A Place Called Oakwood

32—A Much Broader Work

Context: Mrs. White instructs the officers of the General Conference on Southern matters and brings up the Oakwood sanitarium.

October 2, 1907

The land at Huntsville was a donation from our people to the colored work. A much broader work would have been accomplished there had our people moved forward in faith and self-denial. It was God's design that Huntsville should have convenient school buildings and a sanitarium for the colored people. This sanitarium building has become a positive necessity. Some of the brethren have been free to give their advice concerning this institution, saying that it should be “a small sanitarium.” The advice I have had to give has been that we should have a modest but roomy sanitarium, where the sick can be taken in and treated. The colored race should have the benefits of such an institution as verily as should the white people. In this sanitarium colored nurses are to be trained for service in the field as gospel medical missionaries. PCO 51.1

The Lord is calling for converted workers who will act as faithful ministers and teachers to the colored people. We need less of commercial enterprises, and more church buildings and missionaries. Let us be very guarded in the use of means, that money may not be used largely in a few places, when there are so many places that the missionary must enter with the last message of warning. PCO 51.2

Abridged

Sources: Letter 322, 1907; Manuscript Releases 2:77-78