First Sabbath Offering—Sabbath, April 5, 2014
“The great work of parents and teachers is character building—seeking to restore the image of Christ in those placed under their care. A knowledge of the sciences sinks into insignificance beside this great aim; but all true education may be made to help in the development of a righteous character. The formation of character is the work of a lifetime, and it is for eternity.”—Counsels to Parents, Teachers and Students, p. 61.
“A character formed after the divine likeness is the only treasure that a man can take from this world to the next.”—The Youth’s Instructor, August, 17, 1899.
The Central American Union is a church organization set up by a number of small countries located in the center of the American continent. This Union has put much effort in the educational field. During recent years, the education objective has been to teach our children and youth in our own schools. It has been a hard work, but the Lord has blessed us with excellent results and many people brought in contact with our educational work are interested in the gospel message.
We know that the command is: educate, educate, educate! However, our economic resources are not enough to continue this work. Our hearts are burdened at this thought. How can we let our children and youth receive a worldly education, become discouraged, and then fall prey to the enemy’s devices? We have a great desire to continue this work, but we need your help.
For this reason we are appealing to all our brothers and sisters around the world to help us in this great work. For this First Sabbath Offering, please remember those children and youth of the Central American Union Conference. We thank you in advance and leave you with the following words from the pen of inspiration:
“In the highest sense the work of education and the work of redemption are one—for in education, as in redemption, ‘other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ’ (1 Corinthians 3:11).”—Counsels for the Church, p. 202.
Your brethren and sisters from the Central American Union