Eagle's Nest Christian Book Store - Oskaloosa, IA

Hi, I'm trying to help keep open the Eagle's Nest Christian Book Store in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Phyl has been doing this ministry for 37 years but needs to hand the baton to someone else for health reasons or close the doors. Recently I was told that only about 400 independently owned Christian retail stores are left in the nation; it would be a sad day for Oskaloosa and the surrounding area to lose theirs. Christian bookstores are a light in their community. The owners and team members don't do it for the money but as a ministry. Our mission is to further God's Kingdom in the communities we serve and to help others along their faith journey. A typical day might include praying with a customer or being a listening ear. We help find the right bible, book or gift item to help them along their journey or to plant seeds of faith with others. There are no Christian bookstores between Oskaloosa and the Missouri border. Phyl recently had a customer from Kirksville, Missouri, visit the store, saying they had driven 100 miles to Eagle's Nest as it was the closest Christian Bookstore.

So let's back up to the beginning of this story. I own Stepping Stones Christian Bookstores in Grinnell and Marshalltown. About a year ago, God laid it on my heart that I was supposed to let Phyl and his wife, Lona, know that someday when they were ready to retire, I might be interested in buying it and continuing their ministry. I struggled with it as I had no idea how I would be able to finance it. However, God wouldn't leave me alone about it, so I finally succumbed and stopped by their store and shared what God had led me to tell them.

Fast forward a year. On a Monday morning in mid-November, I got a text from Phyl that he was closing the Eagle's Nest at the end of the year due to health reasons. Would I still be interested in buying the business and the building? This information was not how I expected my week to start. I was busy with our holiday season. I thought there was no way I could get financing and be ready to make the transition by the end of the year (although now Phyl is considering staying open until the first of March, which will work much better). I started calling in some of my prayer warriors. One said that if God wants you to do this, He will provide the financing. So I started praying. As the week progressed, God began showing me that the idea made perfect sense from a ministry and a business perspective. I talked to the banker and had a positive meeting. In the end, the bank was willing to finance 80%, but I would need to come up with the remaining 20% in cash, not on contract. One of my prayer warriors encouraged me to put it on GoFundMe. I wasn't too sure about that. However, God woke me up in the middle of the night and started telling me to go forward with Go Fund Me and to tell our story. He revealed that I was not to do this alone and that He wanted to use others to help keep this ministry in Oskaloosa. Additionally, the next day, one of my prayer warriors pledged a $1,000 investment confirming that God is speaking to others to help make this a reality. [12/13 update - this gift prompted an additional $1,000 commitment to help keep a Christian bookstore in the greater Oskaloosa area!]

So I am asking you, first and foremost, to pray for the continued ministry of Eagle's Nest and Stepping Stones and Phyl's health. Prayer is a powerful and essential part of this request. I also ask you to prayerfully consider a financial investment of any amount (no amount is too large or small) to enable this ministry to continue in Oskaloosa and the surrounding area. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested in supporting this ministry. Also, feel free to contact me to discuss this further. Several have asked how to donate outside of GoFundMe. You may send your support to Stepping Stones Christian Bookstore, 1009 Main Street, Grinnell, IA 50112 as well. Community support has helped us meet the minimum goal for the down payment and any additional will go toward the ministry including any transition costs needed. Thank you so much for your prayerful consideration!