Jeremy Griem (M.Div., 1998) became a Christian as a young adult and joined Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia where he was baptized and later ordained to the gospel ministry. You may have heard of that church lately since its pastor, Dr. Bryant Wright, was elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention this past June. Jeremy’s own call to the ministry brought him from the business world to Beeson Divinity School. He was looking for an evangelical, interdenominational theological school in a university setting, one deeply anchored in the historic Christian faith but with a worldwide vision for sharing the gospel “among all the nations.” Ricky Wheeler, who is the minister of global ministries at Johnson Ferry, was a good friend and mentor to Jeremy and suggested that he come to Beeson to pursue his calling to serve Christ.

When Jeremy came to Beeson, he was a little older than some entering students, but he was still a fairly new follower of Christ. He found excitement (as well as hard work) in everything he studied here from Old Testament Theology with Dr. Ken Mathews to New Testament Greek with Dr. Frank Thielman. Dr. Lewis Drummond, our first Billy Graham Professor of Evangelism, had a special influence on Jeremy. Dr. Drummond is now with the Lord but those who knew him will never forget his love for Christ, his enthusiasm in teaching, and his passion for sharing the gospel with the lost around the world. One day when I was walking down a staircase, I was almost knocked off my feet by one of our students (not Jeremy) who was rushing up the stairs because he was a little late for one of Dr. Drummond’s classes. As he whisked past me, he said, “I just hate to be late because you never can tell when revival might break out in there!”

Dr. D, as we affectionately called him, ignited a spark in Jeremy Griem that led to a life-changing experience. Jeremy and five other Beeson students organized and participated in a ten-week trip to Central Asia. This mission trip became a catalyst for Jeremy’s calling and ministry today. I should also mention that it was on this Beeson-sponsored trip that Jeremy met his wife Kristi, a 2000 graduate of Samford University, and the daughter of missionary parents in Panama where she grew up. Kristi and Jeremy have been married for twelve years now and they have two beautiful children—Levi, who is three years old, and baby Elizabeth who is one. This picture of Jeremy’s family was taken during the 2009 Christmas season.

And where is Jeremy Griem now? He is the Minister of Global Ministries at Shades Mountain Baptist Church here in Birmingham. Like Johnson Ferry, Shades Mountain is a church with the world on its heart. Each year this dynamic congregation sends out more than 1,000 volunteers on thirty separate mission projects, which take place on every continent on earth. These are transformative experiences for hundreds of dedicated church members who volunteer their time and resources to participate in the world Christian mission. And the impact on the church is terrific. Each year Shades Mountain sponsors a five-day Global Impact Celebration which brings to the church campus scores of missionaries from around the world for a wonderful week of renewal, inspiration, and recommitment. Jeremy Griem is the chief engineer for this event and for all that this great church does to reach the world with the good news of Jesus Christ. Dr. Danny Wood, senior pastor at Shades Mountain (and another great Beeson alum, D.Min., 1999) has said that “Jeremy’s passion for the peoples of the world and his administrative abilities have helped raise our church’s understanding and hands-on involvement in missions. Missions is a part of Shades Mountain’s DNA and Jeremy’s leadership is a major reason why.”

Jeremy has been a loyal and faithful alumnus of Beeson Divinity School. He served as a member of the search committee that helped us to identify and recruit Dr. Kurt Selles as the director of our Global Center. Each year the Global Center helps current Beeson students to follow in the footsteps of Jeremy Griem as they participate in cross-cultural immersion mission projects, experiences that become a vital part of their theological and ministry formation. May the Lord continue to call out more students like Jeremy Griem, followers of Jesus who see the world through the Savior’s eyes and who have a passion for sharing that vision with others.