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August 2022
A man came into our bookshop asking to see all the products we have for children. Our salesmen showed him many different resources. He bought them all. He said, “When I was young, I was given an illustrated Bible as a gift at school from the Bible Society. It changed my life and was my real companion. Now I have a 3-year-old child and I want him to start reading the Bible and experience God’s love, like I experienced it many years ago.”
More Bookshops? But Why?
In April 2022, we opened our 18th Bookshop in Manfalout, a city in Upper Egypt. Many wonder just why we would continue opening bookshops when most bookshops around the world are closing! We like to refer to these 18 bookshops as "Ministry Centers," as they are much more than a place to buy books.
These Ministry Centers are the means to reach the wider community with the Good News of God’s Word. The vast majority are yet in need of books and media they can purchase in person, with cash. Situated on busy streets, in the marketplace, our Ministry Centers provide a welcoming and safe space where people from all different backgrounds can come in freely, ask questions and discuss faith. The tangible presence of our bookshops also helps to lift the profile of the Bible in Egypt, further establishing the Bible Society presence in the public sphere of Egypt. Each bookshop is an essential and integrated part of the Bible Work in Egypt which is impacting millions of lives with God’s Word.
Ministry Center in New Capital
We are now dreaming of establishing a new branch in the NEW CAPITAL. This is a city (the size of Singapore) established in the desert near Cairo with a plan to accommodate 6 million residents. By obliging Government Offices, Embassies, and other official entities to move out of crowded downtown Cairo it is hoped that in a few years it will become the new Capital. Here is a link which will give you a feel for this incredible new city and why we want a Bible presence there: Egypt’s New Administrative Capital – YouTube.
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more than 50 shopping malls and plazas. An investor, who insists on having the Bible Society in his shopping center there, has made us an incredible offer of a reduced rate and 4 years to pay. The spot that we are looking at is 60 m² for $500,000.
