International (MNN) ― Shipping rate increases in the United States have hit many ministries that are dependent on shipping resources hard.
Christian Resources International's Fred Palmerton says they're surviving because of the "Bare Your Bookshelf" program launched prior to the changes. "What we are able to send out here has been reduced by about two-thirds because the increased costs tripled."
While the rising shipping costs were a concern, Palmerton says his team is encouraged by BYB respondents. "The average Christian is being very innovative, and they're involving friends and Sunday School classes. So we're still able to answer the requests that come in."
CRI gets 50 letters a month from those in need of Christian materials. It's a perfect opportunity to jump into missions. "If they want to get involved in overseas missions and can't travel, go to "Bare Your Bookshelf" and get involved with overseas missions. We are average Christians doing God's work."
Explains Palmerton, more than 122,000 people become Christians daily, and most of those people are in Africa, Asia, and South America. They're attending churches where few people, including the pastors, have Bibles.
For those who want to get involved, it's fairly easy. Send them your name, address, and denomination, and they'll send all the mailing materials needed to send Bibles and Christian books to a specific pastor, Christian worker, church member, or seeker overseas.
"We'll even send you the actual request letter so you can get to know and pray for the recipient by name," says Palmerton. Letters like these and the subsequent thank you notes help connect donor to recipient, making the impact of the gift more real.
Click here if you want to help.
