About ABFM Thrift Store
Abbotsford Bibles for Missions Society is a volunteer-driven, non-denominational Christian organization that operates a thrift store in Abbotsford, BC.
We sell good quality, used items in a department store atmosphere, for shoppers who love to find good deals. Our product selection is always changing because it’s dependent on donations from people like you.
Sound like a treasure hunt? It is! And our thrift store gets re-stocked daily.
Our Mission
Our thrift store volunteers and staff believe there is a deeper purpose to everything in life, including where we shop.
We believe in helping right here in our own community to strengthen the fabric of our community. This is why we partner with other local non-profit organizations to help create a safety net for people experiencing difficulties. We do this by offering discounts or gifts of the items that we sell.
If you’re part of a local non-profit and want to know more about how we can work together please use the form on our contact page to reach out to us.
Our mission to share the goodness of God by helping our community and our environment, and by promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ.
All the while helping our customers get really great deals on good quality products.
Some of the ways we help in our own community:
ABFM works with various local agencies to provide donated items to people in need in their own community due to fire, homelessness or other crisis.
We donate the net revenue from our thrift store to fund our joint ministry with Bible League Canada. They in turn place the Word of God into Bible-based leadership development, church planting and literacy programs in over 43 countries — giving people access to the life-changing Word of God. They also serve the persecuted church. Everyday their work is transforming the lives of men, women and children around the world.
Our History
Abbotsford Bibles for Missions Society was formed in 1990 by a group of concerned Christians who wanted to promote the distribution of Bibles. The aim of the society was to raise funds for Bible League Canada, in particular for use in Eastern Europe (at that time the USSR). The society’s incorporation papers were signed by five couples and two other persons. When it became apparent that a board could not have members of the same family it was decided that the men would stay on and their wives would retire. Our current board is more gender balanced!
On May 22, 1990, an interim board met to discuss the formation of the Abbotsford Bibles for Missions thrift store. At a general meeting on May 29, the interim board asked for and received approval to proceed with the opening of the store. Through the hard work and perseverance of nineteen volunteers the store opened on October 19, 1990 on South Fraser Way.
September 1, 1994 was a devastating day for ABFM as the store, now located on Montrose Avenue, was destroyed by fire. However, only one month later the store reopened on South Fraser Way and with the assistance of Chilliwack BFM, MCC and other community organizations was completely restocked.
In June of 1999, the Board received approval to buy 3 lots on Railway Avenue for the purpose of building our own store and it opened on March 7, 2001. Another milestone was reached that month as, $3 million had been sent to Bible League Canada.
With increasing donations and sales and a demand for more space an additional 5000 square feet was added to the existing store in 2015 and the exterior was refreshed. Over the past 30 years, more than $5 million has been sent to the Bible League. In addition, tons of usable items have been diverted from landfills and the community of Abbotsford has benefited from low cost goods and donations.
Serving to place the Living Word of God worldwide in Joint Ministry with Bible League Canada.