May 2025 Newsletters

Our 10^th Year!

Annual Update and Open House Invitation

Dear Library Patron,                                                                                                                                                      05/20/2025

How much do words affect us? What does the Bible say about our words?

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

James 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

Matthew 12:37 “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Psalm 34:13 “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.”

GOD knew how our words can affect others. In His omniscient wisdom He has directed us through His Word how our words should be. He gives us not only warning, but also instruction on how we can effectively use our words. Isn’t that just amazing? How many of us like when others correct us, or tell us that we are doing something wrong, but they fail to inform us how to do it properly? Thankfully, our heavenly Father is also the perfect Teacher.

Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Our words are important. GOD thinks they are, and because He does, we do also. But words are not only spoken, they are also read. We are thankful for the written Word of GOD! It is the purest, most instructive in righteousness, and only infallible book-of-many-books. It is GOD’s way of speaking to us to show His love, His instruction, His correction, His salvation through Jesus Christ, His purpose for mankind, and His purpose for us individually and personally.

Aside from the Word of GOD, there are many other written words out there. Some are good, and some are not so good. We may be careful about the words that we speak, but how careful are we about the words that we read? Reading is a wonderful, powerful, and educational privilege we have. Benjamin Franklin once said, “Give me 26 lead soldiers and I will conquer the world.”  And Jewish historian Barbara Tuchman said, “Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill.”

Words have impact on our lives. There is much influence to mold and shape society in written words. The question is, what type of books are you allowing yourself to read, to dwell upon, and to shape your life with?

The LIBRARY

We are humbled as we think of God’s grace over the past 10 years since starting the library! What was first called an “air castle” (a nice idea) has turned into a full lending library with a bookmobile. We have been immensely blessed by God’s grace and the support of many people!

We are grateful to GOD for His ongoing work here at the Stoltzfus Christian Library to provide good quality and biblically sound information and literature for everyone to read! He has allowed our home Library to grow, as well as to go abroad with our Bookmobile and School Tote Programs.

We have had several generous doners who have helped us expand our book selections in the last year. Orders have been placed, and books have been received to broaden our Library which we are excited about!

From January 2025 to date—May 20, 2025, Stoltzfus Christian Library has added over 1,700 books to both the Library and Bookmobile! This includes books from Christian Light Publications, CAM Books, Rod and Staff, PaperPie, the Lamplighter collections, and books that have been donated to the library through multiple sources.

We are a non-profit library and depend heavily on your continued support. Without your prayers, support, and donations we would not continue to exist! Whether you have contributed $1 or $1,000, we can say it has made a huge difference!

We operate on a tight budget. Often, we have been left wondering if our funding will cover all the financial needs and demands of the library. God has been faithful, and I know that if He wants us to continue that He will provide for the needs. We will continue to expand and add new books and programs as the Lord provides and as funding is available.

Library closing for the month of August 2025

The bookmobile has exceeded our expectations in many ways! We thought we were prepared with a decent number of books for the additional library patrons that the bookmobile would bring. What we weren’t prepared for was the amount of additional patrons this brought. After the first two or three months of running the bookmobile, our bookshelves were practically wiped out. This has sent us into growing pains. While we extend a warm welcome to any person who wants to become a library patron, it has been a struggle to keep up with the demand.

Having this in mind, August of this year, 2025, we will start a 6-week shutdown of the library & bookmobile. We would like to take inventory of all the books belonging to Stoltzfus Christian Library. The goal will be to take a month to “close our doors” so to speak, get inventory of all our items, purchase books, have our team go through the books to repair and categorize them, and “reopen our doors” again at the time of our Open House in September. Lord willing, we will be prepared to come back stronger than ever in time for the beginning of the school term. If you would like to donate towards purchasing new books, now is a good time to do so. (Please see the response coupon).

              To do a proper inventory, we will need the support and cooperation of our patrons. We are asking that all books, magazines, and audio books with the Property of Stoltzfus Christian Library label be returned to Stoltzfus Christian Library or the Bookmobile on or before SATURDAY, AUGUST 2^ND, 2025. If any books are misplaced, please contact one of our listed Librarians by this date.

Librarian Contacts:

Corrie Scaife                                                                                                                Sharon Stoltzfus

(856) 392-3257                                                                                                           (717) 617-4954

corriescaife@yahoo.com                                                                                        sharonstoltzfus06@gmail.com

Open House Invitation & Book Auction

Mark your calendars!

“Some books are so familiar that reading them is like being home again.” ~Louisa May Alcott

We invite you, your family, and your friends to attend the 10^th Annual Library Open House!

When: Saturday, September 13, 2025

Where: Stoltzfus Christian Library

5809 Limeville Rd.

Gap, PA 17527

Time: Starting at 9:00 a.m. and going through 2:00 p.m.

What to Expect at the Open House: This year’s program will include Singing, Spiritual Encouragement, Vision for the Library, Children’s Story Hour, Book Displays, Book Auction, Reopening of the Library and Bookmobile, & Plenty of Food for all!!

We look forward to seeing you on Open House Day!!

An Update From Sam Stoltzfus in Haiti

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8)

              After our escape from the kidnapping in Haiti back on December 16^th, 2021, Christian Aid Ministries (CAM) suddenly pulled all of their American staff from the country of Haiti because of security reasons. I was a single man at that time, and was planning to work long term on the mission field in Haiti. Since then, I have never felt like the work that God wanted us to do was fulfilled.

While the security situation hasn’t gotten better in Haiti as a whole, we have found different avenues of service. For one thing, we are no longer located in the same area. We had been based out of a town called Titanyen, Haiti. Since then, this town has completely been taken over by powerful gangs. Unfortunately, the mission compound located there has been looted and we are no longer able to go to that area.

              Haiti currently reminds me of three different countries. The Northwest is mostly free of gangs, the capital, Port au Prince, and surrounding areas are almost completely taken over by gangs, and the Southwest Peninsula is mainly free as well. Unfortunately, the gangs have Haiti caught in a serious gridlock. We are currently located in Southwest, Haiti. While we do not feel threatened by gangs, we are constantly reminded of the turmoil that this country is in. Not just by what we hear on the news but by the many displaced people who are seeking refuge in other parts of the country. Untold thousands of people are refugees in their own country. We hear their sad stories of fear, hurt, and disappointment, and wonder how we can help minister to their needs. Please pray for us as we seek God’s wisdom in reaching out to the needy people of Haiti!

Once again, we want to thank you for your support! It is greatly appreciated! Although our family is located in Haiti, we can sense your prayers. By God’s grace, we have many competent people in place who can manage the library while we are gone.

Whether it was volunteering your time to help in the library, wrapping soft-cover books, borrowing books, donating books, giving donations, or praying for us, we thank you very much! May God bless you richly! Without your support, we could not continue to operate a Christian library for the local community.

        May God bless you as you continue serving Him!

     Sincerely,

         Samuel Stoltzfus, Administrator

P. S. We are enclosing a contribution reply sheet and envelope for those of you who want to help keep the library in operation. Please check the appropriate box to let us know how you want your donation to be used.

If you would like to make an anonymous donation, you can do so through Anabaptist Foundation (800) 653-9817.

Stoltzfus Christian Library is an official 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization and is funded by your donations.

Information concerning Stoltzfus Christian Library, including financial or charitable purposes, may be obtained, without cost, by writing to its principal place of business at the following address: Stoltzfus Christian Library, 5809 Limeville Rd, Gap PA  17527 or by calling 717-672-1587. In addition, residents of the following states may obtain financial and/or licensing information from their states, as indicated. Your contributions may be eligible for a tax deduction in accordance with applicable law. Registration in a state does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation of Stoltzfus Christian Library by the state. Pennsylvania: The official registration and financial information of Stoltzfus Christian Library may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling 800-732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.