His Word Worldwide
Upcoming Vendor Fair to Benefit “Bibles from Him”
Brandy York
Ashland Beacon
“But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, His Word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!”
Jeremiah 20:9 (NLT)
As the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures decline, the number of vendor fairs and festivals does quite the opposite. Every weekend there is a new event to choose from. However, there is one vendor fair happening on Saturday October 5th in Boyd County that is set apart by it’s unique cause- to aid in putting bibles in the hands of those who don’t have them, not just in the United States but around the world in countries such as Australia, China, Costa Rica, Haiti, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Romania, and Uganda. The 501c3 organization is known as Bibles from Him, and although she will tell you she considers herself a “middleman,” Sarah Kate Hostetter of Russell is the founder of the operation, with Jeremiah 20:9 as their chosen verse. Hostetter explains that she was moved to start the mission in 2013, after she bought The Jesus Storybook Bible for her young son. “The beautiful words. The colorful images. The way it presents the Gospel in a simple, compelling way” says Hostetter of the storybook Bible.
As God would have it, she was reading a book about a Uganda missionary around the same time as her experience with this bible and says that although she knew she wasn’t being called to travel physically to the mission field, God had plans for her to serve those areas from her home here in Kentucky. Now on year 10, she reports that to this date they have raised nearly $30,000 and have given away 5,565 bibles across the world. works Hostetter primarily with missionaries and local leaders to distribute the bibles, but she has also distributed some to backpack programs, foster kid camps, and other relatable causes.
A goal of this magnitude cannot be obtained without lots of prayer and funds from generous folks. Bibles from Him has been blessed with both since the beginning. God has continued to make a way financially, through the support of many in the community, including Hostetter’s church family at First Baptist Church Russell. Lisa Wilcox, a fellow member of FBCR, says soon after Hostetter began the mission in 2014, she felt the Lord leading her to contribute.
As a Tastefully Simple consultant, she hosted an open house, and along with a few other direct salespeople from FBCR (including Hostetter’s Young Living Essential Oils), the Bibles from Him Open House was born, and 100% of the profits from that day’s sales were donated to the organization! Except for the year 2015, when Lisa’s 30-year-old daughter battled (and beat) colorectal cancer, she continued to host the open house in her home yearly through 2019. Due to COVID, the 2020 event was held virtually via Facebook, yet they were still able to successfully raise money for the cause. As they approached 2021, they knew based on years past that the Wilcox home was running out of space and they would need a new location. 2021 and 2022 was hosted in a local church gymnasium, where it continued to grow even more. Last year the vendor fair was moved to a much bigger location, the Send Relief Building in Cannonsburg.
The event will once again be hosted at the Send Relief Building and over 40 vendors will be set up in two areas of the place. In addition to Hostetter and Wilcox, they are assisted by 20 volunteers. “All of our vendors give a donation to Bibles from Him through their vendor fee” explained Wilcox, “but some also give a percentage of their sales from the day, and some give 100% of their sales!”. She talked about how this vendor fair runs a little different from most, and that they believe they are changing lives. This year the event is being sponsored by Big Sandy and is sure to be exciting! “It fills up my heart that the vendors and shoppers want to come back each year. We hear so many comments about what a fun day it is and how it feels different from other events.” Noted Wilcox.
There is great fellowship, and there is just a special feeling in the air,” Hostetter shared. Hostetter stated that although they have many who donate monetarily regularly, this is the only formal fundraiser for Bibles from Him. She explained “however much money we earn on Oct. five is how many Bibles I can give away in 2025.”
You don’t want to miss this blessed vendor fair. Support small businesses while supporting a cause much bigger than ourselves- the deliverance of God’s Word to those who may have no access otherwise. Saturday, Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Send Relief Building, located at 12127 Midland Trail Road in Ashland, Kentucky (next to Cannonsburg Elementary). There will also be a photo booth and raffle, as well as food from The Drive-In food trailer! You can also find out more about the ministry by visiting biblesfromhim.org. See you there!
Commentaires