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Testimonies for the Church Volume 7
Missionary Agencies
Our publishing houses are God’s appointed centers, and through
them is to be accomplished a work the magnitude of which is yet
unrealized. There are lines of effort and influence as yet by them
almost untouched in which God is calling for their co-operation.
As the message of truth advances into new fields, it is God’s pur-
pose that the work of establishing new centers shall be constantly
going forward. Throughout the world His people are to raise memori-
als of His Sabbath, the sign between Him and them that He is the One
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who sanctifies them. At various points in missionary lands publishing
houses must be established. To give character to the work, to be centers
of effort and influence, to attract the attention of the people, to develop
the talents and capabilities of the believers, to unify the new churches,
and to second the efforts of the workers, giving them facilities for more
ready communication with the churches and more rapid dissemination
of the message—all these and many other considerations plead for the
establishment of publishing centers in missionary fields.
In this work it is the privilege, yea, the duty, of our established
institutions to participate. These institutions were founded in self-
sacrifice. They have been built up by the self-denying gifts of God’s
people and the unselfish labor of His servants. God designs that they
shall manifest the same spirit of self-sacrifice and do the same work in
aiding the establishment of new centers in other fields.
For institutions as for individuals the same law holds true: They
are not to become self-centered. As an institution becomes established
and gains strength and influence, it is not to be constantly reaching out
to secure greater facilities for itself. Of every institution, as of every
individual, it is true that we receive to impart. God gives that we may
give. Just as soon as an institution has gained a standing place for
itself, it should reach out to aid other instrumentalities of God that are
in greater need.
This is in accordance with the principles of both the law and the
gospel—the principles exemplified in the life of Christ. The greatest
evidence of the sincerity of our professed adherence to God’s law
and our profession of allegiance to our Redeemer is unselfish, self-
sacrificing love for our fellow men.
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