We become uninvolved when we give all or resources to someone far away and have no good report on its expenditure and the blessings it has developed. The problem with the church is inactivity and this form of transference of stewardship aids in creating a spirit on noninvolvement just as does preacher gazing form the pew. There should be no pew warmers in the church we should all be active by keeping money on hand allowing us to be a missionary when opportunity provides itself.

And if we are only to give to the conference even when money is being misused, where did Jesus himself obtain offerings from to support Himself and the little church? Was He to return this money to the church leaders? If so why didn't He?

If we see a failure in regular lines of tithing to spread the gospel and we don't address it by using the money where it will receive its greatest return we are unwise. If we continue to support those in error they will think we don't care. How are we to bring about a change? The greatest statement that can be made is giving the money where it is producing the greatest results!

The book In Search of the Storehouse by G. Edward Reid, which was sent by the President of the Arkansas, Louisiana Conference to its members during the Christmas season of 1998 is unbalanced and untrue. From the very beginning he states that the purpose of the book is to determine where the store house is but this could not be his purpose for his first quote on defining the storehouse (page 2) is form the Working Policy of the North American Division in which he then seeks to defend this statement which I quote "It is recognized that the local conference level of denominational organization is the ''storehouse' to which all tithe should be sent and from which the gospel ministry is supported." His purpose then is to prove that the storehouse is the local conference level and tithe should be given to it no matter what mistakes are made. If he would have had another purpose such as determining where the storehouse is he would not have begun with an uninspired counsel and sought to defend it.

Maybe he would have begun with this quote. "Some men or councils may say, 'That is just what we wish you to do. The Conference Committee will take your capital, and will appropriate it for this very object.' But the Lord has made us individually his stewards. We Each hold a solemn responsibility to invest this means ourselves. A portion it is right to place in the treasury to advance the general interests of the work; but the steward of means will not be guiltless before God, unless, so far as he is able to do this, he shall use that means as circumstances shall reveal the necessity. We should be ready to help the suffering, and to set in operation plans to advance the truth in various ways. It is not in the province of the Conference or Any Other Organization to relieve us of this stewardship. If you lack wisdom, go to God; ask him for yourself, then work with an eye single to his glory." Report of Special Meeting, BC page 45, PH146

"While it is not your own property that you are handling yet you are made responsible for its wise investment, for its use or abuse . God does not lay upon you the burden of asking the Conference or any council of men whether you shall use your means as you see fit to advance the work of God in destitute towns and cities, and impoverished localities. Special Instruction Relating to the Review and Herald Office and the Work in Battle Creek PG-42, PR-2, BC

"Age after age Jesus has been delivering his goods to his church. At the time of the first advent of Christ to our world, the men who composed the Sanhedrin exercised their authority in controlling men according to their will. If men's wills were always submerged into God's will, this would be safe; but when men are separated from God, and their own wisdom is made a controlling power, the souls for whom Christ has given his life to free from the bondage of Satan, are brought under bondage to him in another form. For this reason it is not safe to allow men to control our conscience in regards to how to distribute the tithe we alone are held accountable." Ibid

Do we individually realize our true position, that as God's hired servants we are not to bargain away our stewardship; but that before the heavenly universe we are to administer the truth committed to us by God? Our own hearts are to be sanctified, our hands are to have something to impart as occasion demands, of the income that God entrusts to us. The humblest of us have been entrusted with talents, and made agents for God, using our gifts for his name's glory. It is the duty of every one to realize his own responsibility, and to see that his talents are turned to advantage as a gift that he must return, having done his best to improve it. He who improves his talents to the best of his ability, may present his offering to God as a consecrated gift, that will be as fragrant incense before him, a savor of life unto life.

What does Ellen White say will happen if we don't protest to misuse of funds?

" Letone wrong deed be practiced and approved, andthe second and third will follow in the same line of fraudulent deception." Therefore the only rational truth that can be understood from this statement is that we must address the first misuse of funds and if we allow them to continue we participate in fraud. Test. Fair Dealings and Book Royalties PG 29

Here's a much narrower quote that could have been used in defining God's storehouse. "There are only two places in the world where we can deposit our treasures----in God's storehouse or in Satan's and all that is not devoted to Christ's service is counted on Satan's side and goes to strengthen his cause." Testimonies vol. 6, 448

Here we find only two storehouses. Therefore if we give our tithe to God outside the regular channel of the conference will it reach God? Let us see what an inspired writer has said. There are ministers' wives, Sisters Starr, Haskell, Wilson and Robinson, who have been devoted, earnest, whole-souled workers, giving Bible readings and praying with families, helping along by personal efforts just as successfully as their husbands. These women give their whole time, and are told that they receive nothing for their labors because their husbands receive their wages. I tell them to go forward and all such decisions shall be reversed. The Word says, "The laborer is worthy of his hire." When any such decision as this is made, I will in the name of the Lord, protest. I will feel it in my duty to create a fund from my tithe money, to pay these women who are accomplishing just as essential work as the ministers are doing, and this tithe I will reserve for work in the same line as that of the ministers, hunting for souls, fishing for souls. I know that the faithful women should be paid wages proportionate to the pay received by ministers. They carry the burden of souls, and should not be treated unjustly. These sisters are giving their time to educating those newly come to the faith, and hire their own work done, and pay those who work for them. All these things must be adjusted and set in order , and justice be done to all. Proof-readers in the office receive their wages, two dollars and a half and three dollars a week. This I have had to pay, and others have to pay. But ministers' wives, who carry a tremendous responsibility, devoting their entire time, have nothing for their labor. This will give you an idea of how matters are in this conference. There are seventy-five souls organized into a church, who are paying their tithe into the conference, and as a saving plan it has been deemed essential to let these poor souls labor for nothing! But this does not trouble me, for I will not allow it to go thus. Spalding and Magan collection PG 117

What can we infer from this reading? Not taking it lightly if anyone is a soul-winner be he a pastors wife or an unnoticed church member. If he has devoted his life to working for God and it is revealed that God is with him by blessing his labors he is worthy of his hire. He or she should be paid and that with tithe. Let as Ellen has stated "justice be done to all." Is it unjust to say we cannot give to those outside the regular conference lines that are winning souls? It is not only unjust before God who sees all but the exercise of a forceful spirit of compulsion, which destroys Christian liberty.

Let us examine the history of a church school in Adventism that was not owned by the conference to determine if it is unjust to tell members they cannot give outside the regular lines. "Some have entertained the idea that because the school at Madison is not owned by a conference organization, those who are in charge of the school should not be permitted to call upon our people for the means that is greatly needed to carry on their work. This idea needs to be corrected. In the distribution of the money that comes into the Lord's treasury, you are entitled to a portion just as verily as are those connected with other needy enterprises that are carried forward in harmony with the Lord's instruction." Here we see the unjust behavior of leaders telling church members not to give outside the conference."

" The Lord Jesus will one day call to account those who would so tie your hands that it is almost impossible for you to move in harmony with the Lord's biddings. ''The silver and the gold is mine, saith the Lord, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.' " Spalding-Magam's Unpublished Manuscripts Testimonies of Ellen G. White, pg156.

We find that not only is it unjust to say we cannot give to those outside the regular lines but that God will call to account those who have hindered his work with the evil spirit of stopping others from working and responding to his call to "beseech the Lord……to send laborers into the harvest for the harvest is great but the workers are few." At God's own words does he won't us to hinder laborers from entering into the harvest, God forbid.

What did Jesus say when the disciples tried to stop a man from working for him? "Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part." Mark 9:39-40. When the conference suggest (from page 24) tithe should be given only to "the ministry" and "no para-church ministries" and that "there was only one ministry" and this limited solely to the conference they are tying up men's hands making them unable to work.

What did Jesus say were better to happen to those who offend the man who was working for God when John said, " We forbade him because he followeth us not." Verse 38. which is the same as we forbade him to work and receive wages because he wasn't under the "Conference Umbrella." Jesus said "And whoever shall offend one of these little ones (referring to the unknown worker in verse 38) that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, an he were cast into the sea." Verse 42. Do we respect the seriousness of Christ words, then let us not utter a word against a fellow worker who is worthy of his hire and let us not tie his hands for Jesus said it would be better if a millstone were tied about our neck and we drown than to force someone from the ministry.

Why then do we find the conference and its leaders promoting such a forceful, unChristlike book? Because we are still seeking great things for ourselves at the expense of others, at the expense of souls being saved, and at the expense of the loss of Gospel workers. Because were thinking of ourselves, of our love of position instead of how to render back to God the stewardship due His Holy Name. If our first love were zeal for God's glory we wouldn't dare hinder a fellow worker and posses such a selfish exclusive spirit and make a statement such as found on page 24 "that there was only one ministry" and that one ministry is only the conference. I ask the question if there is only one ministry and that is only the conference then who was Ellen White giving to when she gave her tithe and counseled others to give it outside the conference? I prefer to let Ellen herself answer and I repeat the quote " There are only two places in the world where we can deposit our treasures in God's storehouse or Satan's." Would the promoters of this book have us to believe then that Ellen gave her money to the Devil since it was not given to the conference? God forbid! Is there not room in our Father's house for all to find a place to work?

We find that "he who feels most deeply his need of divine aid will plead for it; and the Holy Spirit will give unto him glimpses of Jesus that will strengthen and uplift his soul. From communion with Christ he will go forth to work for those who are perishing in their sins. He is anointed for his mission; and he succeeds where many of the learned and intellectually wise would fail." D.O.A.436. Shall we not support this little one who will succeed where many of the learned leaders from seminaries and the theologians would fail, God forbid!