Bob Willard was the pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Epsom, NC. The service begins with instrumental music (00:00-04:18). The speaker reads John 3:16, and he gives a word of prayer (04:19-05:13). Bob Willard is introduced as the chapel speaker (05:14-06:03). The choir sings a song of worship (06:04-09:41). Willard begins his sermon by speaking on his journey to grow in humility (09:42-12:30). Willard reads from James 1:19-26, and he gives a word of prayer (12:31-17:36). The main idea of Willard’s message is faith in Christ comes with an expectation of being a doer of the word (17:37-32:30). Willard concludes his sermon with a word of prayer (32:31-33:32). The service ends with the choir singing a song of worship (33:33-34:24).
Robert D. Dale was Associate Professor of Pastoral Leadership and Church Ministries. Dale opens the service with a word on the importance of building altars through memories (00:00-06:38). M.Div graduate Keith Taylor speaks on the memories he has made at Southeastern and the importance of bringing sacrifices to the Lord (06:39-11:09). M.Div graduate Paul Joseph sings “To God be the Glory” as a way of showing gratitude to God for his guidance through seminary (11:10-16:07). Dale closes the service with a final word on meeting God at altars and a word of prayer (16:08-19:21).
John Cave was pastor of First Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, NC. The service begins with organ music (00:00-05:10). The speaker gives a word of prayer (05:11-07:15). John Cave is introduced as the chapel speaker (07:16-08:24). The choir sings a song of worship (08:25-12:52). Cave begins his sermon by reading from 1 Kings 14 (12:53-16:15). Cave’s sermon is centers on Elijah hearing God’s voice in the wind, and he says that in the wilderness and in the darkest times, God’s voice can be heard (16:16-32:05). The service ends with a word of prayer (32:06-33:07).
Alan P. Neely was Professor of Missions. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:03:22). Two speakers deliver the Scripture readings from Isaiah 42:1-6 and 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:1 (0:03:23-0:06:48). President Randall Lolley welcomes all guests, he shares about the importance of commencement, and he gives a word of gratitude to two retiring faculty members, Elmo Scoggins and James Blackmore (0:06:49-0:13:37). Lolley invites friends and family members to stand when the graduates receive their diploma (0:13:38-0:14:24). The Associate of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:14:25-0:21:15). The Master of Religious Education degrees are conferred (0:21:16-0:23:20). The Master of Divinity degrees are conferred (0:23:21-0:41:33). The Doctor of Ministry degrees are conferred (0:41:34-0:46:11). C. Michael Hawn and John Steely are introduced as the worship leaders, and Alan P. Neely is introduced as the commencement speaker (0:46:12-0:46:52). Hawn and Steely play “Amazing Grace” on acoustic guitars (0:46:52-0:49:52). Neely delivers a sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:1, and he gives a charge to the graduates to preach the gospel at any opportunity for the purpose of reconciliation (0:49:53-1:13:46). Lolley leads in a round of applause for the graduates, and the service ends with a word of prayer (1:13:47-1:14:51).
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).
Donna M. Forrester was a chaplain at Southeastern. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:47). The speaker gives a word of prayer (04:48-06:12). Donna M. Forrester is introduced as the chapel speaker, and the speaker delivers the Scripture readings from Matthew 22:34-40 and Romans 13:8-10 (06:13-08:42). The choir sings the anthem (08:43-13:27). Forrester shares many stories of how God has shaped her love for herself and for others, and she shows that believers are first loved by God so that they can love themselves and others (13:28-30:22). Forrester concludes her sermon with a word of prayer, and she leads the audience in a responsive reading from 1 Corinthians 13 (30:23-33:56). The service ends with a benediction (33:57-34:10).