 | | Bell Tower co-owner June Brown. |
WHILE some Christian book stores and distributors are
being swept away by the economic tsunami and old paradigms, Bell Tower
Books in Kelowna is checking the horizon for better ways of putting
resources into the hands of customers, both new and old.
The store is inviting people to experience three
distinct ‘streams’ under one roof; Mainstream, Mainline
and Main Street.
Mainstream Christian books will still be the core of
the product line, with more content and depth than before.
Mainline books will appeal to Catholics, Lutherans,
Anglicans, Presbyterians and folks from the United Church of Canada.
Main Street books will be carefully selected from
publishers usually found at Chapters and good independent outlets like
Mosaic Books downtown.
Bell Tower Books’ owners say they also hope the
store will become known as “a place to belong.” Hidden above
the store is the new Belfry, hosting a lending library – and a place
to relax, reflect, write and meet over Cherry Hill coffee.
The ‘Theology Cafe’ recently had its first
official meeting in the Belfry, with a dozen men and women discussing
theology and life. ≅
Jim and June Brown, both from Scotland, are the new
owners; they purchased the store just before it was about to be shut down
last summer.
June grew up in Kilwinning, where a large bell tower
in the middle of town would call people together for worship and
fellowship. The Browns and store manager Dave Sohnchen hope their
‘Bell’ will draw many together to discover different books,
music, art – and maybe a few new steps in the faith journey.
Continue article >>
|
The Browns are looking far beyond the Okanagan Valley.
They propose the formation of lending libraries in centres of hosted
hospitality across the country.
Online membership will provide access to shelves
populated by private home libraries in every region.
As they observe, reading books acquired online in
solitude is one thing; exploring literature in community for next to
nothing is another.
Also, over the next few months, local artists will
create a huge mural on the upper interior walls of the store. Their
assignment is to portray the concepts of ‘village’ and
God’s heart for people.
– David F. Dawes
April 2009
|
