CONTACT: Gretchen M. Jameson, Corporate Communications

Phone: 636.795.6707 

e-mail: gretchen.jameson@cph.org

Summary:   Concordia Publishing House sends 900 children’s Bibles through the Appalachian Mission Partnership, a ministry of the Ohio District of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to share the Good News with children in West Virginia.

Saint Louis, MO (February, 2010)—Concordia Publishing House (CPH), the publishing ministry for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), is devoted to sharing the Good News of Jesus and so are its customers. With more than 900 children’s Bibles donated, the company announced today the “overwhelming success” of its 2009 “simply CHRISTmas” giving campaign. The campaign, which operated under the banner of Concordia Gospel Outreach, invited customers to contribute $5 gifts to provide copies of the new Hear Me Read Bible to children in West Virginia.  The donated books will be distributed by the Appalachian Mission Partnership (AMP), a ministry of the (LCMS) Ohio district.

“Our target goal for this effort was to donate 500 story Bibles,” shares Gretchen M. Jameson, Director of Public Relations for CPH. “The campaign just couldn’t be stopped at Christmas. To date, we’ve topped the 900-mark, and we continue to receive e-mails each week from Sunday School classes, mom’s groups, and individuals who want to get involved. We give thanks to God for our customers and their commitment to support these children.”

AMP works with locally-based teams to proclaim the Gospel in communities throughout Appalachia. “Throughout August, AMP will distribute the books directly to children,” Jameson says. “It is exciting social ministry and evangelistic work. This particular resource meets specific needs to support language development and inspire confidence in young readers, while more importantly connecting children with the love of Jesus.”

Dr. Bruce G. Kintz, President and CEO for the Saint Louis-based publisher shares, “truly heartfelt gratitude to the hundreds of CPH customers involved with this year’s annual campaign.” Kintz says, “We know that our customers are deeply connected to our mission in the Church, and that is especially evident when they have the opportunity to be involved in this type of servant-giving.”

The Hear Me Read Bible is a collection of the acclaimed Hear Me Read Series written by Dr. Mary Manz Simon and will be available for purchase at www.cph.org in the early summer of 2010. Hear Me Read is a recognized children’s line that specifically supports language development and literacy. 

“What wonderful news that the campaign exceeded the target goal,” shares Dr. Manz Simon. “I am thrilled that next summer, hundreds of young children will have the opportunity to develop literacy skills and grow spiritually.”

According to data available from the Ohio district, of the 1.7 million people living in Appalachia, close to 1 million have no religious affiliation. “In Appalachia, traditional issues for this region such as widespread poverty and dispersed populations have impacted mission work,” says Pastor Kevin Wilson. Wilson serves as Mission & Ministry Facilitator for the Ohio district and will oversee the distribution. 

He adds, “Human care ministry is very important to mission work here. When mission teams serve local communities, they model God’s grace in Christ. Hear Me Read Bible Stories  will allow the teams to do this by providing gifts with no strings attached, demonstrate God’s love through caring for children and share God’s grace through the content of the books.”

Manz Simon says, “Outreach campaigns often feature distant lands, but generous givers have obviously recognized a mission field outside our own front door.”

For more information about Concordia Gospel Outreach, the evangelism ministry of Concordia Publishing House, and to donate to other campaigns that provide Gospel resources to meet specific needs, visit www.concordiaoutreach.org.

Links:

Social Media Release: http://pitch.pe/48268

Concordia Publishing House: http://www.cph.org

Concordia Gospel Outreach: http://www.concordiaoutreach.org

The Appalachian Mission Project: http://bit.ly/32Tqvu

Dr. Mary Manz Simon: http://www.marymanzsimon.com

CPH Media Room: http://cph.mediaroom.com/

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod: http://www.lcms.org

Concordia Publishing House is a not-for-profit publishing company and the publisher of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The company offers more than 8,000 products for use in Christian congregations, schools, and homes. Visit CPH on the Web at http://www.cph.org.

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