致里瑟长老,伯登长老,和加利福尼亚州南部区会执行委员会
亲爱的弟兄们:
我非常希望里瑟弟兄、伯登弟兄和他们的同事们能清楚地看到所有的事情。上帝已经赐给每一个人一份工作,祂也必赐给各人必要的智慧,使各人都能执行自己指定的工作。{PC 218.1}
我要对里瑟弟兄和伯登弟兄说,你们每次一起商量的时候,要小心,要对彼此显出仁慈礼貌。要警惕任何表面上有霸道精神的东西。{PC 218.2}
要非常小心,不要做任何会限制洛马林达工作的事情。我们得到这块地产是上帝的旨意,祂已指示一所学校应与疗养院相连。在那里要做一项特殊的工作,使青年男女成为有效率的医疗布道工作者。应当教导他们如何在不使用药物的情况下治疗病人。这种教育需要有实际工作的经验。{PC 218.3}
洛马林达的工作需要立即考虑。必须尽快做好学校开学的准备工作。我们的年轻男女将在洛马林达找到一所学校,在那里他们可以接受医疗布道士培训,在那里他们不会受到一些试图破坏真理之人的影响。学生应当在医疗工作中忠实地团结起来,使自己的身体机能处于最佳状态,在那位伟大的医疗布道士的指导下工作。医治病人和传道的事工,要携手同行。{PC 218.4}
在圣经真理方面要有全面的教育。上帝的道就是灵,就是生命。我们需要不断地仰望耶稣。每一个工人的效能主要取决于他所接受的教育和训练。在我们的教育机构中,要有比其它地方更高层次的教育。学生应该受到亲切、温柔和有兴致的对待。{PC 218.5}
为了使在洛马林达的疗养院和学校适合开展主已明确指示应该开展的工作,必须筹集资金。但愿谁也不要起到一种作用,影响我们在加利福尼亚州南部的弟兄姐妹们不去做需要做成的事。{PC 218.6}
主已赐福给伯登弟兄,祂还会继续赐福给他,因为他继续本着敬畏上帝的心行事,与他的同事一起,明智和经济地计划,对机构进行装备和管理。若有弟兄任意行事,企图在这事上约束他,就会发现他们妨碍了主所指示应该做成的工作。不应该强迫他放弃对他所负责的工作应以何种方式进行的信念。{PC 219.1}
在洛马林达推进教育工作时,我们的弟兄们一定要提防仇敌努力在弟兄之间引进批评和疏远的精神。{PC 219.2}
有时,某些疗养院必须经过艰苦的斗争才能获得资金,以便从事上帝特别设计应该完成的特殊工作。在这种紧急情况下,他们可以自由地从我们的各教会接受礼物和捐赠。有些接受真理的人有钱财,他们将帮助维持在我们的疗养院里应该做成的善工。{PC 219.3}
我的弟兄们,我在祈求主指导你们以最好的方法接触人心。任何一个人,无论他的公职如何,都不要完全凭自己的判断来决定事情,否则他可能会犯需要纠正的错误。有一件事是肯定的,我们前面的工作时间很短。我们正生活在这尘世历史的结局。{PC 219.4}
多年来,我们一直在努力,要看到上帝的工作在加利福尼亚州南部取得进展。有一次,我们发现这种狭隘的、规定的计划使工作无法前进。然后,当努力前进时,它就导致了大量的开支,并且造成了完全不正常的奢侈计划。接着因为钱的压力,工作被耽搁了。{PC 219.5}
依然不断临到我的亮光是,工作应该依照不同的顺序进行,人们的许多计划和设计需要改变。最近采取了一些措施。主已行了事,使我们获得了在费尔南多、在天堂谷和在格兰代尔的地产。{PC 219.6}
在洛马林达已经建立了一个疗养院,这是上帝的旨意。有些人知道完成已经完成的工作是多么困难。但是在洛马林达的工作还没有完善。必须筹集更多的资金,才能使这个地方成为培养医疗布道士的中心。{PC 219.7}
当加利福尼亚州南部区会的会长和执行委员会与伯登弟兄和他的同事们联合起来,为彻底完成在洛马林达的疗养院和学校工作作计划时,他们就会得到力量和福气。伯登弟兄的工作不应受到约束。{PC 219.8}
我的弟兄们,要祈求主,一起商量,然后联合一致地作工,帮助建立我们都非常希望不要受到阻碍的工作。{PC 220.1}
高等教育的工作已经大受阻碍,因为男男女女没有照着所应当的看出属灵的事。我们应该知道那些在决策中很重要的事实。{PC 220.2}
我们的弟兄们都要清醒、谨慎。那些在任的人需要有能力明智地看待每一件事。我们都应当成为与上帝同工的人。{PC 220.3}
怀爱伦
To Elders Reaser, Burden, and the Executive Committee of the Southern California Conference
Dear Brethren,
I am very anxious that Brethren Reaser and Burden and their associates shall see all things clearly. God has given to every man a certain work to do, and He will give to each the wisdom necessary to perform his own appointed work.?{PC 218.1}
To Brethren Reaser and Burden I would say, In all your counsels together, be careful to show kindness and courtesy toward each other. Guard against anything that has the semblance of a domineering spirit.?{PC 218.2}
Be very careful not to do anything that would restrict the work at Loma Linda. It is in the order of God that this property has been secured, and He has given instruction that a school should be connected with the sanitarium. A special work is to be done there in qualifying young men and young women to be efficient medical missionary workers. They are to be taught how to treat the sick without the use of drugs. Such an education requires an experience in practical work.?{PC 218.3}
The work at Loma Linda demands immediate consideration. Preparations must be made for the school to be opened as soon as possible. Our young men and young women are to find in Loma Linda a school where they can receive a medical missionary training, and where they will not be brought under the influence of some who are seeking to undermine the truth. The students are to unite faithfully in the medical work, keeping their physical powers in the most perfect condition possible, and laboring under the instruction of the great Medical Missionary. The healing of the sick and the ministry of the Word are to go hand in hand.?{PC 218.4}
There is to be a thorough education in Bible truth. The word of God is spirit and life. We need constantly to look to Jesus. The efficiency of every worker is largely determined by the education and training he receives. In our educational institutions there is to be a higher class of education than can be found elsewhere. The students are to be treated kindly, tenderly, and interestedly.?{PC 218.5}
In order to properly fit the sanitarium and the school at Loma Linda to carry on the work that the Lord has plainly?directed should be carried on, means must be raised. And let no one act a part in influencing our brethren and sisters in Southern California not to do that which needs to be done.?{PC 218.6}
The Lord has blessed Elder Burden, and He will continue to bless him, as he continues to move in the fear of God, and plans wisely and economically with his associates for the fitting up and management of the institution. If any of his brethren act arbitrarily in an effort to restrain him in this, they would be found hindering the very work that the Lord has signified should be done. He is not to be forced to turn aside from his convictions as to the way in which the work under his charge shall be carried on.?{PC 219.1}
In the carrying forward of the educational work at Loma Linda, our brethren must certainly guard against the efforts of the enemy to bring in a spirit of criticism and of alienation between brethren.?{PC 219.2}
There are times when certain sanitariums will have to pass through a close, severe struggle for means in order to do a special work which the Lord has particularly designed should be done. In such emergencies, they are to be free to receive gifts and donations from our churches. Some who receive the truth have means, and they will aid in sustaining the good work which should be done in our sanitariums.?{PC 219.3}
My brethren, I am praying that the Lord will guide you in the very best methods of reaching hearts. Let no one, whatever his official position, decide matters fully on his own judgment, or he may make mistakes that will have to be corrected. One thing is certain, we have a short work before us. We are living very near the end of this earth’s history.?{PC 219.4}
For years we have wrestled to see the work of God advanced in Southern California. At one time we found such narrow, prescribed plans that the work could not move forward. Then when an effort was made to advance, it resulted in large outlay, and in extravagant plans that were altogether out of order. Then followed a pressure for money, and the work was held back.?{PC 219.5}
Still the light kept coming to me that the work should be conducted after a different order, that many plans and devisings of men needed to be changed. Of late some moves have been made. The Lord has wrought in the securing of properties at Fernando, at Paradise Valley, and at Glendale.?{PC 219.6}
A sanitarium has been established at Loma Linda, and this is in the providence of God. Some know how difficult it has been to accomplish the work that has been done. But the work at Loma Linda is not yet perfected. More money must be raised in order to make this place a center for the training of medical missionary evangelists.?{PC 219.7}
As the president and executive committee of the Southern California Conference unite with Brother Burden and his?associates in planning for the thorough accomplishment of the sanitarium and school work at Loma Linda, they will find strength and blessing. Brother Burden is not to be bound about in his work.?{PC 219.8}
Pray to the Lord, my brethren, counsel together, and then labor unitedly to help in establishing the work which we all so greatly desire shall not be hindered.?{PC 220.1}
The work of higher education has been greatly hindered because men and women have not discerned spiritual things as they should. We should know the facts that are of weight in making decisions.?{PC 220.2}
All our brethren are to be sober-minded and cautious. Those who hold office need the ability to view every matter wisely. We are all to be workers together with God.?{PC 220.3}
Ellen G. White -