Contact: Kathleen Skaar, Executive Director, Christian Library International, 919-212-8122, kskaar@cli-nc.org

RALEIGH, NC, June 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christian Library International announced today that as of June, 2009, they are now sending Christian books and Bibles to all 50 US states.

CLI was founded in 1996 to distribute used Christian books and Bibles and in 2003 began providing Christian books to prisons.

"It was like grabbing a tiger by the tail", says Missions Director Anders Skaar. The screaming need for Christian books in the prisons was undeniable. CLI grew from 32 outreaches to 200, then 400, then 900 and now over 1,000. "Two years ago we refocused the ministry exclusively on US prisons. We could clearly see the fruit in the letters we received from both chaplains and inmates. Prisons are the great evangelism opportunity of the 21st century!"

For example:

I just received the second shipment of books from you all! We were just now looking for a fresh supply and "bam" just on time. God is right on time isn't He? Thank you again for being obedient to His call for your life. Christian Library is in our prayers. Carry on and one day I'll see you when we get HOME, Chaplain Norman, Cleveland Correctional Center

and:

...I was in need of a Spanish Bible so of course I pray about it. Two weeks later the Lord answered my prayer and used your ministry to help. And (Praise God!), instead of just a Spanish Bible I got a bilingual version. Hallelujah! Now I hold a Spanish Bible Study in my wing. I pray that the Lord blesses your ministry. Inmate, Jose Garcia, Vacaville, CA

CLI receives book donations from Christian publishers, authors, churches, individuals, Christian schools and other ministries. To date, over 150 churches all over the US have sent their Christian books to CLI.

Based in Raleigh North Carolina, Christian Library International has recruited a team of volunteers to collect, sort and ship Christian books, answer the loads of inmate letters that arrive every week, review the CLI Leadership Bible Study with hundreds of inmates enrolled, visit churches to encourage them to do a "Christian Book Drive" and sponsor an annual Author-Dinner. Guest speakers have included Pat Robertson, Elizabeth Elliot, Gary Chapman, T. Davis Bunn and Evelyn Christenson.

CLI is currently partnering with several Family Christian Stores who ask their customers to purchase a prison Bible for CLI at the checkout counter. CLI has also received trucks of book donations from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and Prison Fellowship.

To see the list of prisons in each state, visit
www.cli-nc.org/ministries/prisons.html and click on "List of Prisons".

About Christian Library International
Christian Library International exists to glorify God by providing books, Bibles and other Christian resources for the purpose of turning their hearts to Him through Jesus Christ in love and faithful service. Today, Christian Library International distributes Christian books, free of charge, to over 1,000 US prisons, jails and youth detention centers. To learn more about CLI, go to the CLI website at www.cli-nc.org/ or call 919-212-8122.

Kathleen Skaar, Executive Director
Christian Library International
(919) 212-8122
kskaar@cli-nc.org
www.cli-nc.org