Immanuel Christian Bookshop: A place of hope and life in Bethlehem

Immanuel Christian Bookshop is a place of hope and life in Bethlehem. Based in a Moslem area, Rema gives away Bibles to those who come in enquiring about faith. The bookshop is a story of God's faithfulness amidst hardship and so Paul Calvert spoke with Rema to find out more.

Paul: How long has the Christian bookshop been open?

Rema: Five years; it's the first Christian bookshop in all of the West Bank. It was started about 12 years ago as a vision; we were a prayer chain and the Lord gave us a vision to have a Christian bookshop in Bethlehem. Years ago when they built the wall around Bethlehem, we saw that the people are in need to know the Christian faith so this is the vision come true. The Lord showed us that this was the time to open the Christian bookshop so the people can know and come and take free Bibles and free books, so this is how it all began.

Paul: How big is the Christian community in Bethlehem?

Rema: It is about 1% to 1.5%, but it used to be 75%. Many of the Christians left because of all the problems.

Paul: Your shop is in a Moslem area. Is it accepted by the Moslem community?

Rema: No it's not. We don't have any difficulties, but they don't accept us.

Paul: Do many Moslems come and visit the shop?

Rema: Yes, they want to know about our faith, so we give them free Bibles. They read them and return back and ask us questions, so we give them only Jesus. We are selling books, but most of them go as free Bibles. We give out free Bibles so that people can know Jesus and accept him as their Lord and Saviour. We don't just want to sell books but we want to give people Jesus here too; Moslems, Christians, everybody.

Paul: Are many Moslems actually getting saved through this?

Rema: Maybe about 20.

Paul: Are many Christians here just Christians in name only and don't really know their faith?

Rema: Yes they feel that if they are just living beside the Nativity Church then they are Christians, but they do not know their faith. They are not reading their Bibles, even if they are going to church. The work is to teach the people here.

Paul: Is it easy to get Christian books into Bethlehem?