Harlan Spurgeon was from the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The service begins with organ music (0:00-3:46). An announcement is made for a speaker the next day (3:47-4:06). Prayer concerns are shared with the congregation and there is a moment of prayer (4:07-7:01). Harlan Spurgeon is introduced as the chapel speaker (7:02-8:20). The choir sings an anthem (8:21-12:09). Spurgeon shares encouragement about world missions (12:10-13:50). Spurgeon speaks about being pleasing and acceptable to God, making note of man’s pitfalls (13:51-15:41). He shares a story about a woman in China to illustrate that one can live a life of good works without being acceptable to God (15:42-17:58). Spurgeon shares several stories from his acquaintances to illustrate that one must lay down his life for others as Jesus did (17:59-28:23). Spurgeon closes the service in a word of prayer (28:24-29:16).
Helen Gray Crotwell was pastor of Wake Forest Methodist Church. The service begins with organ music and a song of worship (00:00-06:50). The audience is led in additional songs of worship with spoken prayers (06:51-09:42). Helen Gray Crotwell is introduced as the chapel speaker, the speaker reads the Old Testament lesson from Genesis and the New Testament lesson from Matthew, and she gives a word of prayer (09:43-15:46). Crotwell speaks about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus going to Egypt to escape Herod, and she describes the season of seminary as a time in Egypt to prepare for ministry (15:47-27:05). The service ends with a word of prayer (27:06-27:53).
Thomas Albert Bland was Professor of Christian Ethics and Sociology. The service begins with a liturgical reading, and the choir sings a song of worship (00:00-01:33). The speaker gives a word of prayer, and he reads Matthew 10:34-39 (01:34-04:53). The choir sings a song of worship (04:54-06:50). Bland sermon is about Christ as the one who comes to disturb our lives and uses the story of the grand inquisitor from The Brothers Karamazov as the illustration (06:51-24:27). Bland ends the service with a word of prayer (24:28-25:24).
John W. Tresch, Jr. was Professor of Evangelism. The service begins with organ music (00:00-02:50). The speaker reads Matthew 16:13-20, and she gives a word of prayer (02:51-04:20). The choir sings a song of worship (04:21-08:10). Tresch delivers a sermon on the unfortunate state of the church, and he believes the church need to regain its hope in Christ (08:11-26:49). Tresch ends the service with a word of prayer (26:50-27:32).
M. Mahan Siler was from the School of Pastoral Care at North Carolina Baptist Hospital. Siler begins his sermon with a reading from Matthew 26:36-45, and he gives a word of prayer (00:00-05:37). He urges the audience to follow the example of Jesus of seeking support from the Father and from the church, and he reminds them that God is always with them (05:38-22:51). Siler ends the service with a word of prayer and a benediction (22:52-24:17).
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).
Norman Adiran Wiggins was the President of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention and the President of Cambell University. The service begins with organ music, a Scripture reading, and a moment of prayer (0:00-6:25). Announcements for a fellow student’s physical recovery in Amsterdam and for Dr. Fred Sandusky’s retirement banquet (6:26-8:16). Norman Adrian Wiggins is introduced as the chapel speaker (8:17-10:17). The choir sings an anthem (10:18-14:11). Wiggins shares a portion of his testimony (14:12-16:46). Wiggins speaks on the differing opinions of Christians, but how they may all work in unity for the goal of serving God (16:47-20:35). Wiggins speaks of the statistical growth of North Carolina churches (20:36-22:45). Wiggins speaks on his concern about people across the country not being in the church and that many people are ignorant to the existence of God (22:46-27:22). Wiggins speaks about the ease of attending church and Bible studies without developing a sensitivity to the unsaved by being ignorant to the needs of people around them (27:23-30:00). Wiggins speaks on the need to share the deadliness of sin to awaken people to the hope of the gospel (30:01-34:48). The service is closed in prayer (34:49-35:23).
Audio quality is very poor. W. Chen Smith was President of the Baptist Convention of Georgia. The service begins with a word of prayer (0:00:00-0:00:53). Dr. Glenn Miller delivers the Scripture reading from Ephesians 1:3-14, and he gives a word of prayer (0:00:54-0:06:57). President Randall Lolley welcomes the friends and families to the commencement service (0:06:58-0:09:24). Robert L. Hilton presents a gift to the senior class (0:09:25-0:10:47). T. Robert Mullinack, who was part of the class of 1967, delivers an update on an endowed scholarship for future Southeastern students, and Lolley thanks the class of 1967 for their investment in the future of Southeastern (0:10:48-0:13:20). Dean Morris Ashcraft confers awards to members of the senior class (0:13:21-0:24:10). Lolley introduces W. Chen Smith as the commencement speaker (0:24:11-0:27:40). The choir sings the anthem (0:27:41-0:34:12). Smith centers his sermon on Matthew 27:42, and he speaks to the seniors about giving their lives for the ministries in the same manner as Jesus, who gave his life on the cross (0:34:12-1:00:20). Smith ends the service with a word of prayer (1:00:21-1:01:41).
Charles Midkiff was pastor of First Baptist Church in Greenville, KY and a SEBTS Trustee. The service opens with a word of prayer (00:00-01:09). President Randall Lolley introduces Charles Midkiff as the chapel speaker, and he reads from Genesis 35:1-3 (01:10-04:35). The choir sings a song of worship (04:36-08:08). Midkiff begins his sermon with a word of prayer (08:09-09:20). Midkiff walks through the story of Jacob in Genesis, specifically his meeting with God at Bethel, and he describes his time at Southeastern as a “Bethel” experience (09:21-19:08). Midkiff shares four “Bethel” experiences during his time at Southeastern: a deeper love for the Scriptures, an appreciation for the Baptist witness, a fervor for ecumenism and missions, and an “agape” defined love for others (19:09-30:11). Midkiff concludes his sermon by giving a story about when President Lolley visited his family in a time of need, and he thanks the Southeastern community for their love and generosity (30:12-36:14). The service ends with President Lolley giving a word of prayer (36:15-36:43).
