TES:Barb Gardner's testimony

   On November 1, 1974, Jacob's Well Bookstore opened it's doors for
the first time. Now 15 years later as I look back, I can hardly believe
it has really been that long. The years have been good to us and the
Lord has been so wonderfully there all the way, guiding, leading and
greatly blessing.

   It all began in March of 1970 when I received Jesus Christ into my
life as my personal Lord and Savior. I had always been a church going
person and had a knowledge of God and spiritual things but it wasn't
until that spring that I began to read the Bible and came to know
through the witness of friends that being a Christian is more than
church and religion. It is believing in Jesus Christ and in what He did
for me at the cross. It is receiving Him into my life and using His
power within to live a life of honor and service to Him.

   Two years before, my youngest son Michael was diognosed as having a
very rare, degenerative brain disease and in April of 1974 he went to
be with the Lord. A few months after his death a friend, Lee Davis, and
I decided to open a Christian Bookstore. We were both fairly new
Christians and neither of us knew anything about books or authors or
running a business but we had the Lord and many friends who prayed,
encouraged and helped. We chose the name Jacob's Well because it was
there according to John 4: 5-30 in the Bible that Jesus met the
Samaritan woman and led her to the living water that would give her
eternal life. She received that life and went from the well to tell
others and to bring them back to meet Jesus. We wanted our store to be
a place of spiritual refreshment where people could come to find the
Lord, to discover answers to their problems and to be encouraged to
lead others to Christ and to the living water that springs up into
everlasting life.

   Starting out with 21 boxes of books and Bibles, a few gift items and
some handmade (with love) shelves and fixtures, we set up shop in
Lexington Park on Shangri La Drive. In the beginning our small stock
didn't begin to fill the 900 sq. ft. display area that was available to
us. But, before long we began to grow both in stock and in added space.
After a few years, Lee retired from the bookstore work to care for her
growing family. I have continued to go on with the management of the
store still learning as I go and grow. Today, still in the same
location, we have been able to expand to the full extent of the
building- a very full 2250 sq. ft. God is so good!!!

   I am so grateful today for what the Lord has given to me through the
work and ministry of Jacob's Well. I have come to know and love so many
wonderful Christians who's friendships will forever be of great value
to me. I'm so thankful for Lee and her hardwork and encouragement that
help ed get it all started, for friends who have always been there
whenever the need arises, for all "my girls" behind the counter, and
especially for you - the customers - the important ones who keep it all
going. Thanks !!
