Send The Light Distribution (STL) will debut an all-new VeggieTales line of interactive toys, games and immersive arts & crafts manufactured by Melissa & Doug in time for Easter 2016.

STL will be the exclusive distributor of the line to both Christian and general market retail channels. The arrangement is the latest in a series of strategic moves by STL to expand its selection of "pray and play" products that encourage children's educational and spiritual development at the same time.

Send The Light Distribution has announced what will likely be a major new draw for kids and their parents, The VeggieTales Etch A Sketch.

Etch A Sketch Junior and Travel Doodle editions of the best-selling drawing toys will feature characters from the popular faith-based kids franchise, VeggieTales. The toys will be released in 2016, one in time for Easter. The VeggieTales Etch A Sketch model will retail for $19.99, while the Travel Doodle will retail for $17.99.

Four Blood Moons, the docudrama based on Pastor John Hagee’s New York Times best-selling book of the same name (Worthy Publishing), launched on DVD June 23 to strong sales. With close to 33,000 copies sold, the Goose Creek Productions title distributed by Capitol Christian Distribution was the top-selling DVD at CBA-market retailers in its first two weeks and ranks fifth on the CBA DVD list for the month.

Four Blood Moons combines Scripture, science, history and big-screen live action as it examines what Hagee calls a never-to-be-repeated celestial event occurring now that in years past was surrounded by major change.

Abingdon Press, an imprint of The United Methodist Publishing House, has officially decided to cease acquisitions of new fiction books.

As Christian Retailing reported in August 2014, Abingdon had been re-evaluating the strategy for its fiction line. The company has now confirmed the redirection in its publishing program.

The Parable Group, a leading retail and marketing services provider, and WestBow Press, the self-publishing division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, today announced William Thorton as the Grand Prize winner of the 2015 Aspiring Authors Writing Contest. Thorton’s manuscript, Set Your Fields on Fire, was selected from several hundred entrants. His winning novel will be self-published through WestBow Press and reviewed for possible traditional publication by Thomas Nelson and Zondervan.

In addition, upon publication, Thorton will receive a free marketing package from The Parable Group to promote the prize-winning book in catalogs and in bookstores across the nation.

Biblica and Zondervan have partnered on a yearlong commemorative campaign in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of the New International Version (NIV). More than 450 million copies of the NIV have been distributed worldwide.

The campaign is to feature quarterly themes to recognize the impact that the NIV has made on the church. Last week, the Biblica-Zondervan partnership launched the third theme of the year: "Made to Share."

“We have been helping people around the world fall in love with the Bible for over 200 years, so I couldn’t be more passionate about the Made to Share NIV 50th Anniversary campaign,” said Carl Moeller, CEO at Biblica. “This theme acknowledges our commitment to faithfully putting God’s Word in the heart languages of people, so everyone is able to truly understand it. The NIV was intentionally designed for this kind of continuous refinement so that it remains as accurate and accessible as possible. We’re proud to be a part of this yearlong celebration.”

The massacre at a Charleston, South Carolina, church last month has prompted GRAMMY Award-winning recording artist Tye Tribbett to launch a “Hate Won’t Win” concert to benefit the families of the nine people who were shot to death in that tragic incident. The concert will feature several big-name Christian artists, including GRAMMY winner Israel Houghton, “Break Every Chain” singer Tasha Cobbs, R&B star Akon protégé Mali Music and Columbia, South Carolina, native Travis Greene.

The concert will take place Thursday, July 23, at The Medallion Conference Center in Columbia and will cap the first day of Tribbett’s second annual The Chosen Music Mentorship conference for church worship leaders.