Barb_Gardner
“Being a Christian is more than church and religion. It is believing in Jesus Christ and in what He did for me at the cross. It is receiving Him into my life and using His power within to live a life of honor and service to Him.”
On November 1, 1974, Jacob’s Well Bookstore opened it’s doors for the firsttime. Now 15 years later as I look back, I can hardly believe it has reallybeen that long. The years have been good to us and the Lord has been sowonderfully there all the way, guiding, leading and greatly blessing.
It all began in March of 1970 when I received Jesus Christ into my life asmy personal Lord and Savior. I had always been a church going person andhad a knowledge of God and spiritual things but it wasn’t until that springthat I began to read the Bible and came to know through the witness of friendsthat being a Christian is more than church and religion. It is believingin Jesus Christ and in what He did for me at the cross. It is receiving Himinto my life and using His power within to live a life of honor and serviceto Him.
Two years before, my youngest son Michael was diognosed as having a veryrare, degenerative brain disease and in April of 1974 he went to be withthe Lord. A few months after his death a friend, Lee Davis, and I decidedto open a Christian Bookstore. We were both fairly new Christians and neitherof us knew anything about books or authors or running a business but we hadthe Lord and many friends who prayed, encouraged and helped. We chose thename Jacob’s Well because it was there according to John 4: 5-30 in the Biblethat Jesus met the Samaritan woman and led her to the living water that wouldgive her eternal life. She received that life and went from the well to tellothers and to bring them back to meet Jesus. We wanted our store to be aplace of spiritual refreshment where people could come to find the Lord,to discover answers to their problems and to be encouraged to lead othersto Christ and to the living water that springs up into everlasting life.
Starting out with 21 boxes of books and Bibles, a few gift items and somehandmade (with love) shelves and fixtures, we set up shop in Lexington Parkon Shangri La Drive. In the beginning our small stock didn’t begin to fillthe 900 sq. ft. display area that was available to us. But, before long webegan to grow both in stock and in added space. After a few years, Lee retiredfrom the bookstore work to care for her growing family. I have continuedto go on with the management of the store still learning as I go and grow.Today, still in the same location, we have been able to expand to the fullextent of the building- a very full 2250 sq. ft. God is so good!!!
I am so grateful today for what the Lord has given to me through the workand ministry of Jacob’s Well. I have come to know and love so many wonderfulChristians who’s friendships will forever be of great value to me. I’m sothankful for Lee and her hardwork and encouragement that help ed get it allstarted, for friends who have always been there whenever the need arises,for all “my girls” behind the counter, and especially for you – the customers- the important ones who keep it all going. Thanks !!
Barb Gardner