The Revelation Christian Bookshop in Skopje, Macedonia reports that they are pleased with what they achieved at the recent (Inter)National Book Fair held in the capital. “It will take a little while before we finish the complete statistics,” Ivan Grozdanov reports, “but overall this was our second best year for the past six years of participation.”
Many of the publishers remained unhappy again this year and quote that they were down by 50% in turnover and books sold. Despite the fact that there was little or no marketing and advertising and poor organisation, which resulted in fewer people visiting the Book Fair this year, Ivan believes that they did well and they praise God for this ministry. Around fifteen young people from the Hope Baptist Church took turns to work on the exhibition stand.
Among the visitors to Ivan’s bookstall was the Prime Minister, who spent time at the stall and asked to buy the book, ‘INSPIRATIONAL PRAYERS’ - but he was given a free copy. Prior to the event he had been sent the ‘BIBLE ETHICS’ mini booklet which contains one hundred selected verses from the Bible relating to personal, family, sexual, social, business and environmental ethics. The Prime Minister confirmed that he received it and liked it. SGA has been involved in funding 20,000 copies of the 100,000 print run of this booklet. During conversation he asked questions about the difference between the Orthodox and Protestant canon of the Bible.
Other visitors included the former wife of the ex Prime Minister who bought the book: ‘GOD, THIS HURTS’ written by Ivan Grozdanov. The former Minister of Education bought the new edition of the Bible. “We pray that as they read them the Holy Spirit will work in the hearts of many others who bought books,” says Ivan.
“We sold around four hundred and thirty books in the five days and about four hundred copies of the mini booklet ‘BIBLE ETHICS’. It was a good time of conversation with many visitors about various aspects of Christianity.”
 Visitors stop to read the “Bible Ethics” booklet
at the stand
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 Ivan talks with the Macedonian Prime Minister at the Book Fair
The books which were most polular at the Book Fair were: ‘THE NEW TESTAMENT’ (The translation and publishing was funded by SGA) - ‘GOD, THIS HURTS’ (by Ivan Grozdanov) - ‘FAITH, HOPE, LOVE’ (by Ivan Grozdanov) and ‘RIGHT RELATIONSHIPS WITH GOD AND WITH PEOPLE’ (translation by Tom Marshal).
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Ivan continues to teach using his studies ‘The Twelve Pillars of the Christian Faith” in an area of Skopje where 100,000 people live and where there is no evangelical church. Each week eight to twelve people gather in a hired room on Tuesdays and Fridays to study. |
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However, Ivan is disappionted with the response to seven thousand leaflets which were distributed by the church youth group in the area.
Ivan continues his writing ministry and is currently working on a further twelve titles. The book illustrated has just been published and is entitled “Approaching God” by Paul Enns. It is a book of daily readings in systematic theology.
 Ivan serves those who are anxious to see the available literature
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