Grace Covenant Ministries Trade Store
Why do you have a Trade Store?
The Trade Store is an opportunity to sell items at a highly discounted rate to people in the community who otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford them. The Trade Store sells clothing, shoes, household goods, kitchen items, furniture, appliances, tools, and much more! These items are all donated from non-profit organizations, churches and individuals from around the country, mostly from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Michigan. GCM pays for the fuel for the trucks to bring deliveries.
One of our largest suppliers and partners in ministry is Justice For All, centered out of Rock Valley, Iowa. They have been a partner in this ministry for decades. They bring a semi-truck load of deliveries 2-3 times each year. JFA not only delivers goods for our Trade Store, but they also partner with us in ministry by bringing short-term mission groups every year to help us in our mission to reach the lost with the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. For more on JFA see their website: https://jfa-nwiowa.org/
Another supplier and partner in ministry is American Grace Foundation led by Keith Ruter, or “Doc” as he is more affectionately called! Doc is a retired dentist who felt the call on his life in 1989 as he began collecting gently used home goods and clothing from his community. A few times each year he would bring those goods to Grace Covenant Ministries to donate them to the Trade Store. Those few times each year began to be once every month and then the Covid pandemic hit and there was fear that the work may not start up again. But, as God does, He not only made sure that the ministry would continue, but it has flourished! Doc and American Grace Foundation had to purchase more trucks and trailers as the calls came in for them to collect donations! Doc now averages one trip per week from Forreston, Illinois to Grace Covenant Ministries, a 500 mile trip each way! God is so good! For more information about American Grace Foundation, and how you can support this ministry, please see their website: https://www.americangracefoundation.org/
We also receive trailer-loads of donations from many of the groups who collect goods throughout the year and come to GCM to serve on short-term missions.
The Trade Store is a huge part of our ministry. First, it is an opportunity for us to minister to the community by selling items at a highly discounted price as well as giving us the opportunity to assist families who are in desperate need. In those cases they are given vouchers to use at the Trade Store to purchase things such as blankets, heaters, clothing and more. Secondly, the Trade Store gives us a opportunity to interact with members of the community. It is not unusual to see Trade Store Staff huddling around someone to pray with them or just being an ear to listen as they share the struggles of their lives. This opportunity is priceless as it allows us the time to share where they can find “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”! Finally, the Trade Store allows us to minister to the community by providing GCM with the funds to offer summer camps, operate the swimming pool, and offer other community-wide events that bring families on campus to share with them the redeeming love of Jesus Christ.
To all of you who donate to the Trade Store we say, “Thank-you”! Without you we could not operate this ministry!
If you have questions or would like to know more about how to donate to the Trade Store, please call (606) 364-5151 or email cdemers@gcmky.org
