Alabama’s Book-Link ministry provides used Christian resources, specifically books, commentaries and other such materials, to Christians in developing countries.
The Alabama Book-Link ministry is a year-old offshoot of a national Book-Link ministry with headquarters in Eubank, Ky. Emily Filipi of Wetumpka, an educator and member of Thelma Baptist Church, got involved with Book-Link several years ago after hearing about it during conferences at LifeWay conference centers Glorieta and Ridgecrest.
“I’m a recycler by nature so I got excited about the idea of resources that people collect or just throw away being reused,” Filipi said. She went to Eubank to work for a week in the ministry.
Now serving on the Book-Link board of directors, Filipi travels to Eubank three to four times a year to help in the ministry, which entails sorting, cataloging, boxing and shipping materials.
Three regional Book-Link distribution points have been established in Alabama in Fayette, Atmore and Andalusia. The ministries are administered through Escambia and Fayette Baptist associations. The Andalusia distribution point has only recently been established.
In 2003 Alabamians shipped 58 boxes of materials, weighing 30 pounds each, through the Atmore site, according to Evelyn Andrews, director. Most boxes were sent to national pastors in Africa.
Book-Link, which has distribution points in four states including Alabama, is an outgrowth of Books for the World, a ministry founded by the late Owen Cooper, former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is now a missions project of the National Fellowship of Baptist Educators and has supplied resources to Christians in 67 countries.
Although supplies go to some missionaries, most resources go to Christian nationals in countries where paper and money are scarce or English is the primary or secondary language. Recipients are selected or endorsed by the International Mission Board for assistance.
Andrews, whose husband Pat is director of missions for Escambia Association, became involved with Book-Link while they were serving Pensacola Bay Association in Florida. She, too, made a trek to Kentucky with three other Woman’s Missionary Union women to help out there.
The Atmore distribution point is located at Presley Street Baptist Church, which has made several rooms available for collecting and packaging resources.
Before materials are sent out they must be catalogued and weighed, according to Andrews. Most needed for distribution are Bibles, Bible commentaries, Bible dictionaries and study course books as well as music and hymnals.
Although some old Sunday School literature can be put to use, Andrews said there is already a backlog of such materials.
When materials cannot be used overseas, however, she has been able to serve local churches with the used resources. For example, Andrews said the distribution point was able to furnish an Alabama church with a whole set of donated hymnals.
Volunteers, including some WMU groups, help serve the distribution points. Andrews herself works at the site weekly, stamping and cataloging materials.
In addition to providing used materials, donors also are asked to supply shipping costs at about $1 per pound.
Share with others: