Landon Dowden joins SEBTS faculty
By Mary Asta Mountain, SEBTS
WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SEBTS) and Judson College announced Landon Dowden as associate professor of preaching and pastoral ministry.
Dowden has taught at Southeastern as an adjunct faculty member for the past 10 years; he currently serves as lead pastor of Hebron Baptist Church and will be teaching part-time at Southeastern as associate professor. Dowden is a three-time graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) where he earned a Master of Divinity, Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy with a focus in preaching.
“Dr. Dowden brings decades of ministry experience as a faithful pastor and gifted preacher to invest in our students at Southeastern,” said Scott Pace, provost and professor of preaching and pastoral ministry at Southeastern. “As a shepherd and a scholar, he epitomizes who we are as an institution that is committed to training pastors as skillful expositors to serve the church and fulfill the Great Commission. I’m thrilled to have him join our faculty in this crucial role.”
Dowden’s long-time connection with Southeastern includes his relationship with the late Jim Shaddix, senior professor of preaching who served at Southeastern for 12 years until his death in February 2025.
“I am a grateful product of the ministry of Dr. Jim Shaddix. I am privileged to have called him both mentor and friend,” Dowden said.
Shaddix and Dowden met at NOBTS in 1999 where Shaddix then served on faculty and as dean of the chapel. Their relationship developed from professor and student to mentor and mentee — until, in 2014, they had the opportunity to begin working together as colleagues, teaching at Southeastern.
“My passion to preach the Word with Christ-centered, Spirit-empowered faithfulness is because of his investment in my life and ministry,” Dowden said, reflecting on his friendship with Shaddix. “I committed to him to strive to steward well all he entrusted to me and to help those coming behind us to make the word of God fully known so the people of God can be made fully mature. Nothing is better for God’s people than God’s Word preached clearly, faithfully and consistently.”
Southeastern President Danny Akin called Dowden “one of the finest preachers and teachers of preachers I know.”
“The fingerprints of his mentor Jim Shaddix are all over his life and ministry! What a blessed addition he is to the preaching faculty of Southeastern and Judson College,” Akin said.
She Reads Truth founders release new devotional
By Lifeway Staff
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Co-founders of the global community She Reads Truth, Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams, will release a new devotional this fall, “The Bible is For You,” that draws from the ministry’s core convictions of beauty, goodness and truth.
Since its inception in 2012, She Reads Truth has grown from a small group of friends connecting online to a global community of over 3 million women and men.
This latest resource from She Reads Truth, “The Bible is For You,” features 66 devotionals curated by Myers and Williams. The artfully designed book, released from B&H Publishing Group in September, leads readers on a journey through every book of the Bible.
“We hope this devotional book will be a faithful biblical literacy resource for Bible readers as well as a welcoming invitation for those who are curious about Scripture,” said Myers.
“It is an honor to partner with Raechel and Amanda to bring this biblically rich, thoughtfully designed book to Bible readers everywhere,” said Mary Wiley, associate publisher for B&H Publishing Group. “Its open spine, marriage of old and new art and lay-flat reading experience reflects the beauty and timelessness of God’s Word, while also emphasizing its relevance for us today. I cannot wait to watch God use this book for His glory again and again in the lives of readers.”
Each entry starts with Scripture, followed by personal stories and reflections. The selected biblical passages represent each book of the Bible, as well as aiding the reader to connect the dots in God’s story of redemption that spans all of Scripture.
“It was important to us to begin each day with the actual words of Scripture before offering any words of our own. That’s the model that shaped She Reads Truth from the beginning, and this devotional reflects that,” said Williams.
Myers and Williams were leaders of a remarkable shift in how women approach Bible reading, making it more interactive and communal. Their ministry, She Reads Truth, has significantly impacted women’s Bible study by encouraging daily engagement with Scripture, first through the web and social media, and then through printed resources. Additionally, the CSB “She Reads Truth Bible,” has sold more than 1 million copies.
More information about the B&H Publishing Group and Lifeway resources created in partnership with She Reads Truth can be found at Lifeway.com/SheReadsTruth.
