The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is hoping to boost attendance and draw media attention for its new, consumer-oriented Christian Book Expo (CBE) this month by featuring well-known atheist Christopher Hitchens.

Scheduled for March 19-22 in Dallas, CBE will feature the discussion panel “Does the God of Christianity Exist, and What Difference Does It Make?” with Hitchens—author of God Is Not Great (Twelve/Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group USA)—debating Douglas Wilson, author of Is Christianity Good for the World? (Canon Press); Lee Strobel, author of The Case for the Real Jesus (Zondervan); William Lane Craig, author of Reasonable Faith (Crossway Books & Bibles); and James Denison, author of Wrestling With God (Tyndale House Publishers).

“It will … help Christians defend their faith,” ECPA President Mark Kuyper told Christian Retailing. “People have probably never heard an apologetic debate on this level before. … The discussion panel topics and panelists selected are sure to garner the attention of book lovers and media alike.”

The other panels include “The Emerging Church,” “A Guided Tour of Heaven and Hell,” “Living Christianly in a Post-Christian Culture” and “What Is the Gospel?” CBE will also feature a screening of Collision, a documentary of a debate between Hitchens and Wilson.

To be held at the Dallas Convention Center, CBE will feature numerous authors speaking, signing books, conducting workshops and meeting consumers, a KidZone program, a Bible exhibit and worship events as well as an exhibition floor.

Single-day admission will be $29, with a three-day ticket costing $59. A $5-off coupon will be available through churches, with a further $5 coupon to be offered by publishers, ministries and retailers, ECPA said. Attendees who are under 17 will be allowed in free.

Although the economy is in a tailspin, Kuyper is hoping for up to 20,000 attendees at CBE.

“I feel encouraged about attendee turnout because it’s such an extreme value,” Kuyper said. “This is probably the largest Christian conference. With 150 workshops by more than 220 authors, and discount prices as low as $19, that’s an extreme value in the world of Christian conferences. An event like this is just what people are looking for because they’re getting a lot of value for the money. More than anything, the economy could drive attendance.”

As far as exhibitors, approximately 64 publishers, writers groups and publishing-affiliated companies have committed to participate, Kuyper said. Some publishers have joined forces to be able to participate in the event. Kuyper noted that Focus on the Family opted out of using a 1,000-square-foot area, instead deciding to work out of the Tyndale House Publishers booth.

“It’s a first-time event, and there’s an element of risk involved,” he said. “A handful of smaller publishers have come in and gone out. Basically, they said, ‘In our current economy, we’re having to cut back.’ ”

Organizers have reserved almost 400,000 square feet of space at the Dallas Convention Center. “The convention services company said that we’re doing much better than any first-year show and in this economy, it’s phenomenal,” Kuyper said.

Through its CBE partners—Christianity Today magazine, Christian Book Distributors, GodTube.com and Family Christian Stores—ECPA has been promoting the event to churches and consumers, who can purchase products at the event. Family will handle sales from the booths of 14 publishers. Additionally, Logos Bookstore in Dallas will handle sales for InterVarsity Press.

Kuyper is also hoping for increased interest in ECPA’s annual book awards at CBE. Thomas Nelson and Baker Publishing Group lead the field in this year’s Christian Book Awards.

Two hundred and eighteen titles published in 2008 were reviewed by 72 judges, with the winners to be announced the first night of CBE, March 19. The awards were previously announced at the International Christian Retail Show.

• Prev
• Next