Southwestern graduates reflect on time on Seminary Hill as they look to the future

As another semester draws to a close at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, graduates eagerly await what comes next in their journey. Some look ahead to building a ministry undergirded by the education they have received, while others seek to continue their academic journey.

Southwestern and Texas Baptist College’s graduating class of fall 2024 includes graduates of all ages and walks of life, from undergrad to Ph.D. students. Twenty-four countries are represented among the 291 graduates, many of whom reflect on where their journey with Southwestern has led and will lead them.

Christopher Gardner, originally from Huntsville, Texas, began his higher education at Sam Houston State University, but transferred to Southwestern seeking a Christian-based education. Once on campus, he chose to stay after being influenced by his professors, with professor of theology Michael Wilkinson, professor of preaching and pastoral ministry Chris Osborne, and professor of philosophy and religion Theodore Cabal having made tremendous impacts on him.

“I’ve learned a lot in the classroom, obviously, but I feel like in some ways, learned more outside just talking to professors,” Gardner said. “… Life happens, and whenever [my wife] and I have been hurting, professors like those three have really stepped in and mentored to us in some hard times that we experienced.”

That experience with and reputation of the faculty has led Gardner to continue his education at Southwestern by pursuing his Ph.D. next semester after graduating with a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Ministry.

Nelly Villegas, from Costa Rica, is pleased that in her time at Southwestern as a student and an employee she has developed bonds with her fellow students as well as the staff and professors on campus, with special affection for the opportunity of mentoring and coordinating auditions for the School of Church Music and Worship and performing with Southwestern A Cappella.

“I honestly am excited to see what God will do with all this training, with the training He has allowed me to get here,” Villegas said, adding she sees herself having a teaching role. “I love teaching, whether it is teaching Bible in the church or teaching worship teams or something related with teaching.”

She graduated with her Master of Divinity in Worship Leadership and is taking part in the school’s mission trip to Spain this month, before returning to begin pursuing her Ph.D., as well.

Richard Dugger, originally from Houston, Texas, and currently living in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho, attended Southwestern decades ago, graduating in 1992 with a Master of Divinity in Biblical Languages, before returning a little over two years ago to pursue a Doctor of Ministry. He holds distinction of being the first person to graduate with that degree with an area of focus around Church Planting-Leadership. Being involved in ministry for the last 32 years, Dugger took joy in being able to participate in a program in which he was mentored by and surrounded by peers who he had seen successfully plant churches over the decades.

“What was part of the draw for this was that the professors that I worked with were my contemporaries and are my contemporaries. They’re guys that I have worked with in ministry, some for more than 20 years,” Dugger said. “…These guys, while they were my contemporaries, they were all individuals who were engaged in church planting. They understood church planting.”

Upon graduating, he plans to continue serving the North American Mission Board as a church planter catalyst in Idaho.

Richard’s niece, Caitlyn Dugger from Tennessee, is in the same graduating class. She began her academic journey at Mississippi Christian University, receiving her Bachelor’s in Interpersonal Public Communication there before attending Southwestern for graduate studies. While she had considered other seminaries, it was her family’s long connection to Southwestern that drew her to the campus, with her dad, uncle, and two brothers all being alumni themselves. One of the things Dugger thinks most fondly of on her time in attendance, are the friends she made working on a group project.

“One of the best things that happened to me in school was when Dr. Mike Wilkinson gave us a group project in Baptist Heritage. My groupmates don’t live close by, so we started emailing and then zooming, and this has turned into texting and calling whenever,” Dugger said. “I would not have expected two good friends to come from a group project, especially when we are not in the same city. But, thank the Lord, Dr. Wilkinson gave us this assignment and gave me two new friends. I cannot wait to see how these friendships blossom.”

She will be graduating with a Master of Divinity, with a concentration in discipleship and teaching, and plans to continue serving as the women’s and youth discipleship minister at Matthew Road Baptist Church in Grand Prairie, Texas, and enjoying not having homework for a bit, taking a break from her education with plans to pursue more in the future.

Twinkle Hauhaur, from India, has enjoyed learning to love people in a more biblical sense during her time at Southwestern, feeling that she has developed an entire family separate from her own through her relationships with professors and peers on campus.

“I do not have a blood-related, immediate family or anyone here, but I believe that God has given me different kind of families,” Hauhaur said. “Right now, I can mention a few people’s name I know for sure treated me like their own. And even among the professors I know, I definitely have people I can speak about who have opened their hearts for me to be part of their life.”

She chose to attend Southwestern seeking an evangelical perspective on counseling and as such will be graduating with her Master’s in Biblical Counseling before pursuing her Th.M. in Biblical Counseling as well.

Stephanas Budiono, from Indonesia, has been serving the Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary in Indonesia since 2016 and pursued his second doctorate through Southwestern’s World Christian Study program. As a teacher, Budiono feels the best thing he has taken from his time working towards this accomplishment has been learning the history surrounding different denominations of belief, and the power of ministry through education.

“This journey through WCS became a deeply transformative experience of faith, intricately guided by divine intervention,” Budiono said. “My spiritual fortitude was challenged as I faced burdens I had never foreseen, both mentally and spiritually. Yet, I have come to realize that God’s plans are always flawless, destined to thrive.”

Upon graduating, he plans to help grow the seminary where he currently serves into an institute with the goal of eventually elevating it to the status of university. He also plans to author and publish a book on denominational history.

Debby Guzman, from Mexico, is especially excited to be done with school, at least for the moment. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Studies, her academic career has seen her pivot completely from pursuing a degree in nutrition at another university, to transferring to Southwestern where she fell in love with the campus and the people. She has enjoyed serving in the Women’s Center on campus. Whether it’s the breakfast fellowships or just baking cookies and making coffee while spending time with her peers, it has been where she’s felt the most connected.

“That has been one of my favorite parts of Southwestern,” Guzman said of her time spent working at the Women’s Center. “… I’ve had several memories there and I’ve had good friends come out of that.”

After graduating, she plans to serve in a community outreach role as part of an internship for her church over the next year, and then see where the Lord leads her.

The Southwestern and TBC commencement ceremony was held Dec. 6, with Jeff Iorg, the president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, giving the commencement address.