Search the Writings of Ellen G. White: www.whiteestate.org

Among the pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church was a young woman; her name was Ellen G. Harmon. She was born in Portland, Maine in 1827. She accepted Jesus and got converted at age 11, and was baptized in the Methodist Church at age 12. When she was 13 years old, together with her family, she heard and accepted William Miller’s message about the Second Coming of Christ. William Miller was preaching about the Second Coming of Christ, but made the mistake to set a date for this event. The date set for the Second Coming was October 22, 1844; many Christians were disappointed when the day arrived and Jesus did not come. This day became known as the Great Disappointment.

After the Great Disappointment, Ellen, her family, and many others who believed in the Second Coming of Jesus (known as Millerites) were disfellowshipped and thrown out of their churches. At the age of 17, as a teenager, Ellen received her first vision, there she saw the Adventist Church going from the Great Disappointment to the Entrance of Heaven at the Second Coming. Ellen married James White, another pioneer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and together they worked very hard and were used by God as they helped to form the new Seventh-day Adventist Church. For the following 70 years, she became the modern prophet and the most influential pioneer and leader of the newly-born and developing Church. She wrote over 25,000,000 words, dozens of books, and 4,500 articles.

The youth and young adults of the Greater New York Conference accept her counsel, knowing as she said herself; it is the minor light that guides us to the Greater Light, which is the Bible. The fact that God used her to be a major influence in the birth, development, and present of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church inspires us with the hope that God will use and give great influence to youth and young adults to share in the leading of the church and finish the work of giving out the Good News of Salvation from Sin and the Blessed Hope of the Second Coming with the millions of New York City and the rest of the world.

The youth and young adults of the Greater New York Conference do not appreciate, endorse or approve the misuse or the use of the Ellen G. White writings out of context. The misuse of her writings by well-meaning individuals in their zeal, ill meaning individuals in their quest to force their personal points of view on the rest of the church, or by others who have not read her publications and lack knowledge of her writings has brought reproach to our church, confusion among outsiders, and disillusion and discouragement to many youth and young adults in the church.

This is the reason why the youth and young adults of Greater New York Conference believe in the Gift of Prophesy, as manifested in the life and writings of Ellen G. White, accept her writings, as the lesser light that guides the individual to the greater light, which is the Bible, and use her council in context for the building, growth, and development of the church in the Capital of the World.

The Holy Spirit has worked and used people through the years to build and develop the Kingdom of God and His Church, here on earth. The Holy Spirit is not dead and still works today, seeking to use those who allow themselves to be used by God till Jesus comes for the Second Time. There is no evidence in Scripture that God ever intends to withdraw the prophetic gift or any of the other gifts before the Second Coming (1 Corinthians13:8-12). The prophecy of Joel 2:28-32 also mentioned by Peter (Acts 2:16-21) foretells an end-time outpouring of the Holy Spirit with great spiritual gifts activity.

As we read about giants of the faith and some of our pioneers, keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is the one who gives gifts and does not discriminate; gifts are given to children, teens, young adults, and adults of all colors, nationalities, and ethnicities. Also keep in mind that there are many gifts given to the members of the body of Christ, the Church. Without all of the gifts working together the church cannot be edified. Just like the Holy Spirit used others in the past, He can use you today, only if you allow Him to work through you.