Disclaimer: Portions of this audio are inaudible. William Hagewood was a graduate from Southeastern Seminary and a foreign missionary to the Dominican Republic. The service begins with organ music (0:00-1:32). There is a Scripture reading from Matthew 9 (1:33-3:06). Prayer concerns are shared with the congregation and there is a moment of prayer (3:07-6:17). A portion of the following section is inaudible: The mission work of the students and graduates of the school is recognized (6:18-8:14). Hagewood expresses his gratitude for the opportunity to speak and the prayers (8:15-8:58). He begins speaking of his participation in mission work to provide for physical needs in the light of Jesus’s compassionate attitude toward the needy (8:59-13:40). He shares of various ways in which God met people’s needs through their mission work (13:41-25:46). There is a prayer for benediction (25:47-26:38).
At the time of this recording Ed Vogt was a Middler MDiv student. Chapel starts with Scripture reading from Psalm 51:1-7 and Ephesians 5:1-2, followed by prayer (0:00-1:54). Undecipherable music (1:54-5:45). The speaker begins his message by posing the question “Why am I a Christian?” He states that Christianity’s difference from other religions is the person of Jesus Christ (5:45-9:30). He then discusses the process and change that takes place when becoming a Christian (9:30-17:36). Making the decision to follow Christ brings an entirely new way of life and focus of life (17:36-19:17). Those who have a continuing relationship with God can put our potential to use with the power God has given and be the people He created them to be (19:17-21:05). The service is closed in prayer (21:05-21:14).
Charles T. Clanton was a chaplain in the U. S. Army and a Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Alumnus. The service begins with organ music (0:00-4:57). There is a welcome extended to the guests (4:58-6:38). There is a moment of prayer (6:39-8:42). Charles T. Clanton is introduced as the chapel speaker (8:43-11:28). Clanton shares about his experience as a chaplain (11:29-12:33). He speaks about how he was called into ministry (12:34-16:35). He speaks about his time in the army and his understanding of theology, explaining what happens when the gospel is shared (16:36-24:29). The service concludes with a prayer of benediction (24:30-25:18).
Delos Miles was the Professor of Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. The service begins with organ music (0:00-4:49). There is a Scripture reading (4:50-5:18). There are Scripture readings from Isaiah 53 and Hebrews 12 (5:19-7:42). There is a moment of prayer (7:43-9:59). Miles speaks about a group of believers and their realization of the possible persecution for being a Christian (10:00-13:28). Miles argues that it is guaranteed to a Christian that the Christian life will be a struggle as it was a struggle for Christ (13:29-19:15). The service ends with a benediction (19:16-29:43).
John Edward Steely was the Professor of Historical Theology at Southeastern Seminary. The service begins with a welcome (0:00-0:47). There is a Scripture reading from Ephesians 4 and a word of prayer (0:48-5:26). Steely speaks about the command to speak the truth in love (5:27-10:55). Steely urges the congregation to make these attributes true of their own lives (10:56-17:51). Steely closes the service in a moment of prayer (17:52-18:11).
Thomas Albert Bland was Professor of Christian Ethics and Sociology. The service begins with a word of prayer and the singing of the doxology (0:00:00-0:01:47). Two speakers deliver the Scripture readings from Isaiah 6 and Acts 26 (0:01:48-0:12:33). President Randall Lolley welcomes all the guest to commencement, and he recognizes two international guests who have come to see their children graduate (0:12:33-0:15:51). Wayne Brown, representative of the senior class, announces the endowment of a fund to help and support students with physical handicaps in honor of Wes Williams, a former student (0:15:52-0:17:25). Thomas Albert Bland is introduced as the commencement speaker (0:17:26-0:17:52). Bland’s commencement address is about God’s call and its relation to missions and ministry, and he challenges the graduate to be faithful to Christ and to the gospel (0:17:53-0:30:44). Lolley recognizes the friends and relatives of the graduates, and he announces the conferment of the degrees (0:30:44-0:32:06). The Associate of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:32:07-0:34:17). The Master of Religious Education degrees are conferred (0:34:18-0:36:21). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:36:22-0:52:13). The Master of Theology degrees are conferred (0:52:14-0:54:39). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (0:54:40-0:59:14). The service ends with a word of prayer (0:59:15-1:01:41).
Robert Lee Richardson, Jr. was Associate Professor of Supervised Ministry. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:25). Richardson reads John 3:1-15 (01:26-04:17). He begins his sermon by speaking on his mid-life crisis and its relation to the story of Nicodemus (04:18-06:02). He walks through the story of Jesus meeting Nicodemus, and he looks upon the idea of transcendence in the new birth (06:03-13:29). Richardson gives a series of stories of his time as a professor to help the audience understand how he is dealing with the transcendence of God (14:30-24:09). He concludes his sermon by looking at the other two mentions of Nicodemus in the Gospel of John (24:10-25:33). Richardson ends the service with a prayer (25:34-25:59).
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).
Vance Havner was an evangelist from Greensboro, North Carolina. The service beings with a Scripture reading from the Psalms and a moment of prayer (0:00-1:29). Vance Havner is introduced as the chapel speaker (1:30-6:28). Havner speaks about the two greatest perils to churches, which are “getting used to the dark and getting used to the light” (6:29-7:45). Havner speaks about being aware of the darkness that Christians are up against in the world (7:46-16:59). Havner speaks on getting too used to the light, meaning that one can become dulled by the familiarity of the gospel (17:00-28:15). Havner speaks about the response from the congregation to his sermons and the impact he hopes to make (28:16-31:58). The service ends with an announcement to meet Havner and then in a word of prayer (31:59-34:48).
