A Legacy of Faith: The Birth of Good News Publishers
In the midst of the Great Depression, a young couple, Clyde and Muriel Dennis, embarked on a journey that would change the face of Christian publishing forever. After six months of working in various print shops in Minneapolis, Clyde met Harry Lund, owner of Lund-Craft Printing, who offered him a chance to work for his company.
A Vision Takes Shape
Clyde’s passion for printing and evangelism soon led him to approach Lund with an unusual request: to use the company’s equipment to print Christian tracts. Despite initial reservations, Lund agreed, and the first Good News tracts rolled off the presses in 1938. The Dennises poured their hearts and resources into the venture, using their own income to fund the printing of 40,000 tracts.
A Ministry Born
As the tracts began to pile up in the Dennises’ back bedroom, they knew they had to find a way to distribute them. They secured a mailing list of Brethren assemblies and prepared a mailing with the help of Northeast Gospel Chapel in Minneapolis. The response was overwhelming, with orders pouring in from all over. This marked the birth of Good News Publishers.
A Legacy of Growth
Over the years, Good News Publishers continued to grow, distributing over 50 million tracts annually within a few years. The ministry eventually moved to Chicago, and its reach expanded globally. Today, over 85 years later, the legacy of Good News Publishers continues, with over a billion tracts translated into over 35 languages and distributed in over 100 countries.
A Renewed Vision
As the culture becomes increasingly hostile to the gospel, the need for evangelism is more urgent than ever. In response, a renewed vision for the tracts ministry has been cast, with a focus on creating biblically faithful, beautifully produced evangelism resources. The heart behind this vision is to equip the church to bring men, women, and children to Christ as their Lord and Savior.
A Legacy of Faithfulness
As we look back on 85 years of God’s faithfulness, we give thanks for the incredible journey of Good News Publishers. We pray that He will continue to be glorified through our tracts publishing program for years to come, as we seek to make the gospel of Jesus Christ known to a lost world.
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