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Get priorities right
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Questionable Fund-Raising Methods
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People Needed No Urging
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People Needed No Urging
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Questionable Fund-Raising Methods
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Forbidden Money-Raising Methods
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Raising of money has been carried to extremes
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Speculating
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Better Ways Than Public Appeals for Means .
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Solicit pledges
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Financial loans
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Sale of books to raise funds
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All to play a part
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We are stewards of God's money
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God's means are to serve a holy purpose
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Freewill gifts
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Joint efforts
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Individual fund-raising initiatives
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I ask the children to show an unselfish interest in the work in the south. Will they not give their mites to help in this work?
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Selfishness and materialism hindering the work
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Ellen White's sacrificial giving
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Avoid Cultivating Expensive Tastes
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Contribution day
Get priorities right
Our greatest burden should be, not the raising of money, but the salvation of souls ; and to this end we should do all in our power to teach students how to lead souls to a knowledge of the third angel's message. When we are successful in the work of soulsaving, those who are added to the faith will, in turn, use their ability in giving the truth to others.
When we labor diligently for the salvation of our fellow men, God will prosper our every effort.--9T 85, 86.
The Publishing Ministry PG- 289
Testimonies for the Church Volume Three
PG- 510

People Needed No Urging
After the children of Israel had left Egypt, when there was but a step back from freedom to slavery, God commanded the tabernacle to be built from their scanty means. Their own tents were small, but they did not plead to enlarge their own tabernacles. God's house must first be built.
God gave them the design he wished them to follow in building the tabernacle.
They needed no urging. Gifts and free-will offerings came in abundance.
Their ornaments and jewelry were taken from their person and cast into the treasury, to be used to beautify and enrich the house for God. Materials of gold, silver, brass, and ornamental work, were gladly given , each soul being anxious to have an interest in the tabernacle which was being erected for God.
More than a million of dollars was expended in erecting that tabernacle. Moses did not need to urge the people , but he had to proclaim to them that they had enough, and their cheerful, willing labors and offerings must cease, for they could not appropriate all that they had already brought.
Free-will Offerings
The Signs of the Times
DT- 08-05-75
Questionable Fund-Raising Methods
Professed Christians reject the Lord's plan of raising means for his work; and to what do they resort to supply the lack? God sees the wickedness of the methods they adopt. Places of worship are defiled by all manner of idolatrous dissipation , that a little money may be won from selfish pleasure-lovers to pay church debts or to sustain the work of the church.
Many of these persons would not of their own accord pay one shilling for religious purposes.
Where, in God's directions for the support of his work, do we find any mention of bazaars, concerts, fancy fairs, and similar entertainments? Must the Lord's cause be dependent upon the very things he has forbidden in his word--upon those things that turn the mind away from
God, from sobriety, from piety and holiness? And what impression is made upon the minds of unbelievers? The holy standard of the word of God is lowered into the dust. Contempt is cast upon God and upon the Christian name.
The most corrupt principles are strengthened by this unscriptural way of raising means. And this is as Satan would have it. Men are repeating the sin of Nadab and Abihu. They are using common instead of sacred fire in the service of God. The Lord accepts no such offerings. All these methods for bringing money into his treasury are an abomination to him. It is a spurious devotion that prompts all such devising. O what blindness, what infatuation, is upon many who claim to be Christians! Church members are doing as did the inhabitants of the world in the days of Noah, when the imagination of their hearts was only evil continually. All who fear God will abhor such practises as a misrepresentation of the religion of Jesus Christ.
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald
DT- 12-08-96
God's Claim Upon Us
Counsels on Stewardship
Popular Methods of Appeal
PG- 204
Forbidden Money-Raising Methods
Lust of Appetite and Love of Pleasure the Wrong Money-raising Appeal. We see the churches of our day encouraging feasting, gluttony, and dissipation, by the suppers, fairs, dances, and festivals gotten up for the purpose of gathering means into the church treasury. Here is a method invented by carnal minds to secure means without sacrificing.

Welfare Ministry PG- 289
Raising of money has been carried to extremes
Sin will rest upon us as a people if we do not make most earnest efforts to ascertain those who have donated to the different enterprises who are too poor to give anything. All that they, in the liberality of their souls, have given should be returned to them with an additional gift to relieve their necessities. The raising of money has been carried to extremes. It has left a bad impression on many minds. Making urgent calls is not the best plan of raising means .
There has been manifested an indifference to investigate the cases of the poor and make returns to them, that they should not suffer for the necessaries of life. A neglect of our duty in this respect, of becoming acquainted with the necessities of the needy and of relieving their pressing wants by returning means which has been given to advance the cause of God, would be on our part a neglect of our Saviour in the persons of His saints.
TI- Testimonies for the Church Volume Three
Calls for Means
PG- 510
Speculating
The Unwise Use of Money and the Spirit of Speculation
The Lord has shown me that your religious experience is becoming a matter of chance. It savors of gambling. I beseech you that you let this experience go no farther. You are educating church-members to think it a virtue to obtain money in a way that should not be admitted among us. The methods you are advocating for the raising of means should never come into our ranks at all, much less be carried to the lengths to which you and your associates have taken them.
SpTB17a
PG- 35
Better Ways Than Public Appeals for Means .
I was shown that there have been unhappy results from making urgent calls for means at our camp meetings. This matter has been pressed too hard. Many men of means would not have done anything had not their hearts been softened and melted under the influence of the testimonies borne to them. But the poor have been deeply affected and, in the sincerity of their souls, have pledged means which they had a heart to give, but which they were unable to pay. In most instances urgent calls for means have left a wrong impression upon some minds. Some have thought that money was the burden of our message.
The Publishing Ministry
Sales Promotion of Books
PG- 343
Many have gone to their homes blessed because they had donated to the cause of God. But there are better methods of raising means, by freewill offerings , than by urgent calls at our large gatherings. If all come up to the plan of systematic benevolence , and if our tract and missionary workers are faithful in their department of the work, the treasury will be well supplied without these urgent calls at our large gatherings.--
Solicit pledges
I would like to inquire what progress has been made in the raising of means for the
3T 510. purchase of the land. My investment was not made in order to lessen the responsibility of others who should help. Do what you can to encourage those who have money that they

can use in the cause , to use it wisely and not let it slip away into speculation . Secure pledges from those who have not money in sight.
We need special wisdom to move out at the right time. I thank the Lord that He encouraged me to walk by faith, and I pray that He will help you to show others their privilege in this matter.
Loma Linda Messages
PG- 574
Financial loans
My mind is settled in regard to the purchase of the land in front of the Loma Linda
Sanitarium. We must have that piece of land. I will pledge myself to be depended upon for one thousand dollars. I hope to be favored with an opportunity to hire some money soon ; but I shall not worry in regard to this, or I shall not be able to do anything. The effort of speaking on Sabbath and of reading my letters today is all I have been able to do to the present time. But as soon as I can I will make some movement concerning the raising of the one thousand dollars. The piece of land we must have; for it will never do to have buildings crowded in there. Do not fail to carry through the purchase of it. Do your best, and I will do my best. The money from me you may depend upon. We shall be able to send it soon.
The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters
PR- 04
PG- 310
Sale of books to raise funds
The opportunity we have of doing good by striving to carry out the Lord's plan for the relief of our schools and sanitariums has been presented to me over and over again in connection with the Southern California Conference. The conditions there are unusually favorable for a long-continued effort to push the sale of Christ's Object Lessons and
Ministry of Healing . Our brethren and sisters in Southern California should never weary of this plan for raising money to meet the debts that have accumulated.
The students of the
Fernando school, and the nurses of the three sanitariums that have been established, can ill afford to lose the precious experiences in missionary work that come to those who handle the relief books. And the conference can ill afford to lose the results, spiritual as well as financial, that would accompany a continued effort of this sort.
The Publishing Ministry
Christ's Object Lessons and the Ministry of Healing
PG- 362
All to play a part
My brethren and sisters, let us all take part in sharing the burden of this College debt. The
Review and Herald needs the portion that is due to it. I entreat you not to find fault. Many sacrifices have been made by those who have striven to lessen this debt. I ask you to show a decided and practical interest in this matter. If all enter heartily into the plan of raising money to cancel this debt by means of the Missionary Acre Fund, it will soon be swept away, and relief will be brought to many who are carrying heavy burdens.
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald
DT- 12-03-03
We are stewards of God's money
I appeal to our brethren to whom the Lord has entrusted the talent of means: Will you not help the workers at Madison, who have been instrumental in raising means for many enterprises? As the Lord's messenger, I ask you to help the Madison school now. This is its time of need. The money which you possess is the Lord's entrusted capital. It should be

held in readiness to answer the calls in places where the Lord has need of it.
PH119
An Appeal for the Madison School
PG- 4
God's means are to serve a holy purpose
Means is needed that we may do quickly the work that must be done in building up the waste places and raising up the foundations of many generations. We are not to spend our money on things that are not essential. God requires that every available dollar shall be given to the work of opening new fields for the entrance of the gospel message and in lessening the mountains of difficulty that seek to close up our missionary work.
For
Christ's sake, I ask you to carry out God's purposes for the opening of missions in every city, in every place. Satan is working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. Is it not time that we awake out of sleep? Our apparent devotion to the things of this life contradicts the faith we profess to hold.
Manuscript Releases Volume Ten
PG- 216
Freewill gifts
Added to this was another report: Just before his stroke, in the protracted money-raising meeting at Memphis, Michigan, at a late hour when the going was hard, James offered $10 and said Ellen would join him with another $10. Now much in want, he suggested that the church in Memphis was in a position to return this amount. This fed the rumor mill.
Ellen G. White Volume 2 The Progressive Years 1862-1876
PG- 170
Joint efforts
E. R. Palmer and C. B. Hughes, principal and business manager, respectively, planned for the day what they thought to be appropriate--a morning service at which Ellen White was invited to address students and faculty, and in the afternoon various recreational games, including cricket for the boys and tennis for the girls. Faculty members and students joined in raising money with which to purchase the equipment (DF 249e, C. B. Hughes to WCW,
July 22, 1912). Other games, as remembered by Ella White Robinson included three-legged races; eating apples suspended from a string, with the players' arms tied behind them; carrying eggs in a teaspoon in a knee race, et cetera (ibid ., E. M. Robinson to David Lee,
Nov. 9, 1967). Wrote Professor Hughes in his July 22 letter to W. C. White:
Ellen G. White Volume 4 The Australian Years 1891-1900
PG442
Individual fund-raising initiatives
I ask the children to show an unselfish interest in the work in the South. Will they not give their mites to help in this work? There are many ways in which they might earn money for this purpose.
One of our brethren bought wall pockets, and sold them to our sisters at cost price. Those who bought them sold them to their friends and neighbors at an advance, and gave the proceeds to the Southern work . My son has often written me how much the means thus raised helped in the first establishment of the work. Can not the children make simple, useful household articles, and sell them, telling those to whom these things are offered of the work to which the money thus raised is to be devoted?
The Southern Missionary

01-01-03
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald
-DT- 03-23-05
A sanitarium building is to be erected at Takoma Park, that this work may be carried forward. Will not those who have means feel it a privilege to give something toward this work, that the needed fund may be raised soon?
The Lord will certainly bless those who will cheerfully return to him his own. Doors that were once fast closed are now opening wide for the entrance of our workers. I call upon our people, while the way is open, to do earnest work, to rally round the standard, to answer the call that has been made for the completion of the One Hundred Thousand Dollar Fund. Come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty.
This work is the Lord's, and he calls upon those who have means to place it in the treasury for the advancement of his work. Send in your offerings for the buildings to be erected at Takoma Park. We are praying that the money buried in lands and houses may now be called in, because it is the Lord's money, and he needs it.
It is to our honor to send in large and small sums , so that, when the next General Conference shall assemble, we can say that the fund needed has been raised.
The great cities must be warned; and if you have not surplus means, then it is certainly the duty of some of our brethren to sell and invest means in the different branches of the work.
"Lay up for yourselves a treasure in the heavens." Duty is plain; the selling time has come if means is demanded to advance the cause and work of God and cannot be raised without selling your land and your extra houses. Awaken, brethren, to the call of duty. I see no other way that the light in Chicago and other places can be withdrawn from under the bushel and placed on a candlestick. I appeal to every one in the ranks of Sabbath-keepers to deny self for Christ's sake.
There is earnest work to be done for the Master; and those who have no houses and lands to turn into money, can deny self in various ways, and save means which would have been needlessly expended. Practice temperance in all things. Cut down selfish indulgences at your tables, and dress plainly, with the great and grand object before you of having money to place in the treasury of God . You may thus be the means of advancing his cause, enlightening those who are in the darkness of error.
Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald
DT- 02-10-85
I ask the children to show an unselfish interest in the work in the south. Will they not give their mites to help in this work?
There are many ways in which they might earn money for this purpose. . . . Cannot the children make simple, useful household articles, and sell them, telling those to whom these things are offered of the work to which the money thus raised is to be devoted? . . .
Manuscript Releases Volume One
Excerpts From E. G. White Letter for an Article in Junior Guide
PG- 347
Tomorrow we have another meeting in behalf of the sanitarium to see or test what the people will do to raise means. The Lord has money among His people.
The three thousand dollars raised, I understand, is to be apportioned to the most needy objects in the sanitarium interests.
Were the building now up and in running order, there would be no dearth of patronage. But the Lord will devise and plan some way for us to get the money. We do have faith, notwithstanding the prospect is so apparently without encouragement.
Manuscript Releases Volume Twenty-one

The Need for Faith, Love, and Christlikeness
PG- 154
A church must be built in Maitland as soon as the money for it can be raised. When all those who are now convinced decide for the truth, an effort will be made to raise some money for the church.
The Kress Collection
PG- 129
Selfishness and materialism hindering the work
I dreamed I was visiting those who believe the truth; and I saw in their houses trinkets and ornaments. But while I felt like weeping like a little child, over the future prospects -- on account of lack of means -- in regard to advancing the cause of Present Truth, the Spirit of the
Lord came upon me, and I said, "In this house are many idols." If these things that can do your souls no good were sold, and the money put in the Lord's treasury, there would not be the deprivation of any of your comforts, and the means would help advance the cause of
God." I went from house to house and pointed out the needless things that the Lord's money entrusted to his stewards had bought.
That very means could have been a great blessing to help build our school buildings in the land, also our meetinghouses, that as churches are raised up we must hire. There are many campmeetings to be held in new places, and how to obtain the means is a problem.
Spalding and Magan Collection
PG- 82
Ellen White's sacrificial giving
As funds were being raised in September, Ellen White, who had received a gift from friends in California of $45 with which to buy a comfortable chair for use during her illness, appropriated the money to aid in building the Parramatta church. She explained to her friends who had given her the money that she wished them to have something invested in the
Australian missionary field (Letter 34, 1892).
Ellen G. White Volume 4 The Australian Years 1891-1900
PG- 69
Even the church, which should be the pillar and ground of the truth, is found encouraging the selfish love of pleasure. When money is to be raised for religious purposes, to what means do many churches resort? To bazaars, suppers, fancy fairs, even to lotteries, and like devices.
Often the place set apart for God's worship is desecrated by feasting and drinking, buying, selling, and merrymaking. Respect for the house of God and reverence for His worship are lessened in the minds of the youth.
The barriers of self-restraint are weakened. Selfishness, appetite, the love of display, are appealed to, and they strengthen as they are indulged.
Christ's Object Lessons
The Sower Went Forth to Sow
PG- 54

In professedly Christian gatherings, Satan throws a religious garment over delusive pleasures and unholy revelings to give them the appearance of sanctity, and the consciences of many are quieted because means are raised to defray church expenses. Men refuse to give for the love of God; but for the love of pleasure, and the indulgence of appetite for selfish considerations, they will part with their money.
Counsels on Stewardship
Popular Methods of Appeal
PG- 202
Avoid Cultivating Expensive Tastes
The workers must arouse themselves to see afar off. With many self-denial and selfsacrifice are dead, and these elements must be raised to life again.
Men must understand that the large wages which they demand are sapping the Lord's treasury. They are binding up God's money in private interests , and by their actions are saying to the world,
"My lord delayeth his coming" (Matt. 24:48). Shall not this thing be changed? Who will come up to the great example of the Master Worker?--Letter 120,1899.
Selected Messages Book 2
General Principles Governing Worker Remuneration
PG- 188
An Appeal For Help
Talk at the Meeting Where Money Was Raised for the Sanitarium
When I read in the General Conference that twenty thousand dollars had been donated to
Australia, and that large donations had been made to the General Conference to help in other places, a feeling of sadness came over me. I felt that if this donation came to our people in this way, it would deprive them of a blessing, according to the eighth and ninth chapters of II Corinthians, so that rich supplies of grace might flow in upon God's people, because of their self-denial and self-sacrifice. Christ says: "He that will come after
Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." You have read your Bibles, and you know of the cross the Saviour bore when He laid aside His royal robe and kingly crown and clothed His divinity with humanity. He did not come to take his position among the wealthy, where He could have all the luxuries and conveniences of life. For our sakes He became poor, that we, through His poverty, might become rich. He is our example. We can deny ourselves, and we can do a great deal more of this than we have any idea of.
(Australasian) Union Conference Record
07-28-99
Regarding investment in bonds, I am instructed to say further, that if no voice were raised against this arrangement, if our people should tie up their money in such investment, when it became necessary to call for means for aggressive missionary work, it would be found that there was a greater dearth of means among us than there is now.
Plans may be started that at the beginning seem very promising, but often the foresight would be much more pleasant than the aftersight, were these plans carried out. I have been commissioned to instruct our people to be economical, and always ready to give of their means to the Lord's work.
If you have a thousand dollars to spare, God wants it; it

belongs to him. If you have twenty dollars to spare, God wants it. His vineyard is waiting to be worked.
Advent Review and Sabbath Herald
04-14-03
The Work Before Us
When we learned that we were not going to be able to secure the Sonoma property, an assurance was given to me that a better place was provided for us, where we could have many advantages over our first selection.
($60,000.00). $40,000.00 of this money has been raised, and we hope the balance will soon be forthcoming. Our people see that this property is much better than we hoped to be favored with. It is situated only six miles from the Sanitarium where Dr. Rand is head physician. The leading workers of these two institutions can cooperate in their work to carry forward the work of sanitarium and school solidly.
Manuscript Releases Volume One
Location and Work of Pacific Union College
PG- 340
Brother Wessels writes that he has taken steps to secure the place of seventy acres . . . I pledged one hundred pounds. I have hired the money, paying five percent interest. I know I must pledge to the very extent of my powers in order to keep the donations as large as possible . . . . We have walked out by faith, and we expect to buy this land .--
Letter 190, 1899, pp. 5, 6. (To Sister Gotzian, Nov. 1, 1899.)
Manuscript Releases Volume Three
Concerning Debt
PG- 240
Yesterday afternoon after speaking, I called for a contribution for foreign missions, and nearly one hundred dollars was raised.
This will be sent to Pastor [L. R.] Conradi. He is pushing the work in Europe with all his power, and is opening up new fields. He needs money. I have just given those in charge of the work in Europe permission to use one thousand dollars of the royalty of my books for the payment of translations .--Letter 149,
1902, pp. 3, 4. (To G. B. Starr and wife, September 22, 1902.)
Manuscript Releases Volume Ten
L. R. Conradi
-PG- 64
Contribution day
I must now close this long letter. You will hear from your father soon, and then something definite will be determined. We want Mabel to take right hold here. Ella May is to fill her lot and place. You must both be of good courage in the Lord. Can you tell us how much money was raised upon the contribution day?
Manuscript Releases Volume Fourteen
Ellen White Comments on Finding Water at the Paradise Valley Sanitarium:
A Collection of Source Documents

PG- 266
I have not seen Loma Linda since it first opened. We are to do all we can, and then tell the
Lord to open the way. I think the move we made for Loma Linda was in the right time, and they have had no embarrassment thus far in meeting their obligations . . . the Lord has favored us in the Loma Linda matter, by the hiring of money at five per cent interest and paying in the five thousand before it was due. Two hundred dollars was allowed them on the payments, and there is no reason why the whole can not be raised according to agreement.
But I must be thankful for the advantages we have had; and we will be thankful for these three sanitariums; and the Fernando School is doing good work.
Spalding and Magan Collection
PG- 386