Sales at the Seventh-day Adventist publishing house in Norway climbed 20 percent the past five weeks, due largely to 55 student booksellers hired this summer as part of its program to support students from developing countries, literature evangelists there say.

Adventist publisher Norsk Bokforlag is hosting students from Adventist institutions and universities in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Nigeria, Haiti, India and Ghana this year. The job gives students a chance to participate in the ministry of the church while helping to finance their studies and help their families.

Some earn enough to finance community outreach projects back in their native countries. Church leaders say the work prepares young people for future leadership positions.

Norway is one of the few European countries that allow denominations to hire students from outside the country to participate in literature evangelism.

The student program at Norsk Bokforlag was founded in 1967. Norwegian Adventists are celebrating the 100th anniversary of literature evangelism in their country this year.