Open Door Libraries
It had been a prayer of ours for some time. Thinking of retirement years: what if we could become involved with a mission organization to help in some small way? But what? I wasn’t a preacher; neither of us had mission experience outside a few short-term mission trips. While browsing through the booths at an International Conference on Missions we came to one called Open Door Libraries. We discovered that it was originally the Institute for Christian Resources (ICR), founded by Willard Black (Ozark Christian College), with a goal of getting Bibles and Christian material behind the Iron Curtain. When the Iron Curtain fell Willard’s vision became these libraries, continuing to provide Christian resources, but also providing a presence in these formally Communist countries. People were frustrated with the church, and many would not darken the door for worship, but they would go in a Christian library to explore. The libraries would also provide a friendly environment for missionaries in these countries, a place to study, meet with other supporters, counsel with those considering Christ; as well as a place for ministries to gather. We’d helped organize and run our home church library. We both loved to read. A library mission, interesting, we thought.
Each year at the Missouri Christian Convention, Open Door Libraries had a booth. We’d wander by and talk, but years went by with nothing concrete, and we kind of gave up on this dream. Then one year I stopped to talk to Dan Wiese at the booth. Both he and wife Linda helped on a part-time basis with the newest library in the middle east, a unique location. Our conversation intrigued me. The door swung open again. The next year the Executive Director of ODL was at the booth, Glen Gibson, and he told us they were planning a short-term trip in 2018 to the library in the middle east, led by John and Eileen Richardson. We decided it was time to jump.
That trip led to another the following year with the Richardsons, to see the libraries in Berlin, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic. We found the directors of each library welcoming and with a multi-level ministry in place. The middle east director provided a great experience for us, but we didn’t see a fit there. Berlin and Prague were different. We offered to come as needed and available for extended periods of time. We traveled to Prague in 2021 and spent 6 weeks, the first week being trained by Jim and Laurie Barnes (directors). The other five weeks saw us running the library while they returned to the states to visit supporters, family, and to attend the mission’s conference. Then in 2023 we traveled to Berlin to do similar work for about a month, while Larry and Teri Lewis (directors) came back to the states.
While on these trips, we’ve had free time to do some amazing things. We’ve been to Petra in southern Jordan, riding camels through the valley, sharing tea with Bedouin. We learned the Israelites may have spent considerable time here during their wilderness years. Aaron is buried not far away, and Bedouin believe the rock Moses struck the second time is on the hill of this valley, still producing water. We stood on Mt Nebo and looked out as Moses did to see the Promised Land. We’ve wandered through the crooked streets of old town Prague, viewing ancient architecture, admiring the statue of Jan Hus in the square and learning of his huge influence proceeding the Reformation. We traveled to Karlstejn Castle above the quaint village south of Prague and visited the Bone Church in Kutna Hora. We’ve wandered through the ruins of Kaiser Wilhelm Church in Berlin, where Dietrich Bonhoeffer once spoke, and now a stark reminder of Hitler’s rein and destruction.
That has all been historical icing on the cake. The main thing we’ve experienced is the impact of these libraries on people. Islam rules in the middle east, and atheism rules in Berlin and Prague. But people are people, and as Augustine said many years ago, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee, O Lord.” Souls hungry for reconnection with God can find a ready resource with Open Door Libraries. Augustine also said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” It is eye-opening to experience these different cultures, seeing the common thread we all have: a need for God’s salvation through Jesus, Messiah.
Question: What exposure have you had to mission work? Check out: www.opendoorlibraries.org.
Each year at the Missouri Christian Convention, Open Door Libraries had a booth. We’d wander by and talk, but years went by with nothing concrete, and we kind of gave up on this dream. Then one year I stopped to talk to Dan Wiese at the booth. Both he and wife Linda helped on a part-time basis with the newest library in the middle east, a unique location. Our conversation intrigued me. The door swung open again. The next year the Executive Director of ODL was at the booth, Glen Gibson, and he told us they were planning a short-term trip in 2018 to the library in the middle east, led by John and Eileen Richardson. We decided it was time to jump.
That trip led to another the following year with the Richardsons, to see the libraries in Berlin, Germany and Prague, Czech Republic. We found the directors of each library welcoming and with a multi-level ministry in place. The middle east director provided a great experience for us, but we didn’t see a fit there. Berlin and Prague were different. We offered to come as needed and available for extended periods of time. We traveled to Prague in 2021 and spent 6 weeks, the first week being trained by Jim and Laurie Barnes (directors). The other five weeks saw us running the library while they returned to the states to visit supporters, family, and to attend the mission’s conference. Then in 2023 we traveled to Berlin to do similar work for about a month, while Larry and Teri Lewis (directors) came back to the states.
While on these trips, we’ve had free time to do some amazing things. We’ve been to Petra in southern Jordan, riding camels through the valley, sharing tea with Bedouin. We learned the Israelites may have spent considerable time here during their wilderness years. Aaron is buried not far away, and Bedouin believe the rock Moses struck the second time is on the hill of this valley, still producing water. We stood on Mt Nebo and looked out as Moses did to see the Promised Land. We’ve wandered through the crooked streets of old town Prague, viewing ancient architecture, admiring the statue of Jan Hus in the square and learning of his huge influence proceeding the Reformation. We traveled to Karlstejn Castle above the quaint village south of Prague and visited the Bone Church in Kutna Hora. We’ve wandered through the ruins of Kaiser Wilhelm Church in Berlin, where Dietrich Bonhoeffer once spoke, and now a stark reminder of Hitler’s rein and destruction.
That has all been historical icing on the cake. The main thing we’ve experienced is the impact of these libraries on people. Islam rules in the middle east, and atheism rules in Berlin and Prague. But people are people, and as Augustine said many years ago, “Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee, O Lord.” Souls hungry for reconnection with God can find a ready resource with Open Door Libraries. Augustine also said, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” It is eye-opening to experience these different cultures, seeing the common thread we all have: a need for God’s salvation through Jesus, Messiah.
Question: What exposure have you had to mission work? Check out: www.opendoorlibraries.org.
Posted in Waking Up Eutychus