As an author and coordinator of Christian publishing network Letra Viva, Ian Darke has a particular passion for books. “Books can travel and wait patiently,” he says, having personally experienced the way books can have an evangelistic ministry. This story is part of the Journeys in Christian Publishing: Stories from LittWorld series.
Right at the start of my Christian walk, books played a great part by being lent, recommended and promoted!
I grew up in a completely non-religious home, and my first contact with the gospel was through a school friend. He invited me to a Christian boy’s club, which had a small collection of books available to borrow—and which I devoured.
After I came to faith and started attending a church, I shared questions and doubts with a wise friend there who recommended specific books to me, including those by Francis Schaeffer, which were of great help.
Soon after, I went to university to study pure mathematics. Still with lots of questions, I was ‘volunteered’ to be in charge of an evangelistic book table at the entrance of our university. Students and staff would stop to ask about books—and to argue!
Not only did I grow through these books, but the experience highlighted the way that books can have such a great evangelistic ministry. I started serving in Christian publishing after several years of teaching and student ministry in the UK and Latin America.
Gaps in the market
In Latin America, there is high level of literacy in Spanish, and paper and ink print is still what most people want—but books are often difficult to get hold of. There is also potential for audio books.
I would love to see a range of Christian books on key issues with clear biblical content, and books on themes such as sociology and faith, bioengineering, politics and how to eliminate corruption. We need books that will transform both the church and society in general.
On a personal level, if I had money, time and more energy, I would write on mathematics and Christian faith—a niche topic, but with more to it than you might think!
Publishing lessons: connecting, encouraging and creating
Create accessible books that connect with readers. Once I became immersed in publishing, the Lord confirmed the importance of books that ‘connect’ with potential readers—books that in the language of the culture, and which are accessible.
Find and encourage others. I wouldn’t have become so involved in publishing if I hadn’t met people who encouraged and inspired me—like Frank Entwistle of IVP UK, Robert Reekie of MAI, Linda Doll and Jim Nyquist of IVP USA. I thank the Lord for them! Find and encourage good communicators who can write in the heart language of the reader, and whose message will transform lives.
Nurture the many gifts needed in publishing. Scripture tells us that in the body of Christ there are many gifts and all are essential. To publish, we need people with gifts in financial planning, marketing, editing, distribution—tasks that some may not consider ‘spiritual’ but which are essential.
Know that books can have an impact long after they were produced and places far from home. It has been lovely to hear how our books have been a blessing in distant and surprising places. Books can travel and wait patiently.
Pray for Letra Viva
I would value prayer for energy and wisdom as I support several publishing ministries here in Latin America. Pray too for new leaders who will develop publishing using new technologies and connect on social media. The Letra Viva network of evangelical publishers in Latin America seeks to help each of its member ministries—pray for guidance to know how best to do that!
Additional resources
- From Thesis to Book: Making Information Accessible – an MAI webinar with Ian Darke
- From Dissertation to Christian Book – a free eBook by Ian Darke
- La Aventura de Publicar – a guidebook for writers, edited by Ian Darke and Keila Ochoa Harris (second edition now available)