There has come to our attention a very real need that would make a worthy project for the ministerial students in North America to sponsor. Ever since the war our educational work in many overseas fields has been functioning under serious handicaps. The many young men who have wished to complete their education have had to do so under great odds. Little or no help has been extended by the respective governments, such as our GI pro vision here in the States, and with postwar financial conditions tragically unstable, our fellow ministerial students are having to secure their training at great personal sacrifice.
Some recent reports to this office indicate that many young men are often hard pressed to meet all their financial obligations. One illustration of their need is the fact that in several of the schools in Europe school is dismissed one clay a week, and this day is set aside as Canvassing Day, when the students mount their bicycles and canvass to assist in completing the financial requirements for their tuition and much-needed clothing.
There are at least ten schools at the present time where a large number of young men in upper division training for the ministry are hungry to read every page of English literature that the denomination provides. English is rap idly becoming the official Seventh-day Advent- ist language. A reading knowledge of English is practically the only way in which many workers and students in overseas fields can secure the inspiration and blessing of the complete set of the Spirit of prophecy volumes and our official denominational papers, since progress has been quite restricted in the translation work. These young men in ministerial training- desire to understand our organization and to become oriented in denominational action. They sense the need of worldwide fellowship. Many have expressed a keen desire to receive and .read THE MINISTRY magazine, the receiving of which would perhaps be one of the most helpful ways of achieving this end.
Our appeal is simply this: We have observed that, although there are many students in our North American colleges who are having difficulty in financing their education and caring for their family and other responsibilities, yet never have our college dormitories been so filled with young men and women who have as much to spend as during the past few years. It is very true that costs have risen. But when we count our many blessings, it might be that many would be impressed to donate one or more subscriptions to THE MINISTRY for these fellow students overseas.
We are here placing the matter before you. No doubt each theological seminar can assist in sponsoring the project. The cost is $1.35 each for overseas student subscriptions.
We would like to have the names of the donors, so that there might be some contact made with these overseas students that may result in lifelong friendships that will be mutually helpful. Take your contributions to your Bible department dean, or send them directly to THE MINISTRY, Editorial Office, Takoma Park 12, D.C., and kindly designate "Fellow ship Gift Subscription."
