Georgia governor speaks to Southeastern students

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue told Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary students Aug. 20 to maintain the effectiveness of their ministries by serving in a spirit of worship and filling their minds with Scripture.

Perdue, a longtime member of Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins, Ga., was elected governor last year. He has ties to Southeastern through his son, Jim, who graduated from Southeastern in May with a master of divinity degree and two years ago served as student body president. Perdue delivered his chapel address following the previous day’s convocation to open the academic year.

Southeastern’s interim president, Bart Neal, expressed his honor to have Perdue speak at Southeastern. Perdue, speaking about his role as governor, said the work of a public servant and the work of a minister are similar in many respects. “Unless we … serve in a spirit of worship, we are serving in vain [because] we are serving in our own power and our own flesh.”