When opening a business, choosing the right location is critical, and most business owners would not choose a locale known for violence. But while increasing violence and criminal activity in Spanish Town, Jamaica are forcing many businesses to flee, the Seventh-day Adventist-operated Book and Nutrition Centre Company Limited (BNC), has opened a new store in the heart of the volatile old capital.

Although gunfire and killing in front of the shop postponed its opening, it could not stop the church from opening the facility. The BNC, which has been operating there since March, finally had its official opening at its Burke Road facility, on April 26.

“The mandate of the BNC is to ensure that we distribute literature in all the busy towns in Jamaica. Spanish Town is a densely populated area and we believe nothing should prevent us from impacting this community,” General Manager, Marie Halsall said.

Located at 23 Burke Road, the new store is strategically placed, as part of the organization’s mission to ensure that literature promoting a healthy lifestyle, and of a religious nature is available in these busy commercial areas.

The new branch was opened under the theme “Embracing Opportunities to Tell the World.” Halsall, who has been the general manager since December 2004, commented that the theme reflects the Adventist world church’s theme for 2006 to 2010 to “Tell the World.” Within that theme are several elements, but mainly the church encourages members to share the message of Christ with others and participate in their communities.

Halsall explained that in the weeks prior to the opening, amid the sporadic flare-up of gunfire, members of the Adventist church went into the community and distributed hundreds of pieces of church publications as a means of fulfilling that theme.

These handouts shared the church’s message of hope and had an added benefit. “People knew we were going to open the store and they were excited about it,” she said.

As part of its community outreach project, the BNC also provided the services of a free clinic to the Spanish Town community.

This is the second such store in the Spanish Town locale. The other shares space with the administrative offices of the Adventist church in Central Jamaica at 58 Brunswick Avenue. Halsall said that one of the reasons for opening another store in such close proximity is to make it easier for those who are not Adventists to shop there.

“[Some] feel the [Brunswick Avenue] store is for Adventists and we wanted to change that notion [and] assure them that Adventist literature is not only for Adventists, so we bring the store to them where they can feel free to shop,” she said.

There are a total of eight BNC stores across Jamaica. These stores share the same philosophy of other such Adventist-owned stores around the world. These stores stock a wide range of inspirational books on education, family, prayer ministries, devotionals, inspirational, prophecy and health with a special emphasis on nutrition.

“Already people have been coming into the store asking for advice on health,” Halsall said. “They want to know what books to read for problems like hypertension and other lifestyle diseases.”

Indeed, the nutritional books, according to Halsall, are among the best sellers. She said that 70 percent of all books are sold to those who are not Adventist. She added that church employees sell 60 percent of nutritional books.

“We are on a growth path, and while we are growing we want to see how best we can impact troubled communities such as Spanish Town,” Halsall noted.  “Part of our long-term vision is to have a fully equipped wellness center with a [gymnasium] and a nutritionist, and a health food deli, so that people can have their complete nutritional needs met at one stop.”