To Stephen Croft and Chris Yim,

Congratulations! We, the Chimes staff, are excited for the future of our student body under your leadership. Your positions are full of blessings and challenges; this is certainly a time to lean on God. Throughout your tenure in leadership, we ask two things. First, remember: as leaders, your actions on and off campus are in the public eye. Second, rely on God through every step of the incredible journey before you.

Leadership is difficult, in part because you are suddenly in the spotlight. Leaders in Associated Students and the Student Missionary Union are role models on this campus, and the position should be accepted thoughtfully. A role in student leadership is a privilege given to you by a community that trusts you. The decisions you make and the things you do affect Biola as a whole.

The Biola community depends on your skills as a leader, and that includes how you conduct yourself outside the office. Even when you’re not working, people notice what you do.

Not only do you represent Biola, but you are responsible for building and encouraging a Christ-centered community. In order to do this, you must be spiritually accountable while in office.

As you set out with this new responsibility and honor for the 2012-2013 school year, we echo the words of the apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:17-19 and pray “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.”

You have an incredible opportunity to make a difference on this campus, but always remember to keep God at the forefront. In the end, the events you planned and the great things you accomplished will not be the most important things — what counts will be how you served God through it all.

You will undoubtedly be in the prayers of many throughout your terms of leadership and beyond; we eagerly wait to see what God has prepared for the next year.

The Chimes’ Staff