Our institutions should be missionary agencies
in the highest sense, and true missionary work always begins
with those nearest. In every institution there is missionary
work to be done. From the manager to the humblest worker, all
should feel a responsibility for the unconverted among their
own number. They should put forth earnest effort to bring them
to Christ. As the result of such
effort many will be won and will become faithful and true in
service to God.
As our publishing houses take upon themselves
a burden for missionary fields, they will see the necessity of
providing for a broader and more thorough education of workers.
They will realize the value of their facilities for this work
and will see the need of qualifying the workers, not merely to
build up the work within their own borders, but to give efficient
help to institutions in new fields.
God designs that our publishing houses
shall be successful educating schools, both in business and in
spiritual lines. Managers and workers are ever to keep in mind
that God requires perfection in all things connected with His
service. Let all who enter our institutions to receive instruction
understand this. Let opportunity be given for all to acquire
the greatest possible efficiency. Let them become acquainted
with different lines of work so that, if called to other fields,
they will have an all-round training and thus be qualified to
bear varied responsibilities.
Apprentices should be so trained that,
after the necessary time spent in the institution, they can go
forth prepared to take up intelligently the different lines of
printing work, giving momentum to the cause of God by the best
use of their energies and capable of imparting to others the
knowledge they have received.
All the workers should be impressed with
the fact that they are not only to be educated in business lines,
but to become qualified to bear spiritual responsibilities. Let
every worker be impressed with the importance of a personal connection
with Christ, a personal experience of His power to save. Let
the workers be educated as were
the youth in the schools of the prophets. Let their minds be
molded by God through His appointed agencies. All should receive
a training in Bible lines, should be rooted and grounded in the
principles of truth, that they may keep the way of the Lord to
do justice and judgment. Let every effort be made to arouse and
encourage the missionary spirit. Let the workers be impressed
with a sense of the high privilege proffered them in this last
work of salvation, to be used by God as His helping hand. Let
each be taught to work for others, by practical labor for souls
just where he is. Let all learn to look to the word of God for
instruction in every line of missionary effort. Then, as the
word of the Lord is communicated to them, it will supply their
minds with suggestions for working the fields in such a way as
to bring to God the best returns from all parts of His vineyard.