Kenyan Book Shops:

The ministry of Armstrong Evangelical Bookshop commenced in Kitale, Kenya, in July 1996. Part of a legacy received from the late Margaret Armstrong, a lady who devoted her life to missionary work in Kenya, was used to initially establish the bookshop ministry - hence the name Armstrong Evangelical Bookshop. The Bible Christian Faith Church bookshop committee has overseen this ministry since its inception. Miss Cherry Dale was the first bookshop manager and in 2002 Mrs. Linda Harris took over as manager. Presently, Margaret Russell and Kathy Walker, assisted by 7 members of staff (5 in Kitale and 2 in Makutano) have the responsibility of the day to day running of the shops. The shop in Kitale has had three different locations during its existence. The present site became available in November 2004, and it has proved to be ideal since it is on the main street. A branch bookshop was opened in 1998 in Makutano; during 2009, colportage work began in Kakamega, Western Kenya. A supply of books and Bibles is now available on the streets of Kakamega, but as this work is in its formative stages it does need much prayer. The greatest expense in the running of shops is that of the monthly rental bills. In 2009, the lease on the shop in Kitale was renewed for 5 years at an 100% increase in rent. The shops now pay in total 70,000 Kenyan Shillings, (£583 or $925) per month in rent. This is proving to be a big financial drain on the bookshops resources, but thus far they have been enabled to meet this need through the Bookshop income.

The main vision of the bookshops has been to get the Word of God into the surrounding communities. Therefore the main stock is Bibles – both in English and Kiswahili, with a smaller stock in tribal languages (Luhya, Kalenjin, Kikikuyu, Kisii, Kamba, Teso, Luo) – hymnbooks, and books on a variety of Biblical topics. The shops do sell stationery and crafts and offer services such as photocopying, laminating, and book-binding to increase the cash flow and work towards making the shops self-sufficient. The unique stand of the shops in stocking only faithful Bible translations and sound literature brings both saved and unsaved customers from near and far and from various backgrounds. Some folks come in asking for the Authorized Version of the Bible which is difficult to find elsewhere. Recently, a practicing Hindu visited the shop, asking for a Bible in Hindustani (which we were able to obtain through Mr. George McConnell). Roman Catholics come and buy books regularly, and one Seventh Day Adventist pastor is a regular customer when he is in the area (he lives six hours away in Nairobi). Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses also come in from time to time – some to debate with the staff and some to look at the literature exposing the falsehoods of their cults, but a few do actually buy books. One young man in particular recently converted to the Jehovah’s Witness cult and subsequently came into the bookshop, where he accepted literature and promised to return after he had read it.

Pray for the development of the bookshop ministry – for expansion of the colportage work into other towns and villages; for more branch shops to be opened; for ongoing translation work – the Pokot hymnal has recently been reprinted, as well as a new translation of Pilgrim’s Progress into Kiswahili. One of the great needs is an accurate translation of the Bible into Pokot, which is the mother tongue of the majority of the population where the bookshops are located. The only translation that exists at present has been made from the Good News Bible and cannot be recommended as an accurate translation..

Pray also for the ongoing financial need of the bookshop ministry. This ministry is greatly indebted to the substantial help that comes from the Free Presbyterian Church in Ulster in the form of regular consignments of Bibles and books to help stock the shelves. Yet there are still always needs, and we look to the Lord to provide in this material way.

Most of all, pray for the spiritual success of this ministry – both through the opportunities for witnessing that often open up to the bookshop staff, and through the printed material itself. God promises that His Word will not return unto Him void, and we may therefore expect that great fruit will be borne for His glory.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17