Thomas Jackson was the pastor of McLean Baptist Church in McLean, VA. The service opens with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:00:41). The speaker makes an announcement welcoming everyone to Commencement and addresses changes that will be made to the order of the service (0:00:42-0:02:14). John H. Clifford, a trustee from Maryland, announces the recipient of the Citation for Excellence in Christian Ministry Award, Wesley M. Ensor, pastor of Pilot Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC (0:02:15-0:07:52). Wesley Ensor gives a small speech of gratitude (0:07:53-0:10:12). The speaker reads from Mark 10:32-45 and gives a word of prayer (0:10:12-0:15:50). A class gift is given to Dr. Randall Lolley (0:15:51-0:17:27). Awards are given to graduating students (0:17:28-0:27:15). Thomas Jackson is introduced at the Commencement speaker (0:27:16-0:28:06). The choir leads in a song of worship (0:28:07-0:30:32). Jackson encourages the graduates to minister in the manor of a servant and keep a spirit of humility rather than a spirit of self-aggrandisement (0:30:33-1:05:54). The service ends with a prayer and benediction (1:05:55-1:07:24).
Debra Griffis-Woodberry was the Minster of Education at Ridge Road Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. The service begins with the reading of the Greatest Commandment from Matthew 22 and a word of prayer (00:00-02:12). Bob Richardson introduces himself, and Debra Griffis-Woodberry is introduced as the chapel speaker (02:13-05:19). Griffis-Woodberry delivers the Scripture reading from Micah 6:6-8 and Mark 9:2-8 (05:20-07:50). The choir sings the anthem (07:51-14:03). Griffis-Woodberry seeks to answer the questions of whether Jesus Christ and the church are relevant in today’s world, and she observes that Christian tend to either use their identity as a protection or compartmentalize their lives away from the world (14:04-26:18). Griffis-Woodberry concludes her sermon with the story of the Mount of Transfiguration, and she says that Christians should not make the same mistake as Peter who sought to stay on the mountain (26:19-32:41). The service ends with a benediction (32:42-33:11).
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).