I confess. It is often very tempting to order books online from Amazon.

But I often find that ordering online is only a few dollars cheaper after shipping costs, and I totally missed walking into an inviting bookstore that smells of paper and freshly brewed coffee. I love to spend hours perusing shelves upon shelves of books that I actually hold in my hands. Walking into a local bookstore is like stepping into another dimension, but if we don’t support our local stores, they might one day be a memory of the “good old days”.

When our family moved to Wilmington four years ago, I was excited to move to a town that had Christian book stores. We had previously lived in Germany and in the Boston area. The only small Christian book store in our former home town had closed its doors unable to compete with an on-line retailer whose warehouse offered the ability to pick up orders on Fridays eliminating shipping costs. I love a good deal, but it was sad to see the little store close unable to compete with the lower prices of a warehouse.

What about you? Do you appreciate actually walking into a brick-and-mortar store to find just the right book, music, card, or gift? Do you enjoy the atmosphere and ministry a Christian bookstore provides?

If the answer is yes, then I have an assignment for you this week.

Participate in Christian Store Week September 28-October 8, by shopping at The Salt Shaker Bookstore and Café , Cox Christian Bookstore and other Christian stores in our area where special events will be held to celebrate locally owned Christian stores and help fight hunger in our city.

Christian Store Week is a national program launched by the Association for Christian Retail (CBA) and the Christian Music Trade Association to promote locally owned Christian stores, and they’ve also partnered with World Vision to raise awareness of world hunger.

An 18-title CD, "Lift Up: Artists and Authors Unite to Feed America’s Hungry Children," was made specifically for this cause. Artists include: Mac Powell, Big Daddy Weave, Sidewalk Prophets, Francesca Battistelli, Remedy Drive, and Kutless. Audio Books and e-Books are also on the CD. The cost is $5, and all proceeds will go to help the hungry in our world.

As a participant of the Christian Store Week, The Salt Shaker Bookstore and Cafe (I love this clever name for a Christian book store) will be hosting a community food drive in cooperation with two of Wilmington’s feeding ministries, First Fruits Ministries and Walking Together. Simply bring canned food and non-perishable items to The Salt Shaker when you come to shop.

“Because of the continuing recession and continued high unemployment, there is a growing need for local families and children to rely on community support,” said Claire Efird, owner of The Salt Shaker Bookstore and Café. “We want to help meet that need.”

The Salt Shaker Bookstore and Café will also celebrate Christian Store Week by hosting a book signing with Becky Shuford on October 6 and a concert with Wilmington Celebration Choir on Saturday (Sept. 29.)

For this one week, forego Amazon and support our local Christian bookstores. I love good reasons to shop!

For more information, call 910-350-1753.