Christian retail industry members in New Zealand have appealed for prayer for members impacted by the Feb. 21 earthquake that hit Christchurch, leaving more than 150 dead.

Several stores are located behind the cordon around the worst-hit part of the South Island city, Lawrence Allpress, president of CBA New Zealand, told Christian Trade Association International (CTAI).

Allpress also recounted how CBA members were together for a mini convention when the 6.3 magnitude earthquake happened. The group included retailers and wholesalers from Christchurch, Auckland, Palmerston North, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington and also Australia.

“It happened just as we were finishing lunch,” Allpress told CTAI. “It sounded like a train going through the house. It was very loud and terrifying ... incredible shaking. We were all pretty shocked and stunned, but OK. Many of the South Island shop managers had left Christchurch already, but some of the other reps were still visiting shops at the time of the quake.

Allpress added: “We are grateful that all of us have survived, but our hearts go out to the families of the dead and injured. May they find the love and comfort of God throughout these difficult days and weeks ahead.”

The annual Catholic Marketing Network (CMN) Trade Show will feature a special section for children this year.

To be held for the 15th year, Aug. 2-5, the event will include a “Future Saints” area on the exhibition floor, specially designed for children and featuring activities for youngsters throughout the event at the Radisson Valley Forge Hotel and Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Pa., near Philadelphia.

Rock and worship shared the honors at the top of the Christian music sales charts for the week ending Feb. 27.

According to sales at Christian retail tracked by Nielsen SoundScan for the Christian Music Trade Association (CMTA), the top 10 selling releases were: 1. The Altar and the Door by Casting Crowns (Beach Street Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution), 2. Revelation by Third Day (Essential Records/Provident-Integrity), 3. Born Again by Newsboys (Inpop Records/EMI CMG), 4. It Is Well (expanded edition) by Kutless (BEC Recordings/EMI CMG), 5. The Generous Mr. Lovewell, MercyMe (INO Records/Provident-Integrity), 6. WOW Hits 2011by various artists (Wow/EMI CMG), 7. And If Our God Is For Us... by Chris Tomlin (sixstepsrecords/EMI CMG), 8. Church Music by David Crowder Band (sixstepsrecords/), 9. Aftermath by Hillsong United (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG) and 10. My Paper Heart by Francesca Battistelli (Fervent Records/Word Distribution).

The Southern Baptist retail chain has ended its “read with caution” advisories—click here for details in our Industry Radar roundup of other media's reporting on the Christian products world.

Standard Publishing’s “Happy Day” book line has sold more than 4 million copies, the company announced.

Including titles such as I’m Glad I’m Your Mother, My Story of Jesus and God Made Puppies, the line comprises early-reader books of everyday values and virtues, seasonal books and Bible storybooks. The 70-plus item line, launched more than 30 years ago, has been expanded to include board books, digital books and compilations.

David C. Cook is being highlighted in Christian Retailing's Virtual Christian Retailing Winter Show.

Running through March 15, the show highlights some of the key new and backlist products from several leading suppliers. 

Veteran Christian filmmaker Ken Curtis died Jan. 3 after a long battle with cancer in Palm Harbor, Fla. He was 71. Curtis was the founder and president of Gateway Films/Vision Video and Christian History Institute. Curtis—who produced The Cross and the Switchblade, a 1970 film starring Pat Boone as inner-city minister David Wilkerson and Erik Estrada as gang member Nicky Cruz—specialized in featuring the stories of early Christian pioneers such as William Tyndale and John Wycliffe through films and videos.  

Teen sailor Abby Sunderland has signed with Thomas Nelson to write a book telling how she set out to become the youngest person in history to circumnavigate the globe alone last year. Unsinkable: A Young Woman’s Courageous Battle on the High Seas is to be released next month.   

Longtime Billy Graham Crusade soloist George Beverly Shea was to be honored for his gospel music career with a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Recording Academy. The presentation was to be made at a special ceremony Feb. 12 during GRAMMY Awards week, a few days after Shea’s 102nd birthday. Shea has recorded more than 70 albums, earning 10 GRAMMY nominations and winning once, in 1965.   ?

Heralding the release of The Four Holy Gospels—an exquisite edition of the four Gospels in the English Standard Version—Crossway hosted renowned artist Makoto Fujimura with a Jan. 21 exhibit of his work from the project. Published in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version Bible, The Four Holy Gospels incorporates five large-scale paintings, four opening plates—one for each of the Gospels—plus 89 initial letters, each painted and many adorned with gold flecks and foil. Known for his use of traditional Japanese Nihonga techniques and his passion for reconnecting spirituality with fine art, Fujimura attended the exhibit at Crossway’s Wheaton, Ill., headquarters.