by: Jordan Vetro

To my fellow EBC students, whom I have come to hold dear this past year. I want to thank all of you for your presence at this college, and for the aspects which you have brought to this community and the college as a whole. As our year is brought to a close, there are things that I would leave you with.
Paul pleads in Ephesians, “I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (Eph. 4:1). I believe in many ways we have misinterpreted the importance and significance of our calling.
Know always what you are called for. As Peter writes in his second book, “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:10-11). I think many of us are waiting for Paul’s experience. We expect a light to come down from heaven and God to speak personally to us. Many through history have been mislead by a misinterpretation of the words of God. I urge you to seek affirmation. For there is great danger in someone who goes into ministry because they cannot think of anything else that they would do. Do not allow this to be you. For it is written in James, “Know always what you are called for. Seek affirmation. As Peter writes in his second book ‘Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment’” (James 3:1). Always remember this, for we are all held accountable for our actions, and teachers and leaders are also held accountable for the actions of those under them.
I urge each of you to act upon the council of the Spirit. Modern theology has very much been watered down to a way of personal gain – a theology that serves the person. We must all remain constantly held accountable to Scripture. We must not seek to justify our own acts, but rather we must not be ashamed of the Gospel, for as Paul writes to Timothy, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).  Know what is true.
Seek out mentors. This is key to our spiritual growth. So that our interpretations are challenged regularly and we are always seeking truth. We cannot be allowed to let our ideas fester and grow into an interpretation of the gospel that looks nothing like the true and written Word. And again, we must always be seeking the counsel of the Spirit, that we may be led down the right path, as those who will be accountable for many souls.
Seek to bless others. One of the greatest detriments to those in ministry is that they might feel superior to others, or be inconsiderate. And as students of the Word, we are watched so closely by the world, waiting to grab hold of any bit of hypocrisy within us. Always be keeping others in mind, and never considering ourselves, so that each of us may be an example of Christ and of the church. It is in Ephesians. “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” ( Eph.4: 1-2). Servanthood is the key to leadership, and humility is the key to honor. Follow here, the example that Christ was.
I write not to discourage any of you, but to encourage you. For the work of God is a high honor, and to be in a profession that allows you to devote more time to His work is a blessing. But be aware of these things always so that, as leaders of God’s church, you may one day stand before God and know that you as a leader remained confident in truth, so that God will find you a humble and blessed servant.