direction of the author, from the Testimonies and other sources. In
1920 this little book was enlarged and issued as Colporteur Evangelist.
With the development of more comprehensive indexes to the vo-
luminous writings of Ellen White, it became possible to expand and
enrich this manual. The present enlarged guide to literature evangelists
was published in 1953 under the title Colporteur Ministry, a work of
176 pages. With subject matter conveniently arranged in topical order,
it serves well, but as the name implies, its counsels are confined almost
entirely to the work of the colporteur.
Meanwhile, Ellen White’s counsels to authors were drawn together
and published under the title Counsels to Writers and Editors. Initially
issued in 1939 in a limited edition, this volume became available
generally as a standard E. G. White book in 1946.
But several areas of vital concern to the publishing ministry were
not treated in either of these two specialized volumes. One such mat-
ter was the establishment, operation, and management of publishing
houses. The present volume covers this area and also includes counsels
on the publishing work as a whole.
The White Estate staff has been joined by the personnel of the
General Conference Publishing Department in a wide search in all
E. G. White sources, published and unpublished, for materials to
develop the present volume. The counsels selected lay out quite clearly
heaven’s design for this vital arm of the church. That The Publishing
Ministry may be a useful guide to all who are called to proclaim the
glad tidings of salvation through the printed page is the sincere wish
of the
Board of Trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate
Washington, D. C.,
January 1, 1983.