Sitting in a plain folding chair in a plain 1,100-square-foot warehouse, Chris Haro shrugs. “How spectacular is a cold cup of water?” he asks.
The warehouse is home to Haro’s Missionary Book Society. “Warehouse” may be too strong a word to use to describe this space, actually the renovated 110-year-old attic of Haro’s insurance office in Auburn, in California’s Sierra Nevada foothills. Faded indoor-outdoor carpeting covers the floors, and a metal box bolted onto a wheelbarrow sits by the wall. Pallets of boxes crowd the main room.
As humble as a cup of water might be, though, “even a cup of cold water given in my name will be rewarded,” paraphrases Haro with a smile. Thus, Matthew 10:42 has become the statement of philosophy of the Missionary Book Society.
Booking the missionaries
I’ve really enjoyed the ones I’ve had time to read. Books have been a real encouragement to me—to relax and read something in English!
—Senegal
For 11 years, any overseas missionary who asks has received a four-pound box of mainstream evangelical Christian books, free of charge. Missionaries write from Bolivia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Uruguay, Indonesia, Yemen, and many other far away places.
“It’s not spectacular or romantic,” he says of his ministry. Indeed, at first glance, nothing about the enterprise cries out “Extraordinary!” No stranger would pick out the graying, bespectacled Haro, his belly straining against his shirt buttons, as a man with a mission. Just as unassuming are the streaked warehouse windows that look out over a narrow, gravel parking lot. Even the boxes of books Haro sends out yearly to 6,000 missionaries are just plain brown.
To most people in this gold-rush town, Haro is only a happily married businessman who carves stone for a hobby, the father of lour grown children. He keeps the Missionary Book Society under wraps. His reluctance to publicize his service stems from his discomfort at seeming immodest, or having his motives misread. He offers books to missionaries as a ministry, not for personal gain or celebrity. “I do this because I want to please my Father. It’s a form of worship.”
Grateful recipients
Thank you very, very much for this extra-special blessing! The books are all just wonderful—and I can never emphasize enough how great it is to receive spiritual reading material in English.
—Madagascar
When Haro discusses his ministry, his concern for missionaries far from home shines out clearly. “These missionaries are in a different environment,” he says. “They don’t have radios or TVs. They’re not superhuman beings. They just endeavor to do what God wants them to do. But just as God rested on the seventh day, they need a rest too. They need recreation and inspiration.”
The books he sends are remainders, seconds, or out-or-print books—materials he purchases at an 80-percent discount from Christian publishers. Missionaries are offered a choice: books for adults only, or a mixture of adult and children’s books. And Haro has recently expanded his service to include inspirational tape recordings as well.
“One woman wrote me who had been very depressed by two deaths in her family within six months. When she received her book pack, it included three books on death. She received a new peace of heart and strength to carry on.”
He also feels warmly toward an Anglican missionary who was about to quit his ministry. Then the books arrived. “He was inspired to renew his faith, and continue his work in Africa.”
Staying the course
There is virtually no Christian literature here—certainly not in English and a mere scant number of books in Romanian. The cry from the people is great, but red tape and [lack of] money prevent English books from being translated and published here.
—Romania
The Missionary Book Society grew out of Grace Crusaders Free Lending Library, a service Haro began 25 years ago, when Christian books were not available as widely as they are now. This “borrow by mail” ministry grew swiftly from a cubicle measuring 20 square feet to a space measuring 500 square feet.
Then, as now, no donations were accepted or asked for, says Haro. “As the need arose, the money was supplied.”
However, as the years passed, he saw a decreasing need for his library. Even supermarkets started to carry Christian books, and bookstores appeared selling Christian books exclusively. This came as a blessing as far as Haro was concerned.
For years he had questioned his motives for running the lending service. Was he doing it for God, or was he doing it because it made him feel good?
Eventually, Haro decided to provide books only to overseas missionaries. He obtained a handbook listing all the American missionary boards. He indicated that he’d send a free box of books on request, and asked the boards to advise their missionaries of this service.
It was his intention to cut down on the book business. But to his panic and amazement, book requests soon descended on him from all over the world. During this time, Haro received what he believes were signs that he was doing God’s will: a rental house he owned sold for a profit the day the down payment was due on his warehouse; and a publisher agreed to sell him $109,000 worth of books for $3,500. He smiles, remembering his amazement the day he received delivery on that shipment. “Can you imagine a 60-foot semi in my parking lot?”
Currently, about 1,200 boxes a year are sent to missionaries representing 600 missionary boards.
Haro says it’s important to him to send books to missionaries from many denominations because his own background is a blend of Catholic, Baptist, and Assemblies of God.
At 64, Haro no longer questions his motives, although he has entertained the possibility of retiring from this ministry. He knows he can’t keep going forever. He wants to keep the service going, though, and has hopes of someday finding someone willing to take over.
“You have to have a distinct burden for this type of ministry, definitely led of the Lord, and you have to have the finances.” His replacement would also have to share Haro’s eagerness to provide recreation, inspiration, and comfort to missionaries far from home.
“I’m not out to entertain the missionaries,” he says, “I’m out to help them.”
The book pack arrived a few months ago. It arrived in good condition and truly was “a cup of cold water” to refresh us.
—Papua New Guinea
Susan Rushton is a free-lance writer living in Auburn, California.
