Christian Retailing

Sarah Palin memoir coming next year Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Thursday, 14 May 2009 02:26 PM America/New_York
Alaska Gov.alt, a committed Christian who was the unexpected running mate chosen by Republican presidential candidate John McCain in last fall's election, is to publish a memoir with HarperCollins.

Currently untitled, the book--scheduled to come out in spring 2010, the year she is up for re-election--will be co-released by HarperCollins imprint Harper and Zondervan for the Christian market, the Associated Press (AP) reported.

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‘As We Forgive’ coming to Christian retail Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Tuesday, 12 May 2009 02:19 PM America/New_York
altAs We Forgive, a documentary about reconciliation between survivors and perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, is scheduled for release this fall on DVD from Mpower Pictures in association with Priddy Brothers and is being distributed to Christian retail by Sound Enterprises.

Directed by Laura Waters Hinson and narrated by Mia Farrow, As We Forgive follows Rosaria and Chantale--two Rwandan women who come face-to-face with the men who slaughtered their families and attempted to murder them during the genocide. An estimated 1 million Rwandans were killed, and nearly a million widows and orphans were left in the genocide's wake.

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Church giveaway, word of mouth propel book Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Tuesday, 12 May 2009 02:27 PM America/New_York
altRichard Stearns' The Hole in Our Gospel (Thomas Nelson) recently received a huge boost and endorsement when author and pastor Bill Hybels, with the generosity of two unnamed donors, purchased 10,000 copies of the title to distribute free to members of Willow Creek Community Church.

Hybels interviewed Stearns, president of the relief organization World Vision, during two April 26 services at the South Barrington, Ill., church.

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Veteran Christian retailer receives prayer, support Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Tuesday, 12 May 2009 02:37 PM America/New_York
altA longtime Christian retailer in Fort Wayne, Ind., has received prayer and support as he undergoes treatment for a potentially fatal brain cancer.

On Web sites Facebook.com and CaringBridge.com, people by the hundreds are signing in with messages of support and divine reassurance for Paul Holsopple--who has owned and operated the Anchor Room Christian bookstore with his wife, Pauline, since 1979--The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette reported.

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Book festival, Christian Bookstore Day in Netherlands Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 11 May 2009 02:03 PM America/New_York
altBCB--the primary association of Dutch Christian retailers and suppliers--is changing the focus of its annual fall consumers' fair to be more experiential, with plans for the Christian Book & Music Festival and Christian Bookstore Day.

"We always had a trade show with a small program," said Els de Jong-van Gurp, director of BCB--which represents the Netherlands in the Christian Trade Association International. "Now the main thing will be the program, and the trade show and the booths will be less dominant.... The festival (will be) the answer to a changing consumer-who wants to experience instead of only look and buy-and changing demands from publishers."

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Point of Grace, Chonda Pierce top SoundScan charts Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 11 May 2009 02:27 PM America/New_York

altPoint of Grace's How You Live (Word Records/Word Distribution) supplanted MercyMe's "best of" album 10 (INO Records/Provident-Integrity Distribution) for the top spot on the Christian/Gospel music Christian retail chart for sales the week ending May 3, while Chonda Pierce's Stayin' Alive ... Laughing! by Chonda Pierce (No Whining Productions/Provident-Integrity) remained atop of the SoundScan Christian Videos list for the second week in a row.

Following How You Live were: 2. My Paper Heart by Francesca Battistelli (Fervent Records/Word); 3. The Long Fall Back to Earth by Jars of Clay (Essential Records/Gray Matters/Provident-Integrity); 4. Wow Hits 2009 by various artists (Wow Gospel/Provident-Integrity); 5. A New Hallelujah by Michael W. Smith (Reunion Records/Provident-Integrity); 6. True Beauty by Mandisa (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG Distribution); 7. This Moment: Cinderella Edition by Steven Curtis Chapman (Sparrow Records/EMI CMG); 8. Revelation by Third Day (Essential Records/Provident-Integrity); 9. Hello Love by Chris Tomlin (sixstepsrecords/EMI CMG); and 10. 10 by MercyMe (INO Records/Provident-Integrity).

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Veteran author honored with service award Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 11 May 2009 02:34 PM America/New_York
altVeteran Christian author Cecil (Cec) Murphey has been recognized by the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) with its 2009 Award for Extraordinary Service.

The author and co-author of 112 books, Murphey co-wrote the New York Times' best-seller 90 Minutes in Heaven (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) with Don Piper as well as Gifted Hands with Dr. Ben Carson (Zondervan) and wrote Devotions for Warriors (Spire Books), The God Who Pursues: Encountering a Relentless God (Bethany House Publishers/Baker Publishing Group) and Committed But Flawed (AMG Publishers).

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COO departs in CBA restructuring Print Email
Written by Eric Tiansay   
Monday, 11 May 2009 02:42 PM America/New_York
altCBA chief operating officer Dorothy Gore is being let go as part of a restructuring intended to "reset" the retail trade association for the future.

The elimination of Gore's position, along with the departure of Director of Finance Becky Kennedy, was announced Friday by CBA President and CEO Bill Anderson. Other than Anderson, Gore is understood to have been the longest-serving member of staff at CBA. She joined the organization in 1981 as assistant to Anderson in his then-role as convention manager.

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