Heavily promoted by Christian retail chains, the Newsboys’ first album to feature new lead singer Michael Tait—formerly of dcTalk—sold more than 45,000 units its first week, becoming the biggest release in the band’s history. The pop/rock group’s 15th studio project, Born Again (Inpop Records) was the second-highest Christian artist debut on the Billboard Overall chart and the third-highest debut on the SoundScan Contemporary Christian Overall chart for 2010, selling 45,311 units since its July 13 release.

Healing evangelist and author Charles Edward Hunter died June 21 in his Houston-area home after being in frail health for several years. He was 89. Hunter and his wife, Frances, wrote numerous books on divine healing, including the best-seller How to Heal the Sick (Whitaker House), and they produced teaching DVDs to train others in healing ministry. Hunter also wrote Handbook for Healing and Angel Book (both Whitaker House).

Munce Group’s Christian Product Expo (CPE), scheduled for Sept. 12-14, will feature the premiere of the next, much-anticipated release from the creators of the besst-selling Facing the Giants and Fireproof. CPE will show a screening of Courageous, a police drama addressing issues of fatherhood that likely will not be released in theaters until fall 2011.

A documentary by New Leaf Publishing Group won commendations from the International Christian Visual Media (ICVM) group. Evolution: The Grand Experiment—The Quest for an Answer, based on a book by Carl Werner, took first place in the Best Youth Film and Best Curriculum categories of the organization’s 2010 awards and a second spot for best Documentary Over $50,000. The honors were announced at the ICVM conference held in St. Louis in July, prior to the International Christian Retail Show there. The first in a planned series of videos, the documentary was released last year and has been shown in more than 70 countries.

• Prev
• Next