A Bible verse poster greets tourists at Portree

‘We were so encouraged and blessed to see your shop posters with the Word of God on display as we stepped off our ship.’

‘The first thing we saw when we set our feet on your island was the word of God and it made our day.’

Just two of the comments received by Isobel Macleod, who runs Blythswood’s shop on the quayside in Portree. “It’s always a delight to hear people read our Bible verse posters aloud,” she says. “As they either translate or explain to each other what they think the verses might mean, we pray that the words they read will be a blessing to them.”

Visited by cruise ships and holiday traffic, Portree on the Isle of Skye is a hotspot for tourists. Christians on holiday are surprised and pleased to find a selection of Christian books. “Many of them live in places where there are now no longer any Christian bookshops near them,” Isobel says. “They are pleased to have an opportunity to buy books, Bibles and cards.”

And local customers are appreciative, too. In the weeks before Easter, Blythswood’s shops offered customers a free copy of The Man on the Middle Cross by Alistair Begg. “People were very receptive,” Isobel says. “Some asked if they could take copies to give to their friends.”

Last summer, an Asian lady came into the shop with her family and Isobel heard them talking about the Bibles on display: “I went over to speak to them and quickly realised that she wanted one but that her husband did not want to spend money. So, I told her I had one which she could have for free.

“As I went to get it for her, the rest of the family left the shop. She was so delighted, she wrapped her arms around it and held it tight and whispered, ‘So precious, so precious, so precious.’ She told me she had been borrowing one from a library, but had to keep returning it and then wait to take it out again. She said she had no idea where to get one – ‘and here you are giving me one for free. This is so precious. Thank you, thank you, thank you.’”

Isobel admits that she, too, was profoundly affected by the incident. She says, “There are people living amongst us who don’t even know where they can find a Bible to read for themselves.”

Blythswood’s Chief Executive, Jeremy Ross says: “As Blythswood supports gospel ministry in other countries, I’m so pleased that people encounter the good news in our own shops, here at home.”