Hi, and welcome to the class of 2012.

No two stories are the same at Vose - but I do know that God has been involved in your journey of enrolling at the seminary. I have no doubt that you signed up because you sense that God has a plan for your future, and because you are hopeful that your time at Vose will help you to get to know God better and to understand his Word and his purposes in the world better. In the midst of that I'm sure that you long to hear God's particular word coming to you giving you direction for your future - and your present. So how will this happen?

As always, there is the God part.

We can't put God in a box - and He often breaks through our preconceived ideas of what is appropriate and speaks to us in unexpected ways. I'd urge you to be open to God break through moments. They might be in a lecture, over a coffee in the dining hall, when wading through a book in the library, while chatting to a new found friend, in our accountability groups - whatever, wherever... be alert for God moments.

Then there is the staff part.

Every staff member at Vose is well aware that change comes as much through what is caught as through what is taught. You will receive very fine teaching in every lecture. Indeed, one of the ways in which the staff at Vose try to serve you is by making sure that they are experts in their field, and that you are exposed to the best possible teaching in their area of specialization. However don't just view lecturers as walking slabs of information. View them as mentors - friends on the journey, who like you, are committed to consistently following Jesus. Allow them to teach you - but also catch their passion and love for Jesus.

And then there is your part...

Vose has committed itself to growing servant leaders. It flows from the model of Jesus. He came not to be served, but to serve and to give his life for us.

We can't claim to follow him if we don't adopt a similar agenda. Of course, like most other things in life, we learn by doing.

So we learn to serve by serving. Why not look for opportunities to serve the community at Vose this year? As you put yourself out for others, you will find that it's an important part of your growth in servant leadership. Try looking out for students who are struggling. Or why not just do the washing up when others have forgotten to do it? Or take a risk in being vulnerable and sharing your story with the community

But if Vose is about growing servants, it is also about growing people who are servant leaders. Some people serve wonderfully, but don't lead. Leadership is about making a difference. It is about being willing to take initiative on behalf of others for the good of the group. Christian leadership is about sensing the missio Dei (the mission of God) and then using your energy and influence to work and to get others to work where God is already at work.

So here we are as a team at the start of 2012. God has already been at work bringing the community together. And I'm so looking forward to our journey together.

Dr Brian Harris
Principal