Counsels in this volume, written by Ellen G. White to members of the Seventh-day Adventist church, were penned while Mrs. White was living in Australia.
Arranged in topical order, volume 6 expands upon the lines of instruction provided in earlier volumes. During the years covered by this volume, Mrs. White was actively involved in founding an Adventist College in Avondale, Australia. With its rural setting, emphasis on the industrial program, and other features, Avondale became-in many respects-a "pattern" school for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As a result, instruction penned to mold this school covers many details of about location, finance, curriculum, discipline, and administration that would benefit schools around the world.
The Adventist church in Australia was also growing during that time, and Ellen White took an active part in furthering that work (including preaching). During the times of this volume, Adventist became increasingly mission minded. In a greater way than before, they saw the whole world as a field of labor. In addition to firing the imaginations of young and old alike, the building and launching of the mission boat, "Pitcairn," in California in 1890 focused attention on the importance of a round-the-world mission program. Reports of the Pitcairn voyages, as it pioneered the mission work in the South Sea Islands, were eagerly read by all.
During this eventful time, colporteurs and other missionaries took the work to India, Africa, and South America as well. Additional colleges, worker training schools, and publishing houses also sprang up around the world. As the work in Battle Creek, Michigan continued to grow, warnings were issued against the tendency to centralize the work in large denominational centers. During this time, steps were taken to better organize the administration of the Adventist Church through the set-up of union conferences. In time, a pattern was set-up which would be followed throughout the denomination.
Reminders about the importance of healthful living, together with counsel for medical missionary workers, are also found in this volume. In addition to these counsel, Ellen White also wrote "Patriarchs and Prophets," "Steps to Christ," "Gospel Workers," Christian Education," "Christ Our Saviour," "The Desire of Ages," "Christ's Object Lessons," and "Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing" during this time. The addition of volume 6 to the growing series of Testimonies for the Church deeply impressed Seventh-day Adventists with the direct way in which God continued to lead and guide His people.