Pure Flix film God’s Not Dead made an impressive debut showing, ranking No. 4 of all new movies released the weekend ending March 23 and boosting sales of Newsboys’ 2011 project, God’s Not Dead (Inpop Records/Capitol Christian Distribution), to No. 5 on the iTunes Christian Albums chart this week. Likewise, the album’s title track has been the most downloaded Christian song since the film released, while God’s Not Dead: The Motion Picture Soundtrack (Inpop Records/Capitol Christian) continues to be a Top 10-selling general market soundtrack on iTunes.

Grossing $9.2 million its opening weekend, the film saw early box-office success. Extensive marketing for the movie and Newsboys’ visibility headlining the 2014 Winter Jam Spectacular Tour helped to make the band’s God’s Not Dead project the top-selling catalog album this year. Selling more than 32,000 copies in three months, the CD jumped to No. 7 on SoundScan’s Overall Christian/Gospel Albums chart, with 4,452 units sold last week. Similarly, the “God’s Not Dead” digital track has achieved sales exceeding 80,000 downloads in 2014 alone, 11,000 of those since the film’s debut.

InterVarsity Press has announced the hiring of David W. McNutt as its new associate editor for IVP Academic and project editor for the “Reformation Commentary on Scripture.”

“David McNutt brings to IVP Academic an excellent, well-rounded theological education as well as teaching, pastoral and editorial experience,” said Dan Reid, senior acquisitions editor for IVP Academic. “All of this makes him exceptionally well-suited for overseeing the ‘Reformation Commentary on Scripture’ and engaging the exciting and multifaceted opportunities in theological publishing today.”

Karen Kingsbury, best-selling author of “Life-Changing Fiction,” now has an opportunity to interact with an even broader audience through her newly launched national radio show. Her new greeting card line also just released, and she is writing her first book that is a study of the Bible.

“The Karen Kingsbury Show” will launch in partnership with Salem Radio Networks in April in 39 markets, broadcasting from 94FM The Fish flagship station in Nashville on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Accessible online at TodaysChristianMusic.com, the show will offer stories and conversation between songs. Salem’s Family Fiction magazine also will be rebranded as Karen Kingsbury’s Family Fiction.

Mary Colbert—known to many as the wife of best-selling health and fitness author Dr. Don Colbert and a minister in her own right—is launching a gift company with a unique product: Bible Balloons.

The 18-inch round Mylar balloons feature a double-sided color design. They are self-sealing and refillable and can be filled with helium or air. With more than 20 customizable designs, the balloons include such greetings as “Congratulations!”; “Happy Birthday!”; “It’s a Boy [or Girl]!” and “Get well soon!”

DaySpring is partnering with Crayola to create “Magic Prints” cards for kids to give to mothers and grandmothers for Mother’s Day. Retailing for $4.97 each, the cards come in six designs for the May holiday, and the company is planning other designs for future seasons.

Magic Prints greeting cards allow parents to easily include their children in the gift-giving process. Each card comes with a Crayola Magic Mitt and specially formulated card stock. Once the ink from the mitt is activated onto the paper, it will reveal messages or patterns behind the print of the child’s hands, fingers or feet. Each mitt contains enough mess-free, nontoxic solution for two child-size handprints.

Click here to vote. Products have been entered in categories ranging from Wall Décor and Audio to Christian Living and Bibles: Devotional/Study.

The Chicago Merchandise Mart will welcome buyers, manufacturers, reps and designers to The Chicago Gift Market for its Spring Market next month and its Summer Market in July. The Mart will not host temporary exhibits for the Summer Market.

The Spring Market will run in conjunction with STYLEMAX, a women’s apparel and accessory trade show. Running April 6-8, the Spring Market will offer attendees access to an extensive lineup of resources in the permanent showrooms on the 13th floor.