New library serves military families

Born out of a desire to help her fellow Marine wives through difficult times, Fallbrook resident Kristin Barbato recently opened a Bible study resource library that she calls the “Red Cord Resource Library of Camp Pendleton.”

Why the name “Red Cord?” Kristin and friends were inspired by a sermon they heard in which a red cord was used as an illustration. The red cord symbolized Rahab’s covenant with Joshua. When Rahab hung a red cord out her window, it not only enabled Joshua’s messengers to escape but also provided protection for her own home when the rest of Jericho came tumbling down.

“Like Rahab, we wanted to hold on to that red cord which symbolizes our faith in God,” said Kristin. “It was Rahab’s faith in God during a time of war that saved her.” Joshua spared the home that had the red cord in the window. So, it had a two-fold purpose — to save Joshua’s messengers in a time of war and to save Rahab and her family from destruction. Kristin believes that in the same way God will come to the aid of His people in these uncertain times of war.

As the husbands of her friends began to be deployed, Kristin was moved by the fact that these women would be left to face life alone. Kristin’s husband, although a Marine, carries a non-deployable status, and thus Kristin would be one of the few left with the full support of her husband.

“The Marine wives left behind were having babies and moving… and doing all of this alone,” said Kristin. “God, and friends with a common love for God, can get us through these difficult times.” Kristin then decided she would attempt to unite Marine wives through Bible study and develop the Red Cord Library to provide the study material.

Kristin is a member of Christ The King Lutheran Church; however, the library material is non-denominational. Most of the study material has accompanying DVDs and videos. “They are user-friendly studies,” she said. “The women can have their own personal studies or lead a study in their homes — it’s easy with these materials.”

The library is in need of Bible study material, especially material with DVD or video accompaniment. Materials may be dropped off at Fallbrook’s Zion Lutheran School, located at 1405 E. Fallbrook Street.

At this point, the library is open by appointment only or on Sunday afternoons between 3:30 and 5:00 p.m. Please call Kristin Barbato at (760) 728-0121 for library location or further information.