Eastern Mennonite School - Shenandoah Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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.Iohn L. Stauff er President Dear Graduates: Graduation marks the completion of a definite assignment and requires the acceptance of a new one. In a world that is terribly distressed with physical, economic, social, and moral needs, you will find some definite place to serve. Since the greatest need of all lies in the area of the spiritual, we hope you will accept some assignment in kingdom interests. Multiplied millions have not heard of Christ and millions more are indifferent to His claims upon their lives. A Christian who is burdened for the lost can find in any hamlet, city, or rural district some soul that needs the Gospel. Christ did not command us to be good businessmen, prosperous farmers, able secretaries, excellent homemakers, effective schoolteachers, consecrated nurses, nor Christian physicians. He urged upon us the moral necessity of being effective witnesses of the truth. All those occupations and professions can be made to promote the glory' of God when they are used as a means to that end. None of these exclude the call to soul-winning, and that is infinitely more important than success in the vocation. It is no easy standard to keep soul-winning in first place while discharg- ing responsibilities in a vocation. Nevertheless consecrated Christians can accomplish great good through persistent soul-winning efforts. If the Gospel is to be published to the ends of the earth for a witness to Christ, we must have the united testimony of dynamic evangelists, effective mission workers, and consecrated Christian laborers, businessmen, and professionals everywhere. VW

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Chester K. Lehman Dean Dear Graduates of the Class of 1947: Congratulations on the attainment of this worthy goal of youth. This completion of tasks marks but the beginning of new and larger ones. The college motto, Christ Pre-eminent, XPLUTIXDQ llpmmfm, holds treasures in which you will have many occasions to revel. A subtle philosophy early began to work among the Colossian Christians. Its adherents proudly held them- selves above fellow Christians, claiming secret insights into spiritual knowl- edge. Raising angels to a place of worship and lowering Christ to a created being, this heresy would rob the new Faith of its most vital elements. To Paul, however, the truth of deliverance from the power of darkness and translation into the kingdom of His dear Son raised Christ above created beings. In Him we have redemption and forgivenessg for He is the image of the invisible God, Creator of all things, and Head of the Church. For such comprehension of the supremacy of our Lord, Paul was pe- culiarly fitted. It alone explains his zeal in proclaiming the crucified Christ, his steadfastness in suffering persecutions, his courage in the midst of Iewish bigotry and Gentile cruelty. As CHRIST PRE-EMINENT becomes engraved on your hearts, He must become the center of affections, the goal of aspirations, the test of motives, the all-absorbing purpose of life, and the very heart of fellowship. Commencement Day, with Christ pre-eminent! What more glorious beginning of life could be conceived! l?7iI