Guideposts recently reached a milestone with a program that offers comfort to youngsters coping with the uncertainty, discomfort and stress of being hospitalized or undergoing treatment.

The 100,000th Guideposts for Kids Comfort Kit was given to one of the pediatric patients of Broward Health North in Deerfield Beach, Fla. Since the program was launched seven years ago through a collaboration with Chaplain Anna Gentile from the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, N.Y., Comfort Kits have expanded to 48 states where they are distributed free of charge to medical facilities for children who are sick or injured.

The "small box with the big impact" contains a yellow stuffed star named Sparkle, a child-friendly journal that enables them to express their feelings and find inner strength, and an "I'm Special" bracelet.

"We are delighted that Comfort Kits have been distributed to 100,000 children nationwide and thrilled that the program continues to grow," said Rhonda R. Neal, manager of Guideposts Outreach Services. "It is an achievement of which we could only dream when we began this program in 2006. The Comfort Kits program is just one way in which Guideposts continues to uplift people of all ages in their time of greatest need."

Guideposts imprints include Candy Cane Press, Ideals and Williamson. Guideposts magazine reaches 6 million readers, company officials said.  

Learn more about Comfort Kits at comfortkits.org.

Wanda E. Brunstetter's The Tattered Quilt (Barbour Publishing) holds two spots on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) best-sellers lists, one on the General list and one in Fiction, for the week ending Aug. 10, according to Pubtrack Christian data.

The top 20 ECPA General best-sellers were: 1. KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2013-2014, softcover (Standard Publishing); 2. Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 3. KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2012-2013, large print softcover (Standard Publishing); 4. Your First Step to Celebrate Recovery, John Baker (Zondervan); 5. Soulprint, Mark Batterson (Multnomah Books); 6. NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2013-2014, softcover (Standard Publishing); 7. The Circle Maker, Mark Batterson (Zondervan); 8. Jesus Calling, Young, large print deluxe (Thomas Nelson); 9. The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman (Northfield Publishing/Moody Publishers); 10. America the Beautiful, Ben Carson (Zondervan); 11. Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman (Zondervan); 12. Kingdom Woman, Tony Evans, Chrystal Evans Hurst (Tyndale House Publishers); 13. Trusting God, Jerry Bridges (NavPress); 14. Jesus Calling, Young, deluxe (Thomas Nelson); 15. The Meaning of Marriage, Timothy Keller (Riverhead/Penguin Group); 16. Reckless Faith, Kevin G. Harney (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group); 17. Unglued, Lysa TerKeurst (Zondervan); 18. Jesus Calling, Young, women's edition (Thomas Nelson); 19. NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2012-2013, large print softcover (Standard Publishing); and 20. The Tattered Quilt.

The Top 10 Fiction titles were: 1. The Tattered Quilt; 2. The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine/Charisma House Book Group); 3. The Last Jihad, "Last Jihad" No. 1, Joel C. Rosenberg (Tyndale); 4. The Secret Keeper, "Home to Hickory Hollow" No. 4, Beverly Lewis (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group); 5. The Living Room, Robert Whitlow (Thomas Nelson); 6. Rosemary Cottage, "Hope Beach" No. 2, Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson); 7. The Letters, "The Inn at Eagle Hill" No. 1, Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell/Baker Publishing Group); 8. Band of Sisters, Cathy Gohlke (Tyndale); 9. Truth-Stained Lies, "Moonlighter" No. 1, Terri Blackstock (Zondervan); and 10. The Outcast, Jolina Petersheim (Tyndale).

The top five Bibles were: 1. The Story, NIV, deluxe, hardcover, New International Version (Zondervan); 2. NIV Adventure Bible, hardcover (Zonderkidz); 3. NIV Celebrate Recovery Bible, softcover (Zondervan); 4. NLT Personal Size Life Recovery Bible, softcover, New Living Translation (Tyndale); and 5. NLT New Believer's Compact Bible, softcover (Tyndale).

Justin Taylor has been appointed to the position of senior vice president and publisher for books for Crossway. Allan Fisher, who held the position for the past eight years, retired in July.

“It is my delight to welcome Justin in his new role as Crossway’s Publisher for Books,” said Crossway President Dr. Lane Dennis. “Justin has already made a tremendous contribution to our publishing program, and he is highly qualified both theologically and personally to carry forward the Crossway mission and ministry in this new position.”

Baker Academic/Baker Publishing Group and Wm. B. Eerdmans titles have been honored with 2013 Biblical Archaeology Society (BAS) Publication Awards, which recognize the best books published in the niche category in 2011 and 2012.

Apocalypticism in the Bible and Its World by Frederick J. Murphy (Baker Academic) was awarded Best Book Relating to the New Testament. Isaiah 40–66: Translation and Commentary by Shalom Paul (Wm. B. Eerdmans) won Best Book Relating to the Hebrew Bible.

The biennial BAS Publication Awards for books about archaeology and the Bible have been presented since 1985. Winning authors receive an honorary certificate and $500 cash.

A full list of winners can be found at www.biblicalarchaeology.org/pubawards2013.

Thom Rainer's I Am a Church Member (B&H Books) topped the CBA's category best-sellers in Biblical Studies/Theology/Ministry for the week ending Aug. 10, according to CBA's CROSS:SCAN sales data.

The rest of the top five Biblical Studies/Theology/Ministry best-sellers were: 2. KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2013-2014, softcover (Standard Publishing); 3. NIV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2013-2014, softcover (Standard Publishing); 4. KJV Standard Lesson Commentary, 2012-2013, large print softcover (Standard Publishing); and 5. Multiply, Francis Chan (David C Cook).

CBA's top five Inspirational/General Interest weekly best-sellers were: 1. Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 2. Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo, Lynn Vincent (Thomas Nelson); 3. Happy, Happy, Happy, Phil Robertson (Howard Books); 4. Jesus Today, Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); and 5. The Duck Commander Family, Willie and Korie Robertson (Howard Books).

Send The Light Distribution has launched a new gifts section on its website, www.stl-distribution.com, providing expanded information and better search capabilities for retailers.

"Our emphasis on providing the best selection of gift products to the Christian retailer continues as we are adding new gift lines monthly," said Vice President of Sales and Marketing Mark Phillips. "We are really excited about these improvements to the website. We believe the stores will appreciate the new ease of finding gift products."

Found under the site banner "New & Expanded Gift Lines," the section features three larger boxes at the top: Welcome to Our Gifts, which can be sorted by best-selling, retail price and title; Best-selling Vendors; and Merchandising Tips and Suggestions.

Under a different tab, gift categories include Book & Bible; Toys, Novelties, Games & Crafts; Greeting Cards & Calendars; Jewelry; Apparel; Handbags & Personal Accessories; Home Décor & Garden; Food & Kitchen; Auto Accessories; Culture & Heritage; Journals; and Stationery.

"We have some great new Kurt Adler and Burton & Burton products that are coming for Christmas," said Purchasing Director Rita Allan. "And we will also be receiving Precious Moments, Youngs Inc. and Gardenfire product in the coming weeks."

Carolyn Weber was one of the authors featured earlier this month during a Canadian Christian Booksellers Association's event for retailers in Paris, Ontario.

Held Aug. 6 at David C. Cook Distribution Canada, "Summer in Paris" offered Canadian Christian retailers ideas for engaging churches in their communities, as well as interaction with Weber, who is based in London, Ontario.

"Retailers instantly warmed to Carolyn Weber, author of Holy Is the Day," said Deb Tempelmeyer, senior director of book and gift marketing at David C. Cook Distribution Canada. "Carolyn had such a relaxed, engaging manner that the retailers couldn't wait to hear more of her personal story and spiritual journey. You could tell that great conversation was happening with Carolyn as everyone waited patiently in the long line up to receive their signed copies."

To be released in October by InterVarsity Press (IVP), Holy Is the Day: Living in the Gift of the Present is a collection of reflections by Weber, who shares stories of endurance, humility, compassion, remembrance and gratitude—a harrowing account of a near-death experience.

"We're grateful for the exposure our friends at Cook Distribution Canada have given Carolyn Weber and her book Holy Is the Day," said Jeff Crosby, IVP's associate publisher and director of sales and marketing. "They have caught a vision for the book, have nurtured a relationship with Weber and are working in close partnership with us to make the book known throughout Canada. We are uncommonly grateful for that."