Akin challenges Southwestern graduates to run the race well, receives Naylor Award

Longtime Southern Baptist educator Daniel L. Akin challenged 307 spring 2026 graduates of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College to continue running in God’s race with endurance, following Christ’s example, during his commencement address on May 1.

During the ceremony, Akin, the outgoing president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southwestern alumnus, was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Robert E. Naylor Denominational Service Award. Named after Southwestern’s fifth president, the award recognizes individuals who have served the Southern Baptist Convention well.

 “We are grateful for the many, many ways he has made a difference in the life of so many people,” Southwestern President David S. Dockery said, referencing Akin’s missions work, published works, and ways he has served the Southern Baptist Convention. “… I can think of no one more worthy to receive the first Naylor Denominational Service Award than my good friend, our good friend, Dr. Danny Akin.”

In his commencement address, Akin said, “It’s not that you run well for the season, it’s that you run well for a lifetime,” referring to the spiritual race described in Hebrews 12. “I’m now 69. As President Dockery said, I’ll be retiring from Southeastern as president in just a couple months. Now, I’m not retiring from ministry, and I’m not dropping out of the race.”

He pointed out the various ways the Christian life is described in Scripture using athletic illustrations, including boxing, wrestling, and racing. He said he believes the author of the book of Hebrews had in mind a marathon when describing it as a race.

Akin said a key to running the race well is found in the encouraging life examples of other believers, those still running the race today and those who have already passed on, adding Christians are not to run the race as a “lone ranger.”

“There are others who are in the race with you, and they are there as a wonderful source of encouragement for you to stay in the race,” Akin said.

Running the race well also means focusing on only what is essential, not carrying “excess factors that can weigh you down, to slow you down, to keep you from running your best for the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Akin said the recipients of the letter to the Hebrews were told not to be hindered by legalism or returning to the Old Testament Judaism. For some contemporary believers, Akin said a hinderance can be looking back instead of ahead and settling for what is good instead of the best God has in mind.

Quoting verse one, he said believers must also lay aside the “sin which clings so closely,’’ noting unbelief is sin.

“It causes you to begin to think something like this,” Akin said, describing the unbelief of a Christian. “‘You know, for me to stay in the race, for me to continue to serve the Lord, for me to walk into the future with Jesus, I do need Jesus, plus—’. And once you add that plus sign, I do not care how you fill in the blank, you now live in the world of unbelief.”

While laying aside distractions and following the examples of other believers is important, Akin said keeping one’s focus on Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith” who endured His own race that led to the cross, will help a Christian endure to the end of the race.

“Anything in life that gets your eyes off of Jesus, mark it down. It’s not of God,” Akin said. “And so, Southwestern graduates, it is my prayer for you that you move into a new chapter of life running in this race, just keep your eyes pointing to Jesus. Many people and many things in life will fail you, but He never will. He got you in the race, He keeps you in the race, and He will get you to the finish line.”

Akin, who earned the Master of Divinity at Southwestern in 1983, has served in a variety of educational leadership roles for more than 40 years, including 22 years as president of Southeastern, chief academic officer at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and professor and dean of students at Criswell College in Dallas.

During the ceremony, Blake McKinney, assistant professor of history and humanities at Texas Baptist College, received the David S. and Lanese Dockery Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence, which is annually presented to a member of the faculty. McKinney was recognized for his teaching and spiritual care for students inside and outside the classroom.

The spring 2026 graduating class included 307 students representing 23 countries. It also marked the first female graduate from the Doctor of Ministry Hispanic program and the first graduating class of students completing the Certificate in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry.