Christian Library of Bakersfield

3671 Rosedale Hwy

Between Tastries Bakery and John's Incredible Pizza

christianlibrary

@christianlibraryofbakersfield.org

Library 661-748-1022

Meet Our Founder / Director

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

About Our Founder & Director: Tom Martin

Tom Martin, Founder and Director of the Christian Library of Bakersfield, attends Valley Baptist Church with his wife, Glynda. Tom has been a follower of Christ since 1977 and recently entered retirement. He has served in ministry for more than 35 years, followed by 10 additional years as a lay minister. Over the decades, he has ministered at the Solid Rock Foundation, First Baptist Church / Bakersfield Christian Life Center, First Assembly, Bethel Assembly, Arvin Assembly, and Twin Oaks Community Church.

Many in the community may also remember Tom from Martin’s Stockdale Pharmacy, where he was the youngest of the three Martin brothers. He later worked with PartyWorks and, for the past ten years, served as a project manager and bidder for JE Electric and Construction Services Inc.

Tom is a proud graduate of Bakersfield High School, Class of 1975. He went on to earn degrees in Bible & Doctrine and Ministry Studies from Berean College.

About Glynda Martin

Glynda Martin has been a Christian since childhood and is now enjoying retirement. Her career in education has been wide‑ranging and deeply impactful. She served as Preschool Director at Stockdale Christian Preschool, taught at Bessie Owens and Standard Elementary Schools, and later became Vice Principal and then Principal at Standard Elementary. After completing her master’s degree, she continued her leadership as an administrator for the Standard School District.

Glynda has also given back to the community through service on several boards, including as past president of the Kern Reading Association, the Guild House, and the Henrietta Child Guidance Clinic.

She graduated from Taft High School, Class of 1973, and earned both her BA and Master’s degrees from California State University, Bakersfield. Today, she continues to volunteer her time at 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 or Mail donations to our mailing address: Christian Library of Bakersfield 8200 Stockdale Hwy STE M-10, #317 Bakersfield California 9331

Donate New and Used Christian Books

We Need Christian Books—Especially for Children

We are working to fill the Christian Library of Bakersfield with a wide variety of Christian books, and Christian children’s books are one of our greatest needs. Books have become so expensive, and we want to help parents provide Christ‑centered reading for their children at no cost.

To make this possible, we are asking for donations of new or gently used Christian children’s books, or financial gifts designated specifically for purchasing children’s materials. You can use the donation button to give today.

All donated books will be reviewed by our staff before being added to the shelves for public use.

Where to Drop Off Book Donations

Please bring boxed book donations to:

The UPS Store – Town & Country Shopping Center
8200 Stockdale Hwy., Suite 10
(Corner of Stockdale Hwy. & Coffee Rd.)

You may drop them off directly at the library:

Christian Library of Bakersfield
3671 Rosedale Hwy.

Book Selection

The Library's has over 23,000 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.

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

3671 Rosedale Hwy

During Library Hours

"...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.

We Are Now Open

Tuesday 10 to 6

Wednesday 10 to 6

Thursday 10 to 6

.Friday 10 to 6

Saturday 10 to 5

Closed

Sunday and Monday

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

Providing Resources That Lead Seekers to Truth

If you have ever read the testimony of an atheist or agnostic who became a Christian, you may have noticed something they all share in common: access to solid Christian research materials. These individuals often found answers through books on Church and Jewish history, science, Creation vs. Evolution, biblical archaeology, the formation and reliability of Scripture, the uniqueness of Christianity among world religions, and—perhaps most importantly—why a loving God allows pain, suffering, and evil.

My prayer is that the Christian Library of Bakersfield will be able to offer these same kinds of scholarly, trustworthy resources to today’s seekers and skeptics. By providing books that thoughtfully address these deep questions, we hope to guide searching hearts toward biblical truth—and ultimately toward Christ Himself.

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 23,000 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 2,100 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

Join Us

Become a Friend of the Library with your monthly support.

What A Blessing From God!

Our New Winter Hours