From country to city…tasting sorrow and finding victory…and a desire to spread the gospel…these are the characteristics of Simon Schrock of Catlett, Virginia.
Born in 1936 in Oakland, Maryland, to Amish parents, Simon became a Christian and a member of the Amish Mennonite Church. During his childhood years, he knew the serenity of life in rural Appalachia, attending a one room school and a country church.
After his marriage to Eva Lena Yoder, they moved to the Washington, D.C. area and felt the contrast of the smoky, noisy city. He began passing out Christian literature as he moved about the city. The death of his young wife and unborn daughter led him through some deep soul-searching, but ultimately deepened his commitment to Christ. Later he and Pauline [Polly] Yoder were married and have three children and five grandsons.
In 1968 Simon was introduced to a Christian bookrack ministry. He began dreaming of providing good literature for travelers passing through the Washington National Airport, and placed his first inspirational books in the airport during that year. Over the years this grew into a larger bookrack ministry expanding into more airports and other retail store across the nation. As this vision and ministry grew it formed a Board of Directors. Simon then became the President of Choice Books of Northern Virginia, which is one of seven Choice Books distributor partners of Choice Books LLC whose central office is located in Harrisonburg Virginia. Choice Books’ vision is to provide inspirational reading in the secular market place where people go shopping. The goal of Choice Books is reflected in its mission statement, "To share the "good news" of Jesus Christ in the general market place through inspiring and wholesome reading material".
Out of Simon’s concern to provide wholesome inspirational reading material, he has written eight books and over a hundred articles published in various Christian publications. He lives on the cutting edge of his denomination and participates in evangelistic preaching, writing, and speaking engagements. It is from this perspective that Simon writes. He is a warmhearted Christian whose life exemplifies what it means to live in obedience to Christ. Simon believes that life at its best includes a commitment to the lordship of Jesus Christ. He has been pastor of Faith Christian Fellowship since 1977. He is presently battling cancer and is grateful for God’s sustaining grace and for each new day God gives him.
