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The Publishing Ministry
Handling Books a Practical Education—The students who take
up the work of selling Christ’s Object Lessons and Ministry of Healing
will need to study the book they expect to sell. As they familiarize
their mind with the subject matter of the book in hand and endeavor
to practice its teachings they will develop in knowledge and spiritual
power. The messages in these books contain the light that God has
revealed to me to give to the world. The teachers in our schools should
encourage the students to make a careful study of every chapter. They
should teach these truths to their students and seek to inspire the youth
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with a love for the precious thoughts the Lord has entrusted to us to
communicate to the world.
Thus the preparation for handling these books, and the daily ex-
periences gained while bringing them to the attention of the people,
will prove an invaluable schooling to those who take part in this line
of effort. Under the blessing of God the youth will obtain a fitting up
for service in the Lord’s vineyard.—
Testimonies for the Church 9:77
.
(See also
Testimonies for the Church 9:79, 80
.)
Shall Teen-age Girls Canvass? [
Ellen White directed several let-
ters to her two teen-age granddaughters, Ella May and Mabel, that
pointed out certain dangers that might threaten young women colpor-
teurs, while not forbidding their participation in the literature work.
]—I
would not place any obstruction in your way in obtaining an experience
in doing God service....
I am sorry if my cautions have been stronger than I intended, for
I did not intend a positive do-nothing in the line in which you have
been working. But I have felt great fears of having a girl at your age
go alone into this work. Accidents are liable to occur, endangering
life.... If another sensible person were with you, then one could be a
safeguard to the other. If one should become injured, and no one at
hand to help, what then? All these things are to be considered and
guarded against.
Another danger: there are tramps everywhere, and evil, dissolute
characters who will do wicked works, and ruin and kill, because they
have given themselves to Satan’s power. I would therefore be very
cautious how in any way you are unguarded. For Satan has come down
in great power. He is represented as going about as a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour. These things must be considered.... If
you feel that it is your work to canvass, and that you can do good in