Exciting year for Mid Norfolk Christian bookshop
Green Pastures Christian Bookshop in Dereham looks back on an exciting year during which they have not only given encouragement to others but have also been encouraged in their ministry in Norfolk and Suffolk.
In early October a young man spent some time browsing the Bibles in the
Norwich Street shop. After being guided by one of the managers, he made an appropriate choice and bought his own Bible. As he was leaving, he was asked why he wanted a Bible. He replied that he had been very low recently and only found peace when he talked with God: he wanted the Bible to find out more about God!
And that is not the only example of people of different ages and backgrounds being awakened unexpectedly to want to learn more about Jesus. Bible sales are strong as customers buy a copy for their own use or to give a copy to others. Further, two significant gifts have been received from supporters this year with the specific intention of helping people obtain a Bible - either free or at reduced cost. Despite bleaker aspects of our national life, God is at work in the UK and
Green Pastures counts it a privilege and joy to play a part in this.
At the 2025 Christian Resources Together Conference at Swanwick in September, managers Irene Humphrey and Helen Cockburn received the CRT Bookshop of the Year 2025 award. In accepting the award for Green Pastures, to the prolonged applause of the conference members, Helen commented: “What an encouragement! … This is the most fulfilling, wonderful, incredible job that we have ever done. What an encouragement, because we’ve been inspired, supported, blessed and encouraged.” The whole team at Green Pastures - managers, volunteers and trustees – also experienced that sense of encouragement.
The Encouraged by Encouragement theme has also found expression in the growth of Pop-up Shops. By prior invitation, Green Pastures takes a relevant selection of products from the Dereham shop to churches and events in Norfolk and Suffolk (and maybe Cambridge in 2026!). Display stalls are set up and staffed free of charge.
Monthly Pop-ups are currently held at the Norwich Salvation Army Citadel, St Giles (last Thursday of month 10am–2pm, Cornerstone Baptist Church, King’s Lynn (third Wednesdays, 10am – noon) and St Mary’s Parish Church in Bury St Edmunds (first Wednesdays, 10am – 2pm). St Mary’s churchwarden, Rosie Perham, commented: “It’s a joy to welcome the Green Pastures Team each month. As we set up for our mid-week service, they swiftly set up their wonderful Pop-Up Shop, professionally transforming a motley assortment of our tables to create a very attractive display of Christian books, cards and gifts, which would not otherwise be so readily accessible to our church and community.”
To develop this aspect of the shop’s ministry a Development Project 2025 runs to the end of the year. This will provide improved display, storage and carriage facilities to reduce the physical strain on those involved and to minimise damage to stock. Gifts to the Project have enabled Green Pastures to order selected books at volume and pass on the savings to customers with attractive pricing. In a few cases, titles have been made available free to a church on a donation basis.
Also, the Project has included a complete review of the shop’s external signage and publicity materials.
greenpasturesdereham.org.uk/project-2025
As we approach the Christmas season we rejoice in the ‘encouragement’ that God gave us in the gift of His Son, Jesus. Traditionally, this is a time when we seek to encourage others with gifts and cards. So many people come to Green Pastures – at the shop and at Pop-up Shops – and say how they value being able to buy Christian-themed cards and gifts which are rarely found in other retail outlets. And they often find unexpected encouragement: as manager Irene often says, “We are more than just a bookshop!"
2025 has been a year of challenge for Green Pastures in some ways but it has also been a time of experiencing God’s goodness and refreshment. Those who have supported and encouraged the ministry have enabled the encouragement of the Gospel to be brought to many individuals and groups in our part of East Anglia. Thank you.
Everyone is Encouraged by Encouragement.
Green Pastures Christian Bookshop, 20 Norwich Street, Dereham NR19 1BX
www.greenpasturesdereham.org.uk
01362 697953