Why ABH? Equipping the Unequipped

by Jessica Helm

Why would a newly married mother of three who juggles two jobs decide to join the team at Authenticity Book House (ABH)? If you know anything about ABH you likely know something about the president, Fran Joslin. Fran is not just a boss, she’s a friend, mentor, and all-around amazing human being. When Fran offered me a part time job at ABH, I couldn’t say no. Not only has Fran been a rock for me in tough times, but also the mission of ABH speaks straight to my soul—equipping the unequipped.

I hesitated to follow the Lord’s will at one point in my life because I felt unprepared. Little did I know, Jesus speaks into that. “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 ESV).

Let me take you back to the spring of 2019, a time when my life felt like a rollercoaster. My first marriage ended, I became a single mom, and my daughter’s school (where I worked) decided to close. Talk about when it rains it pours! But amidst the chaos, God planted a seed in my heart—the idea of becoming the administrator of a Christian school. My initial reaction? “Lord, are you sure you’ve got the right person? I’m not qualified. Why would you choose me?” I have since come to realize that God often uses unlikely individuals to carry out his work.

After learning about the school’s closure, a group of parents and I gathered to pray and discuss the possibility of starting our own homeschool cooperative (or even a private school). It’s funny how life throws curveballs at you, but sometimes those curveballs lead you to unexpected blessings. As a group of parents, we landed on opening a private Christian school. The other parents elected me to run it! I asked God to provide the resources and equip me. These challenges led to many days on my knees in prayer. Boy did God deliver!

Doors flew open, a team of wise counselors appeared, and opportunities to grow professionally and spiritually abounded. Amazingly, God orchestrated the skills on my resume to prepare me for future opportunities. My journey in Christian education came to an end, but I found myself at ABH, not just helping a friend, but becoming a part of something bigger than myself.

I feel a deep personal connection to the mission of reaching rural pastors that ABH serves. Just as God placed the right people and resources in my life to start a Christian school, he now uses ABH to empower rural pastors to spread the gospel in their own communities. It’s like a divine game of connect-the-dots, and I feel pure gratitude to participate in it.