When you walk into any one of the many Adventist Book Center (ABC) locations, chances are you’ll be greeted by pleasant gospel music in the background, friendly employees, and row after row of Christian books, movies, Bibles, study guides, kids’ games, and more.
This may sound similar to other Christian bookstores you’ve been to. So what makes Adventist Book Centers different? Here’s some background information about why we Adventists are so fond of our ABCs.
The story begins just over a decade after the Seventh-day Adventist Church was organized.
How did Adventist Book Centers start?
The Christian bookstores that became nicknamed “ABCs” had their humble beginnings in 1874. The still-young Seventh-day Adventist Church was active in sharing its newfound scriptural truths and formed several “tract and missionary societies” to hand out evangelistic literature.
As the literature collection grew, these tract societies established Adventist bookstores, since both material and demand were steadily increasing. Back then, they called them “Book and Bible Houses.” By 1972, they were referred to as Adventist Book Centers.
At first, the Southern Publishing Association was appointed to oversee the collective efforts of ABCs. Eventually, the larger Pacific Press Publishing Association took on the responsibility and still manages all ABC stores in the United States. Since then ABCs and other Adventist-owned bookstores have been established throughout the world.1
Their mission?
To spread the Advent message of Jesus’ second coming. And to make this message of hope accessible to as many people as possible, they produced Christian literature, music, church resources, videos…and the list continually grows.
What do they sell at the ABC?
The ABCs’ goal is to be a one-stop shop for Christian media, as well as gifts, games, toys, and other popular items, but with a Christian message and emphasis.
Photo by Heather Ford on Unsplash
Some of the highest-selling items are:
- Bibles (multiple translations available)
- Devotionals
- Christian testimonies and autobiographies
- Bible study guides
- Sabbath school lessons
- Vegetarian cookbooks
- Guidebooks to healthy living
- Christian music, movies, and documentaries
- Supplemental Bible study materials (journals, pens, highlighters, flashcards, bookmarks, etc.)
- Biographies of Christian & historical figures
- Christian fiction (based on historical or biblical events)
- Books by Adventist Church co-founder, Ellen White
- Christian decor and gifts (posters, mugs, pens, and notebooks)
- And…food!
Yes, food! Many Adventist Book Centers carry vegetarian or other health food products, such as soy curls.
As far as the book selection goes, contemporary Christian authors may be featured alongside numerous books from the two major Adventist publishing companies, Pacific Press and the Review & Herald. You can find books dedicated to each major age group, and different language translations are available for some of the more popular titles.
And if you can’t find what you’re looking for in the store, some Adventist Book Centers in Africa have websites for making online orders. For example, the Adventist Book Center in Nairobi provides a link to a website with more resources available in Kenya.
If you live close to an ABC, stop on in!
The Adventist Book Center is meant to be a resource for your Bible study and Christian media needs. Find things for yourself or your family, or if you’re interested in sharing with your friends and neighbors, there are items to help with that, too.
This isn’t just another Christian bookstore. The staff are eager to help and are well-versed in matching a resource with whatever you’ve come in looking for. They can also help you get connected with a local church and provide information about other ministries and services that might be helpful.
Many major towns in Kenya have Adventist Book Centers. Since many of them don’t have websites, a quick search on Google Maps will bring up the ones nearest to you and provide you with contact information.
Other countries in Africa may have Adventist bookstores or publishing houses by other names. Visit the Adventist directory for more information.
If you’re interested in ordering books from the Adventist Book Center website, it offers information about international orders too.
Related Articles
- “Directory,” AdventistBookCenter.com. [↵]
More Answers
Do Seventh-day Adventists Celebrate Holidays?
Wondering whether your Seventh-day Adventist classmate or coworker keeps the same holidays you do? Perhaps you want to include them in some festivities, but you also want to make sure you respect their beliefs.
A Look at Adventist Colleges and Universities
On the outside, Seventh-day Adventist universities may not look much different than other college campuses. But the real differences are beneath the surface.
What Are Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs?
What Are Pathfinder and Adventurer Clubs?Like the boy or girl scouts, Pathfinders and Adventurers learn about nature and life skills. But what makes these clubs special is their purpose to bring young people closer to Jesus. If you’ve wondered about Pathfinder or...
What Is a Seventh-day Adventist Camp Meeting?
Although camp meetings didn’t begin with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they’re very common to Adventists.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe Only They Will Go to Heaven?
No, Adventists definitely don’t believe they’re the only ones that will go to heaven. As a matter of fact, we don’t believe admittance into heaven is ever based on which church or denomination we belong to. People all over the world from different Christian denominations, religions, and walks of life will be welcomed by Jesus Christ.
How Adventists Handle Death and Funerals
Most Seventh-day Adventist funeral services are similar to those of other Protestant denominations, such as Methodists, Baptists, or Presbyterians, but you might find a few differences or unique nuances.
Does the Adventist Church Have Youth Ministry Programs?
Does the Adventist Church Have Youth Ministry Programs?The Seventh-day Adventist Church has been organizing and operating youth ministry programs since 1879. In our opinion, youth ministry is one of the most important ministries a church can have. Being a tween or a...
How does one become a Seventh-day Adventist?
To be a Seventh-day Adventist Christian means to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. This means to recognize that Jesus alone can save you from sin and death (Savior) and to give Him full authority over your life (Lord and Master).
What Are Adventist Evangelistic Meetings?
The Seventh-day Adventist Church puts a huge emphasis on sharing the gospel through evangelism, or sharing the gospel through preaching, teaching, and testimony. One of the ways we accomplish this is by organizing public events called evangelistic meetings.
What Do Adventists Offer for Young Adults?
What Do Adventists Offer for Young Adults?In recent years, the age group often classified as “young adults” has been trickier to engage. It’s been a significant concern for Christian churches around the world. Though interestingly enough, similar observations...
Does the Seventh-day Adventist Church Believe in Paying Tithe?
Seventh-day Adventists believe in paying tithe and offerings based on the biblical command and our commitment to being wise stewards of God’s resources. These donations help fund the mission of the Adventist Church by supporting pastors, missionaries, church expenses, and evangelistic projects, among other things.
The Leadership Structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Leadership Structure of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church has a representative form of structure that connects its 90,000-plus congregations across the globe and gives its members a part in decision-making. Though the Church was...
Seventh-day Adventist World Population and Demographics
Did you know that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has more churches around the world than all the Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and Subway restaurants combined?
Do I Need to be an Adventist to be Saved?
The answer to this question is simply, “no.”
All about Adventist Elementary Schools
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates the largest Protestant education system in the world. A big part of this system is our K-8 elementary schools, or primary schools, as they’re known in other parts of the world.
Everything You Need to Know About Sabbath School
Sabbath School is the Bible study component of the church program at most Seventh-day Adventist Churches. It’s a time of Bible study on a specific topic or lesson. Instead of listening to a preacher, people interact with one another, making it a great opportunity for building friendships.
What Is Vespers?
Friday rolls around, and you’re spending time with your friends or relatives when they mention they’re going to vespers this evening.
Do Seventh-day Adventists Believe in Medical Care?
Adventists talk a lot about health principles and disease prevention. But how do we handle sickness and medical needs when they inevitably come along?
Do You Have to Be Vegetarian to Be Adventist?
Of course not. Membership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church has never included any dietary requirements.
How Do Adventists Do Baby Dedications?
For Christians, dedication ceremonies for babies are a special and memorable time for parents and the church. They often happen during a congregation’s main worship service when parents present their child before God and the church community, similar to how families did in the Bible.
What to Expect When You Go to an Adventist Church
If you’re attending an Adventist church for the first time, you may wonder what it’s really like. While each Adventist church is unique in its collective personality and local culture, Adventist church services are generally similar to most other Protestant Christian church services.
Everything You Need to Know About Sabbath Meals
For Seventh-day Adventists, sharing a Sabbath meal with friends and family is one of the most special and memorable parts of the Sabbath.
Why do Adventists Emphasize Religious Liberty?
Adventists see religious liberty as an essential human right. After all, God endowed humanity with freedom of choice from the very beginning. So we believe it’s best for governments to also support their citizens’ rights to worship based on their convictions.
All About Seventh-day Adventist Colporteurs
The Seventh-day Adventist Church uses a variety of methods to spread the hope of the gospel to the world. One of these ways is through colporteuring, also called “canvassing” or “literature evangelism.”
The Benefits of A Seventh-day Adventist Academy
Adventist academies are high schools (grades 9-12) that are owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Who Are Adventists
The Seventh-day Adventist Church—“Adventists” for short—is a Christian denomination of ordinary people who seek to follow Jesus and live out His mission in this world. Established in 1863, we hold to the Protestant principle of sola scriptura, which means the Bible guides everything we do.
Evangelism
Evangelism is simply sharing the truths of the Bible with someone else. And Adventists are all into it.
Adventist Pastors
What is the role of a pastor in the Adventist Church?
Do Adventists Celebrate Christmas?
In many parts of the world, Seventh-day Adventists celebrate Christmas as a way to remember the birth of Christ. In certain parts of Africa, though, Christmas is much more low-key for Adventists, having less to do with religion and more to do with family time.
Didn’t find your answer? Ask us!
We understand your concern of having questions but not knowing who to ask—we’ve felt it ourselves. When you’re ready to learn more about Adventists, send us a question! We know a thing or two about Adventists.
