September 11, 2025
Thousands of Baltimore residents recently discovered unsolicited copies of The Great Controversy, Ellen G. White’s 19th-century apocalyptic text, in their mailboxes. The mass mailing is part of a nationwide campaign by Remnant Publications—a Michigan-based independent Adventist publisher—that has already sent the book to households in Philadelphia, San Francisco, Portland, and Chicago.
The sudden influx in Baltimore quickly became a talking point. Social media and discussion platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit showed many images of the paperbacks stacked in apartment lobbies, left in little libraries, or tossed out on recycling day. While some locals reacted with confusion or irritation, others found humor in the situation. At The Club Car—a drag bar and art venue—owners even hosted a “book club” happy hour, offering discounted drinks to patrons who brought in copies of the unsolicited book.
The sudden influx in Baltimore quickly became a talking point. Social media and discussion platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and Reddit showed many images of the paperbacks stacked in apartment lobbies, left in little libraries, or tossed out on recycling day. While some locals reacted with confusion or irritation, others found humor in the situation. At The Club Car—a drag bar and art venue—owners even hosted a “book club” happy hour, offering discounted drinks to patrons who brought in copies of the unsolicited book.
Remnant’s Mission and Methods
Remnant self-identifies as a nonprofit Christian ministry founded in 1985 in Coldwater, Michigan. Its stated purpose is “the sole purpose of leading people closer to Christ.” Over the past four decades, the publisher asserts that it has printed and distributed millions of books, including Bible study sets, audiobooks of White’s writings, and specialty editions like the Young Scholar Study Bible.
Currently, one of the company’s largest projects is the printing and distribution of 10 million complete versions of The Great Controversy through “zip code mailings, door-to-door contacts, and personal contacts,” according to their website. Remnant also sponsors the Bibles for Africa and Beyond program, which aims to provide scripture in different languages to people in indigent nations. In its own words, the ministry is “truly dedicated to the work of spreading the gospel message like the leaves of autumn.”
This sense of scale has drawn notice—and criticism. A Baltimore Instagram account, Sail Local, noted Remnant leaders’ ambition of distributing up to one billion copies worldwide. The environmental and financial costs have not gone unnoticed, with local commenters calculating that such a campaign would require tens of millions of trees and hundreds of millions of dollars in postage.
According to WYPR, the city’s NPR affiliate, Remnant associate Ron Goss explained the rationale behind the mailings: “The goal is to try to urge people to accept it. They can throw it away. It’s up to them, but we just want to try to help them understand about history.” He estimated the cost of printing and postage at about $1.40 per book—cheap, in his view, for eternal stakes.
Reactions on the Ground
For Baltimore residents, the sudden appearance of the 480-page paperback was less a theological outreach than a neighborhood curiosity. WYPR captured the variety of responses in a radio segment titled “Mysterious books show up in Baltimore; did it change anything?”:“Everyone’s like, ‘I’m going to toss this book,’” said Ryan Haas, co-owner of The Club Car. “So we decided to throw a happy hour for anyone who got the book.”
“It just wasn’t my vibe,” added patron Sammie Majors.
Along with community reactions shared by WYPR, in a Reddit post sourced by Spectrum, a user [Bashful_bookworm2025] posted: They’re in a large stack in my apartment lobby because everyone who lives in my apartment discarded them.
However, not everyone dismissed the effort. Some expressed curiosity, with one commenter [Beneficial_Truth4351] writing, “Now I want to read it lol.”
Book collected at the Club Car in Baltimore. [Photo: Scott Maucione /WYPR]
The Book and Its Message
The Great Controversy, first published in 1858 and expanded over time in later editions, is one of White’s best-known works. It presents a sweeping account of the cosmic battle between good and evil, ending in predictions of end-time persecution of Sabbath-keepers and the return of Christ. White’s writings have long shaped Adventist theology, including expectations of a future alliance between the Vatican and the US against those who uphold biblical Sabbath observance.
However, for non-Adventists, the book often reads as dense and dated. Its 19th-century prose, length, and apocalyptic imagery present a steep entry point. Religious marketing scholar Mara Einstein told WYPR that she was skeptical of Remnant’s strategy: “Who is going to be particularly interested in reading this kind of writing?[…]I think it’s them throwing money away.” Still, she conceded that if even a handful of people read the book and talk about it, the campaign achieves its purpose.
Beyond the Mailing: A Wider Network
The Baltimore campaign also highlights the wider network of voices linked to Remnant. The press publishes books by Jay Gallimore, former president of the Michigan Conference and now pastor of the Village Church in Berrien Springs. Even more, Samuel Koranteng-Pipim—who lost his denominational membership and resigned from his Michigan Conference roles after sexual misconduct—is listed as a special consultant on Bible projects for the company. And Danny Shelton, founder of Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), has long had his books produced by Remnant, with 3ABN buying them in bulk, a pipeline that provides Shelton with significant additional compensation.
A City Talks
Ultimately, The Great Controversy campaign in Baltimore did what most marketing dreams of: it got people talking.
From drag bars to Reddit threads, Adventism entered Baltimore’s cultural conversation. For some, that may count as a mission accomplished. For others, it is a sobering reminder that Adventist witness, at its best, requires not only conviction but also context, creativity, and a listening ear.
“We’re not trying to convert anyone to Adventism; we’re just trying to enlighten people,” said Goss, as quoted by The Baltimore Sun.
Or as one Reddit user [erkdog] put it: “Got it this week and straight to the trash with it. Imagine the good things they could do with all the money they spent on books.”
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