Churches with Bible Banks and their stories
The first Bible Bank in Birmingham
The first Bible bank in Birmingham at Court Oak Road Methodist Church Harborne marks a decisive development in the growth of Bible banks. There are already 14 churches with Bible banks mainly in the Black Country. These include Methodist, Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal and the Salvation Army.
The leader of Court Oak Methodist Church, Christine Scott, sums up the significance of this new development when she says, “It is our sincere hope that our Bible bank will be the first of many in the Birmingham area where there is a great need for free Bibles. Bible banks go a long way to meet this need!”
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Quinton Methodist Church, Halesowen
Quinton Methodist Church became the first church in Halesowen to have a Bible bank on the 22nd May 2018. There are already 15 churches with Bible banks, mainly in the Black Country. These include Methodist, Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal and People’s Mission.
The old Quinton Methodist Church was in Birmingham but became part of Halesowen when the boundaries changed. It plays already an important role in the Black Country Food Bank which is so vital for the local communities. A significant number of Bibles have already been given out to newcomers to the church.
If at first you don't succeed..........
First Bible Bank in a Christian Shop/Church in the heart of Dudley
The first Bible bank in a Christian shop/church was installed at Castlegate Church in Birdcage Walk, Dudley on Tuesday morning on 11th September 2018. The manageress of the shop is Pam Pearce (see photo).
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The Testimony of Pam Pearce, manageress of Castlegate church shop:
If At first you don't succeed, pray, pray again!
At the age of 11 years old I went to The Gospel Hall, Smethwick Gospel Hall.
I was privileged to meet Miss Phillips who against her church's wishes, they felt the area was too hard a place for a single lady to go, Miss Phillips stood in obedience to God's will and the church released her with their blessing and prayers.
One year after first attending the Gospel Hall my father died and my mother having young children found it very difficult to cope and attendance at Sunday school sadly came to an end. The memories never left me, the hymns, prayers and Bible readings had a big impact on me.
It was not until the birth of my second daughter that I came to a place of real seeking to know God.
I had a real encounter with the presence of God which drew me back to Sunday school with my two small children. With my encounter with God, I was caught up in the Glory of His presence at the age of 33 years.
Seven years later in Dudley I jumped on a bus to visit my family in Smethwick, sat down and found myself sitting next to Miss Phillips. I had not seen her in 39 years . I was able to share with her that I had become a Christian. Thank God for the power of prayer and persistence in prayer. I was to find out as I spoke with her that she had been praying for the children from Sunday school for 40 years. God is good.
I came to realise that God had given me signs throughout the years and I give thanks for Miss Phillips' prayers.
PAM PEARCE