DBU Celebrates 158 Graduates and Awards Honorary Doctorate of Divinity at Summer Commencement

To date, DBU has awarded a total of over 40,000 graduates with degrees who are serving in various professional and ministry contexts around the world. On Friday, August 5, DBU celebrated Summer Commencement and honored 158 graduates: 63 undergraduate, 85 master's, and 10 doctoral students.

Dr. Dan Gibson, August 5, 10:00 a.m.

During the Commencement ceremony, Dr. Dan Gibson provided the special charge to the graduates. Graduating with his E.d.D. in Educational Leadership on Friday, Dr. Gibson currently serves as DBU's Vice President of Graduate Affairs. His wife Janae is also a DBU graduate (2003). They have two children, Jae Beth and Daniel.

Dr. Byeong Rach Choi, August 5, 10:00 a.m.

DBU awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree to Dr. Byeong Rack Choi. Dr. Choi received his bachelor's degree from Korea Baptist Theological Seminary before moving to Forth Worth with his wife, Lauren (a DBU graduate), where he continued his ministry studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. While working on his M.Div. in Biblical Languages, Dr. Choi interned at a small church plant and later became its Senior Pastor. Semihan Baptist Church grew over the years from 15 families to 1,500 under Choi's pastoral leadership and eventually moved to its current location in Carrolton, Texas. The Choi family later returned to South Korea where Dr. Choi accepted a call to serve as Senior Pastor of Kangnam Joongang Baptist Church. In partnership with Semihan Baptist Church, a special evangelistic cooperative program was established known as W.O.R.L.D. Ministry Institute. Dr. Choi is currently a Doctor of Ministry candidate at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Lauren, have two children, Rachel and Jordan.