Danny Akin Global Missions Endowment established
By Mary Asta Mountain/SEBTS
WAKE FOREST, N.C. – On April 21, Southeastern Seminary’s Board of Trustees voted to approve the creation of the Danny Akin Global Missions Endowment, honoring President Danny Akin’s legacy as a Great Commission leader the past 22 years and establishing a permanent source of funding for continued missions work through Southeastern’s Center for Great Commission Studies (CGCS). To date, the endowment has already received more than $800,000 in gifts and commitments.
“Dr. Danny Akin has shaped Southeastern Seminary into a Great Commission seminary,” said Jonathan Six, vice president for institutional advancement, “a place where every classroom is a Great Commission classroom, and where the final marching orders of King Jesus guide everything that we do at Southeastern. The entire institution marches in unison towards that mission. At the heart of this work stands the Center for Great Commission Studies.”
Established in 1991 by Lewis Drummond, the CGCS is Southeastern’s oldest center and exists to mobilize and equip students, faculty, and staff in the fulfillment of the Great Commission. This equipping and mobilizing happens in the classroom, in the community, and among the nations in partnership with local churches, state conventions, the North American Mission Board, and the International Mission Board.
Each year, the CGCS mobilizes the Southeastern community around the Great Commission through a variety of reoccurring events, including Gathering Chapel and Global Missions Week. Moreover, through the CGCS, hundreds of Southeastern and Judson College students have traveled across the world on North American and international mission trips.
In addition to walking alongside students considering the call to missions, the CGCS seeks to partner with the local church in mission mobilization by providing a steady stream of resources through its articles, newsletter, and podcast (The Sent Life).
As the Danny Akin Global Missions Endowment receives further funding, the CGCS will be able to continue and expand this work in its efforts to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission.
“Through this endowment, future students will continue to be pressed with a life-defining question: Not why should I go, but why should I stay?” said Director of Financial and Alumni Development Drew Davis. “They will be trained, equipped, and sent to places where Christ is least known and most needed. This fund provides enduring support for missions mobilization, supporting the work of the Center for Great Commission studies, so that every student called to go will have the preparation, encouragement, and opportunity to obey.”
To give to the Global Missions Endowment in honor of Danny Akin and support of the CGCS, visit sebts.edu/give.
Lifeway, B&H Publishing win 2026 SEPA and ECPA awards
By Jill Waggoner/Lifeway
BRENTWOOD, Tenn.— The Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association (SEPA) and the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) awarded Lifeway Christian Resources and B&H Publishing Group various awards this month in recent ceremonies.
B&H named Publisher of the Year
SEPA named B&H the 2026 Publisher of the Year for the seventh time, along with other honors.
This award recognizes the publisher for its outstanding and innovative contribution to the Christian publishing industry and its commitment to evangelical literature, highlighting the care taken in its content, along with the quality of its design and printing.
“Awarded by distributors of Spanish-language resources across the Americas, this recognition underscores the strength of our publishing program and the way we support and serve our commercial partners,” said César R. Custodio, global strategy director. “We are deeply honored to be named Publisher of the Year for the second consecutive year. All glory belongs to God, and we remain committed to serving Him, His Church and our customers with excellence.”
Two book covers were chosen as winners for their cover art, “Te Quiero Para Siempre,” a 2025 children’s book published by B&H Espanol, and “Hermenéutica,” which is part of a reference series titled, “Fundamentos.”
Lifeway and B&H Publishing Group were also honored with a SEPA award for the “Best Social Network.”
Two titles also received the Silver Award for over 100,000 copies sold: RVR 1960 Holy Lane Bible and RVR 1960 Gift and Reward Bible, Pink.
SEPA announced the winners April 23 during a ceremony held at the Hilton Blue Lagoon Hotel in Miami. The event took place during the 2026 SEPA Conference, which brings together booksellers, distributors and the most prominent Hispanic publishers within the Christian literature sector across Ibero-America.
ECPA
The ECPA named “God of the Ordinary: A Study in the Book of Ruth” by Alistair Begg, released by Lifeway Christian Resources, the 2026 Bible Study of the Year, as a part of its Christian Book Awards program.
“This beautiful study reminds us how God is always at work to accomplish His purpose,” said Becky Loyd, vice president at Lifeway. “It was a privilege to partner with such a faithful servant Alistair Begg to provide this resource for churches. I hope this recognition encourages more groups to dig into Scripture together to discover God’s faithfulness, even in the ordinary days of life.”
Another Lifeway Bible Study, “Esther” by Kelly Minter, was honored as a finalist in this category.
The Christian Book Awards were presented April 28 at the ECPA Awards Celebration, held at the Chicago Marriott Schaumburg during the ECPA Leadership Summit. The annual gathering brought together Christian publishing executives and industry leaders for an evening of recognition, including a special honor for Robert Wolgemuth.
“The Christian Book Awards represent the very best of our industry each year,” said ECPA president Jeff Crosby.
