Found this discussion with a simple Google search yesterday. Our PA church library is losing half its footprint to renovation/reallocation of space this summer. I felt compelled to write a a top ten list of reasons I love the library. Hey, Samuel Sutter at Goshen CRC. You know the COD library. I hope you and your family are well. :)
~Amanda Sigel
1.Symbol- There’s a wide streak of anti-intellectualism running through evangelicalism. That history is traced in Worthen’s Apostles of Reason. The library is a vivid symbol that COD embraces faith without disregarding facts.
2.Information- “Being a Christian doesn’t mean checking your brain at the door. God can handle any question you have.”.- comforting words around the time I’d graduated college and faith became real to me. I’ve searched for and found many answers in COD library books.
3.Parenting- “If you know the Bible, you’ll know how to parent,” a pastor told me once. We’d recently had a baby, and I didn’t know the Bible yet. Parenting books from a biblical perspective. Bingo.
4.Missions- What are these people doing leaving America to tell people what?? Modern missionaries were evidence to me that some are willing to sacrifice a lot, answer the call, share the gospel. I read many missionary biographies and our girls read mission stories through festival contests as they were growing up.
5.Marriage- Listen to who, my husband? A wonderful woman of faith told me the Bible said I was supposed to submit to my husband. What?? I read a few books on Christian marriage.
6.Curated collection- The amount of time and energy the library committee expends selecting, maintaining, displaying, culling, and reviewing materials is remarkable. These ministry minded folks haven’t left the library become a trivial lending spot for Christian romances and kids’ videos, though many people appreciate both those things. The public library has a lot of Christian fiction but not much non-fiction when I’ve searched.
7.Variety- I was told once that because a resource isn’t meaningful to me doesn’t mean it won’t help someone else. A seeker or new believer can find resources tailored to their particular learning style, need, or objection.
8.Deeper dig- believers can move beyond milk to solid food in the library. Exhaustive reference works are available that would be cost-prohibitive for almost any individual.
9.Hard issues- What will pop up if I search homosexuality or gender identity when the electronic card catalog comes back out after the renovation? I don’t know, but I’d be surprised if some of our tweens and teens aren’t (privately) looking for answers. I hope everyone will consider loving Christian perspectives. Drug use, alcoholism, sexual sin and abuse. If a person close to me has a problem, I want to read up… or pull out a devotional book to help me stay focused on God.
10.Prayer- Who claims to be good at it? I read books of/on prayer like diet books. I may never get good at it, but it’s a lifelong aim, and I need a regular kick in the pants.
Posted in: Is There Still a Place for Church Libraries?
Found this discussion with a simple Google search yesterday. Our PA church library is losing half its footprint to renovation/reallocation of space this summer. I felt compelled to write a a top ten list of reasons I love the library. Hey, Samuel Sutter at Goshen CRC. You know the COD library. I hope you and your family are well. :)
~Amanda Sigel
1.Symbol- There’s a wide streak of anti-intellectualism running through evangelicalism. That history is traced in Worthen’s Apostles of Reason. The library is a vivid symbol that COD embraces faith without disregarding facts.
2.Information- “Being a Christian doesn’t mean checking your brain at the door. God can handle any question you have.”.- comforting words around the time I’d graduated college and faith became real to me. I’ve searched for and found many answers in COD library books.
3.Parenting- “If you know the Bible, you’ll know how to parent,” a pastor told me once. We’d recently had a baby, and I didn’t know the Bible yet. Parenting books from a biblical perspective. Bingo.
4.Missions- What are these people doing leaving America to tell people what?? Modern missionaries were evidence to me that some are willing to sacrifice a lot, answer the call, share the gospel. I read many missionary biographies and our girls read mission stories through festival contests as they were growing up.
5.Marriage- Listen to who, my husband? A wonderful woman of faith told me the Bible said I was supposed to submit to my husband. What?? I read a few books on Christian marriage.
6.Curated collection- The amount of time and energy the library committee expends selecting, maintaining, displaying, culling, and reviewing materials is remarkable. These ministry minded folks haven’t left the library become a trivial lending spot for Christian romances and kids’ videos, though many people appreciate both those things. The public library has a lot of Christian fiction but not much non-fiction when I’ve searched.
7.Variety- I was told once that because a resource isn’t meaningful to me doesn’t mean it won’t help someone else. A seeker or new believer can find resources tailored to their particular learning style, need, or objection.
8.Deeper dig- believers can move beyond milk to solid food in the library. Exhaustive reference works are available that would be cost-prohibitive for almost any individual.
9.Hard issues- What will pop up if I search homosexuality or gender identity when the electronic card catalog comes back out after the renovation? I don’t know, but I’d be surprised if some of our tweens and teens aren’t (privately) looking for answers. I hope everyone will consider loving Christian perspectives. Drug use, alcoholism, sexual sin and abuse. If a person close to me has a problem, I want to read up… or pull out a devotional book to help me stay focused on God.
10.Prayer- Who claims to be good at it? I read books of/on prayer like diet books. I may never get good at it, but it’s a lifelong aim, and I need a regular kick in the pants.