India (MNN) — A new partnership will help make Christian literature available to more people in India. International Bible Society/Send the Light has partnered with Operation Mobilization India Books to produce Christian literature to be sold in bookstores in India.
OM India Books has been established in India for 20 years and has experienced growth. The merger will help them work together, with OM India Books doing commercial sales and IBS/STL
doing translation and outreach.
"India is economically exploding today and the standard of living has gone up so
high," said PLN Murty of IBS/STL. In the past, Christian resources were offered to people for free. By asking Christians to pay for at least the cost price of the books now, "they will have the sense of ownership and have books of their own."
They currently have 20 retail stores in India, but the plan is to have 50 in the coming years. Murty believes Christian persecution won't be a problem for the type of
store they are envisioning. "The bookstores are open for everyone, not just for Christians alone. The idea is to have non-Christian community walk in and browse through the books of their liking and take them. It helps in evangelism because they purchase it at their own free will," said Murty.
India has many more than 25 major languages. By producing Christian literature in their own languages instead of English, Christianity can be seen as more than just a Western religion. This makes evangelism more possible. "It's for the purpose of evangelism and discipleship so that we can provide God's Word to churches in their own
areas at an affordable price. People not only read them in English but in the local languages," said Murty.
Indian editions of Christian literature are cost-effective as well. They are producing all sorts of Bibles as well as dictionaries.
