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by Jerry Bowyer

We used to publish books. I don't know when it started, and I don't know when it ended, but I know that in between, some wonderful books were published. This was possible back in the days when we were a major national ministry, but for the past several decades of decline, publishing has been out of the question. It's moving back to the realm of possibility.

Just a few years ago, the equipment needed to do typesetting cost upwards to $30,000. Last year we purchased a good desktop publishing system for about a tenth of that price. We can now typeset our own books right here in the Statesman office. Given the decline in printing costs over the past several years, it is now financially plausible for us to begin to publish again.

One problem is that the Christian book publishing market is flooded. Particularly in the Reformed world, there have been many new arrivals in the past few years, small operations taking advantage of the new desktop technology. I doubt that one in ten of them are making a profit. In order for us to enter this market and not be squandering our resources (your donations), we need to distinguish ourselves from the rest of the pack. We need a plan. As you might suspect, I have one.

Economists talk about the concept of comparative advantage, a technical-sounding phrase that simply means doing what you're best at. Japan would be stupid if it tried to create a thriving agricultural industry; they don't have the natural resources for it. The Ukraine, on the other hand, could excel in agriculture, given the right economic system. Some nations, regions, or even individuals have a comparative advantage over other nations, regions, or individuals. If you want to be successful, you should identify your comparative advantage and exploit it.

Our comparative advantage here at The Christian Statesman is size and relative speed. First, we are small; we don't have to mobilize a big bureaucracy in order to be effective. Second, as a magazine we must keep up with current events. I have to read many newspapers, newsletters, journals, and magazines in order to do The Christian Statesman, as well as to keep up with my radio show responsibilities. This forces me to stay informed. It is not a major problem for me, and if one current event is sufficiently major enough to go further than just a magazine article, we can write a small book about the topic.

Let me give you an example: Lately the United Way organization has been getting a lot of news coverage. I've been keeping an eye on this agency and I have found a lot that should concern Christians. What if I blocked two weeks out in my calendar and totally devoted myself to researching the topic and writing a short book? While I'm writing it, my wife could be typesetting it and designing the cover. In the meantime, we could have reserved a place in line with a print shop that could give us two or three weeks turnaround. Voila! A month or so after an issue hits the news, our book hits the market. We could even shorten that time span because over the years I have identified publications which tend to surface issues a few weeks before they hit the mainstream press.

Timeliness also helps get exposure in other ways. Radio and TV interview shows are always looking for people with books about currently hot topics. This could help us promote the agenda of the National Reform Association in otherwise barren territory.

We have another comparative advantage in that we have a history. Many fine books have been written under the auspices or influence of the National Reform Association (such as David McAllister's Christian Civil Government). These books are virtually unknown outside of our circles. Through reprinting we could introduce a world of solid Christian thinking to a brand new generation.

Along similar lines, I have an idea for a book project that I would like to hear your opinion about. Tentatively entitled Chronicle: How Christian Journalists Saw American History in their Times, this book would retell post bellum U.S. history by reprinting articles from The Christian Statesman around the great events of our nation. Many people would like to know what evangelicals were saying about the Civil War, the Federal Reserve, WWI and WWII, the Great Depression, the U.N., the civil rights movement, and Roe vs. Wade. You may be surprised to read how incredibly prescient our writers were about these matters. Augmented with introductions by contemporary historians, this book could be a very popular documentary history of America, especially with Christian and home schoolers and the general reader.

Before we take on book projects, though, we may want to begin with position papers published as booklets. For instance, a series dealing with applying biblical wisdom (see "Wisdom: The Solomon Strategy," on p. 23) to issues such as: the impact of alcohol abuse on our nation and how to minimize it; biblical solutions to criminal justice and prison overcrowding; a biblical view of tax policy; a Christian critique of national health care; environmentalism; biblical principles of local politics; taking your city for Christ. Examples could be multiplied.

If you like some of these ideas, or if you have some which have not been mentioned please let us know. Our mailbox is always open.

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