The Duggars plus Kirk. Stars of the hit reality TLC show 18 Children and Counting, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar as well as their multiple kids, recently met their favorite movie star—Kirk Cameron. After traveling in January to the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival in San Antonio for an episode of their show, the Duggars gave a copy of their book The Duggars: 20 and Counting!: Raising One of America’s Largest Families—How They Do It (Howard Books) to Cameron, star of the surprise pro-marriage hit Fireproof. The movie “has quickly become (a) family favorite,” Jim Bob Duggar said. “Kirk is a down-to-earth, genuinely nice guy and a great role model for young people.”

Speaking of favorites, Michael W. Smith performed in January with the Jonas Brothers. Smith sang his 1991 hit “Place in This World” with the pop sensation trio—all committed Christians—during a sold-out show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. “A lot of the people we’ll bring up tonight are idols of ours,” Nick Jonas told the crowd. Other performers during the show included Steven Curtis Chapman, Vince Gill, Jordin Sparks, Martina McBride, Brad Paisley, Amy Grant, Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, who introduced the Jonas Brothers.

Word Records last month released country music superstar Randy Travis’ Three Wooden Crosses: The Inspirational Hits of Randy Travis. The 20-song collection included “Three Wooden Crosses,” “Four Walls,” “Angel” and “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”—a duet with John Anderson. Travis’ six inspirational albums in the last eight years have sold more than 2 million copies.

Held Jan. 14-16 in Nashville, the Inspirational Value Book Show, the only bargain show for the Christian book industry, drew 20 exhibitors—up from 16 vendors who participated at the inaugural show last year. The event attracted 65 stores and 106 representatives, compared to 41 stores and 65 representatives from the 2008 show.

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