Christian Retailing

Professor and author Howard Hendricks dies Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Wednesday, 20 February 2013 03:48 PM America/New_York

Howard Hendricks, a longtime faculty member at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and prolific author, died today after a battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was 88.

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Christian Education and Leadership at DTS, where he taught for 60 years, Hendricks was known to his students as "Prof," and he mentored numerous well-known pastors, including Tony Evans, Robert Jeffress, David Jeremiah, Erwin Lutzer, Joseph Stowell and Chuck Swindoll. He also influenced authors such as Bruce Wilkinson, best-selling author of The Prayer of Jabez.

"Professor Hendricks will always be remembered as a legend and great leader at DTS, who has impacted countless lives for the kingdom," Evans wrote on DTS' Facebook page.

Hendricks wrote 23 books, including As Iron Sharpens Iron and Living by the Book (both Moody Publishers); A Life of Integrity and Teaching to Change Lives (both Multnomah Publishers); The Christian Educator's Handbook on Teaching (Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group); and Color Outside the Lines (Thomas Nelson). His 1991 best-seller Living by the Book taught Christians the inductive method of studying the Bible.

Hendricks earned a master's degree from DTS in 1950, as well as bachelor's (1946) and doctoral (1967) degrees from Wheaton College. He was on the DTS faculty from 1951 until 2011, when, at age 86, Hendricks said his body would no longer work with his mind.

He served as chaplain for the Dallas Cowboys from 1976 to 1984, and he was a frequent speaker at Promise Keepers events during the 1990s. He also preached in more than 80 countries.

Additionally, Hendricks played an important role in the development of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, N.C., where he was a frequent speaker.

In a 2009 interview with Billy Graham's Decision magazine, Hendricks said: "I'm not what everybody in the world says is great. I'm just a servant of Christ, that's all. Once a believer really gets to see what the Lord can do through him or her, at whatever stage in life, they're going to get excited about getting out there in the battle. It's all about being a servant of Christ."

Hendricks is survived by his wife of more than 66 years, Jeanne, four children, six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for March 2 at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas.

 
Mandisa performs 'Stronger' for Robin Roberts' GMA return Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Wednesday, 20 February 2013 10:18 AM America/New_York

GRAMMY-nominated artist Mandisa performed her hit song "Stronger" today to celebrate the return of anchor Robin Roberts to ABC's Good Morning America (GMA).

The song from the former American Idol contestant's 2011 album, What If We Were Real (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Distribution), was used by the morning program last fall when the show updated Roberts' progress after a bone marrow transplant.

" 'Stronger' really helped me get through my recovery," Roberts said on GMA. "Mandisa, thank you so much for being here, and you were here a few days before I took my medical leave. You sang this song. You gave me the CD. And I have listened to it over and over again. ... I do feel stronger on the other side. "

The anchor then asked the singer, "What does the song 'Stronger' mean to you?"

"It's just for people like you, who are walking through the time," Mandisa replied. "If they don't have the strength on their own, we can tap into the strength of God. And He will pull us through and make us stronger on the other side."

Mandisa was also set to return to the syndicated television show ?The Doctors to discuss her weight loss journey. The segment was also to air today. 

Additionally, Mandisa will embark this week on her "3 in 1 Tour" along with Brandon Heath and Laura Story. The 23-city tour kicks off Feb. 21, partnering with international relief organization Food For the Hungry. Click here for more information on the tour. 

Click here to watch Mandisa performed "Stronger" on Good Morning America.

 
P. Graham Dunn partner store to open new gallery Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 05:46 PM America/New_York

PGDLogoKregel Parable Christian Store in Grandville, Mich., is planning to open a new P. Graham Dunn Gallery—only the second such gallery in partnership with a Christian retail store.

Owners Jim and Kathie Kregel learned of the possibility through Lorraine Valk, the retailer who owns the first gallery teamed with a store, Parable Christian Store of St. Joseph in St. Joseph, Mich. outside of Grand Rapids.

“Kathie [Kregel] had an opportunity with the real estate next door to their store to sign a lease and do a pass-through, like a door from their store into this new space,” said Joe Knutson, co-president of P. Graham Dunn. “It was an opportunity that all fell together at the right place at the right place at the right time, and what she wanted to do was to present P. Graham Dunn in this new space.”

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‘Inspirational Gift Mart’ features lace-making company Print Email
Written by Christine D. Johnson   
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 05:51 PM America/New_York

HeritageLace.LastSupperHeritage Lace—a family-owned business in Pella, Iowa—has grown with the times. Started in the early 1980s, the company imported its textiles until the early 2000s, but now has the ability to create about 95% of its lace products in the United States.

“Lace textiles require lots of complicated machinery,” co-CEO Dan De Cook said in the February issue of Inspirational Gift Mart magazine. “There may be 7,000 spools of yarn feeding one machine with 7,000 needles. Just one of those machines costs $1 million. We have 70 of them.”

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'Les Misérables' wins Epiphany Prize Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 03:53 PM America/New_York

The faith-themed Les Misérables and The American Bible Challenge were the big winners in this year's John Templeton Foundation Epiphany Prizes for inspiring movies and TV programs.

Starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway, the motion-picture adaptation of the famous musical set in 19th-century France received the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring Movie of 2012 during the 21st Annual Movieguide Faith & Values Awards, held Feb. 15 at the Universal Hilton Hotel near Hollywood, Calif.

The American Bible Challenge, the Game Show Network's program starring Jeff Foxworthy, won the $100,000 Epiphany Prize for Most Inspiring TV Program of last year.

Andy Garcia, star of For Greater Glory, was recognized with the Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Movies in 2012, while Kyla Kenedy of Raising Izzie won the Grace Award for Most Inspiring Performance in Television last year.

Randall Hahn, who wrote Gideon, a story of a mysterious boy with Christ-like powers, won the $25,000 grand prize for the eighth annual Kairos Prize for Spiritually Uplifting Screenplays, also announced the during Movieguide Faith & Values Awards.

Romeo Ciolfi, who wrote Play Ball, won the $15,000 first runner up, while James M. De Vince, who penned The Basketball, received the $10,000 second runner up prize. The three winners will have their scripts read by top studio executives at major studios, including Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Sony Pictures and Walt Disney Pictures.

Click here for a complete list of Movieguide Faith & Values Award winners.

 
EchoLight Studios pledges $1 million to emerging filmmakers Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 02:29 PM America/New_York

EchoLight Studios has pledged up to $1 million to produce and distribute the new work from the Best Film winner in this year's 168 Film Project.

Launched in 2003, the project gives an entrant one week (168 hours) in which to film and edit a short movie based on a theme influenced by the contestant's individual Bible verse. Registration is open at 168film.com and closes May 11.

"This is a great leap for the producers of the short films in our contest," said John David Ware, 168 founder and director. "They move up to making feature-length films, and this is a great encouragement for them to continue to excel."

Christopher Morrow, chief global strategist at EchoLight Studios, noted that the partnership with the project to support the next generation of Christian filmmakers is a win-win "because of our mutual goal to illuminate the word of God through film."

Based in Dallas, EchoLight produces and distributes faith-based and family-friendly films such as 1 Message, Foolishness, I Am . . . Gabriel and Undaunted: The Early Life of Josh McDowell.

On Feb. 9, EchoLight awarded $250,000 to fund, co-produce and distribute the work of the winner in the 2013 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival Short Film category. Brandon Adams' film Useless took the award, which also won multiple awards in last year's 168 Film Project, including Best Film, Best Cinematography and Best Acting.

Click here for more information about the 168 Film Project.

 
Logos offers free study Bible app Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Tuesday, 19 February 2013 10:53 AM America/New_York

Logos Bible Software started the new year by giving away 2.5 million copies of its Faithlife Study Bible (FSB). It was made available for iPhones, iPads, Android mobile devices, Kindle Fires, Macs, PCs, Vyrso Christian ebooks and Proclaim church presentation software.

The free FSB app is tied to the Faithlife social network, which brings together friends, family, colleagues and churches through shared reading plans, notes and prayer requests.

Normally retailing for $89.95, the FSB features major translations such as the King James Version, the 2011 New International Version, New King James Version, English Standard Version, New Revised Standard Version and New American Standard Bible.

The free download also includes the 1.6-million-word, 2,800-article Lexham Bible Dictionary, approximately 400 photos, videos and infographics in rich media, and three layers of study notes. Additionally, the app allows access to Logos 5's Bible-study tools and more than 32,000 Christian e-books.

The Faithlife Study Bible is "a remarkable resource that allows you to probe deeply, yet move quickly," said FSB contributor Randy Alcorn, an author and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries. "You can glide effortlessly from passage to passage with insightful commentary and cross-references without leaving the Scripture you're studying."

Click here for more information about the Faithlife Study Bible giveaway. 

 
Evangelist and author T.L. Osborn dies Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 18 February 2013 10:28 AM America/New_York

Pentecostal evangelist and best-selling author T.L. (Tommy Lee) Osborn died Thursday, Feb. 14, at his Tulsa, Okla., home surrounded by four generations of his family. He was 89.

According to a message posted on Twitter by his daughter, LaDonna Osborn, her father, known around the world as "the Father of the Gospel," was in "no pain and had no sickness."

"The Lord simply took away his breath," she wrote. "My father was wrapped in love, his family surrounding him as he stepped through the veil into eternity. He is now in the presence of Jesus, whom he had served faithfully for 77 years. We can only imagine the sweet reunion between him and his beloved Daisy, three of his children, a granddaughter and a celebrating host of believers who are among the redeemed because of my father's ministry during more than 65 years to every corner of the earth. He was in his 90th year, having passed his 89th birthday on Dec. 23."

His books include Healing the Sick; Legacy of Faith Collection; The Power of Positive Desire; Miracles: Proof of God's Love; If I Were A Woman; and The Best of Life (all published by Harrison House). More than 1 million copies of Healing the Sick were printed in English.

Osborn, who established Osborn Ministries International with his wife, Daisy, in 1949 in Tulsa, took to the gospel to tens of millions in more than 100 nations.

Osborn also launched Osborn DocuMiracle films and videos and the Osborn National Missionary Assistance Program. DocuMiracle films are offered in 70 languages in 115 nations, and the assistance program has helped establish more than 150,000 new churches.

An Oklahoma native, Osborn was longtime friends with Oral Roberts, whom he attributes to inspiring his ministry. He is survived by his daughter, LaDonna; five grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren; and three great great grandchildren. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m., March 6, at Oral Roberts University's Christ's Chapel in Tulsa.