Selling my Books

The best venues where I could sell my books are the churches that invite me to preach. However, I do not expect many invitations to come my way as I feel this time of waiting is for me to wait patiently on the Lord, read the biblical texts and write books. But today I have secured the biggest Christian bookstore in Kota Kinabalu to put my six books on their selves. It is good news and hopefully I will get some traction though I could see nowadays, there are very few visitors to Christian bookstores.

Most Christians don't read which is regrettably and it points to the state of the Church today in Sabah. Perhaps less so in Malay-speaking churches and that makes my aim in writing books not just a non-profit undertaking, but a near certain loss venture unless God intervenes. 

But praise be to God that five of my books at least had sold enough copies to cover costs, though as the most recent book, "Anak Panah" was published 18 months ago, so I expect another year or two to cover the costs of that book. The first volume of John 1-12's commentary took more than 6 years to sell 900 copies and I certainly hope I can see the 500 copies sold for the second volume in 3 years or less. 

I am still waiting patiently for my 480 copies to be delivered and I pray that it might come in a week or two. Then I have to decide how to launch it, though it is likely I might just mention it in my own local church where I worship in the city centre. In fact, I had sold more books in the interior churches compared to some urban churches, perhaps the costs of living are high in the city or people in town are just too busy to read. 

I was most encouraged a couple of months ago in a village just about 90 mins' drive from KK I sold nearly 30 copies of my books, thinking that even 10 copies would be a good sale. Also last March in a leadership seminar of just 86 participants I sold another 30 copies of my books. "My people perish for the lack of knowledge" (Hosea) and I pray that my books will go in a small way of fulfilling the prophecy that the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God's glory like the waters cover the sea (Hab 2:14; Isa 11:9).