Avondale School
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Union Conference, reported to the 1899 General Conference the rapid
developments taking place, and the strong faith of all in their ability to
unite with their fellow workers in America and Europe in carrying the
third angel’s message into missionary territory.
“We in Australasia,” he wrote, “have been slow to grasp the mean-
ing of God’s providence in keeping His servant, Sister White, in this
country. When she came, we all thought she was making us only a
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brief visit. She thought so. But the Lord knew better. He placed her in
this land, and does not cause the cloud to lift and move elsewhere.
“Ever since she came, God has been instructing her regarding the
work here. He has pointed out the mistakes in our methods of labor. He
has caused another mould to be placed upon the work throughout the
entire field. He has constantly admonished to ‘go forward,’ to break
forth on every side. All the time He is directing us to enlarge our work.
He has given His servant a great burden regarding the educational
work. The struggle it has taken to carry out what God has plainly
revealed should be done, has been terrible. Satan has contested every
inch of the ground; but God has given us many victories. He has
planted the Avondale School, and we have the plainest evidences that
He will be glorified by it. He has given minute instructions regarding
its location, object, and management. Now He is telling us that if we
will walk in the light He has given, Avondale will become the training
ground for many missionary fields. The hand of God is in all these
things. We are endeavoring to arouse our people to understand the
situation, and do all in their power to sustain the work. They are
responding nobly; but our visible resources are small for the great
work we are urged to do....
“We have an army of intelligent young men and women, anxious
to fit themselves for the work of God. We believe that in a short time
we shall be able to furnish a large number of valuable workers for
various mission fields under the British flag. The “Lord is revealing
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this to us through the Spirit of prophecy, and He will bring it to pass.”
General Conference Daily Bulletin, 1899
.
In a talk on the Avondale School and its work, given Sabbath
afternoon, July 22, 1899, before the Australasian Union Conference
session of that year, Mrs. White emphasized at considerable length
the missionary character of the work to be done there. She said: