The Robertsons of A&E’s Duck Dynasty are expanding their outreach into churches with Faith Commander: Living Five Values from the Parables of Jesus, a new curriculum to be published by Zondervan. Korie Robertson and her mother, Chrys Howard, created the five-week experience for all ages.

Releasing in May, the curriculum focuses on five themes found in the parables of Jesus: faith, forgiveness, obedience, prayer and kindness. The program creates a church-wide experience for children to adult.

Joni Eareckson Tada issued a statement in response to the surprise withdrawal of her song’s Oscar nomination. As Christian Retailing reported Jan. 30, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences rescinded the Best Original Song nomination for Enthuse Entertainment’s Alone Yet Not Alone due to what the Board of Governors deemed an ethical breach by the nominated song’s composer, Bruce Broughton, who is also a member of the Academy’s executive committee.

“While I can only imagine the disappointment of music writer Bruce Broughton and lyricist Dennis Spiegel in the rescinding of their Oscar nomination, it in no way detracts from either the song's beauty or its message,” Tada said. “I was humbled and honored to have been asked to sing it for the film, and was as surprised as anyone when I learned of the song's nomination.”

Bringing one of the world’s biggest tours to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome for the first time, NewSong's Winter Jam Tour Spectacular announces yet another first: a daring stunt by famed high-wire artist Nik Wallenda. A seven-time Guinness World Record holder who crossed the Grand Canyon on a tightrope without a safety harness last year, Wallenda is slated to walk untethered across a high wire suspended in the Georgia Dome during the Feb. 8 event.

The Winter Jam 2014 Dome Spectacular—which debuts at the Georgia Dome after playing to capacity crowds at Atlanta's Philips Arena for multiple years—will feature special guest appearances from 19-year-old Duck Dynasty star Reed Robertson and GRAMMY-nominated, multi-Dove Award-winner David Crowder. The two join University of Georgia head football coach Mark Richt, who will also appear alongside Winter Jam’s star-studded lineup.

In a rare move, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences rescinded its Oscar nomination for “Alone Yet Not Alone,” the title song from Enthuse Entertainment’s Alone Yet Not Alone. Sung by Joni Eareckson Tada, the song had its nomination pulled when the Academy discovered that the song’s composer, Bruce Broughton, had sent a short email bringing the song to the attention of Oscar voters.

While other nominees’ representatives had done similar marketing efforts to draw attention to their songs, the Academy’s Board of Governors felt Broughton’s actions were inappropriate due to his position on the Academy’s executive committee and constituted an ethical breach.

CBA is the lead petitioner on a “friend of the court” brief supporting religious freedom for businesses and business owners. The amicus brief was filed in support of Hobby Lobby Stores, its Mardel subsidiary and other businesses and their owners.

“CBA is taking this stand in cooperation with other organizations and businesses with religious purposes to ensure religious liberty remains part of American law,” said Curtis Riskey, CBA president. “The issue at stake in the Hobby Lobby and Mardel case is about whether or not a small business or corporation can practice personal religious beliefs as part of their for-profit business.”

Munce Group’s CPE tradeshow in Hershey, Pa., saw attendance grow considerably from last year’s levels, owing at least partially to a streamlined schedule. More than 200 attendees, including nearly 160 retailers, gathered Jan. 19-21 at the Hershey Lodge for a profitable time of fellowship, training and business.

With the training sessions moved to Jan. 19, a Sunday, a greater number of retailers were able to attend the prospective retailer training with Robbie Halstead of Kingdom Retail Solutions, as well as Bookstore Manager, Vacation Bible School curriculum and Bible training.

Baker Publishing Group has appointed Rebekah Guzman senior acquisitions editor for the company’s Baker Books division.

Most recently Guzman served as editorial director and associate trade publisher for NavPress. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Northern Arizona University and attended The Navigators’ Leadership Development Institute.