Christian Library of Bakersfield

3671 Rosedale Hwy

Between Tastries Bakery and John's Incredible Pizza

christianlibraryofbakersfield@

gmail.com

or contact Tom

Tom's Cell 661-978-7359 tmgm814@aol.com

Meet Our Founder / Director

The Library's Founder / Director Tom Martin and his wife Glynda They Attend Valley Baptist Church

Tom has been a Christian since 1977 and recently retired. Has been a minister for 35+ years and a lay minister the past 10 years. He served at the Solid Rock Foundation, First Baptist Church / Bakersfield Christian Life Center, First Assembly, Bethel Assembly, Arvin Assembly, and Twin Oaks Community Church. Many of you might know him from Martin's Stockdale Pharmacy. He was the youngest of the three brothers. He also worked at PartyWorks. The last ten years he has worked for JE Electric and Construction Services Inc as a project manager and bidder. He graduated from Bakersfield High School class of 1975. A graduate of Berean College with degrees in Bible and Doctrine and one in Ministry Studies.

Glynda, has been a Christian since a young age and is retired now. She has worked as a preschool director at Stockdale Christian Preschool, An elementary teacher at Bessie Owens and Standard elementary schools. She became the vice principal and principal at Standard Elementary. Upon finishing her masters she became an administrator for the Standard School District. She was the past board president for the Kern Reading Association, the Guild House and the Henrietta Child Guidance Clinic. Graduated from Taft High class of 1973. Earned a BA and Masters from CSUB. She currently volunteers for the Guild House.

"Study to show yourself approved unto God....rightly dividing the word of truth."

As Christians, we are called to study the Bible. To do this a person will often, use commentaries and other Christian books to help with understanding the Bible. These books help to give us a better perspective of verses in the Bible. Christians Library of Bakersfield will be a place where all people can access Christian books, from research books to general subject Christian books. It will be a place to sit and study. Or come and check out books to take home.

Christian Library of Bakersfield 3671 Rosedale Hwy

Help young families with the raising of their kids for Christ, by becoming a monthly supporter of the Library. The Library is the only place were families can get Christian books for their kids for free.

Thank you for all your prayers. Our Lord has provided a Location 3671 Rosedale Hwy

Your donations have made the opening of the Library a reality now we are raising funds for the monthly operation expenses, would you make a donation today.

We are a Federal 501c3 non-profit charity

Our mailing address is:

Christian Library of Bakersfield

8200 Stockdale Hwy STE M-10 #317

Bakersfield CA 93311

Volunteer

Do you love books? Do you love meeting other people who also love books? Do you love the excited expression on a child's face when they get a new book to read? Do you love helping people grow in their Christian walk? THEN BECOME A LIBRARY VOLUNTEER.

Email the Library at, christianlibraryofbakersfield@gmail.com or Tom at tmgm814@aol.com and we will send you a Volunteer Application

Ways to support the Christian Library of Bakersfield

The Christian Library of Bakersfield

is a Federal recognized 501c3 non-profit charity and a California Non-Profit Corporation.

As a Non-Profit Charity we accept and appreciate all donations for operating expenses.

We have received the donated funds for opening of the Library, and will open at the end On Friday June 20th

3671 Rosedale Hwy, between Tastries Bakery and John's Incredible Pizza

We are also seeking donations of Christian books,

Call Tom and he will pick items up.

661-978-7359

Please continue to join us in prayer for ongoing funding and donations towards the operating expenses utilities, internet, or other expenses.

Our success comes from people like you getting behind the Library and investing in this special ministry.

Use the donate button in this website

Mail donations to our mailing address:

Christian Library of Bakersfield

8200 Stockdale Hwy STE M-10, #317

Bakersfield California 93311

Donate New and Used Christian Books

We need all types of Christian books especially Christian Children books. It is our goal to fill the library with all types of Christian subjects.

Books are getting so expensive and we want to help parents be able to provide Christian Children books to their kids for free. So, we are asking you to please donate new and used Christian Children books or make a financial donation ear marked for the purchase of Christian Children books. Use the donation button to make a donation today.

All donated books will be reviewed by staff members before being shelved for public use.

Drop off boxed books to be donated at the UPS Store in the Town & Country Shopping Center,

8200 Stockdale Hwy. Sp. STE-10,

at the corner of Stockdale Hwy. and Coffee Rd, or at the Library, once we open on June 20th. 3671 Rosedale Hwy.

Book Selection

The Library's has over 12,000 books. Our Book Selection will be made up of books supporting all Evangelical churches who believe and teach salvation by grace through faith in Christ's saving work on the cross.

Baptist, Presbyterian, Nazarene, Methodist, Mennonite, Evangelical, Congregationalist, Assembly of God, Independent Fundamental, Disciples of Christ, Missionary Alliance, Church of Christ, Episcopal, Community Churches, Church of God, Lutheran, Independent, Non-Denominational, Calvary Chapel, Pentecostal, Bible Churches, Foursquare, and Church of God.

AUTHORS

We have books from these authors and many more.

Charles Swindoll, Joni Erickson Tada, Charles Spurgeon, Warren W. Wiersbe, G. Campell Morgan, Ray C. Stedman, Max Lucado, David Jerimiah, Philip Yancey, Larry Crabb, Charles Stanley, C. S. Lewis, John Piper, George O. Wood, John Wesley, J. Dwight Pentecost, John R. Stott, J. Oswald Sanders, D. Martin Lloyd-Jones, James Montgomery Boice, William Barclay, R. T. Kendall, John MacArthur, William Hendriksen, John Philips, H. A. Ironside, N. T. Wright, Leon Morris, C. F. D. Moule, R. Kent Hughes, Darrell L. Bock, Manford G. Gutzke, J. C. Ryle, D. A. Carson, D. L. Moody, Jerry Bridges, J. Vernon McGee, Lewis Sperry Chafer, John Bunyan, J. I. Packer, William Law, A. W. Pink, Jonathan Edwards, F. B. Meyer, Charles C. Ryrie, G. Campbell Morgan, F. F. Bruce, R. C. Sproul, Chuck Smith, Donald G. Barnhouse, Charles, G. Finney, Charles, H. Talbert, Charles Hodges, Kenneth L. Chafer, Gorden Fee, C. Peter Wagner, John R. W. Stott, R. Kent Hughes, Charles Hodges, Martin Luther, J. B. Lightfoot, John F. Walvoord, Lloyd John Ogilvie, Charles R. Erdman, Kenneth S. Wuest, Donald Guthrie, Gene A. Getz, Larry Richards, David L. Allen, George E. Ladd, John Calvin, A. B. Simpson, Barnes, R. A. Torrey, A. W. Tozer, John Wesley, John R. Rice, Norman Geisler, J. I. Packer,W. A. Criswell, Henry Morris, Ken Ham, Duane T. Gish, Chuck Missler, E. M. Bound, Lee Strobel, Jay E. Adams, Greg Laurie, Josh McDowell, Francis A. Schaeffer, Andrew Murry, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Richard J. Foster, Beth Moore, Billy Graham, Watchman Nee,

Tony Evans, Randy Alcorn... and many more authors.

Mailing Address and Book Drop Off Location

Send correspondence to

8200 Stockdale Hwy. Ste M-10 #317

Bakersfield, CA 93311

This is our mailing address only.

Drop off boxed Christian books donations at the

USP Store at Town and Country Shopping Center.

8200 Stockdale Hwy. Bakersfield, CA. Once the Library is opened on June 21st, books can be dropped off at the Library location 3671 Rosedale Hwy.

"...Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for the reason for the hope that is within you..." I Peter 3:15.

The picture to the right is just one of the Library's section of books. You will find in this area General books on being a Christian along with popular authors. We have books to answer any questions you may have about being a Christian or the Christian Theology or Faith.

Tom's Ministery Path

Tom has served the Lord in a Coffee House Ministry called The Solid Rock Foundation. He worked with youth and single adults at First Baptist Church of Bakersfield, He received his license to be a minister and ministered at First Assembly of God Bakersfield, Bethal Assembly of God, and

Arvin Assembly of God.

He has preached in churches from Orange County to San Fransico. He has filled in for Pastors at various churches, has been an Adult Sunday School Teacher, also ministering as a Sunday Night Teacher and a Wednesday Night Teacher. Often Tom would be teaching several times a week. He was a Pastor, Junior High Minister, a High School Minister, Single Adult Minister, and as a Couples minister.

Tom was a credentialed minister with the Assembly of God of Southern California for 30+ years, until about 10 years ago when he became a lay teacher and worked as an electrician During this time, he continued to study, share his faith, and wait on the Lord. He strongly feels his next step in ministry, when he retired in April of 2024, is to start and run the Christian Library of Bakersfield.

It is his goal to help provide a place for learning

to support the Christians of Bakersfield in their spiritual growth from wherever they are in their walk with God.

Tom has always had a special place in his heart for

people entering the ministry, especially lay ministers,

and understands that having a place to study, having

a place where research books easily accessible to

make the difference in one’s Christian growth.

Tom and his wife Glynda currently attend Valley Baptist Church.

Grand Opening

The Library's GRAND OPENING will be Friday June 20th 12:00 to 8:00 and Saturday June 21st 9:00 to 5:00 Come and be a part of this new ministry for our Lord Jesus

You Made The Library Happen

You Made It Happen, Thank You

We are having our Grand Opening Friday June 20th, 12:00 to 8:00 and Saturday June 21st 9:00 to 5:00

Join us in prayer that our Lord will continue bringing

together those who want to see the Library meet its monthly needs,

through donations and volunteering.

Help us by checking to see if your church would help us gather books. Call Tom today at 661-978-7359

I want to thank again Valley Baptist Church and Riverlakes Community Church for all the books they have donated.

Pray for the Christian Library of Bakerfield

Colossians 4:2 reminds us to "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving."

Please join us in prayer that God will provide through His followers the financial needs to make the library possible.

Pray for Christian Book Donations

That Christians will continue donating their used and new Christian books.
That retired ministers find it in their hearts to donate their loved libraries,
That family members will consider donating the libraries of their passed loved ones to ensure their family's books will continue to minister to others.
The on-going donations of children's books. The library would like books for children of all ages.

Pray for the Perfect Library Location

That we will find the perfect location for the library. A safe place where library patrons and library staff will feel comfortable being at.

Pray for Volunteers

Pray for volunteer to be available to work the hours the library will be opened.
Pray for willing volunteers to process and shelf books.

Why a Christian Library

Provide a Place to Encourage Christian's Growth.

To provide resources to assist in a Christian’s growth and a person's understanding of the Bible.
Books are expensive many cannot afford to buy scholarly Christian books. When books are available, one can expand their mind of learning and growing in Christ.
People can find simple lessons or answers by using the internet. But the internet is only giving snippets of information, it is hard to do in deep Bible studies, The speed of comparing and searching a topic is much easier when one can open several books at once.
There are many authors that God has given insight to, whose insight would never be found by surfing the web. It’s hard to look up scholarly teachers or teaching on the internet if one is unfamiliar with the most trusted Biblical Scholars. By having these scholars' books in one location, a Christian will have more opportunities to be informed and find the truths they are seeking.

A PlaceFor You To Strengthen Your Beliefs

What You Believe

Use the Library to reinforce your beliefs in God and Christ. and to explore and develop a deeper understanding of the many subjects found in the Bible. Most Christian churches believe much the same way in dealing with certain aspects of the Christian life. Beliefs like the virgin birth of Jesus, Christ living a sinless life, that Jesus died for man's sins on the cross, was buried and rose again after 3 days, that the Word of God was inerrant in its original manuscripts, and the Holy Spirit was given in Acts at Pentecost. But there are many other doctrines and beliefs that make up different denominations. The library has the materials you can use to explore these differences.

The picture to the right is a collection of books under the "VIEW" section. They compare different different views on subjects like... "4 views on the Millenium", "5 views on Repentance", the "3 views of the Rapture", The "4 views of the Seven Churches of Revelation", etc. They represent the 32 different views of some Bible teachings that make up the different Evangelical Denominations.

A Place to Help the Non-Christian Find Hope

A Place for Atheist and Agnostics to Find the Truth

If you have ever read any of the books about Atheist or Agnostic becoming a Christian, you will notice that they all had one thing in common. They had access to Christian Research Books. These books include works on the Church and Jewish History, Science, Creation vs Evolution, Biblical Archaeology and histories, books about how the Bible came to be, why Christianity is different from all other religions and the most important why does a loving God allow pain, suffering and evil. So, I am praying that we will be able to provide these skeptics with scholarly books on the subjects that will help to lead them to Biblical truths and to Christ.

Building the Book Inventory

Current Book Selection

Tom's goal is to ensure that the library is stocked with

Scholarly books that meet the needs of Christians in any Evangelical Church or Denomination.

This is an old picture of the storage space the books are stored in. We have added over 40 more boxes of books since this picture was taken. We are now pushing close to 10,000 books.

You will find books from writers that are Baptist, Presbyterian, Nazarian, Methodist, Luteran, Congregational, Assembly of God, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Independent. Calvin or Armenian.
There are books that discuss the differences between Evangelical churches.
There are close to 1,500 commentaries on different books of the Bible.
We Need Christian Children Books. For Our Book Selection, Getting More Children Books is the Priority

Christian Library of Bakersfield

What A Blessing From God!

This Is 9-Year-Old Sophie

Join Us

Become a Friend of the Library with your monthly support.