OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas (left) presented the J.M. Carroll Award to Dr. Jeff Iorg June 15 during the SBC Annual Meeting. They were joined by Iorg’s wife, Ann.
OBU Presents J.M. Carroll Award to Iorg June 15 at SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim
June 15, 2022
OBU presented the J.M. Carroll Award to Dr. Jeff Iorg, president of Gateway Seminary, June 15 during the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California. The presentation took place at the Gateway Seminary Alumni and Friends luncheon. OBU President Dr. Heath A. Thomas presented the award.
The J.M. Carroll Award is given in recognition of outstanding denominational service in the state of Oklahoma. It is named for Dr. J.M. Carroll, who served as OBU’s first president, helping establish the foundation upon which OBU’s tradition of excellence has been built.
During the presentation, Thomas noted numerous aspects of Iorg’s distinguished career, including his faithful service as president of Gateway Seminary (formerly Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary) as well as his service as a pastor for Southern Baptist churches in Oregon, Missouri and Texas. He also noted Iorg’s distinguished service for nearly 10 years as executive director of the Northwest Baptist Convention. He likewise expressed gratitude for Iorg’s leadership in establishing a strong partnership between OBU and Gateway Seminary through formalized articulation agreements which provide a pathway for OBU students to earn credit toward a Master of Divinity at Gateway while completing their undergraduate studies at OBU.
Iorg expressed his gratitude for the award and his admiration for OBU.
“I am honored to be recognized by our partners at Oklahoma Baptist University,” he said. “They challenge and equip students to engage a diverse world with the gospel. That is a mission of which I am proud to serve as a co-laborer, as both a leader and a participant.”
In addition to serving as president, Iorg teaches leadership, preaching and church ministry courses at Gateway Seminary. He speaks frequently on these subjects in conferences and other venues, including college campuses and leadership seminars. His publications include nine books: “The Painful Side of Leadership,” “The Character of Leadership,” “Is God Calling Me?,” “The Case for Antioch,” “Seasons of a Leader’s Life,” “Unscripted,” “Ministry in the New Marriage Culture,” “Leading Major Change in Your Ministry,” and his latest, “Shadow Christians.” He has also written dozens of articles and curriculum materials.
Iorg earned a Bachelor of Arts at Hardin Simmons University. He later completed a Master of Divinity at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He then earned a Doctor of Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Ann and has three adult children and five grandchildren. His hobbies include reading fiction, cheering on the Oregon Ducks and searching for the world’s best barbeque restaurant.