A brief history of Sowers of Seed

In 1962 our original Executive Director, Dale Manos was working in Dallas, Tx. for TANE (Texas Alcohol Narcotics Education). At that time he became acquainted with a man name John Hunter. John had been in prison for killing his wife in a drunken fog. While in prison John was saved and vowed to spend the remainder of his life preaching and spreading the Gospel. He did just that. When Dale met John he was a painter by trade and a traveling preacher and evangelist. John had obtained some copies of a small pocket size Bible. He knew that Dale had some printing experience from his time at the Baptist Seminary in Ft. Worth, Tx. He ask Dale if he would be able to print a small quantity if this unique witnessing tool. Dale borrowed the printing equipment at TANE and printed John a few Bibles. John soon ran out of this supply and traveled to Tyler Tx. to meet with a wealthy oilman named R. W. Fair. Mr. Fair was impressed by John and told him he would fund a foundation to print and distribute these little Bibles, (which he did until 1978 when the foundation referred all of their requests to Sowers of Seed). He ordered 15,000 to be printed by Sowers of Seed. At that point Dale and his wife both had full time jobs, so the printing would have to be done after hours. Dale borrowed some equipment and began to print the first order. He and his family and friends produced the first booklets at home and in garages of friends and fellow TANE speakers.

In late 1963 Sowers of Seed rented a small room in a back alley behind a plumbing shop. There the volunteers and small paid staff began to produce the Bible booklets. The ministry was incorporated and obtained a tax exemption status. Around this time the ministry began producing booklets and tracts for the Fair Foundation and for other tract companies as well as publishing some of their own tracts.

In 1968 the ministry stepped out on faith and bought a building that had been occupied by another print shop. Since that time the building has been renovated and an additional two rooms have been added. The current building has about 8,000 square feet.

From this beginning this ministry now has the ability to produce and distribute in excess of one million booklets and tracts a month.

Our mission has always been to produce soul winning materials at an affordable price to help reach the lost, until the Lord returns.