Faith Publishing Company Expands
DESKTOP DEVOTIONAL BOOKET
Jim Barnes liked the company He Calls You By Name so much he bought it. And, since he and his wife Elayne purchased the small publishing company in 2000, they expanded the product line, and extended the sales from a few states to several countries.
A minister and his wife in Tuttle, OK, southwest of Oklahoma City, started the company but decided to sell it to pursue other business interests.
Jim and Elayne became acquainted with its single product when Jim received one as a Christmas gift from his mother. The daily devotional booklet is a collection of more than 100 Bible verses with the name of an individual or couple included in each verse. For example: “Come to me, Jim Barnes, when you are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28); or “Jim and Elayne shall know the truth and the truth shall make them free.” (John 8:32).
“We’ll include first name, first and last, or a couple’s name when we make your copy,” Jim said.
The Scriptures are taken from the King James Version and paraphrased into more contemporary English. “The booklet looks much like a devotional desk calendar, but without dates,” Barnes said. “The idea is so simple, yet it really makes an impact. When I first looked at the one Mom gave me, all I could say was ‘wow!’
“As you read the Scriptures, you feel they truly were written to you, specifically,” he said.
According to Barnes, most of the booklets they publish are intended as gifts for Christmas, Easter, or other holidays as well as birthdays, anniversaries, and when someone needs encouragement.
When Jim and Elayne became the new owners in November, 2000, they expanded the product line to include the same Scriptures on CD with soft music playing in the background. Bob O’Shea, a Tulsa radio personality, narrates the Scriptures.
“We also have a screensaver for desktop computers and laptops,” said Elayne. “We like to call it our ‘Screen Savior.’ It has scriptures over pictures of nature and ‘Amazing Grace’ playing softly in the background.”
Jim said the additional products, and a Spanish version of the devotional booklet, helped create sales outside the United States.
“We’re sending materials to England, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Canada, and other countries,” he said. “Because of that, we’re planning to publish the devotional in other languages, beginning with French.”
U.S. Rep. John Sullivan distributed personalized copies of the CD to President George W. Bush, National Security Advisor Condeleeza Rice, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Attorney General John Ashcroft and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
“I don’t know if any of them will get a chance to listen to their CD, but we felt if they do and find comfort in then, we’ve helped our nation’s leaders in a small way.” Jim said.
So far Jim and Elayne are the only employees of their company, but that hasn’t stopped them from getting others to help boost sales.
“We’re finding success with churches and youth groups selling our products as fund-raisers,” Jim said. “And, it appears we’re outgrowing our space at home and will have to look for a larger space soon.”
The desktop devotionals cost $14, the screensaver is $20, and the CD is $22.95 and may be purchased by calling 747-6912 or online at www.hecallsyoubyname.com.
Updated 11-24-2004
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