OUR HISTORY
CBU began in the early 1970s as a Christian book distributor, placing gospel-centered resources in secular shopping centers. Through Spirit-filled Bible-teaching conferences, God opened unexpected doors for international ministry. Over time, what started as a book ministry grew into a global gospel movement, focused today on reaching Europe with the hope of Christ.
Humble Beginnings, Bold Vision
At the height of the charismatic renewal, CBU was born through the unlikely partnership of two men.
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Ivery Haynes, an IT professional, launched Christian Books Unlimited to reach people with the gospel by placing Christian books where they lived and shopped.
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Jim Jackson, a successful businessman, encountered Jesus in a life-changing way at a Montreat, NC conference. Ivery met Jim soon after and challenged him to “work for God.” Jim accepted—and everything changed.
In November 1974, CBU hosted its first Bible conference in the historic Anderson Auditorium at Montreat. Featuring Bob Mumford, Kathryn Kuhlman, and Jamie Buckingham, the event drew over 3,000 attendees and launched CBU’s conference ministry, which thrived for the next four decades.
From Conferences to the Nations.
In 1989, CBU World Missions was established to help U.S. believers engage in short-term mission work. But in 1990, God opened an extraordinary door behind the Iron Curtain.
Even before the fall of the Soviet Union, Tom Jackson led evangelistic outreaches in Ukraine, planting churches in cities like L’viv, Ternopil, and Novodnistrovsk. This marked the beginning of CBU’s long-term focus on gospel advance in post-Christian regions.
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Since then, CBU has worked to establish churches in Scotland, partnered with pastors across Europe, and continued to respond to God’s leading in strategic places around the world.
TIMELINE OF CBU-SPONSORED CHURCH PLANTING IN EUROPE:
Churches planted out of these churches:
Ukraine: Buchach, Sokyriany, Angelivka, and Berezhany
Spain: Torrevieja
