Yesterday, Steve Laube asked you to thank those who have the most direct connection with readers of books…the retail bookseller. Steve has Christian retailing in his DNA. He worked for Berean Christian stores, managing their Phoenix, Arizona locations and was named the Christian Booksellers Association Store of the year in 1989. You win that award because you balance the business and ministry sides very well.
Today, I am thankful for the pioneers of the Christian publishing industry. At the founding of every Christian publisher are men and women who had a calling from God to publish books, Bibles and other materials that pointed people to Jesus Christ. If you knew one of these pioneers personally, your life is blessed for it.
I had the privilege of working with one such man, Ken Taylor, who founded Tyndale House Publishers at his kitchen table in 1962. He was also one of the founders of the Christian Booksellers Association in the 1950’s. You can read his biography here (http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2005/juneweb-only/55.0a.html).
My connection to Ken begins with my wife’s parents, who worked for him from the 1960’s through the early 1990’s. Working for Tyndale from the 1990’s until 2006, I was able to speak, work and pray with him. I recall him saying, “If we have time to meet about something, we have time to pray about it.”
As his children, God gives us blessings throughout our lives. Among those gifts are people who are examples of his grace and love. This week I am reminded to be thankful for one of those examples.
What people influenced you?
