Appeal for help to stay in business prompts donations from churches and retailers

A longtime Christian store has received "a big response" to an e-mail S.O.S. appeal for help to stay in business.

Located six miles north of Detroit, His Hand Christian Bookstore in Warren, Mich., has been open for 35 years, but was in danger of having to close its doors because it was about $50,000 in debt.

"It's not just the economy," owner Betty Stutzky wrote in an e-mail circulated in January. "It's the big chain stores, the Internet and maybe apathy."

Stutzky—who wrote the e-mail along with her husband, Harold, and granddaughter, Julie Rastelli, both of whom work at the store—sought donations for their 1,600-square-foot store. Harold Stutzky said that the store's $1,700 monthly rent was paid for February, largely from donations received after Christian Retailing reported about their situation.

"We got a big response," he told Christian Retailing. "We've gotten calls from Portland, Ore., New Orleans and Georgia, to name a few. We've received over $10,000, and it's still coming in.

"People are sending us notes and scriptures," he added. "Six Christian stores and former retailers have sent us money. One gave us $100. They understand what we're going through because they're going through the same thing. … It makes us feel really good. If this wouldn't have happened, we would have closed on Feb. 1."

Noting that more than 150 people, churches and Christian retailers "followed their heart and sent a gift,' Harold Stutzky said they were "forever thankful" for the response and were "praying for wisdom to use the gifts wisely to further God's kingdom."

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