Carpentree has announced a new personalized product line. Consumers can have custom framed art in minutes, and retailers have no machines to purchase and no big inventory investment.

Seven personalized designs are available to choose from, including Love Never Ends, Young Boy, Young Girl, Teen Boy and Teen Girl. The framed art gifts come with easel backs and are ready to frame.

Mardel Christian & Education stores have been affected by a massive tornado Monday that hit Moore, Okla., forcing temporary closures and bringing injury to one staff member.

Rescuers dug through the debris of destroyed homes, schools and businesses today searching for survivors after the devastating tornado blasted through the Tornado Alley town, killing at least 24 and injuring more than 200, USA Today reported. Efforts were hindered by unsettled weather and roads clogged by debris and thousands of residents trying to return home to check their damage.

Moore is located near Oklahoma City, corporate headquarters of Mardel, which has three stores in the area. Jerry Pennybaker is the manager of the Mardel location in Norman, Okla., just seven miles south of where the twister touched down. He lives with his family in Moore.

"My house is only 300 yards away from where the tornado hit, but it missed our house," Pennybaker, who was at the store during the twister, told Christian Retailing.

He went to his neighborhood 45 minutes after the storm.

"It was a war zone for sure," said Pennybaker, who has worked for Mardel for more than 12 years. "We went through our house to clean up mud and debris. We found important documents from other people, a teddy bear and about 20 stray dogs as we were picking up. It's kind of surreal. We didn't dare care to travel 300 yards to look at the wreckage."

He noted that his store's 19 staff were safe, although most of Moore had no electricity or water.

"The store was not impacted other than lost business," said Pennybaker, who was staying with his family at his parents' house in Norman. "We did one-third of the business on Monday. Norman was a quiet town yesterday. It was a solemn day. I don't expect business to be good today; it's 60%-70% down."

Malorie Little is assistant manager of the Mardel store in Oklahoma City, about eight miles north of the tornado's site.

"We have 23 employees working at this location," said Little, who lives with her family near Moore. "I have gotten word from not all, but most of our staff. We have only one employee injured because he inhaled natural gas. One of our staff had a missing granddaughter who has been located. Continued prayer for all in Oklahoma is greatly appreciated."

Little's store closed temporarily during the twister.

"We were slow before and after the tornado," she said. "It's because of the tornado. It took me twice as long to get to work today. There's more customers than employees right now in the store. I should have three more employees, but there's only four right now."

Literary agents will take center stage during the 14th Annual Christy Awards, which honors excellence in Christian fiction.

Winners will be presented at a dinner Monday, June 24, at the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel in St. Louis during the International Christian Retail Show, which runs June 23-26.

Steve Laube, president and founder of the Steve Laube Agency, will emcee the event. Chip MacGregor, president of MacGregor Literary, will be the keynote speaker. Laube was named Agent of the Year in 2009 by the American Christian Fiction Writers.

MacGregor, who has worked in the book industry for more than 35 years, began representing authors as an agent 15 years ago.

Bethany House and Tyndale House Publishers have each received six Christy nominations. In addition to Bethany House, Revell—another division of Baker Publishing Group—received three nominations. Cost is $60 per person to attend the event.

For a list of all Christy nominees, visit www.christyawards.com.

TobyMac won two Billboard Music Awards Sunday night during the event, which drew 9.47 million viewers, topping 2012's audience by 28%, Nielsen reported. The May 19 awards show was held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and broadcast on the ABC Television Network.

The GRAMMY-winning multi-Platinum recording artist was honored as Top Christian Artist and for the Top Christian Album for Eye On It (ForeFront Records/Capitol Christian Distribution).

Matt Redman's "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)" by won Top Christian Song, surpassing TobyMac's "Me Without You"; Big Daddy Weave's "Redeemed"; Building 429's "Where I Belong"; and Newsboys' "God's Not Dead (Like a Lion)"

Other Top Christian Artist finalists were Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, MercyMe and Matt Redman. The other finalists for Top Christian Album were Casting Crowns' Come to the Well (Beach Street Records/Provident Distribution); Lecrae's Gravity (Reach Records/Infinity Music Distribution); MercyMe's The Hurt & the Healer (INO Records/Provident); and Wow Hits 2013 (Wow Records/Capitol).

Visit www.billboard.com for the complete list of winners.

A new adult-focused worship album by Yancy, whose songs are featured in the latest Standard Publishing Vacation Bible School (VBS) curriculum, is being released today.

Roots for the Journey (Elevate Entertainment/Syntax Distribution) started as a Scripture-based lullaby project for her son, but then evolved from there for the artist known as Christian music's "Queen of Diversity" for her eclectic music.

"Roots for the Journey is incredibly different musically from what I've done these past few years," Yancy said. "I'm so excited about this music that is unplugged, organic and simple. The songs are all based on Scripture and the outcome is a really nice, chilled-out worship experience."

Produced by Stephen Leiweke (Sara Groves, Jars of Clay), the album features Leiweke on guitar, Chris Donohue (Emmylou Harris, Bart Millard) on bass, Matt Stanfield (Kutless, Norah Jones) on keys, Ken Lewis (The Civil Wars, Amy Grant) on drums and Sixpence None the Richer's Matt Slocum on cello.

God's Backyard Bible Camp VBS includes mini-concerts from Yancy, who sang several of songs she wrote for Standard's 2013 VBS curriculum.

Visit www.yancynotnancy.com for more information.

Christian music veteran Carman, who was diagnosed with incurable cancer earlier this year, has raised more than $233,000 to fund his first independent album in a decade.

He credited kickstarter.com, a "crowd-funding" Web site that raises money for creative projects, to help pay for his first independent album and music video.

Launched April 19, Carman's campaign exceeded its $200,000 goal in 25 days, making it the second most-funded music project on Kickstarter, the singer and evangelist said. The campaign's deadline is June 18, and fans can continue to make donations.

"I'm so excited about this incredible opportunity we all have through Kickstarter to make something happen as a team and a family," Carman said. "Cancer pronounced a death sentence, but you have been life to me, rallying me back into the fight and praying me back to my feet. As one fan said on my Facebook page, 'Look at what Jesus did in three years.' So as for you and me, with this new project and us working together, the next three years are going to be a blast."

In addition to the music project, Carman has announced a 60-city, 28-state summer tour, with concerts planned for New York City, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago and Dallas.

Carman, 57, announced on his Facebook page Feb. 14 that he had been diagnosed with myeloma cancer, and was given "a three- to four-year window of time."

His latest album, Anthems of a Champion, was released in January by Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Distribution. Carman, whose full name is Carmelo Domenic Licciardello, is known for concerts, that "are more like a rock 'n' roll Billy Graham crusade than a Christian music event," his website noted.

For more information on Carman's concert tour, for which tickets go on sale July 1, visit www.carmanlive.com.

Best-selling author Stormie Omartian has partnered with Media Connect Partners (MCP) to coordinate social media promotion for her forthcoming "Power of a Praying" release.

Harvest House Publishers is set to release Omartian's Prayer Warrior Prayer and Study Guide and the Prayer Warrior Book of Prayers in September. Harvest House will also release the Prayer Warrior Deluxe Edition in October.

"MCP is working with Stormie and Harvest House to create a robust and comprehensive social media presence," said MCP CEO Brian Boyd. "We are honored to manage Stormie's Twitter and Facebook activities as well as helping to develop content for YouTube and taking advantage of new social media opportunities so that people can have an ongoing conversation with Stormie.

"In addition to sharing her message of hope, we are working to keep people in the know," he added. "Whether it's first word of a new book release, details of a book signing or an appearance, our social media efforts are designed to keep people connected with Stormie."

Harvest House Vice President of Marketing Barb Sherrill noted that Omartian "has a powerful testimony."

"This has given her the unique ability to impact millions of readers by sharing her incredible experiences and firsthand lessons of how God can transform a life," she said. "MCP is helping us and her reach people who want daily inspiration, who want to learn how to pray powerfully and stay in touch with her, as well as reach those who may not be aware of Stormie's amazing life story."

Omartian has written more than 50 books, which have sold more than 23 million copies, including The Power of a Praying Wife, The Power of a Praying Parent and The Power of a Praying Woman.

"Social media allows me to instantly share encouraging messages that illustrate how God changes lives when we learn to trust in Him, live His way, seek His will and follow His lead no matter what," Omartian said. "It allows me to share with people as many times a day as possible, and it allows them to share with me in an intimate way."

Visit www.stormieomartian.com for more information.