Literature

Lyn Flett, Campbell Fountain, Lindsay Knowles, Peter Lemmon, R Murray McNae (Chairman), Bruce Stormer.

Head Office: 134 King Street,

Palmerston North, NZ

Postal Address:

PO Box 74,

Palmerston North, NZ
Phone: 06 355 2297
Fax: 06 358 7465
E-mail: admin@gph.co.nz

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History
In May 1900, Edward Whitehead opened his Bible and Tract Depot at 484 Main St, Palmerston North. He printed tracts and leaflets for the growing Christian community. The demand was significant.

In 1911 Edward sold his business - by that time called the Gospel Publishing House - to James G Harvey, a printer. James continued in the same business for four decades and spent much time with the help of staff in ministry aspects of the Treasury magazine and NZ Missionary Funds.

With the aim of perpetuating the business, a group of James' friends and family joined him in forming a non-profit business. As a result, the Gospel Publishing House Society was incorporated in February, 1949.

NZ society has changed since those days along with technology and methods but the Lord's people still need spiritual encouragement and Bible-based food. GPH exists today to help provide such nourishment.

Question:
What do the letters GPH stand for today?
Answer:
The same Society that for many years has promoted the Gospel and provided access to high-class Christian publications. (The original initials stood for Gospel Publishing House) The emphasis has changed from printing and publishing to supplying huge numbers of books to retailers such as Koorong in Australia and Manna and other Christian book retailers in New Zealand.

Question:
How does it do this?
Answer:
GPH's wholesale divisions in both New Zealand and Australia, source and import large quantities of Christian books and gift products. As a wholesaler GPH representatives visit and supply many retailing bookstores throughout both countries - some of which include Koorong, Word, Sonshine, CLC etc etc.

Question:
Is GPH just a commercial business?
Answer:
No! It is passionately interested in serving and ministering to the needs of the Christian community and especially Brethren churches. It assists them with ministry items such as the TREASURY magazine, Friendship calendars, Calendars for Prisoners and literature projects.

Question:
Does GPH still print tracts and literature?
Answer:
No. Specialist printers and expensive machinery are needed for the many different products required by GPH and so the printing factory was sold. This allowed resources to be used in other areas and overcomes the constant burden of maintaining and upgrading printing presses and allied machines.

Question:
What motivates the leadership of the Society and where do its members and directors come from?
Answer:
The Society endeavours to minister to Brethren churches and encourage the Christian community. It is led by members and directors drawn from various Open Brethren assemblies throughout New Zealand.

Question:
What is GPH's mission?
Answer:
GPH exists to make Christian product and information available to help individual Christians and churches be effective in their mission.

Question:
What is GPH's vision?
Answer:
To be a top service provider to the Christian church.

Question:
What are GPH's guiding principles?
Answer:

How green is Your faith?
by Rob Gray

Adversity
by Margie Willers

Israel as we found it (2)
by Ron Diprose

One church's reaction to special need
by Margie Willers

International disasters
Source: Barnabas Fund
 

The widow and the judge
by Dennis Thorp
 

Elders - what should we expect of them?
by Chris Hanham
 

God at the MCG
by Mark Edgecombe