To be read on Sabbath, June 30, 2012

The Special Sabbath School Offering will be gathered on July 7, 2012

“The Holy Scriptures underline the importance of education as it is written in Proverbs 22:6: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.’ Much more can be done to save and educate the children of those who at present cannot get away from the cities. This is a matter worthy of our best efforts. Church schools are to be established for the children in the cities, and in connection with these schools provision is to be made for the teaching of higher studies, where these are called for. These schools can be managed in such a way, part joining to part, that they will be a complete whole.” –Review and Herald, December 17, 1903.

“In every place where there is a church, large or small, there a school should be established.” –(Letter 108, 1899) Selected Messages, book 3, p. 227.

More than a hundred years ago, God instructed His people through prophetic inspiration that this is the way to do missionary work; and today it is a challenge for the church, for we are living at the end of time. When our children enter schools and colleges that have no Christian principles, they are in danger. “If the child is not instructed aright

[in the home], Satan will educate him through agencies of his choosing. How important, then, is the school in the home!” –Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 107.

What is a church school?

• Enlargement of the local church
• Center of children’s missionary instruction
• Practice of lessons learned in the home
• Institution of primary education

What is the purpose of the church school?

• Education in missionary service
• Preaching of the truth
• Help for parents
• Formation at a primary level
• Instruction in religion and general culture

“The Lord would use the church school as an aid to the parents in educating and preparing their children for this time before us. Then let the church take hold of the school work in earnest and make it what the Lord desires it to be….

“The children who are properly instructed will be witnesses to the truth.” –Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, pp. 167, 169.

“This kind of missionary work, I am instructed, will have a most telling influence in extending the light and knowledge of truth.” –Child Guidance, p. 310.

“The Lord would have painstaking efforts made in the education of our children…. Shall the members of the church give means to advance the cause of Christ among others and leave their own children to carry on the work and service of Satan?” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 217.

“The working of private interests for the gaining of personal ends is one thing. In this, men may follow their own judgment. But the carrying forward of the Lord’s work in the earth is entirely another matter. When He designates that a certain property should be secured for the advancement of His cause and the building up of His work, whether it be for sanitarium or school work, or for any other branch, He will make the doing of that work possible if those who have experience will show their faith and trust in His purposes, and will move forward promptly to secure the advantages He points out. While we are not to seek to wrest property from any man, yet when advantages are offered, we should be wide awake to see the advantage, that we may make plans for the upbuilding of the work. And when we have done this we should exert every energy to secure the freewill offerings of God’s people for the support of these new plants.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 9, p. 272.

At the present time, there are a number of schools in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America. But, taking into consideration these solemn statements, the General Conference Education Department appeals to all brothers, sisters, and friends in the whole world to respond to the movings of the Lord Jesus on your hearts and contribute generously so primary schools may be established in Rwanda, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and the Philippines. We put this project in God’s hands, praying that His will may be done. “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3.

–Danilo López Monterroso
Interim Leader of the General Conference Education Department