Picture a ravine. No, make that a chasm—as Dictionary.com defines it, a yawning fissure or deep cleft in the earth’s surface; gorge. Ever been to the Royal Gorge in Colorado? You get the picture.
On one side of that chasm is a need. On the other, resources.
On the “need” side are dedicated, devoted, faithful workers. Some of these workers are “expats,” living and working for a season in a culture other than their own. They found a way to get from one side to the other. Many of the workers, though, were born and raised there on the “need” side. All of them, both missionaries and nationals, are working to take the lifting, healing, saving message of the Gospel to the teeming masses who do not know it, have never heard it, and so desperately need it.
On the “resource” side are Christians who have experienced the lifting, the healing, the saving that comes from a vital connection to the Lord of lords. Many of these Christians are also dedicated, devoted, faithful workers. The problem is some of these Christians have never seen the “need” side of the chasm. In fact, most of them don’t even know the chasm exists. Those who have some idea of the chasm, and of the need, feel helpless to find a way to help all those over on the other side.
Now picture a bridge over that chasm. That’s what LATM is. We’re not the only bridge, but we are a bridge.
On the “need” side of the bridge, we get to hear from workers as they describe what tools (books) they need in order to do their rescue work (evangelism, discipling, training) more effectively. It is our privilege to help them design and create those tools. Over the sixteen years we’ve been doing this, we have established a broad communications network with key leaders in places like India, Eastern Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. They in turn have come to see LATM as an understanding supplier of the very tools they long to get their hands on.
On the “resource” side of the bridge, we get to inform Christians about the chasm. It is our privilege to invite them to partner with us by creating a supply line that will provide the tools that are so desperately needed by the workers on the other side. Over the sixteen years we’ve been doing this, we have found many who have responded to the need and have partnered faithfully with us to bridge this gap. Frankly, though, more of our time and energy has been spent on the “need” side of the bridge. It is time for us to give more attention to the resource side.
That is exactly why we have so excitedly awaited the chance to welcome Doug and Carol Reed to the LATM family. Doug begins his duties as Director of Development at the first of 2009. Having someone on board whose primary task is promotion and securing new partners will bolster our efforts on the resource side of the bridge.
Bottom line: Facilitating international Christian publishing is our continuing passion. Our international partners bring the motivation, the cultural sensitivity, the skills and the tedious labor; our financial partners bring resources to pay the bills; the LATM team is the bridge that coordinates and facilitates the process; but it is the Lord who provides all of the above to get the job done.
More excited than ever to be “bringing the books,”
Phil Casey