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CHICAGO— Soaring gas prices, a national housing
crisis, corporate downsizes, and record job losses
are telltale signs of an economic downswing. Yet, despite
all the dismal reports of recession, Bibles for Missions
Thrift Centers across the country are raising millions
to help provide hope through God’s Word to thousands
of Bible-less people.
Bibles for
Missions Thrift Centers is a volunteer-based initiative comprised of 13 different
thrift centers that sell used clothing, household items, and other donated goods.
The profits from the sales of each store help fund Bible League ministry worldwide.
From Georgia to Minnesota, each thrift center is fully staffed by faithful volunteers.
Last
year, the thrift centers provided nearly $1.5 million
to provide Scriptures and training throughout 10 countries
where Bible League has ministry. This year the thrift
centers have already raised more than $1 million and
expect to surpass $1.5 million in contributions to
Bible League ministry. “We praise God for His
blessings and favor,” says Dan Rinzema, president
of Bibles for Missions Thrift Centers. “With
today’s economic environment, it’s nothing
but God at work in the hearts of customers and volunteers
who give when they really don’t have to.”
At
a thrift center in Highland, Ind., one customer went
the extra mile when it came to giving. She loaded a
shopping cart full of items and filled the surrounding
area with so much merchandise she had to get another
shopping cart to hold everything she was purchasing.
She had so many items she went across the street to
a nearby café to eat lunch, while volunteers
rang up her merchandise. When she returned from lunch,
her bill was $1,400. “After completing the transaction,
the woman took a $100 bill from her purse and handed
it to a volunteer—telling him it was for anything
else the store needed, like light bulbs or repairs,” says
John Scafe, national director for Bibles for Missions
Thrift Centers. “That is just one of the countless
stories of customers going above and beyond to help
provide God’s life-transforming Word through
Bible League ministry.”
The
first Bibles for Missions Thrift Center opened in Holland,
Mich. in 1992. Since that time, more than $16 million
has been raised to support Bible League ministry. Each
thrift center has a local committee that adopts a specific
country where Bible League has ministry, and all net
profits help fund strategic Scripture placement and
training in that particular region. Currently, the
thrift centers raise funds for Bulgaria, China, Colombia,
Ecuador, Haiti, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines,
and Ukraine. |
To send Bibles around the world, click
here.
Give of your time at your nearest thrift center to help raise Bibles.
Find
out where and how.
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Local thrift centers help spread Gospel worldwide