Circuit Rider Books is a unique mobile Christian book ministry that serves mainline Protestant churches and their members with book tables at conferences and individual orders. We specialize in books and resources seldom seen in local Christian bookstores, most often those published by mainline Protestant presses such as Abingdon, Augsburg, Chalice, Fortress, Judson, Morehouse, Pilgrim, and Westminster/John Knox. Quality children's books and music from the Taizé and Iona communities are also specialties. Circuit Rider Books is proud to join with non-profit associate The Kerygma Program to provide high-quality, in-depth Bible and theological studies to mainline protestant churches in the Northwest.

One of the hallmarks of Circuit Rider Books during its 20 year history has been its personal service to all its constituents. We plan to continue that tradition with this website: your inquiries and orders will be handled and responded to by a human being who will give personal attention to the needs of your event, your request for information, or your special request.

This results in both benefits and deficits for you. First, and foremost, you will be a person to us, not just a number or an account. You will be able to talk to us and work with us to meet your individual needs. We will be happy to special order any in-print book that you desire. We will take credit card payment information personally, not risk security breaches. However, as a small, personal, service-oriented organization, we cannot anticipate, nor can we stock every item you might desire. You will receive the items you want, but you will not get materials tomorrow.

History

Knowing from experience that books in the mainline Protestant tradition were hard to find in local Christian bookstores, a Methodist pastor in Spokane, WA, founded Circuit Rider Books in 1982. The store reached out to local churches, their members, pastors, and denominational bodies by supplying books for individuals, libraries, events, and conferences.

Book table services to conferences continued, even after the Spokane store closed its doors. Maintained for several years by Methodist pastors, Circuit Rider Books was eventually sold to Presbyterian elders. Under their tenure, demand for these services grew, and extended into Idaho and Oregon. In 1993, the business was so busy it was divided in two, with Idaho events being divided between the Oregon and Washington halves.

At the end of 1995, Circuit Rider Books of Washington closed its doors, leaving Circuit Rider Books of Oregon as the proud inheritor of this legacy of fine reading for mainline Protestant Christians. At that time, Circuit Rider Books of Oregon reassumed the traditional Circuit Rider Books name.

In recognition of 19 years of essentially volunteer ministry by its owners, Circuit Rider Books was incorporated as a non-profit organization on January 1, 2001. The Rev. Carolyn S. Hampton, formerly the owner of Circuit Rider Books, has been named Executive Director by the new organization's board of directors, and continues to supervise daily operations with the assistance of the board.