Plans are being made for a new, improved movie version of the best-selling end-times thriller Left Behind (Tyndale House Publishers).

The project is being developed by Cloud Ten Pictures, which released the first film adaptation of the book in 2000, following it with two other installments from the successful series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins--which have sold more than 64 million copies since the first title came out in 1995.

Music, meet-the-author opportunities and massages are among the draws for Christian Store Day, Oct. 23.

A wide range of events is planned for the day, which will see 468 stores--309 independents and LifeWay Christian Stores outlets--taking part in the inaugural national celebration of Christian retail.

More Christian product industry suppliers have stepped forward to support next week's first national Christian Store Day.

Almost 500 stores are taking part in the Oct. 23 event aiming to raise awareness of and increase traffic to Christian retail outlets.

The inaugural event has been sponsored by a small group of leading suppliers, including Tyndale House Publishers, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. They and music distributors are providing giveaways and specials for the day, which will also see a wide range of in-store appearances by authors and artists.

Seeing a decline for the third month in a row, sales of religious books decreased slightly in August, as overall book sales increased by 3.4% to $1.6 billion, and were up by 6.9% for the year, according to the Association of American Publishers (AAP).

The month's sales for religious books declined 0.4% to $58.1 million, with sales down by 0.3% for the year. Sales of religious books had risen in May, April and March, but declined 8% in June and 11.9% in July. Previously, other than a small increase in December, the religious books category had been on a steady decline since January 2009.

A sharper business focus and a clearer sense of mission are two good things that have come from the recent tough times for the Christian products industry, according to insiders.

They were among the lessons shared by a broad range of people--from authors and artists, agents and distributors, to suppliers and retailers--when Christian Retailing magazine asked them about what they have found to be positive in the challenges of the economy and a changing marketplace.

A new organization has been formed in India to unify and represent Christian retailers, distributors and suppliers.

About 65 booksellers and publishers from across India attended a Sept. 14 meeting at the Bible Society of India in Bangalore, which was set up by Christian Trade Association International (CTAI).

"We were very pleased with the outcome of this meeting and have a solid start toward an association," said CTAI President Jim Powell. "A committee of 10 was formed to carry the idea of an association forward. It is to meet again on Jan. 15. After they have developed plans, they will call for a larger meeting in the spring."