The Christian market has seen an influx of new book imprints of late, with new entries from Charisma House, Hachette Book Group, B&H Publishing Group and Regular Baptist Press.

Charisma House, the charismatic/Pentecostal publisher that also owns Christian Retailing, recently launched Passio. Aiming to reach contemporary-minded believers with books, e-books and other forms of media, the imprint will target readers who are passionate about their faith and missional living, covering topics such as revival, a deeper relationship with God and authentic faith.

Beginning with the June issue, Christian Retailing will feature 50 movers and shakers called “Nifty 50”—starting with the Christian gift industry. And the editors are calling on readers in the industry to nominate those featured. Nominees can be a store that does well retailing Christian gifts, a notable artist, an industry innovator, a gift product or a gift company.

“We will be honoring the movers and shakers in other industries in later issues of Christian Retailing, but we're starting with the gift industry in June,” said Steve Strang, owner and publisher of Christian Retailing.

Megachurch pastor Ron Carpenter’s The Necessity of an Enemy is climbing up the Top 20 General best-sellers list from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). The book by the senior pastor of Redemption World Outreach Center in Greenville, S.C., ranks second on the list for the week ending March 3, according to Pubtrack Christian data.

The Top 20 General best-sellers are: 1. Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 2. The Necessity of an Enemy, Ron Carpenter Jr. (WaterBrook Press); 3. Jesus Calling: Large Print Deluxe Edition, Young (Thomas Nelson); 4. Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson); 5. The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman (Northfield Publishing); 6. The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine/Charisma House Book Group); 7. Jesus Calling: Deluxe Edition, Young (Thomas Nelson); 8. One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp (Zondervan); 9. Crazy Love, Francis Chan (David C Cook); 10. The Resolution for Men, Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick, Randy Alcorn (B&H Books); 11. Bonhoeffer, Eric Metaxas, softcover (Thomas Nelson); 12. Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer (FaithWords); 13. The Resolution for Women, Priscilla Shirer (B&H Books); 14. Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman (Zondervan); 15. Made to Crave, Lysa TerKeurst (Zondervan); 16. Downfall, “Intervention,” No. 3, Terri Blackstock (Zondervan); 17. A Praying Life, Paul Miller (NavPress); 18. Love & Respect, Emerson Eggerichs (Thomas Nelson); 19. Nearing Home, Billy Graham (Thomas Nelson); and 20. The Love Dare, Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick (B&H Books).

Thomas Nelson’s Buy a Bible, Help a Child campaign will reach more than a half-million dollars, including the company’s direct donation of $112,500, by the end of March. Launched in partnership with World Vision, the first year of the campaign will end March 31.

Since April 2011, sales of Thomas Nelson Bibles in U.S. Christian stores have helped World Vision by donating a share of the publisher’s profits. When combined with grant funds and corporate donations, donations multiply nearly five times to provide $540,000 in aid.

Sheaf House Publishers and author Joe Bonsall, songwriter and vocalist for country music’s The Oak Ridge Boys, have partnered to raise funds for a Branson, Mo., library struck by a tornado Feb. 29. The goal is to raise $15,000 for the restoration of the historic Taneyhills Community Library.

Bonsall and his publisher, Sheaf House, have allotted 3,000 copies of his latest book, From My Perspective, to raise funds to help the library recover from the devastation. Branson took a direct hit from a tornado with winds of 120-130 miles per hour and which was on the ground for about 20 miles, according to the National Weather Service. The storm smashed at least seven miles of the city’s commercial strip.

Moody Publishers has announced a new structure and stronger collaborative partnership with the radio and education ministries of Moody Bible Institute (MBI). The plan was recently developed in concert with MBI’s new vision: “Across the globe, cultures and generations, Moody will equip people with the truth of God’s Word using new technology in an agile and innovative community.”

Christian publishing industry leader Ernest (Ernie) E. Owen, 87, died Feb. 28 in Southern California. The recipient of a 1994 Jordon Lifetime Achievement Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and a 2000 Life Impact Award from CBA, he served on publishing teams at Warner Press, Fleming H. Revell and Word Publishing, from which he retired in 1989.

Known as “the dean of Christian publishing,” he was influential in enhancing the writing careers of Billy Graham, Charles Swindoll, James Dobson, Max Lucado and many other best-selling authors. Swindoll recalled him as “a gentleman to the core, a man of genuine integrity and a true friend.” Lucado reflected: “Earth is less and heaven is more at the passing of Ernie Owen. In his fruitful life, he made no enemies, just friends. He did no harm, just good. He touched my life deeply and I will miss him.”