There have been a number of delays in the planned building of an extension to the bookshop in Karachi. The current problem is that building permission cannot be granted by the local authorities until the freehold on the property (owned by the Salvation Army) is extended. The Salvation Army approved of our extension plans some time ago but obviously they need to be pro-active in allowing this project to move forward. Please pray for all parties concerned – the owners of the leasehold, the Salvation Army leadership in Pakistan and ELS Pakistan.
Due to financial restraints that we had not anticipated, we are in the process of subletting our Brossard bookshop and warehouse. The implications are significant, having to move the stock to our other three bookshops and relocate the administration, but in order to reduce expenses, it is a necessary step. Please pray for a suitable tenant and the best timing for all concerned.
We are looking for ways to improve our bookshop service, as more customers prefer to order via the Internet. Visiting a Christian bookshop should be a blessing, and an experience that can be as good, if not better, than an Internet browse. Please pray that we will find ways to improve our services in terms of the shop appearance and also the welcome and information our staff offer.
On November 21st there will be a reading and book signing event in the Hamburg bookshop with Swiss author Damaris Kofmehl and her husband Demitri Betts who has a quite extraordinary testimony. This artistic couple run a ministry called New Chance International and connect in particular with the younger generation. Valentin Schweigler and the shop team have invited many young people for this event – pray that it will be well attended and that people who think Christianity is not for them might think again!
21 Fri. Barbados – Good Books Bought
Thank the Lord for the customer who testified of the change in her daughter’s attitude after she gave her a copy of 101 Words that Matter Most for Teens published by Christian Art. We are also encouraged that My Prayer Book continues to be one of our bestsellers, as customers see the value of prayer in these difficult times.
22-23 Sat/Sun. UK – CLC World
“At the time of writing, I am about to send the newest edition of the CLC World magazine to the printers. In order to be wiser with both our workload and resources, we have made the decision to once again include the Prayer Focus, which will become a quarterly prayer diary, into our CLC World magazine. We trust and pray that this will be appreciated and useful in keeping people better informed about what is happening in CLC around the world.” Amanda Lutes, CLC World Editor
24 Mon. USA – Busy Days
“Please pray for the CLC retail teams in the Philadelphia area on Friday 28th and Saturday 29th of November, as these two days follow the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA and they are two of the busiest days prior to Christmas. We want to serve well even when it is hectic in the stores. We will be having a major sale on both of those days.” Dave Almack, USA Director
25 Tue. Philippines – Praise Point
Praise God for a good turnover at the recent 35th Manila International Book Fair. Huge crowds gathered and the CLC booths, six of them, were always full of people. Despite bad weather on one day, with heavy rain and flooding, sales exceeded those of the previous year. During the fair we had three book signing sessions, released a new CLC title, Transforming Households, by a local author and one church ordered 500 copies of the new title!
26 Wed. CA2 – The Team’s Work
Please pray for our team in this central Asian country in the National Director’s absence. Pray that they would have wisdom in running the bookshop and in planning Christmasbook tables and events. We have also been blessed with a few textbook orders from some government offices. Please pray for continued favor and orders from others who hear about us.
27 Thu. Romania – Shop Future
We need to consider the future of the CLC bookshop in Timisoara (a large city in western Romania and over 300km from the main CLC bookshop in Brasov). Sales are not increasing and the shop, as it is now, is no longer sustainable. We need to look at possible options, including a change of location, and ask for prayer for God’s wisdom and guidance in decision making.
28 Fri. USA – Fellowship Gathering
Please pray for CLC USA as they will be holding their next ‘Fellowship Gathering’ on Monday, December 1st. This is an important time for the whole team to enjoy a meal together, have fun and fellowship and prepare for the next few weeks of the busy Christmas season.
29-30 Sat/Sun UK – Gifts that bring Life
As we supply items for Christmas book tables in churches, whether it is our church partners or CLC colleagues who actually look after the sales, pray that the items bought for friends and family members who are not yet in a living relationship with the Lord, will be used to bring them closer to Him.