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Customer outpouring saves beioved Main St. bookstore By MELANIE HENNESSEY The Champion An outcny from Multon's faith community and a godsend' from Toronto are being credited for keeping the Gospel Ligbtbouse bookstore's doors open after it came very close to sbutting down earlier this montb. Former store employee Debbie Leon said once the word got out that the downtown business could be closing, there was an outpouring from faithful cus- tomers who didn't avant to lose the.unique Christian store. "It was quite amazing for a little community." she said. "We just had a streamn of people comning in expressing bow sad they were the store was closing.' Marna Mudford, who owns a small chamn of the Lighthouse stores, said she'd planned on closing thse Milton location because ber two employees that oper- ated the business during the week quit and were both leaving at the saine tinte. Ms Leon noted tbey left for personal reasons. Ms Mudford said when il came tirne toi give the building's owner notice of their plans toi vacate and announce the closing sale, she just couldn't go through witb it. "Debbie contacted me te, say how sad everyone was that the store was closing," she said. But then Ms Mudford said ber prayers were answered by Joan Rogers, a woman from Toronto wbo camne along and wanted to work at the bookatore. 1 bave always had a desire in my heart su get involved wiîb a Christian bookstore," Ms Rogers sald. "God did a great miracle to bring me bere." Ms Rogers said she was visiting a friend in Campbellville recently when the local Christian book- store came up in a conversation. "She (my friend) was saddened because shte found out it was going to be closing," Ms Rogers said. Su the palr went to visit tbe store and shortly there- after, Ms Rogers was working there and living in Customers are thrllled the Gospel Llghthouse bookstore la staying open on Main Street. Milton. Ms Leon said when customers beard the store was- n't closing, tbey were tbrilled. "I still tbink it was junt amazing bow the communi- ty pulled togetber," she noted. It was customers' reactions to tbe store's potential closure, combined witb Ms Rogers showing up tbat Ms Mudford said were thec deciding factura for ber su keep tbe store open. Ms Leon and Ms Mudford both agreed tbat people's prayers also played a role in making sure the bookstore kept operating. "It worked out perfectly," sald Ms Mudford. "We're pleased because we just feel it's a real advantage to have a Christian booksture in the downtown area. We meet a unique need in the community." Ms Rogers said sbe's enjoying living in Milton and bas bad a lot of positive feedback frum those tbat stop by the store. "Customers bave been really glad tbat the store bas stayed open," sbe noted. Melanie Hennesaev con be reached ut mhen- nesse.v@miltonc-anadisnc'hampion.cos. Smartleasesae bse onn48tmlsand incud 80,000km wi $0.1 20er andareplus reigt d0w paymen (GE S245. Montans SV6 $4280. Nevada $3420. liensn and applicable ssee down on spproe n rdt CS ash n nce suxes and lcenseý Al ebates assigne nudar Sese deeane fo uomplet das. s 05 The Ca;nidian Chqmnion Tuesdav March 22. 2005-3