Ministry pegs Le Mars as possible center for Bibles for Missions

Connie Menning, a volunteer at Bibles for Missions Thrift Center, in Orange City, helps Beth De Leeuw, also a volunteer, at the checkout. Le Mars may be the site for a sister Bibles for Missions store, which gives all proceeds from sales to buy Bibles for people overseas. An informational meeting is planned at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 8 at the Holiday Inn Express in Le Mars. [Click to enlarge]

Bibles for Missions Thrift Center ministries would like to open a store in Le Mars to help convert merchandise into Scriptures.

The store's profits would be used to purchase Bibles for people overseas.

"We accept donations from the local community which are tax deductible," said Jessica Bruinsma, volunteer coordinator for the Bibles for Missions Thrift Center ministries. "Then we sell those donations to the local community at very affordable prices."

Currently Bibles for Missions Thrift Center ministries operates 13 stores throughout the United States with the closest being in Orange City.

Bringing a Bibles for Missions Thrift Center to Le Mars is in the very early stages. The first step is to discover if there is local interest. It takes at least 50 volunteers to operate a store, she said.

"What I'm looking to do is to assess volunteer support in Le Mars," Bruinsma said. "I have sent a letter out to churches inviting people to an informational meeting."

Anyone interested is encouraged to attend the gathering at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 8 at the Holiday Inn Express, 1258 Sleepy Eye Dr., in Le Mars.

If a Bibles for Missions Thrift Center came to Le Mars, volunteers' schedules would dictate the store's hours of operation. Volunteers would also choose the country to support.

Profits from the Bibles for Missions Thrift Centers are sent to the Bible League, a global organization that has placed Bibles in more than 65 countries.

But the Bibles are not just handed out to anyone, they are given to people who have exhibited a desire to learn about God, Bruinsma said.

"We ensure people who are receiving these Bibles are really interested," she said. "We invite them to a Bible study and the first thing they go through is the book of John."

After six lessons, participants receive a hardcover copy of the Bible.

In some places the people are so poor that even the pastors don't have Bibles, Bruinsma said.

"We really consider ourselves to be a triple blessing," Bruinsma said of the mission. "No. 1, we sell really affordable goods to the community especially in such hard economic times."

The ministry also gives Bibles to people who may have never heard of God or seen a Bible, and provides churches with opportunities for members to do mission work from their hometowns, Bruinsma said.

In Orange City, the Bibles for Missions Thrift Center will celebrate its one-year anniversary in August. It is supported by 65 volunteers ages 8 to 90, Bruinsma said.

"We have not been here a long time, but we have been incredibly successful," she said. "We have something for everyone here."

Bruinsma said the Orange City store has generated about $25,000 to purchase Bibles for Haiti residents.

"The Lord has really blessed our effort," Bruinsma said. "And the work we are doing here is really for the glory of His kingdom."

Helen Soodsma, a volunteer at the Orange City store, said she enjoys working for the well-

run, bright, clean store because it's for a very good cause.

"I think it's awesome," Soodsma said. "I think the community has responded very well. We get people from all over. They just like to shop here."

Bruinsma thinks Le Mars would be a good spot for a Bibles for Missions Thrift Center not only because of its location along Highway 75, but also on the recommendation from volunteers at the Orange City site.

"We seem to have success in a smaller community versus a larger city," Bruinsma said. "Each store kind of has its own flavor."