William Russell Strassner was the president of Shaw University (1951-1962). Dr. Stealey offers a prayer, announcements, and introduction from 0:13-6:15. Dr. Strassner discusses life behind the ministry. He instructs the chapel that they don't choose the ministry, but rather, God chooses them for the ministry. He reminds them that being involved in the ministry and bringing salvation to others requires sacrifices. He encourages them to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and Paul as good examples.
M. George Walters was a student at SEBTS. The service begins with music from 0:00-6:24. Galatians 3:23-29 from 6:43-7:41. A prayer is offered from 7:49-9:35. An introduction to the speaker is given from 7:44-12:18. Walters speaks from 12:30-29:45. Walters preaches on racial diversity and unity. Closing music and prayer takes place from 29:57-31:06.
Roger Braaten was the Chief of the Veteran Chaplaincy Service. The service opens with a welcome to all those who are in attendance and an introduction to Dr. Cummings from 0:00-1:59. Cummings introduces the speaker from 2:01-3:54. Psalm 1 is read from 3:56-4:53. A prayer is offered from 4:54-5:31. Braaten speaks from 5:39-21:42. This service was Southeastern’s Chaplain Conference.
Sydnor Lorenzo Stealey was the first President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Stealey offers a prayer from 0:39-3:35 and delivers his sermon from 3:42-18:18. Stealey preaches on how God is the only thing in this world that is worth knowing and valuing. He encourages the students to continue to put their primary interest in their lives in God.
Ira Newbern Patterson was Visiting Professor of Missions. The service begins with a responsive reading from 0:00-2:09. A prayer is offered from 2:11-6:16. An introduction to the speaker is given from 6:27-7:34. Dr. Patterson speaks from 7:40-31:47. His source text was Hebrews 11:32-33. He preaches on missionaries.
Edwin Richmond York was a student at SEBTS. The service begins with the scripture reading of Psalm 91:1 and a prayer from 0:00-4:29. York gives a message titled, "Salt of the Earth." Richmond notes how pastors are called to be spiritual leaders yet suffer from not truly believing the promises in the Bible that they proclaim. He calls upon his fellow students to truly be salt of the earth. York speaks from 4:45-14:57. This service was organized by the Student Coordinating Council.
Olin Trivette Binkley was the second President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Professor of Christian Sociology and Ethics. The service begins with Dr. Binkley offering a word of prayer from 0:00-2:55. Dr. Binkley preaches from 3:18-18:28. Binkley presents a list of changes the trustees have decided to make throughout the institution.
The order of service is reviewed from 0:00-5:24. There is a silent prayer from 5:25-6:42. Music plays from 6:43-10:57. Another moment of quiet prayer takes place from 10:58-11:18. A second hymn is sung from 11:18-16:12. A reading titled, “Christmas Even in County Hospital” is read from 16:23-22:22. This service was organized by the Student Coordinating Council.
The service begins with the reading of Psalm 118:24 (00:00-00:19), responsive reading #29 (00:20-01:57), and prayer (01:58-02:45). No introduction was given for Sherman Lewis, but he was a student at SEBTS. His message centers on Ezekiel 37:1-14, and he points out that the dead bones refer to the Jews in captivity in Babylon (02:46-06:21). He then relates this “deadness” to our current churches, in which many pastors simply desire to preach a sermon on Sunday but do not desire to cultivate the lives of those in their care (06:22-08:52). He also relates this “deadness” to the existence of racism as that which is not living—not behaving according to God’s good design. In this, he optimistically focuses on the sovereign rule of God and the promise of the restoration of these evils when love and peace will reign on the earth (08:53-11:44). We must be ready to deal with the difficult and oftentimes avoided circumstances in life as Christians who are bold because they know the Living God. We must be able to say “thus sayeth the Lord” in our own time (11:45-14:06). Lewis closes his time in prayer (14:07-15:59).
The service begins with prayer (00:00-01:12), and Deuteronomy 6:4-9, 6:20-25, Psalm 121, Isaiah 55 is read (01:13-07:13). Next, Scripture is read aloud from Ephesians 3:14-21 (07:14-08:40). After this Scripture reading, Dr. Stewart Albert Newman, Professor of Theology and Philosophy of Religion, is introduced to bring the faculty’s charge to those graduating (08:41-09:54). He says that students have been equipped with two main tools to be reasonably successful: a structure of accurate and well-ordered knowledge, and a right spirit or motives (09:55-15:52). One last word of admonition is given, namely that they would not lose sight of their spirits in the rushing of events and the busyness and stress of ministry. He exhorts the graduates to blend their knowledge with this right spirit which honors God (15:53-25:12). A closing prayer is offered (25:13-25:40).
