Pioneer Segment

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Stephen Nelson Haskell began preaching for First-day Adventists in 1853, but the same year, after reading a tract on the Sabbath, he became a Sabbath keeper at the age of 20. Following some years in self-supporting work in New England, he was ordained in 1870 and became president of the New England Conference, serving from 1870 to 1887. While in that position, he served also as president of the California Conference from 1879 - 1887, and of the Maine Conference from 1884-1886. In 1869, while young Stephen Haskell was directing the New England mission, a group of women met in his home and organized the Vigilant Missionary Society. He organized the first conference Tract and Missionary Society soon afterward; it became the forerunner of Adventist Book Centers today. This should not be surprising, for a tract on the Sabbath had brought him into the church. In 1880 he originated what would be known as the Bible reading plan, following Ellen White's instruction to do more teaching and less preaching. It was a success from the beginning.

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This Story has been taken from Legacy of Light

Haskell accompanied James and Ellen White on several speaking tours. He was a member of the General Conference Committee in the mid-1870s, working closely with them. He led out in the establishment of South Lancaster Academy, later known as Atlantic Union College (1882), and wrote several important books on the sanctuary and Bible prophecy. In 1875 Haskell heard Ellen White relate her vision of January 3, at the dedication of Battle Creek College, when she said that the angel had mentioned Australia in connection with future publishing efforts. The experience inspired him, and ten years later he led a group of workers to Australia and New Zealand, pioneering the mission work there. Haskell made a world tour on behalf of missionary work in 1889–1890, visiting Europe, South Africa, India, China, Japan, and Australia. He taught Bible at Avondale College (1896-1899) in Australia while Ellen White was there. "I rejoiced that I had the help of Brother and Sister Haskell, " wrote Ellen White. "These God appointed to be my companions in establishing the school in this place. " --Letter 77, 1897.

In the 1850s Haskell had advocated certain extreme dietary views. He also urged that pork should be excluded from the diet. Nearly five years before her

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Stephen & Hetty Haskell

major health vision of 1863, Ellen White wrote to him, on October 21, 1858, cautioning him against afflicting his body by depriving himself of nourishing food. Regarding the eating of pork, she made this interesting observation: "I saw that your views concerning swine's flesh would prove no injury to you if you have them to yourselves, but in your judgment and opinion you have made this question a test, and your actions have plainly shown your faith in this matter. " Then she used the situation to make an important point: "If it is the duty of the church to abstain from swine's flesh, God will discover it to more than two or three. He will teach His church their duty. God is leading out a people, not a few separate individuals here and there, one believing this thing, another that. " --Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 206. In a few short years, the timing was right for the church to move together on the importance of health reform. Ellen White wrote more letters to Haskell than to any other church leader. Their ministries spanned much the same time period, beginning for him at age 20, and she at age 17. They often shared the same concerns. She lived to age 87, and he to 90. At the time of her death, the only picture in Ellen White's bedroom of a non-family member was one of Stephen Haskell.

EGW Estate Branch Office

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Master Guides from various

public universities and colleges in Nairobi, Kenya visited the EGW Branch Office

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Adventist Heritage

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Church Members from Dandora SDA District in Nairobi, Kenya during their visit to the Ellen White Estate Branch Office and the African Adventist Heritage Museum

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SID: Helderberg College Cape Town, South Africa clarkec@hbc.ac.za ECD: University of Eastern Africa - Baraton Eldoret, Kenya egwrc@ueab.ac.ke

WAD: Babcock University Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria egwsdarc@babcock.edu.ng