Persons with theological education must join the fight against declining moral values and the rising crime rate in St Vincent and the Grenadines.{{more}}

This is according to the Leader of the parliamentary opposition here, Arnhim Eustace, who on Sunday, October 5, challenged the graduating class of the Institute of Theological Education (ITE) to be a “mighty rushing wind” in the effort to arrest the problems facing this country, and by extension, the world.

“I don’t believe that we can solve the problems that we face, particularly in relation to crime without various roles of those who have theological education,” Eustace said.

“Our ability to deal with issues of this sort rests firstly in our beliefs in the principles and tenets of Almighty God,” he further said to the 80 graduates including his wife, Jennifer, who graduated with a Master’s Degree in Theology.

This was the third graduation exercise for the ITE, which has been in existence since 2003. The school is the brainchild of Rev Dr Walford Thompson and Rev Dr Isaac Soleyn and is accredited by the Miami International Seminary.

This year’s graduation ceremony, which was held at the Faith Temple church in New Montrose was the largest in the school’s history, and included the first graduating class of the Certificate in Counseling/ Psychology programme.

The Certificate class had 50 graduates; 20 persons graduated with Associate degrees in Theology; eight and two with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Theology, respectively.

During her short address, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education Laura Browne said that the schools of St Vincent and the Grenadines will be better off for teachers who were part of the counseling class.

She encouraged them to use their skills to the furtherance of education in St Vincent and the Grenadines, and by extension make the country a better place, as they provide guidance to students who need it.

Meanwhile, featured speaker, Rev Lyall Bethel, of the Bahamas, reminded the graduates that they must dare to be different as they try to effect change in their society.

He encouraged the graduates to make a godly difference in their societies, but warned them that they must protect against ungodly influences by remembering who they are and the purpose to which they have been called by God.

Renowned television evangelist Rev George Frederick, who was awarded a Master’s degree in Theology, was valedictorian for the Master’s/Bachelor’s in Theology group, while Osbert Francois and Nadine Thompson copped the award for the Associate degree in Theology and Certificate in Counseling Psychology, respectively.(KJ)