Our Lord Jesus Christ

"He said to them, Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his store room new treasures as well as old.’" (Matthew 13:52).

"Books are a minister’s treasure. While there is no substitute for the Bible, the Book of books, there are innumerable helps which shine light on the words, history, characters and themes of that unique volume. Each such help has a place in instructing the modern-day scribe in the limitless glories of every aspect of the kingdom of heaven. Pastors ought to be continual learners."

The late Bishop Dr. Festo Kivengere of Uganda observed: "The crying need for understanding the Scriptures, and the very limited means to meet it, is often sad to witness; and so often, the thirsty soul turns to muddy water to quench its thirst . . "

"None can commune with the great minds of theology without catching a portion of their energy, and learning somewhat of their art. Melancthon, Calvin, Owen and Edwards are companions who will teach a man to think and strengthen him to preach."

To avoid a long line of people seeking counselling, expose your members to good Christian literature, or else you will suffer stress, and probably will not achieve your goal. ACTS is made for such a purpose. Come and see for yourself and advise your members accordingly.

"Let no Christian among us neglect the means provided for obtaining a fuller knowledge of the gospel of Christ."

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Richard Baxter

It is not the reading of many books which is necessary to make a man wise or good, but the well-reading of a few, could he be sure to have the best.

Heinrich Bitzer

"The more a theologian detaches himself from the basic Hebrew and Greek text of Holy Scripture, the more he detaches himself from the source of real theology! And real theology is the foundation of a fruitful and blessed ministry."

Dr. John Piper, Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

"Hebrews 11 is a divine mandate to read Christian biography. The unmistakable implication of the chapter is that if we hear about the faith of our forefathers (and mothers), we will "lay aside every weight and sin" and "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (Heb 12:1). Biographies have served as much as any other human force in my life to resist the inertia of mediocrity. Without them I tend to forget what joy there is in relentless God-besotted labor and aspiration." Rev. Dr. John Stott, Rector Emeritus, All Souls, Langham Place, London

"An hour a day is the absolute minimum time for study which even the busiest pastors should be able to achieve. . . Many will achieve more. But the minimum would amount to this: every day at least one hour; every week one morning, afternoon or evening; every month a full day; every year a week."Dr John Piper, Senior Pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis

"There is so much soul-refreshing, heart-deepening, mind-enlarging truth to be had from great books! Your people will know if you are walking with the giants (as Warren Wiersbe says) or watching television. . . I can think of no better way to begin an early morning season of prayer than to mingle Scripture with a fifteen or twenty minute taste of Jonathan Edwards’ Religious Affections, or Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, or Sibbes’ Bruised Reed, or Baxter’s Saint’s Everlasting Rest, or Boston’s Fourfold State, or Burrough’s Christian Contentment, or Ryle’s Holiness, or Bridges’ Christian Ministry, or Brook’s Precious Remedies, or Flavel’s Method of Grace. It is amazing how many pastors, immersed in contemporary reading on management and leadership and church growth, don’t even know such treasures for the soul exist."

Jonathan Edwards

No light in the understanding is good which does not produce holy affection in the heart.

Harvie Conn

The mission of God is our concern; the global mission of the church is our life."

George Verwer

(From the introduction to his Literature Evangelism. George Verwer is the founder of Operation Mobilisation - a ministry which in the last 45 years has distributed over 1,000 million pieces of Christian literature.)

When I was a sixteen-year-old student, I received through the post a Gospel of John from a lady who believed God answers prayer and who believed in the power of the printed page. For two years I read that little booklet regularly until, at a Billy Graham evangelistic meeting in New York City, I was born again. The day following my conversion I began to evangelize with literature and personal testimony and I have continued to do so ever since.

Dr Donald Coggan

(former Archbishop of Canterbury, in his book Convictions)

We need a flood of literature which incorporates Christian insights and the Christian philosophy of life. To dedicate your life to this is to wield about the sharpest weapon for good for God that any man or woman can handle.

Gerry Davey

(quotations from his chapter on "Literature in Missions and Church Development", in Global Passion, ed. David Greenlee, Carlisle: Authentic Media, 2003, p. 146, 148, 150.)

Older believers are tempted to plateau out and fail to respond to oportinities or challenges in later life, but they can draw encouragement to press on from realistic biographies. God has probably used biographies more than any other single means to call missionaries into his service.

The kind of seed we sow now will determine the kind of harvest we reap in five, ten or twenty years' time. If we publish superficial literature, we will reap superficial Christians. If our material is sloppy and not thoughtfully rigorous, its readers will tend to be careless and easy prey for cults and sects.

A point sometimes overlooked is that literature can help all other kinds of ministry to be more effective. After forty years of involvement with books, I have come to the conclusion that there is no form of Christian ministry that cannot be strengthened, complemented, stimulated or enhanced by the use of relevant literature.

Dr. Samuel Zwemer

The printed page is indeed a missionary that can go anywhere and do so at minimum cost. It enters closed lands and reaches all strata of society. It does not grow weary. It needs no furlough. It lives longer than any missionary. It never gets ill. It penetrates through the mind to the heart and conscience. It has and is producing results everywhere. It has often lain dormant yet retained its life and blossomed years later.

Thomas à Kempis

If he shall not lose his reward who gives a cup of cold water to his thirsty neighbours, what will not be the reward of those who by putting good books into the hands of their neighbours, open them to the fountain of eternal life?

* QUOTABLE QUOTES * from ACTS Warehouse Grand Opening Speeches 26 Aug 2006:

* His Excellency, President Olusegun Obasanjo, sent a Goodwill Message (delivered by Anglican Bishop of Jos, Rt. Rev. Dr. Benjamin Kwashi). Among other comments, the Nigerian President said: "I want to thank the Board of Trustees of Africa Christian Textbooks for this wonderful project of having the international Headquarters of ACTS on our own soil. . . I am made to understand that your Headquarters would serve as a conducive environment to train Christian writers and publishers. It is my hope to be your guest at this repository of knowledge in the not-too-distant future. My prayer is that the place would be put to full use for which it is meant for the glory of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit."

* Rev. Dr. Pandang Yamsat, President of Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) brought a powerful message from a text in Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowldege." Dr Yamsat warned Nigerian Christians not to reject the knowledge of the Word of God. Then he went on: "Thanks be to God for the vision ACTS has regarding the Word of God . . . You have been called to be a party to a place where men of God will devote their time and expertise to helping Nigerian Christians know the relationship between the word of God and their political, business, academic and social life so that they would serve God from a knowledgeable position."

* Professor Samuel Waje Kunhiyop, Provost of ECWA Theological Seminary, Jos: "ACTS is the best thing that has happened to the African continent in theological education. Those with financial resources, invest for eternity now. I endorse this worthy project. I think it was done for me and I thank you."

* Professor Danny McCain, Chairman of ACTS, spoke of the wonderful achievements of John Wesley, and then asked: "Do you know that John Wesley was converted while reading a book?" He said this was a day to remember some of our difficulties (not all our debtors have paid their bills), and our blessings (we have put hundreds of thousands of books into the hands of students, pastors and church leaders). He challenged the audience: "We are asking you (1) to enourage a culture of reading, (2) to buy books, and (3) to consider ACTS your own. We do not want ACTS to be viewed as some foreign-owned project. Will you join us in making these commitments to build the body of Christ through literature?"