Gateway alums honored at Alumni & Friends Luncheon
By Tyler Sanders/Gateway
ORLANDO – Gateway Seminary President Adam Groza shared a brief report on the school and recognized three alumni for their ministry service at the annual alumni and friends lunch June 10 at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando.
Two were given the distinguished alumni award to celebrate a lifetime of faithful leadership and ministry service.
Groza recognized distinguished alumni Jeremy Fass, the founding pastor of Silent Hope Church in Mesa, Arizona. Silent Hope is the first deaf-led church in the East Valley of Arizona.
Fass was born hearing but became profoundly deaf as a toddler due to complications from spinal meningitis. He became a Christian through his wife Kim, a believer who learned ASL to communicate with him. They have been married for more than 16 years and have three children.
Fass is the first deaf graduate from Gateway with a Master of Theological Studies through the seminary’s Arizona campus.
Today, Fass is gracefully and faithfully facing a diagnosis of stage four lung cancer.
“Gateway gave me the tools to believe in myself and to suffer well. … I haven’t missed a Sunday since being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer,” said Fass through Kim who interpreted.
“My first year as a student, [I was in] a five-hour class, and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m going to fall asleep for a long time.’ I said, ‘How am I going to do this? God, you created these eyes, you have to keep them awake, because I cannot.’”
“After that, my eyes were opened … and I jumped in, and I wanted to be awake. I wanted to study, and I wanted to show the deaf people that someone here has the tools to share Jesus Christ with them, not only for the church, but for the lost out there.”
Kenneth C. Curry Jr., the senior pastor of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, California, was also given the distinguished alumni award. Curry is a native of Los Angeles who earned his Master of Divinity from Gateway in 2011. He later earned the Doctor of Ministry in advanced biblical preaching from Talbot School of Theology.
Curry originally joined Friendship Baptist in 2001 as youth minister, then served as minister of children, youth, and young adults, then as executive minister, before becoming senior pastor in 2013. He is married to Karima.
“When I came to Gateway, I did not know what was next, but I felt compelled to get theological education,” said Curry.
“Gateway poured into me to prepare me to pastor Friendship Baptist Church, where I was serving. At the time that I came to Gateway, in 2009, I didn’t know that I’d get the chance to pastor Friendship; I was just grateful to serve at the church and Gateway.”
Stephen Baum received the emerging leader award, a recognition of a young leader who demonstrates Christlike character and humility in their ministry service.
Baum is director of missions for the Central Baptist Association of New Mexico. He was born and raised in Albuquerque and pastored his home church of First West Baptist for 11 years. Baum is thrice a graduate of Gateway having earned the M.Div., the Master of Theology, and the D.Min. degrees.
Midwestern Alumni & Friends Luncheon highlights new Spurgeon website, humor and joy in his ministry
By Jonathan Lumley/MBTS
ORLANDO – Midwestern Seminary welcomed more than 500 alumni, students, and friends to its Alumni & Friends Luncheon on June 10 during the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.
At the luncheon, attendees gathered for worship led by Matt Boswell, fellowship, institutional updates, celebrated the presentation of the Alumnus of the Year Award, and enjoyed a discussion on joy and humor in the ministry of Charles Spurgeon.
Celebrating God’s faithfulness
Midwestern Seminary President Jason K. Allen opened the luncheon by reflecting on the institution’s history and mission, sharing insights from his recent study of the institution’s trustee minutes dating back to its founding in 1957.
Noting the debates surrounding the location of Southern Baptists’ sixth seminary, Allen highlighted Kansas City’s strategic placement to serve churches across the Midwest and beyond.
“Southern Baptists have been faithful to this institution from the beginning,” Allen said. “They can be proud of their youngest seminary.”
Allen also pointed to the institution’s continued growth and theological commitments, emphasizing confidence in the faculty and the seminary’s mission to serve churches through the training of pastors, missionaries, church planters, counselors and ministry leaders.
“We exist for the church,” Allen said. “The full focus of this institution is on serving Southern Baptist churches.”
Referencing Midwestern Seminary’s enrollment growth over the last 14 years, Allen expressed gratitude for God’s blessing on the institution and highlighted the continued expansion of Spurgeon College, scholarship opportunities through the For the Church Cohorts initiative, and the addition of several faculty members over the past year.
“Ultimately, the health of the institution is measured by the quality of the faculty and what is taking place in the minds and hearts of the students being taught,” Allen said.
Honoring the 2026 Alumnus of the Year
During the luncheon, Allen presented the 2026 Midwestern Seminary Alumnus of the Year Award to alumnus Jeremiah Johnston.
A two-time graduate of Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College, Johnston has gone on to earn advanced degrees overseas and serves as an author, apologist, and ministry leader. Allen noted Johnston’s growing national influence through his recent work addressing archaeological discoveries related to the historical reliability of Christianity and the resurrection of Jesus.
As he presented the award, Allen commended Johnston’s faithful representation of the institution and his ongoing encouragement of Midwestern Seminary’s mission.
“The Lord has given you such a voice, such a platform,” Allen said. “As the president of the institution from which you became a graduate, thank you.”
Joy and Humor in Spurgeon’s Ministry
Following the award presentation, attendees viewed a video highlighting the recently relaunched Spurgeon.org website and the ongoing work of the Spurgeon Library.
NOBTS Alumni & Friends Luncheon highlights practical partnerships with Southern Baptists
By Timothy Cockes/NOBTS
ORLANDO – The New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Alumni and Friends Luncheon at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting highlighted the various ways NOBTS partners with Southern Baptists to fulfill its mission of training people for ministry.
NOBTS President Jamie Dew opened the June 10 luncheon by expressing his gratitude to be a part of the NOBTS family.
“When I watch the people on our campus, I often think that I have the greatest job in the world,” Dew said. “Every year that I conclude, I think to myself that it was the best year I’ve ever had in my career. And I think that way again this year.
“I could not imagine a group of people that I would be prouder to belong to and to give my life to. And then when we have an event like this, I see an army of alumni, trustees and more come into this big room and my heart is just beaming with pride and gratitude. It is so great to be at the Southern Baptist Convention and hear all that God is doing in your lives and ministries. We count it a great privilege to be a part of this NOBTS tribe.”
Dew then moved to the focus of the luncheon’s content, which was a discussion about the ways that NOBTS partners with Southern Baptists through local churches, local associations and state conventions.
Dew described the age-old debate about whether theological education is more effective in a seminary context or in a local church.
“When it comes to theological education, people will often argue whether it is better to prepare for ministry in the context of a seminary or in the context of a local church,” Dew said.
“One argument would say there are certain subjects like New Testament, Hebrew or Systematic Theology that you can learn better if you’re in a theological community and you focus a concentrated amount of time at a seminary. Frankly, that type of training is the reason Southern Baptists brought us into existence.
“The other argument would say there are certain practical things that you just don’t learn in seminary and are better learned through ministering in a local church. But what if both of those things are actually true? Here at NOBTS, we have really put our shoulders fully and completely into that quest. We have been asking how we can better partner with local churches, local associations, state conventions and more.”
Dew then led a panel discussion with several Southern Baptist leaders with ties to NOBTS.
In addition to Dew, the panel discussion featured:
- Ronny Raines, senior pastor at First Baptist Clarksville, Tenn.
- Stephen Rummage, executive director-treasurer of the Florida Baptist Convention
- Mark Warnock, residency director for Family Church Network
- Josh Franks, lead ministry development specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board
Dew asked the panelists about the importance of mentoring in a local church context.
The mission endures: Southeastern’s Alumni & Friends Luncheon
By SEBTS Staff
ORLANDO – Welcoming 1,000 Southern Baptists to its annual Alumni and Friends Luncheon in Orlando, Southeastern Seminary celebrated the retirement of President Danny Akin and the election of Scott Pace and enjoyed worship led by Shane and Shane.
“Looking out over the room this afternoon brings back so many wonderful memories and such emotion because it is a reminder of what God has been doing at Southeastern for a long time,” Akin said.
Nearing his final month as president after more than 22 years, Akin expressed his gratitude for the Southeastern family — those who have prayed for, studied with, and supported Southeastern over the years. For Akin, what makes this community so special is its singular focus on the Great Commission, which unifies and compels the Southeastern family to serve Jesus and champion his mission.
“The Great Commission is the air we breathe,” Akin said. “It is in our DNA. It’s not just a slogan; it is a reality.”
During a Q&A moderated by Steven McKinion, director of Southeastern’s PhD and ThM studies, Akin and Pace reflected on God’s kindness in Southeastern’s past, his faithfulness during this presidential transition, and his ongoing mission that will continue to motivate all that Southeastern does as a Great Commission seminary.
Akin shared how his own experiences on the mission field inspired him and his cabinet to reframe Southeastern’s mission statement around the Great Commission and move students, staff, and faculty toward increasing obedience to Jesus’s final marching orders to make disciples.
As an heir of Southeastern’s education and mission, Pace narrated his journey as a Southeastern student, first in 1999 as an M.Div. student and later as Akin’s Ph.D. student, during which time he saw firsthand how Southeastern intentionally wed theological education with real-world ministry preparation. By God’s providence in the years to follow, Pace applied his education and deep formation to local churches and another Baptist university before returning home to Southeastern. Since his return to Southeastern, Pace has further distinguished himself as a scholar, professor, and administrator while serving as dean of Judson College and then most recently as provost.
Reflecting on how God led Pace to the presidency at Southeastern, Akin shared that he had been praying for Pace to succeed him as president from the moment he and his wife Charlotte decided to retire.
“When God began to work in my and Charlotte’s hearts about transitioning from serving as president, one person’s name came to my mind that I began to put before the Lord and that I prayed our trustees would call into this position. It was Scott Pace,” Akin said.
“I believe that God has uniquely gifted him for this particular moment in time. I think that he exhibits all the character that we would want in a president. He loves the Lord, he loves Dana, he loves his children, he loves the Gospel, he loves his Bible, he loves the nations,” Akin said.
Southern Seminary celebrates global ministry impact at 2026 Alumni & Friends Luncheon
By Jacob Percy/SBTS
ORLANDO –Southern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted its annual Alumni & Friends Luncheon in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, welcoming nearly 1,000 alumni, guests, and leaders from partner institutions across Southern Baptist life for a time of joyful fellowship and gratitude for the Lord’s faithfulness. President R. Albert Mohler, Jr. used his remarks to trace the long line of faithfulness that has run through Southern Seminary since its founding and to celebrate the global ministry of its graduates.
Mohler presented the 2026 Alumnus of the Year Award to Aubrey Sequeira, senior pastor of Evangelical Community Church of Abu Dhabi and a two-time graduate of Southern Seminary. Sequeira joined the luncheon by video from Abu Dhabi, where it was already evening, to share something of his ministry leading a congregation drawn from across the world. He gave thanks for the way Southern Seminary prepared him for faithful ministry, even amid regional conflict. Some might assume his training could not have readied him for such a moment, he said, but he believed it had prepared him for exactly this: to gather with his congregation and preach the Word.
Mohler returned to a theme he had raised a day earlier in his report to the convention: the story of how Southern Baptists came to own their theological education. From a handful of founding faculty and students in 1859, he said, something grand and glorious was begun for the entire Southern Baptist Convention. Set against that long line of faithfulness, the present landscape looks very different. Many historic institutions have closed or are closing, Mohler noted, warning that theological education has proven both costly and difficult to sustain. “Dead denominations have dead seminaries,” he said, “and dead seminaries produce dead denominations.” Against that backdrop, he said, the convention’s six thriving seminaries are a stewardship Southern Baptists must never take lightly.
Southern, Mohler reported, is strong by every measure. Enrollment is strong, and incoming enrollment is strong. The seminary is making one of the strongest Ph.D. programs in the country more accessible for the years ahead, and its Master of Divinity has proven, in his words, “wildly successful under its current design,” with Southern remaining the one SBC seminary that still defines itself by the M.Div. He also pointed to continued investment in a campus built for the future and filled with students and their families.
Mohler also marked a significant transition in the life of the seminary, recognizing Hershael York, who is retiring as dean of the School of Theology while continuing to serve as professor of Christian preaching, calling York one of the most cherished colleagues of his presidency. He also mentioned that Andrew Walker will serve as the new dean of the School of Theology, describing the handoff as a transition from strength to strength.
That long line of faithfulness, Mohler said, now runs through Boyce College as well, whose graduates are being deployed in ministry around the world. He gave thanks for the college’s abundant growth, noting how often parents tell him their son or daughter is studying at Boyce.
Mohler closed by giving thanks for the grand and glorious story Southern Baptists share, pointing alumni and friends toward the new things still to come, before the luncheon ended as it always does, with the singing of the seminary hymn.
Southwestern recognizes distinguished alumni, Dockery’s leadership during SBC luncheon
By Michelle Workman/SWBTS
ORLANDO – The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary family gathered for the annual Alumni & Friends Luncheon held during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Orlando on June 10, hearing from President David S. Dockery and recognizing 2026 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients.
“We are glad that so many are represented in this room – decades of faithful service to countries where individuals have served faithfully, to pastors and ministers, and others who have done the work of the ministry for so long,” said Chandler Snyder, vice president for institutional relations. “We are thankful for your presence here.”
“This is a room that is a happy room as we celebrate the past, the present, and hopeful future for Southwestern Seminary,” Dockery said, noting the presence of a former president Kenneth Hemphill, former distinguished alumni, and other Southwesterners at the luncheon.
Attendees received a printed update on the state of the seminary, which Dockery said has seen measurable improvements in finances, assets, enrollment, and campus morale.
“God has transformed Southwestern Seminary in the past 45 months by any metric,” Dockery said, expressing gratitude to the faculty members and trustees who have helped steer Southwestern in a positive direction over recent years.
Dockery also shared an update on his recent meeting with representatives from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), saying they are scheduled to meet on Thursday and may have official answer on Friday concerning the removal of sanctions.
Dockery recognized the 2026 recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award, Milton Hollifield and retired Brig. Gen. Ronald Harvell, U.S. Air Force.
Hollifield, who graduated from Southwestern in 1980 with a Master of Divinity, served his state convention in North Carolina for more than 27 years after serving as pastor of churches in Texas and North Carolina and as executive director of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.
“People have often described him as a godly leader, a unifier, a faithful partner in the Gospel, one who is widely respected for his prayerful leadership and unwavering encouraging of pastors and churches,” Dockery said, adding Southwestern’s recognition of him is a “well-deserved honor for a man whose life and ministry have impacted countless lives for the Kingdom of God.”
Hollifield said he is grateful for God’s calling on his life and for the role Southwestern had in preparing him for his years of ministry, saying he first chose Southwestern because he was told it was a mission-minded and conservative seminary with a strong focus on evangelism.
“I’m glad to have opportunity to stand before you today to talk about how much I appreciate Southwestern Seminary, and what it has been to me throughout my 50 years in ministry,” Hollifield said, recalling taking classes from professors such as Cal Guy and Roy Fish. “… God used it just to shape my life and prepare me for how He was going to use me in the future, and I thank God for that. I love the seminary.”
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