Congratulations to Maryland/Delaware graduates
Congratulations to Maryland and Delaware’s recent graduates from the Southern Baptist Convention’s six theological seminaries!
The seminaries are:
- The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky (founded 1859)
- The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas (founded 1908)
- New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans, Louisiana (founded 1917)
- Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention in Ontario, California (founded 1944)
- The Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina (founded 1950)
- Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri (founded 1957)
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
During the Southern Baptist Theologial Seminary’s (SBTS) 224th commencement exercises on Dec. 13, 2019, R. Albert Mohler, Jr., president of the seminary, referred to the graduates as heralds of the good news of salvation through the forgiveness of sins. Andrew J.W. Smith, SBTS, quoted Mohler in a December 13 SBTS article, “We are sending out these graduates to go out into the nations and out into the pulpits and into the churches, and to speak to everyone everywhere in order to communicate the knowledge of salvation.”
One hundred fifty master’s and doctoral students received their degrees.
- James Choi, from Hyattsville, Maryland, received a Master of Theology degree.
- Alexander Dhadasih from Potomac, Maryland, received a Master of Arts in Theological Studies degree.
- Douglas Lee Hanna, from Cheverly, Maryland received a Master of Divinity degree.
- Kevin David Koslowsky, from Wilmington, Delaware, received a Doctor of Philosophy degree.
- Justin Andrew Runyan, from Laurel, Maryland, received a Doctor of Ministry degree.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
SEBTS President Danny Akin addressed graduates and their families at the December 13 commencement service. (photo provided by SEBTS)
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) conferred 121 master’s degrees and 37 doctoral degrees at its Dec. 14, 2019, graduation ceremony. NOBTS President Jamie Dew, elected by NOBTS trustees in June, presided over the graduation ceremony. In a December 17 article by Marilyn Stewart, assistant director of communications at NOBTS, Dew told graduates, “‘Ministry is hard. The sheep will bite you. You’re going to want to quit. You’re going to get discouraged. You’re going to be broken, sometimes. But as you go, nurture your walk with God more than you ever have … your power is in your communion with Christ.’”
- David Tilghman Hemphill from Edgewater, Maryland, received a Doctor of Ministry degree.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) President Danny Akin addressed graduates and their families at the seminary’s Dec. 13, 2019, commencement service. SEBTS News and Information Specialist Lauren Pratt quoted Akin in a December 13 SBETS article, “Because of his amazing grace, we give. Yes, we give our money, but more than that, we give our lives. We give our lives to the Lord and we give our lives for others. Graduates, you will go where others will not go. You will do what others will not do. You will serve where others will not serve. And you will give what others will not give.”
The seminary conferred degrees on 251 SEBTS and College at Southeastern graduates.
- Michael R. Houser, of Selbyville, Delaware, received a Master of Arts in Christian Studies degree.
- Allen Acker, of Great Mills, Maryland, received a Master of Arts in Christian Education and Biblical Counseling degree.
Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS)
Midwestern Seminary held its 66th commencement on Dec. 6, 2019 and conferred 222 degrees on 205 students.
President Jason Allen kicked off a ten-part sermon series at the graduation focusing on “significant, urgent doctrinal issues.” He began with biblical inerrancy because “it’s the ‘biggest, grandest stage that we have to offer and our topic today, biblical inerrancy, merits such a stage’” (from a December 9 MBTS article)
- Joeng Gyu Choi, from Brooklyn, Maryland, received a Doctor of Philosophy, Biblical Studies, Biblical Ministry.
About 22 percent of all Cooperative Program gifts to the Southern Baptist Convention are used to support these seminaries, to train pastors, missionaries, and other Christian leaders.
Additional funding is provided by donations, tuition, fees, and endowments.
Learn more about Southern Baptist seminaries and what the incredible opportunities they provide through the support of your Cooperative Program giving.
Note: Southwestern and Gateway Seminaries reported no graduates from Maryland and Delaware this semester.
(Cover photos provided by SBTS)
