Fellowship Hall

Rewarding new life for discarded Christian books

Five thousand hungry people sat on a hillside along the shore of Lake Galilee, watching in wonder as Jesus served a feast for all from just five small loaves of bread and two fish. If feeding the multitude was not miraculous enough, the crowd continued to watch in amazement as the disciples collected 12 baskets of leftovers. 

Rev. Eldon Thompson, newly appointed director of Hamilton-based Christian Salvage Mission, would love to have witnessed that event, for each day he and his volunteers feel they experience the reality of that gospel story.

“We simply gather up the fragments so they will not be wasted,” says Rev. Thompson. Christian Salvage Mission collects and re-distributes items that Christians no longer require, such as pastoral and teaching materials found in churches and homes, Bibles, commentaries, children’s school books, Sunday school curriculum, CDs, cassettes and most recently the addition of medical and dental books. “There is such a need in Third World countries for these resources. Most people can neither obtain them nor afford them.”

Rev. Eldon Thompson

After volunteers review and sort the literature for quality and contents, it is packaged and sent overseas in the most efficient manner - small parcels for individuals, large mailbags for churches or organizations, and huge shipping containers for communities, multiple churches or organizations. Shipments usually go to India, the Philippines or African nations where English is widely spoken.

Upon reaching its destination, distribution to missionaries, pastors, teachers and students of all ages begins. Rev. Thompson explains, “These items become tools to be used by individuals and churches. They cannot do an effective job in their ministries without them. There is a saying that the pen is more powerful than the sword. These are written words that are tremendously valuable in the battle for people’s lives and well-being.”

Pastor Orlando Olano of Brampton testifies to the importance of the ministry. “When I was in Bible College in the Philippines, I was hungry for information that would help me grow spiritually and then to share that knowledge with others. A missionary handed me some books, which I could not afford.

Inside was the Christian Salvage Mission stamp. I saw that it was of good quality. It was such a joy and blessing to receive. It was like receiving a Christmas gift. The books became treasures to me.”

Years later, Pastor Olano arrived in Canada and partnered with Christian Salvage Mission. He often travels back to the Philippines, and has had the opportunity to see recipients’ faces light up with joy as they receive items that are often taken for granted or discarded in Canada. “Reference books and commentaries, Sunday school curriculum and pastoral materials have longevity; they are still useful more than 20 years later.”  He knows that just one item can make a difference in more than one person’s life, and often can benefit an entire community – a further example of the miracle of multiplication using leftover resources.

Pastor Andy Busa, engaged in mission work in Hamilton, recalls the time he travelled to the Philippines and Taiwan. He handed a set of pastoral devotional and reference books to a church leader. “He was a little teary-eyed, very thankful and grateful. You could tell that he would cherish this gift and use it properly.” Pastor Andy explains, “Most of the pastors we visited in the Philippines and Taiwan are bi-vocational and cannot afford or obtain such items. These resources are often used to not only teach, but they are also used to build small libraries.”

Christian Salvage Mission volunteers receive many letters of gratitude from those working in overseas ministry. Story after story speaks of gratitude and answered prayers.

Reverend Glenn and Sandy Wilton, missionaries with Africa Inland Mission, wrote about a young pastor who had to share a NIV Study Bible. When they were able to provide him with one of his own  “He jumped off the porch clutching the Bible to his heart, dancing around the yard singing and praising God.”

Ngun Lain Thang of Talan, Union of Myanmar received books for his seminary and wrote “The day they arrived we were so happy and prayed for your ministries! From now on we hope, through your help, that we will be more informed in this doctrine which our people need direly.”

To keep the momentum of joy going, Christian Salvage Ministries actively seeks partners among evangelical mission organizations serving in English-speaking nations. They also willingly provide materials for missionaries on furlough and short-term missionaries who are willing to pack something extra in their luggage to aid spiritual leaders around the world.

It’s hard to believe that the once tiny mission that started from Reverend Lorne Redinger’s garage in Beamsville, has grown to occupy a small, but busy warehouse in Hamilton. In the last few years the ministry has seen its shipment volume increase by more than 30-percent, causing a greater need for volunteers and donations also.

Starting with a journey to Africa later this year, Rev. Thompson’s goal is to establish even more field contacts and encourage those in ministry – people such as Suman from Nellor, India who wrote, “ It is my personal prayer that those in Canada who provided my books will be blessed abundantly.”

Reverend Eldon encourages churches and individual Christians to continue in their support by not letting our resources and time waste away, when it can be multiplied in God’s economy. “ No matter how small your giving is, it always counts largely with God. So, bless others. It is bound to make a difference.”
For more information on Christian Salvage Mission visit www.csmcanada.org, e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or phone: 905-574-3334.

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