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By Andrea Dujardin-Flexhaug
LIFESONG Christian Bookstore has been part of the
landscape of downtown Penticton for many years – and in February it
celebrated its 26th anniversary.
Local resident Mel Zachary and his brother-in-law Tony
Friesen first opened the store in February of 1983 – inspired by
what they saw as an unmet need for readily available Christian resources.
“We were well received by the people, because
there had not been a Christian bookstore – and people wanted
one,” says Zachary, who is now the sole owner of Lifesong. “The
closest one would’ve been in Kelowna.”
Lifesong is the only Christian bookstore in the South
Okanagan, with their market spanning from Peachland south to Osoyoos and
west to Princeton. In the early years, most of the stock consisted of
books, Bibles and recordings.
“The area of music has really grown. Back in
’83, Christian music was just really starting to take off; Amy Grant,
Michael W. Smith were new on the scene,” says Zachary. “And
that injected a lot of enthusiasm into the music.
 | | Lifesong owner Mel Zachary with long-time staff member Barbara Schmidth. Photo by Andrea Dujardin-Flexhaug |
“There was so much more money being spent on the
production of music, and so it was starting to take on a much better
quality than had been associated with Christian music in the
past.”
Eventually, Lifesong grew to carry not only books and
music, but church supplies and Sunday school curriculum as well.
Although local pastors and churches support Lifesong,
Zachary says: “our main customers have always been the people
in the pews.” The purchase of study resources and Sunday school
materials has decreased in recent years, reflecting changing lifestyles.
“Many churches are unable to continue a strong
kids’ ministry,” explains Zachary. “I think it’s
just the times we’re in.”
Years ago, he notes, “people would commit to a
Sunday school program. Now they’re there one week and not the next,
so you lose continuity.
“We’re so busy with so many things that we
don’t . . . sit down and spend a lot of time in studying out issues.
We’re looking for quicker answers, ones that can get us through the
day.”
One area that has attracted more interest is Christian
fiction.
“That has certainly been, in our industry, one of
the fastest growing areas,” says Zachary. “It continues to be .
. . the biggest selling section in most Christian
bookstores.”
In these shaky economic times, Zachary notes that
Lifesong faces the same challenges as other businesses. But he says
Lifesong faces a positive future if each one of his customers purchase just
one item a year.
“Every purchase you make at a Christian bookstore
is a vote for that store to remain in business,” says Zachary.
“Every greeting card, book, CD, gift item
purchased enables that bookstore to continue its ministry in the local
community it serves.
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“Too many towns in Canada and the U.S. have lost
their Christian bookstore over the last two years – and have
come to realize, in the words of Joni Mitchell’s ‘Big Yellow
Taxi’: ‘You don’t know what you’ve got till
it’s gone.’”
Other economic measures for Lifesong include cutting
back on areas such as staff hours, charitable donations and product
giveaways.
Publishers and suppliers provide Christian stores with
much less promotional material these days, because they are economically
affected as well.
“This challenges us to be more creative with a
lot less,” comments Zachary. But Lifesong continues to support
several charities, including Wycliffe Bible Translators in Cameroon, World
Vision and local groups. “We try to be as generous with everyone as
we can.”
Lifesong has all the same challenges as a regular
business. And, as a Christian enterprise, it is affected by other factors.
“There’s also the spiritual aspect, because
we’re in a spiritual battle,” says Zachary.
“There’s never a week that goes by that
someone doesn’t come in the store, either questioning the Christian
faith, or seeking spiritual guidance – because what we carry speaks
to a person’s heart and to their personal belief.
“We are carrying product that points people to
Jesus Christ – and there are lots of people and forces who are
resistant to that, and don’t want to see us succeed.”
Zachary finds the work rewarding, and one of his
greatest joys is “seeing the delight on a person’s face when
we’ve helped them choose their first Bible.” He appreciates
being able to encourage someone’s faith journey.
Many times, staff will pray with people. They
have also ministered to people, such as a young woman who worked at the
local strip club. Seeking spiritual help, she ended up purchasing a
do-it-yourself Bible study. Then there are people such as a woman whose
husband was in a nearby hospital; she needed somewhere to take refuge, and
find a sense of God’s presence.
“The challenge is to be a resource centre for all
Christians, no matter where they are in their relationship with
Christ,” says Zachary. “It’s important that people turn
to books and resources that focus on what’s important and lasting and
eternal.”
March 2009
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