Richard Loren Hester was the Professor of Pastoral Care and Psychology of Religion at Southeastern Seminary. The service begins with a prayer (0:00-1:02). There is organ music (1:03-1:46). There is a Scripture reading from Genesis 4:1-6 (1:47-4:20). There is a song of worship (4:21-7:48). Hester begins his presentation by recounting unpleasant memories from his childhood (7:49-12:38). Hester speaks about how the church has left the story of Cain and Abel untouched and how the church likes to keep the Old and New Testament separate (12:39-15:50). Hester speaks on how the unpleasant memories and stories in the Bible tell about a person in the present (15:51-18:29). Hester provides a summary of the Biblical story of Cain and Abel and explains how he and all people share the same sinful nature as Cain, yet God has a plan (18:30-25:23). Hester closes the service in a prayer (25:24-25:52).
Marc Hoyle Lovelace was from Stetson University and had formerly been a professor at SEBTS. The service begins with a word of prayer (00:00-01:28). President Randall Lolley speaks on the founding of the seminary, and he introduces Marc Hoyle Lovelace as the chapel speaker (01:29-09:26). The choir sings a song of worship (09:27-14:15). Lovelace opens his sermon by speaking on his joy to be back on the campus of Southeastern for Founder’s Day (14:16-17:49). He recollects about his journey to Southeastern and his time as a professor (17:50-28:40). Lovelace then focuses on the importance of Founder’s Day, and he urges the school to stay on its original mission for God (28:41-46:16). President Lolley gives a moment of silence, and he ends the service with a benediction (46:17-47:24).
Paul Pressler was an Appeals Court Judge from Houston, Texas and a member of the executive committee of the Southern Baptist Convention. The service begins with a welcome and a moment of prayer (0:00-2:28). Paul Pressler is introduced as the speaker (2:29-2:55). Pressler shares his appreciation (2:56-3:30). Pressler reads II Timothy 3:14-15 and has a moment of prayer (3:31-4:37). Pressler shares the story of a woman and her fiancé, Pressler’s great-great-great-great grandparents, who surrendered their lives to Christ and became Baptists (4:38-6:25). Pressler shares his personal testimony of coming to know Christ and wondering if he could believe what God said (6:26-24:12). The congregation asks questions of Pressler (24:13-50:35). There is a moment of prayer to dismiss the service (50:36-51:22).
Jack Franks was pastor of Sea Level Baptist Church in Sea Level, NC and a Master of Divinity student. The service begins with organ music (00:00-03:24). The speaker gives a call to worship from Matthew 6:33 & 7:7, and he sings a song of worship (03:25-06:48). Another speaker gives a word of prayer, he presents the theme of commitment for the student revival week, and he introduces Jack Franks as the chapel speaker (06:49-09:16). A student shares his testimony (09:17-21:34). A soloist performs the song “Great is Thy Faithfulness” (21:35-26:00). Franks preaches a gospel and Christ-centered revival message, and he urges his audience to prioritize Christ, which is the essence of revival (26:01-44:20). Franks ends the service with a word of prayer (44:21-47:05).
Robert T. Handy was Professor of Church History at Union Theological Seminary in New York. The service begins with organ music (00:00-04:34). The speaker gives a word of prayer (04:35-05:32). Robert T. Handy is introduced as the Carver-Barnes Lecturer (05:33-06:52). The title of Handy’s lecture is “Faith in Higher Education: Partners or Enemies.” Handy begins his lecture by narrowing his focus to Christian faith (06:53-07:51). Handy examines the tension of both the negative and positive relationship in history between faith and education, the sting of religion breaking into secular education, and the uncomfortable tension between faith and education in the individual (07:52-50:35). The service ends with a benediction (50:36-51:10).
Tal D. Bonham was Executive Secretary Treasure of the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio. The service opens with a scripture reading and a word of prayer (00:00-01:53). Tal D. Bonham is introduced as the chapel speaker (01:54-03:49). The choir sings a song of worship (03:50-07:32). Bonham begins his sermon by speaking about his time at seminary and reading Matt. 5:13-15 (07:33-10:47). Bonham’s sermon is about the illustration from the Sermon on the Mount of followers of Christ being the salt of the earth, and he connects the metaphor of being salt of the earth to the work that Southern Baptist are doing in the state of Ohio (10:48-30:26). Bonham ends the service with a word of prayer (30:27-31:00).
John Wilson Fleming was a professor at Shaw Divinity School. Reading from Matthew 5:43-45 and 1 John 4:16-18 (0:00-1:50). Chapel is opened in prayer (1:50-3:15). Choir leads in song (3:15-6:35). Introduction of the speaker, Dr. Fleming (6:35-7:53). Dr. Fleming opens his message with prayer (7:53-8:22). Dr. Fleming introduces his message on the reflection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and walking with hope and faith, actively in God’s work (8:22-16:00). He says that God is a God of history and still reigns over His universe which influences how we live and keeps us active in God’s work (16:00-24:25). A benediction is given to conclude the service (24:25-24:43).
At the time of this recording John Stanley was a Middler MDiv student at Southeastern. Isaiah 45:5-7 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 are read aloud (0:00-1:54). The choir leads in song (1:54-5:10). Mr. Stanley explains to his audience that there are tensions between God’s yes and no in life but that both are of great importance (5:10-7:58) He uses the concept of the cross and the resurrection as examples of the tension between God’s yes and no and how both are important in the gospel (7:58-24:46). Chapel is closed in prayer (24:47-25:18).
Lewis Addison Drummond was the fourth president of SEBTS. The announcement of President Lewis Drummond being the Chapel speaker for the Fall Convocation is made (0:00-0:08). Hymns are played (0:09-10:48). A word of prayer is given (10:49-12:11). Another hymn is played (cut) (12:12-12:19). Adjunct professors, new students, Vice President of External Affairs George Worrell, and guests are welcomed to the 38th academic year at SEBTS (12:20-16:28). George Worrell reads Colossians 2:1-7 as the day’s Scripture reading (16:29-17:48). C. Michael Hawn, Professor of Church Music, is given an award for faculty excellence (17:49-21:40). Drummond begins his sermon, based on Colossians 2:6-7 (21:41-23:04). He focuses on us, as the body of Christ, determining our destiny (23:05-24:34). Titling his sermon “Waking into Destiny,” Drummond speaks of walking in the spirit as a personal experience, but it can also be experienced on a corporate level (25:08-26:18). He informs that there are four principles within the passage from which he read, with one involving walking in godliness as individuals (26:19-31:17). He desires SEBTS to walk in godliness on a more collective level, as a whole (31:18-32:00). Drummond mentions the time when he felt God’s presence at another university and declares that walking in godliness can be the Seminary’s destiny as well (32:01-35:18). Two other principles he speaks of are “getting” and “giving:” since we have received so much from Christ, we should give back to others by sharing Jesus with them (35:19-40:17). Drummond wants SEBTS as an institution to give Jesus to others and to be rooted in the faith so that it can grow and mature as a place of prayer (40:18-47:46). The last principle is gratitude as we have so much to be thankful for in our lives (47:47-51:44). Drummond closes with a goal for SEBTS to glorify Christ by walking in godliness, giving as much as it has received, and showing gratitude (51:45-52:57). A word of prayer concludes the sermon (52:58-53:35).
James E. Tull was Professor Emeritus of Theology. The service begins with organ music (0:00:00-0:07:28). President Randall Lolley gives a Scripture reading from the Psalms, and the president of the Board of Trustees gives a word of prayer (0:07:29-0:09:39). Lolley welcomes the Board of Trustees, and he recognizes three new trustees (0:09:40-0:11:20). Lolley gives a brief history of the founding of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, he reads the founding statement, and recognizes one of the founding trustees (0:11:21-0:14:31). James E. Tull is introduced as the Founder’s Day speaker (0:14:32-0:15:43). The choir sings a song of worship (0:15:44-0:21:55). Tull begins his sermon by giving it a title: Southeastern Seminary Whence, What, and Whither (0:15:44-0:24:13). He first gives a brief history of the founding of the seminary and the vision of its founders (0:24:14-0:33:16). Tull moves to interpreting what Southeastern is and what it will be, and he argues that it is an academic school, a theological school, a denominational school (0:33:17-0:52:59). He gives a brief word on the inherency controversy (0:53:00-1:01:17). Tull concludes with a word from John Broadus, one the founder of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (1:01:18-1:04:08). Lolley ends the service with a word of prayer, and organ music is played (1:04:09-1:07:40).
