Almost all branch churches have to face, at one time or another, some soul-searching questions about their Reading Room: Why is our Reading Room here? Are we accomplishing our goals? Are we truly serving our community, or are we just existing? These moments of self-examination are often the precursor to progress—to the spiritual renewal and forward movement of a Reading Room that the challenges facing today 's world are demanding of us. It may take deep prayer and perseverance to bring those first yearnings for Reading Room renewal to fruition. But the results can't be overestimated. Out of a rekindling of love and gratitude for a Reading Room can come the kind of progressive steps that not only revitalize a branch church but bring practical blessings to the entire community. As an example, we present the following interview by contributing editor with , librarian of the downtown Reading Room of greater Atlanta, Georgia, for the past three years. It tells how one Reading Room overcame the belief of inactivity—and embraced progress.
Geraldine Schiering: We have a story to tell about progress in the jointly-maintained downtown Reading Room of greater Atlanta. Grace, when did the story begin?
Grace Young: About a year and a half ago. At that time this Reading Room was not showing much activity. We were questioning whether it should move, stay where it was, or even continue existing. This joint Reading Room is a very large investment, which branch churches fund in addition to their own Reading Rooms.
