CLC began bookstores earlier this year in areas historically controlled by the Turkish empire before the Communist era. Muslims dominate the area, and Christians make up less than 2 percent of the population. Soviet holdovers in local authority make even the simplest transactions, like renting space, difficult. ILA experts from Britain to Bratislava now work together, consulting with groups like CLC and hoping to establish self-supporting Christian publishing houses across Central and Eastern Europe, with distribution points as well. Along the way, according to ILA associate Marsh Moyle, the group hopes to set a standard for Christian business practices and ministry just as it promotes a biblical worldview through literature.
Results are mixed.
In Bulgaria, New Man, a publishing house and ILA affiliate, got off to a rough start. First, legal problems arose because Bulgaria did not have a mechanism for registering nonprofits. Then the publishing house overestimated its market, leading to early financial losses. Both trouble spots have evened out, however, and New Man has published 84 titles in less than eight years. The report takes note of two areas of concern.