• G. Thomas Halbrooks was Associate Professor of Church History and Assistant to the Dean for Academic Services. The service begins with a Scripture reading from John 1:1-14 (00:00-01:13). The choir sings a song of worship, and the Halbrooks gives a word of prayer (01:14-04:34). Halbrooks reads the first Advent lesson from Luke 3:2-6, and he leads the audience in a responsive reading as the first Advent candle is lit (04:35-06:21). The choir sings another song of worship (06:22-08:36). Halbrooks reads the second Advent lesson from Luke 4:16-21, and he leads the audience in a responsive reading as the second Advent candle is lit (08:37-12:10). Holbrook reads the third Advent lesson from Revelation 21:1-4 & 22:5, and he leads the audience in a responsive reading as the third Advent candle is lit (12:11-14:30). The choir sings another song of worship (14:31-16:50). Halbrooks reads the final Advent lesson from Romans 8:35-39, and the audience sings a Lutheran hymn (16:51-20:56). Halbrooks lights the last Advent candle and leads the audience in a responsive reading (20:57-22:13). The choir and audience sing “O Come All Ye Faithful” (22:14-28:20). Halbrooks concludes the service with a benediction, and trumpets play at the dismissal of the service (28:21-29:29).
William Randall Lolley was the 3rd president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with Lolley with some sad news about the death of a loved one from the seminary community (00:00-01:48). The Gospel Voices of Wake Forest sing a song of worship (01:49-08:27). The speaker delivers a gospel reading from Matthew 16:1-4, and he gives a word of prayer (08:28-13:35). The Gospel Voices of Wake Forest sing another song of worship, and they thank Lolley for the invitation to perform in chapel (13:36-21:01). Lolley’s sermon is about signs from God with his passage being Matthew 16:1-4, and he uses a great amount of nature and seasonal imagery to say that God has been faithful to give human signs that point to his grace and redeeming work. Humans just need to be attentive to the one’s he has given (21:02-39:27).
Nancy Stanton was the minister of education at the First Baptist Church of Martinsville, VA. The service begins with “Amazing Grace” being played on the organ (00:00-06:57). A speaker gives a word of prayer (06:58-07:54). Nancy Stanton is introduced as the chapel speaker (07:55-08:47). Stanton begins her sermon by reading 1 Corinthians 3:9-13, and she gives a word of prayer (08:48-10:08). She says that it is important to examine the kind of structures we are building, and she believes there are two types of builders: wall builders and bridge builders (10:09-11:49). Stanton first speaks on the work of building bridges, and she believes this ministry is built on Christ-centered reconciliation (11:50-23:36). She them moves to the subject of wall building, and she shares a poem from one of her church members about tearing a wall down to see Jesus (23:37-29:58). Stanton ends the service with a word of prayer (29:59-30:55).
Louis McBurney was a clinical psychiatrist and leader of the Marble Retreat. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:00). Louis McBurney is introduced as the Adams Lecturer (01:01-04:55). McBurney begins his lecture by speaking about the ministry he does at Marble Retreat, and he shares his topic for the week, “The Ego Needs of the Minister” (04:56-10:55). The topic of the current lecture is “Trust and Caring in Ministry,” and McBurney shares his practical advice for building a good faith life and helping others in their own walks with God (10:56-36:47). The service ends with a word of prayer (36:48-37:13).
Dale O. Steele was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Burlington, NC. The service begins with organ music (0:00:00-0:03:32). President Randall Lolley gives a word of prayer (0:03:33-0:05:54). Lolley welcomes everyone to Founder’s Day, and he recognizes the trustees (0:05:55-0:09:22). John Clifford, Southeastern trustee, awards the Citation for Excellence in Christian Ministry to Lawrence E. Matthews, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Vienna, Virginia (0:09:23-0:16:55). Matthews gives a brief word of gratitude to his family, his congregation, and Southeastern for their support over the years of his ministry (0:16:56-0:20:06). Dale O. Steele is introduced as the Founder’s Day speaker (0:20:07-0:22:05). The choir of FBC Burlington sing the anthem (0:22:06-0:28:10). Steele speaks about the events of Southeastern’s founding days, and he traces the school’s founding ideals from W.B. Johnson to Felix Manz and the Anabaptists (0:28:11-0:55:31). Steele closes his address with an appeal for Southeastern to continue to be a place where preachers are prepared to answer the call of the Lord (0:55:32-1:03:30). The audience sings a song of worship (1:03:31-1:07:17). The service ends with a prayer and benediction (1:07:18-1:07:53).