Australia—Bibles for Missions op shop placed 70,500 Bibles for Africa

Placing Bibles for Africa
Bible League’s Bibles for Missions opportunity shop in Asquith has reached the half a million dollar mark—which helped place more than 70,500 Bibles for Africa since the store’s opening in 1998.

There is an urgent need for Bibles in Africa with an estimated 20,000 Africans becoming Christians every day. Statistics show that at least 200 million African Christians don’t have a Bible.

By selling good quality, second-hand goods, each $7 raised by the op shop provides a Bible, supplied by Bible League, in the heart language of a new Christian in Africa.

“We are happy to be involved and grateful with the support we’ve been given from the community,” says Arie Baalbergen, who has been managing the Asquith op shop together with his wife Ditta for the past nine and a half years.

“The philosophy of the Bibles for Missions op shop is that if we can sell it, we’ll accept it—that’s what makes us interesting. We also have a free pick up service.”

The shop sells hundreds of trash turned treasure items including furniture, sewing machines, a variety of clothing, glassware, kitchenware, toys, games and collector items.

Ministering to the locals
Sarene Sietsma, one of the 15 Bibles for Missions volunteers who help out in the shop, said the op shop has a good reputation among the people of Sydney.

“Our customers were local people to begin with but now have people visiting from all over Sydney,” Sarene said. “We have dealers who come here and re-sell the items on EBay. There is even a local resident who buys items to be used on a home renovation TV show.”

Sarene’s husband, Arie Sietsma, who also volunteers in the store, said they enjoy being able to assist people in need.

“I can see how much help it has been for people in a difficult family situation,” Arie said. “They can come in here and refurbish their house—something they couldn’t normally afford.

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