Southern Adventist University - Triangle Yearbook (Collegedale, TN)

Page 29 text:

3nniov C(a£f£i Jtlotto Not Sunset But Dawn Class Colors Royal Blue and Cream Class jf lotucr Cream Rose Franklin Ashlock, President Donald Hunter, Vice President + Annie Bird, Secretary Sarah Edwards, Treasurer Rosabelle Wood Bonnie Coniff Jeanetta Hardin Cleo Roberts Gladys Andress Maude Brooke Grace Porter Martha Harrold Ralph Watts ■ Clare Botimer - Carl Aiken Winslow Randall Nellie Henderson Dorothy Bailey Pearl Thompson MoNA Deyo Louise Austelle Helen Patterson Edna Mae Trammel LuciLE Wall Jere Smith Warner McClure Frank Brown - Merwin Thurber LoRETTA HeaCOCK

Page 31 text:

Ije |3urposc of outljeru Suuior College IN A WORD, tlie purpose of Southern Junior College is to train Christian leaders. There i.s no coinmoditj- in the world ' s market so much in demand at present as leadership; no class of men in more urgent need than leaders. From the many young men and women who enter the doors of Southern Junior College it is [planned that there will be a large number of trained, efficient leaders in all activities of Christian endeavor go from Southern Junior College. And while leadership is greatly in demand today, yet Christian leadership is still more urgently needed. The world is distressed and perplexed, not knowing which way to turn, largely because real leaders are wanting. The fact that the Chris- tian leader has the assurance of success is the reason that one trained in this way to be a real leader is in demand. It is true that there is an abundance of men who endeavor to point the way out of our difficulties. We have men who are supposed to lead us politically, socially, and economically, and even religiously, but their true qualifications seem lacking and the world has small confidence in their direc- tions. Sometimes we think the only reason they are chosen to lead is because no one better presents himself. We mistrust them, but must accept them for the lack of some one superior. Politically we find that this is especially true. In the re- ligious and social world it is no less evident. Leaders of the first magnitude are wanted to lead us out of the bog of political unrest and religious skepticism and social injustice. Sometimes we almost fear that we are being led by the blind, the ill- trained, the untrained, the selfish, and the temporizing. To train Christian leaders requires both positive and negative teaching. The Christian leader must be able to do without, as well as to do with what he has. Christs teaching of the talents emphasizes the need that a Christian leader develop as high as he possibly can whatever ability the Lord has given him. The Chris- tian leader also must be able to do without, because it is impossible for the com- forts and conveniences of life to be carried to all parts of the world. Some of the greatest Christian leaders have been pioneers. Hence it is that the environment in which they are trained means success or failure to them. It is difficult indeed for true spirituality, the real indispensable in Christian leadership, to be secured when one is trained, especially if he is young, surrounded by the distracting allurements of the city. For some reason the world has come to believe that Christian leadership implies a lack of careful preparation. The one who is expected to lead in the affairs of the world, it has been thought, must be carefully trained in science, culture, and knowledge. The best is none too good for such a one. On the other hand there is the idea that Christian leaders need not be so carefully trained. There is only a need of the superficial knowledge to lead in Christian affairs. This is not true. Christian leadership implies a careful preparation, mental discipline, spiritual poise, and all the ability that leadership in any other line of activity demands. The Chris- tian leader should be trained mentally, should have a well developed physique, and at the same time iiot be above doing something useful with his hands. With these objects in view, with a splendid rural location and beautiful moun- tain environments, and carefulness in mental training, with whole-hearted adher- ence to upliftingl - inspirational principles, with its emphasis of the practical. Southern Junior College is a fit place for the training of Christian leaders. Leo Thiel.