CSM Ako: Celebrating 35 years of strengthening churches, equipping the saints, and reaching mankind

July 31, 2024

What do a child attending Vacation Bible School (VBS), a mother reading a devotional, an employee studying a financial management book, a student on scholarship, and a pastor have in common?

CSM Publishing reaches out and ministers to all of them!

Church Strengthening Ministry Inc. (CSMI), the nation’s leading local publisher of Bibles, devotional and inspirational reads, Bible study and teaching materials, and other church and ministerial books, celebrates its 35th year in the print industry.

But more than churning out bestsellers, helpful resources, and other print products, CSM Publishing touches the lives of people, by equipping them for service to the community and helping them overcome adversity to achieve dreams and goals—hence the 35th anniversary theme, CSM Ako.

Supporting churches, inspiring readers

CSM started in 1989 with the explicit mission of supporting local churches by providing affordable ministry resources for Bible study and teaching, such as reference books, discipleship manuals, and workbooks. Generations of believers have learned how to pray, read the Bible, teach others about Christ, preach the gospel, or plant churches from these printed resources.

One of the mainstays of CSM’s published resources is its VBS and Sunday school curricula, written for and in the Filipino context. Countless children and youth have experienced classic VBS themes such as VBS Kingdom Quest, VBS Fearless, and most recently, VBS Hope Garden—and a significant number of these former VBS students are now serving as teachers and preachers themselves.

CSM also inspires and encourages readers with its growing collection of devotionals. One of the breakthrough titles of its time, Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby, provided believers with clear-cut directions from Scripture to understanding and obeying the will of God in their lives. It is still published locally by CSM today and continues to guide modern-day seekers and believers. 

Through the years, CSM Publishing has expanded its product lines in order to minister to the general Filipino audience by featuring local authors who share their personal stories of fear, struggle, and triumph. Readers of all ages have identified with and have been inspired by the writings of Grace D. Chong, Pastor Jason Richard Tan, Grace Shangkuan Koo, Maloi Malibiran-Salumbides, and Chinkee Tan—to name a few.

The CSM Ako story

CSM Publishing has come to be identified in the marketplace with the promo, “P100 books and more,” but in its 35 years of service, it has shown that it is all about discovering and strengthening individual and community identity. CSM Ako captures this spirit by showing how a local and truly Filipino publisher not only produces books that minister to its readers, but changes lives as well.

Working together typifies what CSM Ako is all about, encouraging community and the bayanihan spirit. Partnerships with advocacies such as the KAINOS initiative of Pastor Philip C. Flores, and the Faith International Society of Hope for Empowerment and Renewal (FISHER) led by Pastor Joey Umali, have not only helped equip leaders but also enabled them to create positive change in their respective communities.

Humble dedication is another characteristic of CSM Ako. Behind all the authors and bestsellers are countless unsung, and often unnamed, people working to bring CSM resources and services to the everyday Filipino, whether in or out of church. From editors, writers, artists, and specialists, to printers, logistics personnel, support staff, and more, each plays a part in the CSM Ako story, embracing their roles and inviting others to experience the blessings of the written, spoken, or acted Word.   

Raising pastors, engineers, and communities

CSM, however, is more than just books and printed materials.

Through its Scholarship Foundation, a significant number of scholars have successfully finished their studies and jump-started careers in church ministry as well as in other fields of service. From pastors to doctors and engineers, CSM has provided these scholarship alumni the push they needed to achieve their goals and to become productive citizens.

In addition, CSM has reached out to various communities through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) program, providing assistance in the form of trainings, educational resources, or on-site manpower to help build up individual capabilities and strengthen community resolve. CSM employees have helped plant trees, provided free ministry training to the Mangyan people, and have ministered to over 200 children in Intramuros, among its many CSR initiatives through the years.

CSM Ako is giving back to the readers—YOU

It also goes without saying that the people who have helped build CSM Publishing into what it is now are the ones who are almost never recognized. These are the thousands of readers, subscribers, and supporters—the loyal suki—who have embraced CSM’s books and resources and have made them an important part of their lives, contributing to the CSM Ako story in their own big or small ways.

In gratitude, CSM will be giving back to its loyal suki, offering up to 35 percent discount on premium Bibles by Crossway and Tyndale, which include Bibles for reference, personal study, life application, creative journaling, and more. These and other exciting promotions can be enjoyed this August at the CSM Bookcorner in Parañaque City and online through CSM’s Lazada and Shopee stores and its TikTok Shop.

Be sure to follow CSM’s social media channels and online store accounts to get the latest promotions in celebration of CSM’s 35th year. Come rejoice with us, and take part with your very own CSM Ako story!

A group shot of CSM’s early days, back when its offices were still located in Makati City.

The late Henry Blackaby (left), pictured here with his son Richard (center) and grandson Daniel (right) during a visit to the Philippines in 2008, blessed countless believers with the bestselling Experiencing God devotional locally published by CSM.

CSM has consistently pushed for local resources by homegrown authors, such as (clockwise from top left) Pastor Joey Umali, Grace D. Chong, Chinkee Tan, and Jason Richard Tan, to name a few.

CSM Publishing is a constant fixture at the Manila International Book Fair, with its trademark “All Books at P100 and more” promo signifying its commitment to bring affordable reading materials to all.

CSM’s Training workshops for Vacation Bible School (top left) has raised generations of teachers, with yesterday’s students now leading in various local churches and ministries. Partnership with the local government (top right) has also provided opportunities to reach the community with practical skills to help improve the quality of life, such as planting a vegetable garden for food sufficiency—demonstrated by the CSM staff at CSM’s office premises (above left and right).

Through the years, CSM has been more than books and bestsellers, as it has constantly strived to bless others in big and small ways, such as scholarships for students (top left), Vacation Bible School outreach to the children of Intramuros (top right), planting and repair activities at the Parañaque National High School (above, left), and providing free training and affordable ministry resources to the Mangyan people (above, right).