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Congratulations to Maryland/Delaware Seminary Graduates

Compiled by Sharon Mager

Congratulations to Maryland and Delaware’s recent graduates from the Southern Baptist Convention’s six theological seminaries!

The seminaries are:

Unable to proceed with traditional in-person commencement exercises, Al Mohler, the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) in Louisville, Kentucky, encouraged graduates online.

Mohler, sharing from 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, said, “The Apostle Paul exhorted the church at Thessalonica to ‘pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored’” (2 Thessalonians 3:1). Mohler said the seminary community, faculty, and staff pray the same prayer for graduates.

“We are praying that the ministries of these students will be honored, as the word of the Lord speeds ahead,” Mohler said, as reported by Forrest Strickland, SBTS assistant writer and editor in the Office of Communications.

Southern Seminary conferred degrees to 342 master’s and doctoral students on May 15. Nine Maryland/Delaware students graduated from SBTS:

  • Janet W. Henley, Doctor of Educational Ministry
  • Adam T. Williams, Doctor of Educational Ministry
  • Harry W. Whipple, Doctor of Ministry
  • Yulmi Shin, Master of Divinity
  • Amy Chang, Master of Arts in Theological Studies
  • Christopher O. Rainey, Master of Arts in Theological Studies — Lay Leadership
  • Matthew C. Hall, Master of Arts in Theological Studies
  • Henry Speeds, Master of Arts in Theological Studies
  • Jinwoo Chung, Master of Divinity

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) also had a virtual ceremony on May 15. SEBTS President Danny Akin encouraged graduates to run the Christian race with endurance.

SEBTS President Danny Akin encouraged graduates to run the Christian race with endurance.

An SEBTS online article quoted Akin’s addresss to spring graduates: “We did not want to pass this opportunity to congratulate you on the work that you’ve done and to recognize you and this marvelous accomplishment.”

Preaching from Hebrews 12:1-3, Akin challenged graduates to run the Christian race with endurance. In the chapter preceding Hebrews 12, the writer recounted heroes of the faith who trusted God throughout their lives and finished their races with excellence.

Maryland/Delaware SEBTS spring graduates were:

  • Camryn Alexandra Lockhart, Bachelor of Arts in English
  • Joseph Carlo Blandeburgo, Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies
  • Brian James O’Day, Master of Divinity in Biblical Counseling
  • James Francis McCaffrey, Jr., Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry
  • Michael Joseph Fillis, Doctor of Ministry

According to reporting by Marilyn Stewart in Baptist Press, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) President Jamie Dew, in his address, told graduates, “I charge you to be faithful to Him, to pursue Him, and to remember who you are in Christ, who He’s called you to be, what He’s called you to do, and how He’s called you to do it.” The seminary had a May 16 virtual graduation ceremony.

NOBTS reported the following graduate from Maryland/Delaware:

  • Melisa “Missie” Dunn Wiedman, Master of Theology degree, in partial fulfillment of the Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Gateway Theological Seminary celebrated its spring graduation ceremonies online on May 22. From reporting by Gateway Seminary Staff in Baptist Press, President Jeff Iorg told graduates, “My challenge for you as a graduate this year is to go out and personally invest yourself in the lives of people: to engage them personally, directly, even intimately, and in appropriate ways to extend yourself into their lives like Jesus did into the lives of those that he touched.”

Dr. Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, congratulated spring graduates online. Allen said, “This season is perhaps the most unique in the history of our institution. Yet we are thrilled to celebrate alongside you and your family at the culmination of your hard work.

“We are profoundly proud of you,” Allen told students. “Never forget the great Commission. Give your life to spreading the Gospel. As you do, you serve the church. To be for the church is to be for the nations.

“I encourage you to press on …”

Please note that due to COVID-19, this may not be a complete list of graduates. We will continue to update this list as we receive updates. If you or someone you know has graduated from a Southern Baptist college or seminary, please email Sharon Mager.

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