Chapter 11—Building Up a System of Christian Education

With the rise and progress of the advent movement, there grew up in connection with it a system of Christian education, exactly adapted to the needs of a world missionary movement, and aiming, above all, to train the children and youth of the church for the kingdom of heaven. Any survey of the whole system—from church schools to academies and junior and senior colleges, with one medical college beyond the senior college circle—reveals the Spirit of prophecy as a major influence in its development. The educational leaders who have wrought out the system through the years are the first to testify to their indebtedness to that gift. Their gift as teachers has done major work also. The teaching gift is one of the spiritual gifts committed to the church. “First apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers.” 1 Corinthians 12:28. The gift of prophecy in no wise supplanted the others. It was used to point the way, to lay down principles, to inspire action—and the teaching gift, it is, that works out the whole.SPIAM 78.1