International Resources
Perhaps the most unique and creative strategy of ICR in the past decade has been the establishment of public Christian Libraries. There are three reasons these have been effective.
- This library/coffee shop atmosphere allows individuals a non-threatening, ‘neutral’ atmosphere to investigate Christianity. In the countries where our resource centers are located, churches are generally small and believers are few. Moreover, in former communist countries and places where Christian literature is limited or scarce, our libraries can fill a void by presenting Christ in intellectually significant and culturally appropriate ways.
- Our Resource Centers are venues for training Christian leaders. Resource specialists offer their expertise to instruct local leaders and nationals in such disciplines as biblical studies, apologetics, Christian counseling, finances, world religions, family issues, spousal and child abuse. Students receive practical application of Bible resources for everyday life.
- These Resource Centers are meeting places. One example is the library in Budapest, Hungary. One group that gathers weekly includes The Creation Club, a meeting of university professors who believe God created the heavens and the earth. Another example is the Children’s Story hour in Prague where local children come to hear stories in English and learn about the love of Jesus. Musical concerts as well as art shows are offered at “Berlin Connections.” We provide seminars and other events to which Christians can invite their non-believing friends. This opens the path to introducing Jesus as Savior.
An outgrowth of the Budapest Christian Library is the Book Warehousing and Distribution Ministry headed up by former library directors Andy and Phyllis Anderson. Seeing the impact library resources have had throughout the many countries touched by the Budapest Christian Library, the Andersons built relationships with various ministries, organizations, and individuals that provide on the one side a steady stream of excellent resources and on the other, distribution channels in many different countries. This enables others to put those resources into the hands of pre-Christians and Christians alike, allowing us to have an impact throughout countries where libraries are not yet established. At the time of this writing, resources have been placed in 5 different locations throughout Hungary and in eight additional countries.
Unlike the U.S. where “information overload” abounds, books are highly valued and the pass along rate is very high in the former Soviet-bloc countries and their neighbors, making this another creative and strategic approach to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.