Author Richard Dobbins, 86, died at his home in Naples, Florida, on Tuesday, June 3. The well-known Christian psychologist and Assemblies of God minister had not been ill.

Dobbins—who was known as “Doc”—married his late wife, Delores, in 1943. The couple had three children. Following Delores' death, Dobbins married Priscilla, his wife of 20 years who survives him.

Hollywood’s “year of the Bible movie” continues to drive sales at the box office in 2014.

Four faith-based films have already earned more than $50 million each in ticket sales, according to Boxofficemojo.com. Those films—Noah, Heaven Is for Real, Son of God and God’s Not Dead—are among the top 20 grossing films of 2014.

And movie audiences may want more, according to a survey of 1,054 Americans from Nashville-basedLifeWay Research. Researchers found that half of Americans (56 percent) say they wish there were more movies with Christian values.

“Faith-based movies are no longer a niche,” said Scott McConnell, director of LifeWay Research. “It’s smart economics—if you make a film that appeals to that audience, they will show up.”

Movies with an explicitly Christian message—like God’s Not Dead—have done especially well. The independent film was made for $2 million and has earned more than $59 million at the box office. That’s more than high-budget projects like Muppets Most Wanted or the critically acclaimed The Grand Budapest Hotel.

Kris Fuhr, founder of Moviegal Marketing, said Christian movie fans want films with a clear presentation of faith. That’s been true in the past for films like “Fireproof” and Courageous, as well as more recent movies like Son of God.

“When you have a movie where the title is almost a doctrinal statement—the audience will come out,” she said. “People want their faith to be affirmed.” Films with a more subtle faith message may not do as well, said Fuhr.

In the survey, LifeWay Research asked Americans to respond to the statement: “I wish there were more movies that reflected Christian values.” Those who go to church weekly are most likely to agree (91%). Those who never go to church (18%) are least likely to agree.

Self identified born-again, evangelical, or fundamentalist Christians are more likely to agree (84%) than other Americans (45%). Americans who live in the Midwest (62%) and South (63%) are also more interested in more Christian films than those in the Northeast (48%) or the West (44%).

Two-thirds of middle-aged and older Americans agree, including those 45 to 54 (63%), 55 to 64 (66%), and 65 and older (65%). Americans under 30 (43%) are least interested in more films with Christian values.

Two other major films with Christian themes, Left Behind and Exodus: Gods and Kings are due out later this year.

The Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced the winners of the 2014 Audie Awards at its 19th Annual Audies Gala on May 29 at the New York Academy of Medicine in New York City. Often referred to as the “Oscars of spoken word entertainment,” the awards saw more than 1,100 submissions in 30 categories.

Oliver Twist, a Focus on the Family Radio Theatre production and Tyndale House Publishers, received the Audie in the Audio Drama category.

Best-selling author Vanessa Miller’s success led Pennsylvania publisher to expand urban line

Whitaker House is expanding its offerings of fiction aimed at African-American readers, signing two veteran authors and launching three urban series.

“Whitaker House has had such great response to Vanessa Miller’s books we felt the time was right to expand our line of fiction aimed at the growing market of black romance readers,” said President Bob Whitaker Jr.

Popular inspirational urban-romance authors Pat Simmons and Tia McCollors each signed contracts for three-book series, starting with the release of Simmons’ No Easy Catch (“Carmen Sisters,” April) and Tia McCollors’ Friday Night Love (“Days of Grace,” May).

After wrapping up the “Morrison Family Secrets” series with the February release of The Preacher, the Politician, and the Playboy, Miller will launch the “My Soul to Keep” series in June with Feels Like Heaven.

Miller’s “Second Chance at Love” series has topped the Black Christian News Network’s best-seller list as well as finding success on the best-seller lists of Essence magazine, the Dallas Morning News and the Atlanta Examiner.  —Jeremy Burns

‘Romantic Times’ honors Barbour Publishing author

New York Times best-selling author Wanda E. Brunstetter was presented with a 2013 Romantic Times (RT) Career Achievement Award at the May 13-18 RT Booklovers Convention in New Orleans. The Barbour Publishing author was honored in the Inspirational category.

Known for her Amish fiction, Brunstetter has written over 60 books that have sold more than 7 million copies.

Many of the popular author’s books have become New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, CBA and Christian Book Distributors best-selling titles.

RT’s more than 50 reviewers who work in the women’s fiction industry choose the winners and nominees for the best books of the year and authors for their complete body of work. —Jeremy Burns

Study says brick-and-mortar store sales grow in the aftermath

The recent implementation of what some researchers call the “Amazon tax” has led to a more level playing field for brick-and-mortar retailers, according to a study by three Ohio State University economists.

The study focused on the purchasing habits of nearly 3 million households in five states that began a permanent collection of taxes on Amazon purchases since 2012—California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia—and found that Amazon purchases declined by 9.5% after the new state laws’ implementation. Amazon’s loss was brick-and-mortar retailers’ gain, however, as the decrease in Amazon purchases led to a 2% increase in purchases at physical stores. Further, the study found that only Amazon purchases were affected by the new tax laws, as sales from online operations of competing retailers—including those with brick-and-mortar counterparts—grew 19.8%.

Sales tax equality has been a contentious issue with retailers since Amazon began cast its shadow on the retail landscape. In states where Amazon does not have a physical presence, the online retail giant was not required to collect sales tax, putting brick-and-mortar retailers in that state at a pricing disadvantage.

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance and other retail groups and industry representatives have pointed to Amazon’s exemption from sales tax collection as one of the keys behind its marketplace dominance. —Burns

Outdoor music events at minister’s Southeast Ohio store a hit

Residents of one Southeastern Ohio town have a new place to enjoy each other’s company and purchase faith-building products—Psalm 121 Discount Books & Gifts. Started in mid-2013, Psalm 121 was part of the revitalization of Logan’s downtown.

The owners, semi-retired United Methodist minister Randy Hardman and his wife, Frankie, who worked in banking for years, have served small churches in the area. Together with employee Jessica Enderle, they now bring a hometown feel to their 1,200-square-foot store that offers books, Bibles, gifts and children’s products, including educational toys.

When Dr. Hardman, known as “Pastor Randy,” reduced his time at the church, the couple considered how they might best spend their time.

“The Old Testament talks about putting out a fleece and letting God’s Word come back to you, and so Frankie and I decided we wouldn’t talk about it for a week and just listen to what people said,” he told Christian Retailing. “So, as we were about our business, we came back a week later and said, ‘Well, what did we hear?’ Both of us had heard more than a dozen times from other people that Logan needed a Christian bookstore, so we said, ‘OK, God, that’s what it’ll be.’ ”

The building they chose was just being built early last year, but they both felt it was the right location.

“Downtown is beginning to blossom and re-grow,” Hardman said. “We’re getting new businesses in. We were one of the first ones.”

Along with hosting a children’s time with teachers reading to about 30 youngsters and allowing bake sales and car washes to benefit churches, the store started a music-on-the-patio night. Having invited local artists to perform once a month, the schedule soon got booked up and later it was changed to a once-a-week event held outdoors, weather permitting.

“We went from August clear to as cold as we could stand,” Hardman said. “Our poor artists were standing out there frozen trying to sing. This year we’re already basically booked up for the whole season.”

The couple thinks it is part of their calling to “strengthen local ministries,” Hardman said, noting that one way they accomplish this is through the tithe.

“Any time a church comes in and buys, we give 10% back to the church as our tithing for them coming to us,” he said. —Johnson