The Birth of a Ministry

Long before the Children’s Wing was even a thought, before the auditorium renovation removed the blue carpets, white trim, and pews, Parkside leadership thought the church building should have a gathering space for people to meet, fellowship, and study on Sundays and throughout the week. That little thought led to the building of the Commons, and with it, our bookstore and cafe: Books By The Park and the Common Grounds Café. 

In November of 1999, everyone who had worked so hard for the bookstore’s opening hid inside, and among them was Gayle Kall, the bookstore’s first manager. In the darkness, she and her team waited as everyone at the evening service came toward the Commons. Then, on a signal, the lights turned on, the doors opened, the team came out, and they surprised and delighted the congregation with the bookstore and café’s first opening. Everyone enjoyed free coffee and perused the excellent resources lining the shelves. 

Since its beginning, the bookstore’s ministry has been to provide solid Christian teaching to Parkside Church and the community. George Thompsen, who helped set up the bookstore and trained its first manager, still assists them, meeting with publishers and choosing books that align with Scripture. Other books are recommended by pastors or come from gospel-focused and biblically based publishers, such as Crossway. 

These carefully curated resources aid the many people who come into the bookstore looking for help. Gayle Kall, Eileen Newcomb, and Christi Dorsey—the bookstore’s managers through the years—have each seen God work through the ministry, and each has seen her team grow in community.

When Gayle saw the opening for the bookstore manager in the bulletin, she felt the Lord calling her to apply. “Before this, I didn’t do anything like this. I had to learn ordering, receiving, purchasing, and scheduling. It was very detailed, and I'm not naturally a detailed kind of person. George saw something in me right away that he knew I could learn.”

The community in the bookstore team was something each of the managers treasured. Gayle explained, “I loved being in a position to grow myself and know the pastors and people here. I loved serving Christ and being a light for him. I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to be the bookstore manager all those years.”

 

Persevering Ministry

Initially, Eileen was looking for work because she had time to fill. She had left her job at Valley Christian Academy, and her son had just graduated from high school. Eileen’s previous experience in a children’s library told her she would be a good fit: “I always liked books and organizing books. I like the work—the filing, the shelving.”

Eileen had no way of knowing this little job to fill some time would end up lasting thirteen years. When Gayle left to retire with her husband in 2022, Eileen stepped up to manage the bookstore, and in 2023, the café also came under Eileen’s leadership.
“Eileen was my right-hand person,” said Gayle. “As I was leaving, she was ready to step up. I’m thankful for her too. She made it easier for me to leave. It was bittersweet.” (Gayle would later come back to work one day a week in the bookstore, keeping the joy of her community while also being retired with her husband.)

Like Gayle, Eileen has seen how God has used the bookstore to help people. “It is truly a ministry in that you hear a lot of stories from people about how God worked in their lives, and you have an opportunity to encourage. Multiple times, when people came looking for a book for a tough situation, they later came back and told me how that book worked in their lives. That comes from God.”

The bookstore went through the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic and persevered as online retailers gained prevalence and other local Christian bookstores closed, leaving Parkside’s bookstore a “lone light” in the region. 

Eileen has also watched the bookstore and café bounce back as a needed gathering place over the last several years. Foot traffic increased, the team worked to enhance the café’s specialty coffee and tea offerings, and a new entrance to the café was made to better accommodate our Sunday morning guests.

Eileen’s time as the bookstore and café manager is coming to an end as she retires to move to Tennessee to be closer to family. Reflecting on her time, she shared it has challenged her to think more empathetically about others. “I’ve learned that everyone has a backstory. There’s more grace in this world than I thought. I’ve also learned that people like you even when you're not perfect. It really is a family.”

While we will all miss Eileen and we are thankful for her years of ministry, we look forward to welcoming Christi Dorsey as the new bookstore and café manager.

 

Community that Endures

Christi grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, and went to college in Tennessee. After marrying her husband, Adam, she moved around a bit for his ministry calling until they wound up church planting in Canada. They came to northeast Ohio when being close to the Cleveland Clinic became important for Adam’s health. Their church in Louisville recommended Parkside Church, and they gave it a shot.

Christi wasn’t looking for the job at the bookstore—it found her. “I interviewed as an admin, and they called me and asked if I'd be interested in the bookstore and café. It was using all my talents. I love hosting people. I love to help people and cater to them.” 
Christi is grateful to train alongside Eileen, and she noted that the vision of the bookstore has not changed since its beginning 26 years ago: “We're a great resource. When I walk in the bookstore, I know I am not going to find heretical information. It has been vetted, and it’s a safe spot. I know I can tell people, ‘Whatever is in this store, you can trust.’”

The bookstore’s ministry remains steadfast in its commitment to providing quality Christian resources to Parkside Church and northeast Ohio. The café also provides an excellent place to meet throughout the week and fellowship while enjoying a meal or a delicious specialty drink. They are experimenting with adding sandwiches to the menu on weekdays, making it a great place to meet a friend for lunch.

“Come and see us!” said Christi. “People don't realize that we're there sometimes, and we’re happy to serve. We want you to come and get a sweet treat or a fun drink. Come check out the food during the week! Make it a place to bring people, come in, have a sandwich, and fellowship.”

 

HOW YOU CAN PRAY:

• Praise God for Gayle and her service in the bookstore, setting up such an important ministry at Parkside.
• Pray that Eileen will enjoy a time of rest and find a church home. Parkside is the only church she’s known since she was saved.
• Pray for Christi’s family as they navigate Adam’s health issues and as he recovers from surgery. Ask God to continue to give them gospel opportunities as a family.