Approximately 280 overseas and domestic guests heard about "a sobering, exciting, sad, and joyful year" during the Christian Trade Association International's (CTAI) annual International Vision Celebration (IVC) yesterday.

"Due to the economic crisis, we lost friends who had played major roles in the industry-some for decades," said Sylvester Ejeh, CTAI's vice chairman. "Others have grown and even increased market share. Overall, our membership has held steady. It seems the world economy hasn't impacted some countries-especially in the Global South-at all. But most countries have been hit."

During the association's annual report to members, Ejeh added that Western publishers and suppliers "are seeing international Christian product sales-which have held steady or grown as their home markets shifted-as more important than ever."

Owner of Edysyl, a bookstore, distributor and publishing house in Nigeria, Ejeh noted that CTAI, will hold its first Marketsquare Africa conventions next spring.

"This unique show will start in Ghana, journey to Nigeria and close in Kenya," he said. "We will be in each country for three days, visiting stores and suppliers, providing workshops and exhibiting products appropriate for Africa. God is moving in that great continent, and we want to be sure the right products are there."

CBA President Bill Anderson encouraged the delegates. "The work you are doing is never more important ... (because) of the chaos in the world," he said. "What feels like pressure in our industry creates opportunities. ... Thank you for the great network of gospel-promoting (work) that you're doing."

Well-known German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke-the IVC keynote speaker whose autobiography, Living a Life of Fire, was to be released by ER Productions in October-added: "I salute you all who spread the Word of God across the whole world."

The event encouraged Ify Nwosu, owner of Divine Christian Bookshop in Warri, Nigeria. "There's a lot less people here," she told Christian Retailing. "I know it's the economy. ... God is still great. I know the situation is going to change."

In addition to a special offering taken at the Sunday morning Worship Now! event, CTAI took an offering to sponsor 60 Christian retailers from mainland China to travel to Hong Kong to get vital training for Marketsquare Asia, to be held Sept. 6-8.

CTAI also honored Gospel Literature International President Georgalyn Wilkinson for her 50 years in ministry and for her organization distributing more than 3,000 titles in 70 languages. Additionally, the association recognized Mathew Vergis, who published The Christian Walk Study Bible in India.