May 28, 2018
Heading into the new millennium (nearly twenty years ago) things looked bleak for traditional publishing. Newspapers were losing advertising dollars and cutting staff. Bookstores were disappearing. Denominational publishing houses were being consolidated or shut down. Even Barclay Press sold its press.
People remember, and they want to know how Barclay Press can possibly survive in a world without books. Admittedly, I’m an optimist. But it dawned on me this morning. There’s something I know that many of you might not:
People are still buying books.
In fact, retail book sales have risen every year since 2013. They are projected to continue growing through 2020. And they are the highest they’ve been in nearly a decade.
As Richard Foster predicted back in 1992, Barclay Press would likely survive the transition in the publishing industry, but “Barclay Press wants to do a whole lot more than that.... [Barclay Press must] maintain denominational distinctives while still communicating broadly; to be publishers of truth and not peddlers of gossip; to seek after the crisp, the clear, and the imaginative. It is no small vision.”
Earlier this month I wrote about our vision – seeds of hope – the three-year campaign to fund the ministry of Barclay Press by developing new titles, supporting small churches, and balancing the budget.
In order to stay on target to meet our goal of $162,000 by December 31, 2020, we need to get to $26,325 by June 1, 2018. As of this morning, we have raised $26,490 in gifts and pledges!
Click here to read more about seeds of hope.
Thank you,
Eric Muhr
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