Ellen White taught that the administration of health food stores must prioritize gospel outreach while maintaining strict financial integrity, stating that "this work must be carried forward as a means of gospel enlightenment to those who have not given themselves to the Lord" (
HFM 89.1). She emphasized that these institutions should be managed with such care that they serve as a spiritual blessing rather than merely a commercial venture. Regarding financial management, she was very clear that "all our restaurants are to be so conducted that there will not be an accumulation of debt" (
HFM 67). If a business begins to accumulate debt, even if it has many customers, she advised that "there needs to be a careful, thorough investigation of the business, and such changes should be made as will put it on a paying basis" (
HFM 67).
She maintained that a health food institution "should not be maintained at a continual financial loss" (
HFM 67). The character of the administrator is also vital to the success of the store. Ellen White wrote that the person "placed in charge of the food business should be a careful, economical man, who will move forward steadily and yet carefully, binding off the edges, and making sure that the business is producing as well as consuming" (
HFM 60). This careful management ensures that the work remains sustainable and does not become a financial burden. Furthermore, administrators must guard against the temptation to prioritize profit over principle. She warned that this line of work can become "altogether too absorbing" and that "there may be brought into it too much business and too little principle" (
HFM 62.1).
The business should not become a "speculative business, in which a few shall receive large personal profits" (
HFM 73.1). Instead, the spirit of selfish monopoly must not enter into this work,but managers should strive to "help the people to get healthful foods freely and at moderate prices" (
HFM 56.2). In practice, this means that every aspect of the administration—from pricing to personnel—should be handled with the recognition that the health food business is "God's gift to His people" (
HFM 56.2).
Administrators are encouraged to seek daily the counsel of the One who created food for the five thousand hungry mento ensure that "all corrupting influences" are weeded out of the work (
HFM 89.1). --- 💡 **You might also want to explore:**
• What is the specific spiritual purpose of hygienic restaurants in large cities?
• How did Ellen White define the spirit of selfish monopolyin institutional work?
• What practical steps did she recommend when an institution faces financial loss? --- 📚 **hundreds of passages found** containing these search terms — [Explore in Full-Text Search](/advanced-search?q=Administration+of+a+health+food+store)
