O.S. Hawkins honors Mike Huckabee in Israel
By Michelle Workman, SWBTS
FORT WORTH, Texas — O.S. Hawkins, chancellor of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, returned to Israel in August as he has at least once annually for the past 50 years, excluding 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, this time to speak at a banquet where his friend and fellow Southwesterner Mike Huckabee was honored for his appointment as U.S. ambassador to Israel.
“I believe God has been preparing Mike Huckabee his entire life for this strategic assignment in representing our country in the only democracy in the Middle East,” Hawkins said. “Huckabee is the incarnation of Isaiah’s proclamation, ‘For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet (Isaiah 62:1).’”
Hawkins and his wife Susie helped host the event for Huckabee at the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem, where Hawkins, Harvard law professor Allan Dershowitz and Huckabee spoke. The event was organized by Hawkins and several others in Israel, he said.
Hawkins recalled a quip from Huckabee’s remarks at the event: “Well, the Israelis asked President Trump to send a Maccabee for the ambassador, but he sent a Huckabee!” referring to the Maccabean revolt in the second century before the birth of Christ.
Huckabee, who was a master of divinity student at Southwestern from 1976 to 1977 and a Baptist pastor for 12 years before becoming the governor of Arkansas, recently celebrated 100 days as the ambassador.
The U.S. Embassy in Israel released a video of Huckabee reflecting on his first 100 days in the role. He highlighted achievements such as Operation Midnight Hammer in Iran and the return of an American hostage.
“Ambassador Huckabee talked about how Israel is not just a friend and ally, but a partner in our fight against radical Islamic terrorism,” Hawkins said.
In his presentation, Hawkins spoke of reasons why evangelicals support Israel, saying four reasons are rooted in the areas of historical certainties, political concerns, theological considerations and biblical convictions.
“Evangelical support of Israel is not going away — not now — not ever,” he said in a recently published article from which his speech was adapted, he said. “Evangelicals worship a Jewish Messiah, and we cannot love Him without loving the Jewish people. Evangelicals read a Bible that is a Jewish book, and we cannot love it without loving the Jewish people.”
Hawkins also invited Lone Soldiers, men and women who leave their own home countries to join the Israeli Defense Forces, to the dinner to show further support. The event also took time to remember individuals still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Hawkins and his wife were recognized for their work for the Lone Soldiers with the gift of a mezuzah, a Jewish item commonly fixed to the doorpost of the home containing a scroll, made from an Iranian ballistic missile that had fallen outside of Jerusalem, having been stopped by the Iron Dome defenses that shield the city. Similar mezuzahs were also presented to Ambassador Huckabee and President Trump.
Hawkins and his wife were also recognized at the Great Synagogue with their names engraved on the wall of a foyer in the building, joining W.A. and Betty Criswell and John and Diana Hagee for their work for the State of Israel and the Jewish people.
Over the years, Hawkins said he has built up a relationship with the Great Synagogue and its leaders, including the Grand Rabbi Korff. Hawkins and Korff plan to co-author a book on interpretations of major biblical themes and texts, challenging each other from their different theological views.
NOBTS launches ‘Beyond the Pulpit’ podcast with Jamie Dew
By Timothy Cockes, NOBTS
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) has launched a brand-new podcast with President Jamie Dew titled “Beyond the Pulpit: Real Conversation for Ministry Leaders.”
The podcast features Dew conversing with a variety of guests, including many from NOBTS, about various ministry topics as well as more light-hearted subjects.
The first official episode is available now on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.
In a short teaser for the podcast, Dew shared his Christian testimony and briefly explained the thinking behind the creation of the podcast.
“This whole podcast is about us trying to be faithful to the Lord,” Dew said.
“It’s not necessarily about what I think, and it’s certainly not about a platform. It’s just about trying to give our lives for the call of Christ and being faithful to that. It’s about celebrating the good things, talking about the hard things and pressing on together to honor the Lord.”
The podcast will cover a wide range of ministry-focused topics, such as preaching the Old and New Testaments, evangelism, counseling, how to minister in different contexts, understanding various doctrines and more.
These conversations will often be with an NOBTS faculty or staff member but will sometimes feature special guests such as various SBC leaders.
Additionally, the podcast will feature conversations about more light-hearted subjects that go beyond ministry such as parenting, marriage, various hobbies or interests and life in general.
Although he acknowledges there are many podcasts out right now, Dew said he hopes his ministry experience and extensive work in Christian higher education will be beneficial to pastors and other ministry leaders.
“Because virtually all of my professional life has been in a seminary context, I have been around many pastors and servants of the church my entire adult life,” he said. “I’ve gotten to see what works and what doesn’t work. I’ve seen people flourish and I’ve seen people make terrible mistakes.
“I have a particular burden for you all listening to this. I do feel compelled, to whatever degree I can, to encourage you and your family in the ministry God has called you to do.”
Podcast episodes will be released every two weeks. The first episode features Dew talking with William “Ted” Williams, about preaching the Old Testament.
MBTS employee gathering highlights priorities, values, record enrollment
By MBTS Staff
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Tuesday, Aug. 19, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College welcomed faculty and staff to an all-employee meeting marking the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic year. Held on campus, the gathering served as a moment of reflection and encouragement led by President Jason K. Allen.
Allen opened the meeting by celebrating God’s continued grace to Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College in the previous academic year. The 2024-2025 academic year featured several items of celebration, including the 13th consecutive year of record enrollment with more than 5,500 total students training for the church and for the kingdom.
Additional markers of grace include a record incoming Spurgeon College residential class of 158, nearly doubled from six years ago. Institutional enrollment indicates growth in the fall 2025 semester, as well.
Strategic Priorities
Looking to the academic year to come, Allen reminded employees of the institution’s mission to “serve the church by biblically educating God-called men and women to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ.”
He then shared the theme verse for the 2025-2026 academic year. Coming from Ephesians 4:1-3, Allen encouraged employees to walk in a manner worthy of their calling. “If an institution gets this wrong,” he said, “it doesn’t matter what they get right.”
Allen went on to review the seminary’s five strategic priorities, originally approved at the fall 2022 trustees meeting. The five strategic priorities include: mission faithfulness; student success ; faculty strength; flourishing community ; and intergenerational stewardship .
Institutional values
Following the five strategic priorities, Allen introduced six core values to clarify and define the culture at Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College. “These values remind us who we are and who we aspire to be,” Allen said. The six values include: Southern Baptist churches; a redeemed culture; personal trustworthiness; an entrepreneurial mindset ; shaping students ; and servant mindedness .
