Church Building
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be helped to find a standing place, and give character to the work.—
Testimonies to Southern Africa, 63
.
Prosperous areas should not over-invest in buildings while
poorer parts of the world have none—I wish to remind my brethren
of the cautions and warnings that have been given me in reference to
constantly investing means in Battle Creek in order to make a little
more room, or to make things more convenient. New fields are to be
entered; the truth is to be proclaimed as a witness to all nations. The
work is hindered, so that the banner of truth cannot be uplifted, as it
should be, in these new fields. While our brethren in America feel at
liberty to invest means in buildings which time will reveal that they
would do just as well and even better without, thousands of dollars are
thus absorbed that the Lord called for, to be used in “regions beyond.”
I have presented the warnings and the caution, as the Word of the
Lord; but my heart has been made sad to see that, notwithstanding all
these, means has been swallowed up to satisfy these supposed wants;
building has been added to building, so the money could not be used
in places where they have no conveniences, no building for the pub-
lic worship of God or to give character to the work, no place where
the banner of truth could be uplifted. These things I have set before
you; and yet you have gone on just the same, absorbing means, God’s
means, in one locality, when the Lord has spoken that too much was
already invested in one place, which meant that there was nothing in
other places, where there should be buildings and facilities, to make
even a beginning.—
Testimonies for the Church 8:48, 49
.
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