Our History
In the middle of the last century, Dr. Calvin Katter took regular safari trips to Africa. He would bring along Christian literature to distribute to the contacts he made there.
This led to him recruiting his friends from Minnesota to collect and ship gospel literature to believers in need in the places he visited. Dr. Katter and his friend Clifford Anfinson began accumulating donated books in their garages.
In 1961 they incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit ministry. Global Gospel Books (GGB), formerly ICLD, outgrew several small locations in the early years, and since the mid-80’s has been at the Chicago Ave. location in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Over the years leadership has passed to others who also saw the value of this work.
Our Mission
All over Africa, Asia and elsewhere, growing churches are hungry for biblical literature. But in many nations it is either not available or too costly to purchase. Making use of the surplus of Christian materials in the United States, GGB blesses these needy believers at no cost to them. We ship primarily to English-speaking areas of the developing world. They plead with us for Bibles, reference works, devotionals, as well as evangelism, discipleship and Sunday school materials. We respond to their requests as we are able. Our ultimate purpose is to spread the message of Christianity far and wide.
Our Volunteers
Throughout its history GGB has prospered due to a team of dedicated volunteers who believe in its mission. Our workers gather weekly to sort, package and ship materials, while others labor offsite on supporting tasks. Many of our workers are retirees who contribute for years and decades until the Lord calls them home. GBB is non-denominational and our helpers come from a range of church backgrounds, including some former overseas missionaries. GBB has no paid staff; everyone donates their time.
Our Financials
GBB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Both the literature we send and the money to ship it all comes from many generous donors across America. In addition, we are given new overstocked material printed by Christian bookstores and publishers. All donations of literature and money are tax deductible, and receipts are given. GGB has no paid staff and spends nothing on fund raising. About 80% of the money donated goes toward postage, the cost of shipping boxes of books overseas. The remaining 20% goes toward supplies, equipment and our building.
