CLC USA Update: Fall 2020

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Dear friends,

What a joy it is to know the Lord and to rest in Him during times of difficulty!

1 Peter 1:8-9 says “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” Praise God! He is trustworthy and true!

Most of you, like us, have been praying not only for relief from COVID-19, but that God would use this period of history to draw people to himself all over the world.

Friends – we see this happening! God is at work!

As the virus picked up steam back in March and April, most of our bookstores around the world had to close their doors for a time, including our stores in the USA. Some of them, like Panama, for example, are still closed in September! Yikes! Please pray for them. As the restrictions ramped up, our teams were praying and looking for ways to serve in the midst of the crisis – after all, we have the Word of Life to distribute! What a beautiful counterpoint to offer in the face of fear and anxiety over death!

We are so happy to tell you about some of the ways that the Lord is answering our prayers here in the USA, and we saw a surge in demand for our Bibles, especially foreign-language Bibles. It was “all hands on deck” in our shipping department as we all pitched in to get books and Bibles packaged and shipped out in a timely way.

“Great quality! This made a wonderful gift for a Vietnamese friend I’m witnessing to,” wrote one customer.

“This was a great gift for a friend from Thailand who is converting from Buddhism to Christianity,” wrote another.

Our online Bible sales have more than doubled, with over 7,000 packages shipped out since February, and we ask you to pray with us that each one will be read and that God will open spiritually blind eyes to see His glorious Gospel!

Many of you have donated to CLC to support our missionaries, a Bible project, or toward the greatest need at the time. Thank you! We’ve been able to send funds to assist in several countries where the crisis has it difficult to even pay salaries or rent. We believe that your giving to this ministry is well-used for God’s kingdom! Would you ask the Lord if He would have you increase your giving in one of these areas? You can give online here.

Would you like to hear what Sharon Jones came up with to help families in Peru through the quarantine? How you can pray for our team in Thailand? What it was like for our team in Korea at the height of the pandemic? Click here to read the latest issue of CLC World magazine! You’ll find prayer requests for each day and informative articles about the ministry of CLC.

Revelation 21: 4 & 5 says “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Be encouraged! These words are trustworthy, true, and they have been written down! Its now our joy to be able to pass out these words to those who need to hear them. Thank you for praying and for giving to help accomplish this!

Joyfully,

Jim Pitman

BookLink Program Update

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Booklink Logo

CLC has made the difficult decision (at least for now) to close down most of our BookLink program as it has been hard for us to find ways to send books overseas. We will continue to accept donations of good quality used Bibles and Bible Reference books.

We have sent many 20’ containers of books and Bibles over the years into places like India, Papua New Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, but shipping regulations, rising shipping costs, and the pandemic have meant that hundreds of boxes of books and Bibles have been filling up our warehouse instead of getting into the hands of those who can use them overseas. These books and Bibles have often provided the difference in making Christian literature available in underserved countries and regions. We thank God for allowing us to be your partners in making sure that your valuable used books and Bibles could be sent out to make a difference in someone else’s life. And thank you for trusting us with this important job over the last years!

All’s not lost!

We are happy to let you know that we have made arrangements with our good friends at Love Packages to make sure that the books and Bibles that have been stacking up in our warehouse WILL GET SENT OVERSEAS!!!

Thousands of books ready to be shipped overseas!

We have 14 pallets of books that are ready to go to them. Please join us in praying that God will use these books in the lives of thousands of people.

But wait? What am I going to do with my used books now?

Bibles and Bible reference books like commentaries and Bible dictionaries can still be dropped off at our headquarters in Fort Washington, PA.

All other Christian books can be shipped to Love Packages at one of their two locations:

  1. 220 Union St – Butler, IL 62015
  2. 60-D South Mountain Dr – Decatur, AL 35603

Is there still a need for shipping funds?

Yes! We will continue to ship Bibles and Bible reference books as we have funds available. We have a current need for about $2000 for a shipment to an Asian country. Please consider making a donation today!

DONATE NOW

Don’t Lose Heart: A Message from Jill Briscoe

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Please be encouraged by very timely video message for these days from one of our authors, Jill Briscoe. Watch more content from Jill and Stuart Briscoe at Telling the Truth.

Learn more about Jill Briscoe

Jesus and COVID-19: An Easter Message from Fred Hartley

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Fred Hartley, pastor of Lilburn Alliance Church in Atlanta, GA, and author of The Seven Wounds of Christ, shared a powerful and timely message this Easter Sunday. Listen now and be encouraged.

Learn more about Fred Hartley

Easter is not canceled!

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With all of the disruptions to our normal routines this month, we’d forgive you if you’re not 100% sure what day of the week it is,  but don’t lose sight of the fact that one of the most significant days of the year is fast approaching. We hope you’ll take time leading up to Easter to remember the Resurrection. We’ve compiled a list of resources to help you turn your attention from all of the uncertainties of today and focus on the certainty of our salvation through Christ’s work on the cross.

 

The Seven Wounds of Christ 9781619582583
The Seven Wounds of Christ by Fred A. Hartley III

“Fred Hartley forces us to examine the wounds of our Savior, knowing that as we face Jesus’ unimaginable pain we also find His unimaginable love.”  Mike Scales, President Nyack College 

 

Victory in Christ Charles Trumbull

Victory in Christ by Charles Trumbull

“In this down-to-earth, practical book, Trumbull reveals insights into the full reality of our victory in Christ, who has acheived by the power of His work on the cross, the freedom that every believer desires.”  (From the back of the book)

 


Broken People Transforming Grace:  The Gospel’s Message of Saving Love  by Roy Hession

From the author:  “I urge you in your own hour of need to look again, not to some new or deeper or more complicated formula for victory, but to the ancient place of sacrifice, Calvary’s cross.”  

 


Colossians:  True Life in Christ by Guy H. King

“Are you really living IN Christ?  Have you experienced the true life He offers?  In this chapter-by-chapter study of the epistle to the Colossians, Guy King emphasizes the theme of full salvation and shows us Paul’s heart for the Christians in Colosse, that they might receive every blessing God has for them.”   (From the back of the book)   

 

Do you know someone who would appreciate one of these titles as a gift? Order today, and we will gladly ship it directly to them. And don’t forget, all orders of $25 or more ship FREE through April 5th. 

Run for Cover (Book Recommendation)

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We have heard a lot of people referencing Psalm 91 recently, and we thought, “Hey, we’ve got a book about that!”  Run for Cover by Rhea Briscoe delves deeply into this frequently-quoted Bible passage about God’s protection. Consider picking up a copy of this resource from CLC Publications for coping with these present days while developing spiritual benefits for the future.

 

“Psalm 91 is a reassuring picture of God’s divine protection promised to those who run to Him for cover.  It offers a source of comfort and security for people today.  It’s a psalm about God being our refuge and our shelter.  It highlights the assurance of His protection and the safety that can be found in His Presence.”  Rhea Briscoe author of Run for Cover

 

Run for Cover 9781619582231At times, we run from relationship to relationship in search of something real, something deeper.  Run for Cover uses Psalm 91 to teach that what we seek, true intimacy, can only be found in the presence of God.  First-time author and widely sought-after speaker Rhea Briscoe, takes readers through the psalm, highlighting each symbol and metaphor and includes compelling real-life narrative.  Run for Cover asserts that the best place to grow closer to God and find shelter from the trials of this world is in the safest place—in the presence and protection of God.

Purchase Run for Cover by Rhea Briscoe – Now on sale for only $8!

 

Books On Loving Better

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It’s Valentine’s Day, and thoughts turn to love.

But as Christians, our thoughts and prayers are often filled with love.  Prayers for forgiveness when we fail to love as we ought. Prayers for God’s equipping to help us love the unlovable.  Prayers of heartfelt thanks for the saving love of Christ in our lives—and of heartfelt desire for the unsaved to experience it.  

Here are four CLC publications that focus on the love of God, written by authors whose hearts were filled with it, but who were painfully aware that they needed even more of it.  Consider giving yourself a gift this Valentine’s Day, one that will help you love better throughout the year. 

  • If:  This small book with an even smaller title is Amy Carmichael’s challenge to practice Calvary love.  “I have felt these words scorching to write, but it is borne upon me that, in spite of all our hymns and prayers (so many of them for love), it is possible to be content with the shallows of love, if indeed such shallows should be called love at all.”  Heart-hitting.

  • The Unfair Advantage:  “If the faith stream of your marriage roars like raging rapids, then everyone around you will be strengthened by the authentic way that you and your spouse love and interact with one another.”  Dr. Harold Arnold, Jr. instructs the reader on how to apply the gift of God’s grace to make marriage work.

  • Song of Songs:  Watchman Nee explores the love relationship between the believer and the Lord in this commentary that walks the reader through the spiritual stages of initial love, faltering love, growing love, transforming love, and mature love using the poetic imagery of the Song of Solomon.

  • Too Amazing to Keep to Yourself:  A practical guide in carrying out the work assigned by the Lord Jesus—“the work of telling others the Good News about God’s wonderful kindness and love”  (Acts 20:24). Author Ken Wilson reminds readers to “Grab hold of God’s promise that He has poured out His love into your heart by the Holy Spirit. Allow that love to flow from you into the edges of your world.”