershael York will serve superbly as dean,” Mohler said. “He has all the gifts, and will bring his own mix of personality and ministry and passion to this role. “I’ve had the great pleasure recently of working with Greg Wills as dean, and I’m really looking forward to having Hershael York serve as dean.” York becomes the 11th dean of the School of Theology, the seminary’s oldest school,
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SOUTHERN SEMINARY IS NOW THE LARGEST ATS-ACCREDITED SEMINARY IN THE WORLD
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ACCORDING TO THE 2017-2018 ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF THEOLOGICAL SCHOOLS, SOUTHERN SEMINARY NOW REPRESENTS THE LARGEST OF SCHOOLS ACCREDITED BY ATS.
11,492 STUDENT BODY TOTAL HEAD COUNT: 5,373 5,046 4,763 4,705
GRADUATES SINCE 1993
5,513
2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17
87 %
2,099 M.DIV. STUDENTS
INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT FROM 1993 TO 2017
GROWTH IN SPANISH LANGUAGE PROGRAM(S)
— THE LARGEST GROUP IN HISTORY OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION
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SOUTHERN SEMINARY TRUSTEES VOTE TO ADOPT ‘THE NASHVILLE STATEMENT’ AS AN OFFICIAL CONFESSIONAL DOCUMENT
The Board of Trustees of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary unanimously approved a recommendation to adopt “The Nashville Statement” as an official part of the school’s confessional documents during its fall meeting. “The Nashville Statement” affirms biblical teaching about gender and sexuality and seeks to clarify Christian beliefs on some of the most pressing cultural issues. That Southern Seminary adopted it, according to Mohler, is a matter of responsibility.
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“THE NASHVILLE STATEMENT IS NOT A STATEMENT OF NEW BELIEFS HELD BY EVANGELICALS, BUT IS RATHER A DISTILLATION AND CLARIFICATION OF WHAT CHRISTIANS HAVE BELIEVED ABOUT THESE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT 20 CENTURIES — 2,000 YEARS OF CHURCH HISTORY.” — R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.
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BGS LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE ACADEMIC M.A. FOCUSED ON DEFENDING THE FAITH 2018 REPORT
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BLOUNT APPOINTED CHAIR The goal of Christian apologetics should not merely be the assent of the mind, but the confession of the heart, said Adam W. Greenway, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Seminary leadership has consolidated two distinct apologetics programs into a single M.Div. degree in apologetics for the 2017-2018 academic year. The program sits in the new Department of Apologetics and World Religions in the Billy Graham School, with Douglas K. Blount serving as its chair. Blount has been teaching apologetics at SBTS since 2015. “This generation will never know a moment where it’s not called to defend the truth and the truthfulness of the Christian faith. Southern Seminary has been on the front lines of preparing the church for this challenge for many years, but this new concentration of faculty assets and emphasis in one department will make history,” said R. Albert Mohler Jr.
“THIS NEW CONCENTRATION OF FACULTY ASSETS AND EMPHASIS IN ONE DEPARTMENT WILL MAKE HISTORY.” — R. ALBERT MOHLER JR.
NIGHTS A WEEK
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CLASSES A SEMESTER
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M.DIV.
THE EVENING M.DIV. MAKES RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE Announced this year, the Evening M.Div. is an opportunity for students to earn their degree in four years by completing four classes a semester, offered two nights per week. This program is ideal for students whose
work during the day prevents them from taking courses at other times. It’s the same quality M.Div. that Southern is known for, with the same esteemed faculty. Classes will be offered Mondays and Tuesdays, 6-10 p.m.
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2018 REPORT
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SOUTHERN CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE MINISTRY OF BOYCE COLLEGE
40 %
1,436
GROWTH IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS
1,027
15
TIMES GROWTH IN BUSINESS ADMIN PROGRAM
BOYCE COLLEGE TOTAL ENROLLMENT
7.25
TIMES GROWTH IN EDUCATION PROGRAM
2017–18
3.2
TIMES GROWTH IN PPE PROGRAM
Boyce College announces new classical education minor
THE RESURGENCE OF CLASSICAL EDUCATION IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISING DEVELOPMENTS ON THE BROADER AMERICAN EDUCATION LANDSCAPE IN QUITE SOME TIME.
Boyce College announced a minor in classical education, which began in the 2017-2018 academic year. Boyce professors Melissa Tucker and Tyler Flatt are at the forefront of the new program, which is an emphasis within the teacher education program and a minor available to all other Boyce students. “The resurgence of classical education is one of the most promising developments on the broader American education landscape in quite some time,” said Matthew J. Hall, dean of Boyce College. “Christian institutions are rightly at the forefront of this recovery of ancient wisdom, answering basic questions about what it means to be human, what it means to truly learn, and the very essence of education itself. However, few Christian colleges have taken on the task of preparing graduates to teach this way. This is the right kind of minor for Boyce College at precisely the right time.”
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2012–13
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BOYCE INTRODUCES SUMMER ACADEMY
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The Boyce Academy, starting in the summer of 2018, promises to give rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors the chance to experience a Christian college campus while earning course credit. According to Matthew J. Hall, who is dean of Boyce College, the one-week residential experience will give students a glimpse of what they can expect from college both academically and socially.
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BOYCE COLLEGE ADDS OFFICE OF VOCATION AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT A new office on campus will help students at Boyce College determine their calling, grow in their understanding of vocation, and find a career, Dean Matthew J. Hall announced. “Part of what it means for a student to succeed at Boyce College has to be their ability not only to discern their vocation, but grow in their ability to identify strategic opportunities to pursue that vocation in a way that serves the kingdom of Christ and honors
God,” Hall said. With the new Office of Vocation and Career Development, housed within Southern Seminary’s Center for Student Success, Hall hopes to complete the sequence from when a student arrives on campus to when he or she graduates — not only providing the knowledge and spiritual guidance each student requires, but also preparing them for every stage of life, including their vocational calling.
NEWLY NAMED ADMINISTRATION Vice president for communications: Kody Gibson Southern Seminary president, R. Albert Mohler Jr., named Kody Gibson the new vice president for communications. Gibson, a 2012 Southern graduate, served as the director of admissions for the past three years. Under his leadership, the incoming class size at Boyce increased by 19 percent and the seminary increased 9 percent. Before assuming the director role, Gibson worked in various capacities within the department since 2010.
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Director of admissions: Jeremy Pelton Pelton, newly named director of admissions, was previously associate director of Boyce admissions and a doctoral admissions counselor for Southern Seminary. During the year Pelton oversaw Boyce admissions, the incoming undergraduate class grew by 12 percent — one of the largest increases in the school’s history.
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‘AN EPIC ERA OF EVANGELICAL HISTORY HAS COME TO AN END’ 2018 REPORT
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R. ALBERT MOHLER JR., PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, REFLECTS ON THE LIFE OF BILLY GRAHAM WHO DIED AT THE AGE OF 99. THE BILLY GRAHAM SCHOOL OF MISSIONS, EVANGELISM AND MINISTRY AT SOUTHERN SEMINARY IS THE ONLY GRADUATE SCHOOL THE FAMED EVANGELIST GRANTED PERMISSION TO USE HIS NAME. “An epic era of evangelical history has come to an end. Billy Graham was not only a titanic figure in evangelicalism, but in world history and perhaps represents the last of a kind. He dominated 20th century American evangelicalism and remained a major figure on the world stage throughout most of the 20th century in a way that we can envision no evangelical leader in our times. “Billy Graham was a supremely gifted man. He was a man of deep conviction whose passionate heartbeat was for the gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ. He was an evangelist, and was unashamed to be called an evangelist. In many ways, Billy Graham did not pioneer mass evangelism and crusade evangelism; he perfected it. In addition to his role as an evangelist, Billy Graham was also the organizing center of evangelicalism in the 20th century. Surveying the list of major evangelical organizations, it’s difficult to imagine what many of them would be today — if indeed they would exist today — without the human agency of Billy Graham,” said Mohler.
“BILLY GRAHAM ALSO HAS TO GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS A MAN WHO PROTECTED THE MORAL INTEGRITY OF HIS MINISTRY FROM THE BEGINNING TO THE END. A MAN AGAINST WHOM THERE WAS NEVER ANY HINT OF MORAL SCANDAL. AND THUS, HE NEEDS TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR HAVING FINISHED THE RACE AND HAVING RUN A COURSE IN A MANNER THAT SHOULD SERVE AS AN INSPIRATION TO US ALL.”
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THE BEVIN CENTER EQUIPS STUDENTS TO TAKE THE GOSPEL AROUND THE GLOBE The center sent teams to 13 locations in 2017.
IRELAND An eight-member team spent 10 days in July evangelizing the people of Ireland. STEPHEN WELLUM, professor of Christian theology, led the team.
HOUSTON, TEXAS
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A student-organized and student-led team helped with disaster relief for NAMB Send in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. JUSTIN FOUNTAIN, a Houston native and student at Southern, led the team.
SPAIN Students from the Boyce College soccer team learned personal evangelism skills and received pastoral training while hosting a kids soccer camp. MATTHEW HALL, dean of Boyce College, led the team.
CUBA A five-member team was given the rare opportunity to receive pastoral training in Cuba. FELIPE CASTRO, director of Hispanic Initiatives, led the team.
MIDDLE EAST Eleven students learned how to use business skills in a missionary context in the Middle East. DAVID BOSCH, associate professor of business administration, led the team.
COSTA RICA JEFF HUNTER, dean of students at Boyce College, led a seven-member team to Costa Rica. While there, they received invaluable pastoral training.
NORTH AFRICA Ten students received cultural training while practicing their personal evangelism skills in north Africa. AYMAN IBRAHIM, the Bill and Connie Jenkins associate professor of Islamic studies, led the team.
ETHIOPIA Ten students experienced an incredible opportunity for pastoral training in Ethiopia. MICHAEL POHLMAN, assistant professor of Christian preaching, led the trip.
GREECE Nine people spent part of their spring reaching out and evangelizing to the refugees in Greece. JOHN KLAASSEN, associate professor of global studies, led the team.
RUSSIA An eight-member team spent 10 days in May evangelizing and teaching children grades K-12. MELISSA TUCKER, associate professor of teacher education, led the team.
INDIA
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A six-member team spent two weeks reaching and teaching the people of India. GEORGE MARTIN, professor of Christian missions and world religions, led the team.
INDONESIA A team of eight spent part of January doing evangelism among the people of Indonesia. GEORGE MARTIN, professor of Christian missions and world religions, led the trip.
PERSIAN GULF Six students learned how to use their business skills in a missionary context in the Persian Gulf. KEVIN JONES, assistant professor of teacher education, led the team.
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Academic centers expand the training of pastors beyond the classroom
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THE JENKINS CENTER HELPS STUDENTS BETTER UNDERSTAND ISLAM The Jenkins Center hosted several events throughout the year. In November, students learned introductory matters about Islam and Muslims and visited a local mosque and engaged with Muslim neighbors at the Meeting My Muslim Neighbor event. The center also hosted academic lecturers, including Gordon Nickel and Gabriel Reynolds. 400 people attended lectures this year. The center published 12 blogs, and Ayman S. Ibrahim published his academic book The Stated Motivations for the Early Islamic Expansion. March 16-18, 19 students from eight countries shared the gospel with Muslims in Dearborn, Michigan.
THE MATHENA CENTER GROWS, OFFERING MORE RESOURCES FOR PASTORS The Mathena Center for Church Revitalization’s intern class included nine men, five of whom currently pastor in “Revitalization” churches. With another year comes continued growth to the network of church revitalization pastors, now in eight states. Mathena hosted a special Alumni Academy with the topic of church revitalization, a fall panel discussion centered on pastors caught in the fray, and a spring panel with church revitalization specialists from local associations and the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Resources are forthcoming on preaching in church revitalization and the pastor’s soul, both co-authored by senior fellow Brian Croft.
THE CENTER FOR BIBLICAL COUNSELING FOCUSES ON CARING FOR THE VULNERABLE The goal of the Center for Biblical Counseling is to encourage and equip church leaders who are involved in the ministry of biblical counseling. In the spring semester, March 2-3, the center hosted the Counsel the Word conference where experts in abuse prevention addressed how churches can prepare and respond to situations in their congregations. The conference included teaching from Greg Love and Kimberlee Norris of MinistrySafe, a Christian organization dedicated to preventing child sexual abuse in churches, as well as a message from Jeremy L. Pierre, chair of the department of biblical counseling and family ministry and dean of students at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
THE COMMONWEAL PROJECT CONNECTS THEOLOGY WITH GLOBAL ECONOMIC TRENDS The Commonweal Project is a seminary initiative led by Kenneth T. Magnuson, and funded by a grant from the Kern Family Foundation. The vision is to help pastors to engage, encourage, and equip their congregations to serve the Lord effectively in the marketplace. This year the Commonweal Project has sponsored a series of lecture lunches and 11 student reading groups led by faculty members with a total of over 100 students discussing work and economics. The Commonweal Project also hosted two scholarly colloquia, and Os Guinness spoke at the 2017 faculty retreat, lecturing on culture, liberty, and his work on God’s calling and vocation in Scripture.
INSTITUTE FOR BIBLICAL WORSHIP The Institute for Biblical Worship had an eventful year. The Doxology Vocal Ensemble traveled to Malaysia, led by Chuck Lewis and George Martin, and Norton Hall Band finished recording their third hymn project. “Be A Lamp,” a new original song by band member Kha Do, is also on the recording. Cannons Lane Collective, a newer ensemble in the department of biblical worship, provides a music opportunity for international students. They provided worship leadership for the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s International Student Retreat, and they also have led in seminary chapel and hosted their
own worship concert on campus. The institute hosted its second annual songwriting seminar, made possible by a generous gift from Edward and Sarah Fu. Cody Farthing’s new hymn, “Within the Trials,” was chosen as the best student submission of the seminar. Greg Brewton, chairman of the department of biblical worship in the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry, recently published a new book: A Guide to Worship Ministry: The Worship Minister’s Life and Work. Throughout the book, Brewton shares timely insights for leaders at all stages of their ministry journey.
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ALUMNI EXPAND SBTS NETWORK AROUND THE GLOBE
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SOUTHERN SEMINARY IS RANKED FOURTH OUT OF ALL ATS MEMBER SCHOOLS FOR GRADUATES SERVING ON FACULTIES IN THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION.
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Southern alums servings as SBC entity heads
Southern alums serving as college and university presidents
ALUMNI GATHERED IN SIX STATES DURING STATE CONVENTIONS
Florida, Georgia, Texas, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio
SBTS ALUMNUS DONDI COSTIN APPOINTED PRESIDENT OF CHARLESTON SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY The Charleston Southern University Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Dondi E. Costin to serve as the third president of Charleston Southern University. Costin is a 2008 Ph.D. in leadership graduate from Southern Seminary. A native of Wilmington, North Carolina, Costin graduated from The United States Air Force Academy in 1986 and will retire from the Air Force before assuming office this summer. In addition to his Ph.D. from Southern, Costin holds five master’s degrees and a D.Min. degree. The Charleston Southern University Communications department contributed to this report.
Aubrey Sequeira
Nate Bishop
EVANGELICAL COMMUNITY CHURCH
FOREST BAPTIST CHURCH
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY
Aubrey Sequeira, a two-time graduate from Southern Seminary, grew up in Mangalore, India. He became a Christian as an adult and found his way to seminary after working in Toronto for a number for years. He graduated with a M.Div. degree in 2013 and Ph.D. in 2016. Sequeira sees ministry in the UAE as simpler than you might think. “It’s the same need as anywhere,” he said. “Lost sinners, bound in darkness, who need the gospel of Christ.”
Nate Bishop and his wife visited Southern Seminary in 2008 and knew it was where God wanted them to be. They moved their family from Michigan to Louisville in 2010, and Bishop then began serving at Forest Baptist Church as youth pastor. In 2016, Forest called Bishop their lead pastor. “It’s still surreal, walking in and being able to say, ‘This isn’t work. This is who I am,’” Bishop said. In late 2017, the Kentucky Baptist Convention elected Bishop as first vice president.
Josh Manley
Bland Mason
RAS AL-KHAIMAH EVANGELICAL CHURCH
CITY ON A HILL CHURCH
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Josh Manley worked in Washington D.C. after college, but he couldn’t shake a desire to preach and teach the Bible. He moved to Louisville to attend Southern Seminary. He is a two-time graduate, earning his Master of Divinity degree in 2012 and Th.M. in 2013. Weeks after graduating, he moved his family to the UAE to plant Ras al-Khaimah Evangelical Church. After five years, RAK Evangelical is a church of around 200 people.
Bland Mason is a 1997 graduate of Southern Seminary. He pastored a rural church in Springfield, Kentucky, for 10 years before moving to Boston, the city he calls the most strategic city in the world. While in Springfield, he worked on his Ph.D. In that time, he traveled to New England to interview a few people on their experience in leaving the church. This introduced him to Boston. He and his family moved and planted City on a Hill Church in 2008.
READ MORE ABOUT THESE ALUMNI IN THE SPRING 2018 ISSUE OF SOUTHERN SEMINARY MAGAZINE. E S T. 18 5 9 | LOU., K Y
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GIVING DAYS RAISED $300K 2018 REPORT
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The second annual Giving Days initiative at Southern Seminary raised more than $300,000. The multi-day event, held April 1922, comprised “Tell Day,” social media testimonials; “Serve Day,” a community-wide service project around the city of Louisville; “Giving Day,” a funding drive for the Southern Fund; and “Preach the Word,” a day to honor students and alumni who preach every Sunday. This year’s initiative generated more than 240 gifts, totaling more than $300,000. “THE OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT THAT CAME FROM ALUMNI, STUDENTS, TRUSTEES, AND FRIENDS OF SOUTHERN AND BOYCE SERVED AS A REMINDER OF THE PROFOUND IMPACT THIS INSTITUTION HAS HAD ON SCORES OF LIVES,” SAID R. CRAIG PARKER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF INSTITUTIONAL ADMINISTRATION AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SOUTHERN SEMINARY FOUNDATION.
2017-2018 ALUMNI EVENTS
HERITAGE GOLF CLASSIC The 14th annual Heritage Classic at Big Spring Country Club on August 28 raised over $180,000 for the Southern Fund. 108 golfers participated. The Rick Bordas Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Dithson Noel. The 15th annual Heritage Classic will be on August 20. More information can be found at theheritageclassic.org. HERITAGE WEEK October 9-11, friends of Southern gathered to celebrate the history of the seminary and look toward the future. The Bruce W. Benton Distinguished Service Award was presented to Ramon and Linda Nunez of Douglasville, Georgia. H.B. Charles gave a special chapel message, followed by Southern Seminary’s R. Albert Mohler Jr., in Broadus Chapel. ALUMNI ACADEMY Two academies were held, the first in partnership with the Mathena Center for Church Revitalization in August, featuring Brian Croft, Tim Beougher, Mark Clifton, and Andy Davis. The second was held in conjunction with the Here We Stand Reformation Conference on November 2, featuring R. Albert Mohler Jr., Michael G. Haykin, and Timothy Paul Jones.
1937 PROJECT On April 21, as a part of Giving Days “Serve Day,” students and staff from Southern Seminary were sent around the city of Louisville to paint, clean, build, rake and do dozens of other tasks in service of the Louisville community. “The 1937 project mobilizes Southern Seminary and Boyce College to serve our community,” said Jim Stitzinger, who is an associate vice president at Southern Seminary and who heads up the 1937 Project logistics. “It’s a powerful way we can go to the neglected areas of town and serve in a way that shows Christ’s love.” The project deployed over 400 students in service of the city of Louisville.
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“JUSTIFICATION IS THE JUDICIAL ACT OF GOD IN WHICH, PRIMARILY, GOD DECLARES ON THE BASIS OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST THAT ALL THE CLAIMS OF THE LAW ARE SATISFIED WITH RESPECT TO THE SINNER. ” — MARK DEVER
HUNDREDS CELEBRATED THE LEGACY OF THE REFORMATION Preaching on the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing of his famous 95 Theses to the castle church door, Mohler addressed a full Alumni Chapel for Southern Seminary’s Here We Stand conference. The conference, a joint effort of Southern Seminary, Reformed Theo-
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logical Seminary and Ligonier Ministries, gathered theologians and pastors to celebrate and reflect on the quincentennial of the Protestant Reformation. The event spanned three days and included pastors and scholars from across reformed traditions.
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FALL AND SPRING EVENTS ◄ NIGHT OF VALOR World War II veteran, Edgar Harrell, encouraged students to find hope in the sovereignty of God with his story of deliverance from a shipwreck.
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► ALUMNI ACADEMY Pastors at the summer Alumni Academy encouraged attendees to endure trials in church revitalization.
HURRICANE RELIEF The Bevin Center for Missions Mobilization partnered with the North American Mission Board for relief work in Houston, October 2-6. Twelve Boyce College students were led by Justin Fountain, Southern M.Div. student and Houston native.
◄ THE GOSPEL AT WORK Greg Gilbert encouraged Christians to take their work seriously at The Commonweal Project luncheon.
COUNSEL THE WORD MinistrySafe and Southern Seminary discussed protecting the vulnerable from sexual abuse during the conference, March 2-3.
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GHEENS LECTURE Scholarly “populism” provides a way forward in New Testament theology, Robert Yarbrough said at the 2018 Gheens Lecture series.
TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES Following the UCLA Ask Anything events, Ligonier hosted R. Albert Mohler Jr., Burk Parsons, and Stephen Nichols for teaching about three premises: God is, God speaks, and God saves.
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TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL
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THE 2018 TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL CONFERENCE ADDRESSED THE NEED FOR HOLINESS IN NINE SESSIONS OVER THREE DAYS, APRIL 11-13. MORE THAN 12,500 EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS GATHERED IN THE KFC YUM! CENTER IN LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, TO HEAR TEACHING ON THE THEME “DISTINCT FROM THE WORLD.”
SBC PANEL R. Albert Mohler Jr. and Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington D.C., discussed the state and importance of the Southern Baptist Convention. They touched on the nature of denominations, the theological commitments of Southern Baptists, the Cooperative Program, and the upcoming annual meeting in Dallas.
T4G 2018 SPEAKERS MARK DEVER D AV I D P L AT T M AT T C H A N D L E R K E V I N D E YO U N G R. ALBERT MOHLER JR. LIGON DUNCAN T H A B I T I A N YA B W I L E JOHN MACARTHUR JOHN PIPER
Sexual sin is a deadly blow to the church’s holiness Christians must guard themselves against the corrosive effects of sexual sin — both for the health of their souls and the reputation of the church, said Mohler in his plenary session. Mohler preached on 1 Corinthians 5:16:11, which is one of the strongest texts in the New Testament about how the church should discipline its members who persist in unrepentant sin. If the church’s holy witness is damaged, the gospel is damaged, Mohler said.
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ASK ANYTHING TOUR
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THE ASK ANYTHING TOUR CARRIED MOHLER TO TWO COLLEGE CAMPUSES, ANSWERING QUESTIONS ON CHRISTIANITY IN AN OPEN FORUM. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA – LOS ANGELES Mohler answered a variety of questions with answers grounded in historic Christian thought based on the Bible. Questions from UCLA students ranged from racism in America to issues of bioethics to Mohler’s strategy for reading books. “I believe God does exist, that he’s the self-existent, self-revealing God. He exists and he speaks. He speaks to us in nature — the Bible is very clear about that. He speaks to us in Scripture definitively. He speaks to us in the incarnation of Jesus Christ savingly.” If I didn’t have that assurance, I wouldn’t dare stand up in front of an audience of one to talk about how we can ask and answer the biggest questions of life. But if indeed we have that confidence that he is there and he is not silent … we know where to begin.”
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE Hundreds gathered in the Margaret Comstock Concert Hall on the UofL campus for the first event of the Ask Anything tour, seeking answers from Mohler. He gave answers to a number of questions regarding key issues in Christian apologetics. That night, he answered questions on Christian views of science, history, politics, and theology during the open-microphone session.
THE ASK ANYTHING TOUR IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SOUTHERN SEMINARY AND LIGONIER MINISTRIES, A DISCIPLESHIP ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY THEOLOGIAN R.C. SPROUL. FUTURE DATES AT OTHER UNIVERSITIES ARE IN THE PLANNING STAGE.
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SOUTHERN SEMINARY AND BOYCE COLLEGE BOTH CELEBRATE HISTORIC GRADUATING CLASSES
Boyce College presented diplomas to its largest ever graduating class MAY 2018 One hundred fifty college students graduated at the May 11 commencement ceremony of Boyce College. The graduates who received diplomas were part of a 170-person graduating class, which is the largest in the history of the school. R. Albert Mohler Jr. also presented the inaugural Charles W. Draper Faculty Award to David Bosch, associate professor of business administration at Boyce College.
Southern awarded 531 degrees in 2017-18, including the largest spring class of Mohler’s presidency SPRING 2018 During the May 18 commencement exercises, 284 master’s and doctoral students received degrees as part of a graduating class of 320. The class is the largest during Mohler’s 25-year tenure as president of the institution. Mohler presented the annual Findley B. and Louvenia Edge Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence to Michael A.G. Haykin, professor of church history and biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary. The recipient of the 2018 Josephine S. and James L. Baggott Outstanding Graduate Award was Jason E. Milton, an M.Div. graduate from Berea, Ohio. FALL 2017 On December 8, in Alumni Memorial Chapel, 156 master’s and doctoral students received their degrees as members of a 211-person graduating class. Mohler also presented the Josephine S. and James L. Baggott Outstanding Graduate Award to Tyson W. Ziegler, a M.Div. graduate from Independence, Kentucky. The award was established in 1980 to recognize the outstanding graduate of each graduating class.
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Resources
BOOKS FROM SBTS PRESS HERE WE STAND Edited by Michael A.G. Haykin
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Here We Stand: Enduring Truth and the Reformation of the Church is a collection of significant writings from the Protestant Reformation. “[In the book] one can read the words that shook European churches and society to their very depths and brought about the profound recovery of biblical Christianity that marked the Reformation era,” Michael A.G. Haykin, professor of church history and biblical spirituality at Southern Seminary, said. Through scathing critique of the 16th century Catholic Church or wise instruction for believers, the selections for Here We Stand offer a call for Christians of all eras to stand with other believers in faith.
ESSENTIAL READING ON LEADERSHIP The church’s approach to leadership is different than the secular world’s. The church’s approach comes from a passionate love for the church and a strong desire to teach God’s people. Essential Reading on Leadership challenges pastors and ministers to cultivate this kind of leadership. Drawn from Southern Equip, a web-based resource from Southern Seminary that extends faculty training beyond the school’s classrooms, the book is a collection of articles about leadership written by SBTS faculty, some alumni, and instructors.
ALBERTMOHLER.COM SUBSCRIBE TO “THE BRIEFING,” THE PRESIDENT’S DAILY PODCAST, AND “THINKING IN PUBLIC,” FEATURING INTERVIEWS WITH PROMINENT SCHOLARS AND AUTHORS.
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Southern Equip extends training beyond the classroom. Find resources from leading thinkers and pastors that include journals, blogs, and sermons. Southern Equip also archives all seminary publications, including Southern Seminary Magazine and Towers. January 2018 marked one year since the launch of Equip, and the articles “Two lies every pastor’s wife needs to stop believing” and “Confessions of a fallen worship pastor” were among the year’s most read articles.
A Report from the President OF SOUTHERN SEMINARY