By NOBTS Office of Communications
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Jamie Dew, presiding over his first graduation ceremony as president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College, congratulated graduate candidates at a packed house at Leavell Chapel and then asked a probing question.
“To what end?” Dew asked. “Why has God blessed you? What is this for?”
Dew, elected president by NOBTS trustees June 3, 2019, explained that God had blessed and sustained graduate candidates through countless hours of study and sacrifices to pursue the degree.
Graduation is a reason to celebrate, Dew explained, but he pressed candidates further to consider if they now hoped the degree would bring opportunity, a new platform and a name for themselves.
God will bring new opportunities, Dew assured listeners, but each will be temporary.
“A day is coming when your name will be forgotten,” Dew reminded them. “So why labor for something that doesn’t matter or count for all eternity? With that in mind, we now send you out as graduates of this institution into the harvest of our Lord. We send you now to go, in His name, to build His kingdom.”
Making every moment count is a lesson that has stayed with him, Dew explained, and he urged graduate candidates to remember the same.
“The day is coming when you will lay this down,” Dew said. “Live now for that day. Go forward with an eye for the very end, to Christ’s return.”
Dew closed with the Gospel message and, drawing from John 3:16, urged attendees unfamiliar with its meaning to consider God’s love. Dew said, “This day as we celebrate Christ and we celebrate our graduates, I urge you if you do not know Jesus Christ, make today the day that you meet Him.”
Before the conferral of degrees, provost Norris Grubbs pointed to 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 to remind candidates that God is faithful and will be with them.
“You must always keep learning,” Grubbs told the candidates. “Our prayer is that you will serve God’s people as you walk with Christ, proclaim His truth, and fulfill His mission.”
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary conferred 121 master’s degrees and 37 doctoral degrees including 14 Ph.Ds., one Ed.D, one D.M.A., 19 D.Min., and two D.Ed.Min. Forty-eight M.Div. degrees, 15 with specializations, were conferred.
Leavell College conferred 29 bachelor of arts in Christian Ministry degrees and four associate of arts in Christian Ministry degrees.
The Lockman Foundation presented each graduate with a copy of the New American Standard Bible.
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College Graduates
The following graduates with Louisiana ties received degrees during New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College commencement services Dec. 14, 2019:
April Pogue, Minister’s Wife Certificate, Metairie
Ronnie Jacob Vollm, B.A. in Christian Ministry, Ville Platte
Angela Louise Steib, B.A. of Christian Ministry, Lutcher
Xavier Lennard Raymond, B.A. in Christian Ministry, New Orleans
Jason Stephen Payton, B.A. in Christian Ministry, Baton Rouge
Adam Alexander McCarty, B.A. in Christian Ministry, Reserve
Steven Forbes, B. A. in Christian Ministry, Walker
Penny Jean Beauford, B.A. in Christian Ministry, New Orleans
Kenneth McCasland Ash, B.A. in Christian Ministry, Bossier City
Harris David Dickson, B.A. of Christian Ministry, Livingston
Cecil Kennard Clark, B.A. Christian Ministry, Baker
Jade Perkins Dickens, Graduate Certificates of Counseling Ministry and Christian Education, DeRidder
Ronney Joe Webb, Master of Theological Studies, Shreveport
Kayleigh White, Master of Arts in Church and Community Ministry, New Orleans
Marilyn June Stewart, Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics, New Orleans
Darren Michael Rindt, Master of Arts in Christian Apologetics, Monroe
Sara Brittany Burchfield, Master of Arts in Missiology, New Orleans
Sam Young Jr., Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, New Orleans
Henry Gonzalez, Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, New Orleans
Steven L. McNeal, Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, Venice
Ashley Lauren Roberts, Master of Arts in Christian Education, Robert
Mary Helen Driver, Master of Arts in Christian Education, New Orleans
Nelson Enrique Perez Jr., Masters of Art in Counseling (Marriage and Family), Harahan
Derek Alan O’Quinn, Master of Divinity, Denham Springs
Brett Austin Puckitt, Master of Divinity, Belcher
Don Meadows, Master of Divinity in Leadership and Administration, Kentwood
Heather Shae Watson, Master of Divinity in Urban Missions, New Orleans
Troy Alan Palermo, Doctor of Ministry, Lake Charles
Andrew Lee Orr, Doctor of Ministry, Pineville
Leonardo de Paula Carneiro Santos, Doctor of Musical Arts, New Orleans
Charlotte Faye Scott, Doctor of Education, Metairie
Mario Manuel Catalino Melendez, Ph.D., Marrero
Margaret Elaine Fredericks, Ph.D., Slidell
