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August 25, 2004 Editorial:
So Much Work to be Done!
Larry Kirkpatrick
And GreatControversy.org is steadily stretching out to do its part. Our purpose is to live and give the Third Angel’s Message, and with reference to this ministry, to facilitate others doing the same. Since 1997 we have operated the website on the internet. That makes us one of the great grandpas. In internet time, that long is forever! We took the name GreatControversy.org in 1999. As we travel through the halls of ripening 2004, still we are working.
In order to continue to improve the site, and to continue to publish significant materials, it has been necessary to expand and to parcel out responsibilities and to increase our group of writers. The whole ministry staff are active laypeople or pastors employed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We volunteer our energies because we know there is a gap in the Adventist world and some must stand in the gap at this time.
We have some very exciting projects which we will begin to share with you on the website shortly. The thing we need most, is time. But no one can send us that. Another thing we need is your financial support. We are in the process of becoming a recognized charitable organization. We are now recognized as a non-profit religious corporation.
Since we are talking about money and donations, we want to make clear our policy and our rationale.
Our purposes are clear and our work is time-tested. We are a known quantity, an established ministry. Our work is both evangelism and edification (we also operate outreach websites). Our policy is not to solicit or accept tithe. We understand that some have strong convictions concerning the tithes and donations they make, and that some are very disappointed with certain trends they have seen in the Church. We cannot be conscience for you, but we can share our own convictions. We believe that directing tithe to entities other than the organized Seventh-day Adventist Church creates a stumbling-block situation with many of the brethren, and could hinder their reception of the message we want to share. Thus we reccommend to all the practice of returning your tithe through the local Seventh-day Adventist church of which you are a member.
Remember, Paul could have been paid out of the holy tithe but instead chose to operate as a tent-making ministry so as to avoid impressions that might hinder those he would minister to.
We believe that if you pray that God will direct your tithes through the Church to those who are faithful within the ministry, He is big enough to do that.
We have projects ahead and even in-process which will require considerable sums of money, but we request that you give offerings to this ministry only with reference to the degree in which it has blessed you. This is a powerful time to be living. Look at what is happening even right now. God is at work. Some who dispute the authentic Seventh-day Adventist message are now, of their own free will, standing up and walking out of the Church. And taking their preferred music and methods with them. While this is sorrowful on many levels, it is also evident that God is purifying His people. The shaking continues.
Friends, please pray for our little group. This we covet most of all. To do the work Heaven has called us to, we must have wisdom and spiritual clarity. God grant this to us all, is our prayer.
Pr. Larry Kirkpatrick, President GreatControversy.org
