The below item is a book by Dr. Braswell detailing his relationship with all seven presidents of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. From the forward: "This manuscript is a collection of memories of my personal experiences
with each of the seven presidents of Southeastern Baptist Theological
Seminary as well as brief historical background on each of them. As the
only living professor who has known all seven men, I want to share my
stories from Southeastern's history. All opinions are my own and only
my own."
This collection contains a full run of Commencement Programs produced for SEBTS from 1954-1999. For programs from 2000-2024, please contact the archives at archives@sebts.edu or 919-761-2329.
George W. Braswell, Jr. was Professor of Missions and World Religion. The service begins with organ music (00:00-02:45). The speaker announces community concerns, and she gives a word of prayer (02:46-05:30). The choir sings the anthem (05:31-08:00). Braswell gives a report about the Southeastern summer mission trips and church planting endeavors in North America (08:01-10:59). The first student, Mickey, shares his experience serving a church plant in Daytona Beach, FL (11:00-15:17). Fred and Sherry, a married couple, share about their mission experience in Durham, NC through poetry (15:18-18:01). Bill Long, praxis director of the Home Mission Board, shares the need of students for the next summer mission trips, and he invites the audience to an interest meeting after the service (18:02-24:10). The service ends with a hymn and a word of prayer (24:11-26:18).
Margaret Via was pastor of the Preddys Creek Baptist Church in Charlottesville, VA. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:10). The speaker delivers the call to worship, and she gives a word of prayer (04:11-07:00). Margaret Via is introduced as the chapel speaker (07:01-08:03). The choir sings the anthem (08:04-10:02). Via begins her sermon with a word of appreciation for Southeastern, a word of prayer, and Scripture readings from John 1 and 18 (10:03-13:17). Via preaches on the kingship of Christ, and she argues from John’s gospel that Jesus is the eternal king who came in the flesh and will never abandon his people (13:18-24:15). Via ends the service with a benediction (24:16-24:50).
Thomas R. McKibbens, Jr. was Associate Professor of Preaching. Luke B. Smith was Professor of Supervised Ministry. John W. Carlton was Professor of Preaching. The service begins with a responsive reading (00:00-01:01). McKibbens leads in a prayer of forgiveness and confession (01:02-04:11). Smith delivers the Scripture reading from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 (04:12-05:02). Carlton leads in a prayer of intercession (05:03-07:20). McKibbens, Smith, and Carlton lead in the partaking of the Lord’s Supper (07:21-11:54). Carlton concludes the service with a prayer of thanksgiving and the Lord’s Prayer (11:55-13:11).
G. Thomas Halbrooks was Professor of Church History. Glenn T. Miller was Professor of Church History. The service begins with a Scripture reading from the Psalms and a word of prayer (00:00-03:10). The speaker delivers the Scripture reading from John 3:1-10, and the audience is led in a church history litany (03:11-06:08). Miller delivers a “Reformation Day” address on the idea of continuing reformation, and he speaks about the difficult yet necessary challenge to seek the Spirit’s will against what one learns through catechesis (06:09-16:09).
G. Thomas Halbrooks was Professor of Church History. Glenn T. Miller was Professor of Church History. The service begins with a prayer of confession and a second general prayer (00:00-01:59). Halbrooks delivers the Scripture reading from Matthew 13:24-30 (02:00-03:18). Halbrooks examines the history of the interpretation of the parable of the wheat and the tares, and he argues that the parable calls the church to patience, tolerance, and leaving the job of judgment to God (03:19-22:50). The service ends with a benediction (22:51-23:09).
Max Gray Rogers was Professor of Old Testament. C. Michael Hawn was Associate Professor of Church Music. The service begins with organ music (00:00-02:58). The choir sings a song (02:59-03:50). Rogers delivers the Scripture reading from Job 9, and he gives a word of prayer (03:51-07:46). The choir sings the anthem (07:47-12:55). Rogers preaches about the justice of God, and he argues that God seeks to do love rather than seek justice and retribution (12:55-25:05). Rogers ends the service with a word of prayer (25:06-26:04).
Donna M. Forrester was Chaplain. William Randall Lolley was the 3rd president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. C. Michael Hawn was Associate Professor of Church Music. The service begins with an introductory word from Forrester about life and death (00:00-01:02). Lolley delivers two Scripture readings, and he gives a word of prayer (01:03-05:20). Hawn sings a song of worship (05:21-08:57). Forrester leads the audience in an extended time of prayer for Zenetta Regan, her family, and all her friends at Southeastern (08:58-22:16). The service ends with a benediction (22:17-22:57).
William Claudius Strickland was one of the five original faculty members of SEBTS. The service begins with “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” being played on the organ (00:00-02:46). President Randall Lolley gives a word of prayer, he welcomes everyone to Founder’s Day, and he presents Warren Poe and his wife for the presentation of an award (02:47-08:35). Poe present the award to Daniel Stanley (08:36-10:36). William Claudius Strickland is introduced as the Founder’s Day speaker (10:37-13:22). The choir sings the anthem (13:23-16:10). Strickland begins his sermon with a word of prayer, and he reads from six New Testament passages (16:11-23:26). In the first part of his sermon, Strickland tells the story of the German scholar, Eugen Rosenstock-Huessy (23:27-29:42). In the rest of the sermon, Strickland speaks about the incarnation of Christ, the posture of obedience, and the turning away from the decay found in Adam (29:43-52:31). Strickland concludes the sermon with a word of prayer (52:31-52:49). The service ends with organ music and a word of prayer (52:50-54:20).
Motlaepula Chabaku was a South African refugee. The service begins with announcements over community concerns, and the speaker gives a word of prayer (00:00-02:35). Motlalepula Chabaku is introduced as the Missionary Day speaker (02:36-04:09). Chabaku reads from Matthew 4:18-21 and Luke 8:1-3, and she speaks at length about how the inequality of race, gender, and economic status seen, not only in her home country of South Africa but all over the world, is contrary to the Scriptures and the justice of God (04:10-34:51). The service ends with an invitation and a last word from Chabaku about a hymn that changed her life (34:52-38:20).