God’s Plan for Students and Youth
251
company with their teachers and have gained a sound, solid experience
which they prize above silver and gold. This kind of work is, in fact,
one of the means God has ordained for giving our youth a missionary
training; and those who neglect to improve such opportunities lose
out of their lives a chapter of experience of the highest value. By
entering heartily into this work, students can learn how to approach
with tact and discretion men and women in all walks of life, how to
deal with them courteously, and how to lead them to give favorable
consideration to the truths contained in the books that are sold.
Our greatest burden should be, not the raising of money, but the
salvation of souls; and to this end we should do all in our power to
teach students how to lead souls to a knowledge of the third angel’s
message. When we are successful in the work of soulsaving, those
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who are added to the faith will, in turn, use their ability in giving the
truth to others. When we labor diligently for the salvation of our fellow
men, God will prosper our every effort.—
Testimonies for the Church
9:85, 86
.
Training for Difficult Missionary Service—There is a wide field
of usefulness in the distribution of our literature and in bringing the
third angel’s message to the attention of friends and neighbors. Other
youth should be encouraged to enter the canvassing work to sell our
larger books. Some may have qualifications that would make them
valuable helpers in our institutions. And in many instances, if promis-
ing youth were wisely encouraged and properly directed, they could
be led to earn their own schooling by taking up the sale of Christ’s
Object Lessons or Ministry of Healing.
In selling these books the youth would be acting as missionaries,
for they would be bringing precious light to the notice of the people of
the world. At the same time they would be earning money to enable
them to attend school, where they could continue their preparation for
wider usefulness in the Lord’s cause. In the school they would receive
encouragement and inspiration from teachers and students to continue
their work of selling books; and when the time came for them to leave
school, they would have received a practical training fitting them for
the hard, earnest, self-sacrificing labor that has to be done in many
foreign fields, where the third angel’s message must be carried under
difficult and trying circumstances.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:78
.