ORLANDO, Fl. – Midwestern Seminary welcomed over 500 alumni, students, and friends to its Alumni & Friends Luncheon on June 10 during the 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 to the Institution
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.
The relaunching of this website is highly significant as it provides users a centralized space to glean from the treasury of biblical wisdom spanning the four decades of Charles Spurgeon’s ministry. Users now have immediate and digital access to thousands of recourses by Spurgeon—from over 3,000 sermons to books and his Sword & Trowel magazine.
Allen then welcomed Geoff Chang, associate professor of historical theology and curator of the Spurgeon Library, along with Jeff Medders, general editor and fellow of the Spurgeon Library and visiting professor of Christian studies, for a conversation on joy and humor in Spurgeon’s life and ministry.
Utilizing a series of paintings depicting significant moments in Spurgeon’s life, Chang and Medders traced the source of Spurgeon’s joy from his conversion through his decades of pastoral ministry.
Beginning with Spurgeon’s dramatic conversion during a snowstorm at a small Primitive Methodist chapel, they emphasized that Spurgeon’s lifelong joy was rooted not in his accomplishments but in the saving grace of Christ.
“Every story of conversion is a story of joy,” Chang said. “This is the source of Spurgeon’s joy.”
The discussion highlighted Spurgeon’s baptism, his first sermon as a teenager, his ministry among London’s poor and orphaned children, and his preaching ministry at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Chang and Medders also recounted numerous examples of Spurgeon’s quick wit and humor, noting that laughter was a regular feature of his ministry.
Reflecting on Spurgeon’s appreciation for humor, Medders shared an account of the preacher stopping during a walk with a friend to thank God for laughter.
“Right there in the woods, they got on their knees, and they thanked God for laughter,” Medders said. “We are just going to thank God for laughter, to thank God for the joy of knowing Christ, and to thank God for the privilege of ministry.”
Rooted in Christ Amid Suffering
While much of the conversation focused on Spurgeon’s humor, Chang and Medders also underscored the significant suffering he endured throughout his life, including physical illness, depression, and theological controversy.
“When you think about Spurgeon’s joy, it continues from joy,” Medders said. “Joy is not frothy. Joy is not weak. Joy has a solidity to it, and it overflows into other parts of life that can endure.”
The panel concluded with a reflection on Spurgeon’s steadfast faith during the Downgrade Controversy near the end of his life. Reading from one of Spurgeon’s final sermons, Chang reminded attendees that the believer’s confidence rests in God’s purposes and promises.
“Let us rise in faith and share the joy of God,” Spurgeon preached. “And there’s the fountainhead of our joy. Not in ourselves, not in our circumstances, but in our intimately happy God, who reigns from heaven and will accomplish all His purposes.”
The luncheon concluded with prayer and worship, encouraging alumni and friends to pursue the same Christ-centered joy that characterized Spurgeon’s ministry and continues to shape Midwestern Seminary’s mission today.
By Jonathan Lumley
