Campaign offering biblical advice books seeks to provide ‘timely resource to families in need’

In response to the growing economic turmoil, CBA has launched an initiative to provide consumers with biblical financial help through their local Christian bookstore.

The retailers trade association has partnered with Focus on the Family, Salem Radio and Tyndale House Publishers for the Campaign Financial Aid (CFA) initiative, which will be supported by a national marketing campaign.

Retailers can participate in a number of ways, including offering recently released financial advice books such as Faith-Based Family Finances: Let Go of Worry and Grow in Confidence (Tyndale House Publishers) and Surviving Financial Meltdown: Confident Decisions in an Uncertain World (Focus on the Family/Tyndale House) by Ron Blue and Jeremy White. Surviving Financial Meltdown will be available to stores in heavily discounted promotional packs, including four free to give away to those customers who cannot afford it, CBA said.

The trade association previously partnered with Tyndale House on the successful Operation Worship Bible NLT campaign, through which CBA stores saw thousands of copies donated to U.S. military personnel overseas.

“As we experienced with the Operation Worship campaign, when we work in partnership to provide a resource to consumers with real ministry impact, our reach is far greater,” said Curtis Riskey, CBA’s strategic solutions executive. He added that the initiative will provide a “timely resource to families in need across the country.”

Retailers can also download CFA signage at tyndalebooksellers.com or www.cbaonline.org/nm/CampaignFinAid.htm to promote the financial products section of their stores. Additionally, retailers can download posters, postcards, newspaper ads, bagstuffers and e-mail templates to promote the campaign to their local communities.

Retailers are also encouraged to bring local financial advisers for in-store events, which could increase store traffic and provide a connection point for those in need, CBA said.

Online retailing growth, economic downturn cited as key reasons

Two leading church-affiliated stores recently closed.

Regarded as one of the largest Christian bookstores in the country and advertised as the largest in the South, Pathway Bookstore in Cleveland, Tenn., shut its doors Jan 14.

Operated by the Church of God (CoG), the Pathway store ran for many years in a smaller location at the organization’s publishing house building in Cleveland before the Pentecostal denomination opened a reported $2.5 million, 30,000-square-foot facility in August 1999.

“Due to the uncertainty of the economy and after much deliberation, the leadership of Pathway Press, its board of directors and leadership of the Church of God have made the difficult decision to close Pathway Bookstore, effective immediately,” said Scot Carter, director of CoG’s Department of Communications.

Pathway Bookstore—which will continue as a convention store for the denomination—directed customers with gift cards and layaways to a Web site at www.pathwaybookstore.com, which CoG will continue to maintain, CoG officials said.

White Wing Christian Bookstore, located near Pathway Bookstore, has reported an increase in sales since the closing of Pathway. Store manager Cliff Anderson told Christian Retailing that White Wing planned to expand to accommodate new customers.

Meanwhile, The Garden Bookstore at Houston’s First Baptist Church in Houston—a leading member of the church bookstore movement—was due to close by the end of February as part of cost-cutting moves at the church.

The 2,000-square-foot store with a staff of four was founded 16 years ago by manager Geni Hulsey, president of the Church Bookstore Network since it was founded in 2006.

Steven Murray, director of communications at the historic Southern Baptist church, told Christian Retailing that the decision to close the store had not been an easy one as it had been “ministering to our church family” since 1993 under (Hulsey’s) “faithful leadership.”

But the store’s ability to remain financially viable had been impacted by the growth in online retailing, and the recent downturn in the economy had seen consumers looking for deeper discounts.

“All of this, coupled with giving to the church running behind budgeted needs, has led the church to take steps to prevent being overspent this fiscal year,” Murray said. Action steps had included eliminating several positions in the church, cutting the budget for the rest of the year by 20% and closing the bookstore.

Coming out on top. Kirk Franklin won two trophies Feb. 8 during the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards in Los Angeles. Franklin was honored in the Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album category for The Fight of My Life (Gospocentric/Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Provident-Integrity Distribution) and “Help Me Believe” in the Best Gospel Song category. TobyMac garnered a trophy for the Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album for Alive and Transported (Forefront Records/EMI CMG Distribution). The sister duo Mary Mary won the Best Gospel Performance for “Get Up,” while CeCe Winans was honored in the Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album category for Thy Kingdom Come (PureSprings Gospel/EMI Gospel).

GRAMMY-winning band Casting Crowns performed Feb. 5 during the National Prayer Breakfast—which featured President Barack Obama and dignitaries from more than 180 nations, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Casting Crowns sang “Voice of Truth” and “Who Am I” during the 57th annual event, held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C.

Jill Austin, a veteran prophetic minister and founder of Master Potter Ministries, died Jan. 9 after complications involving two emergency surgeries. A leader in the prophetic movement for nearly three decades, Austin authored books such as Dancing With Destiny (Chosen/Baker Publishing Group) and Master Potter & the Mountain of Fire (Destiny Image Publishers). She was also an award-winning potter. A funeral service was held Jan. 12 in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

Harvest House Publishers author and conference speaker Jennifer Rothschild was chosen to receive the annual Hope and Spirit Award by the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB). Rothschild, whose books include Fresh Grounded Faith and Self Talk, Soul Talk: What to Say When You Talk to Yourself, was presented with the award during an FFB celebration and fundraiser in Washington, D.C., Feb. 11.

Releases from March to August 2009

Audio

Hendrickson My-iBible KJV Voice Only

978-1-598-56362-7

Hendrickson My-iBible NASB Voice Only

978-1-598-56363-4

Hendrickson Publishers

$79.95, April

All Bible readers

The 75-minute documentary features "all access," behind-the-scenes footage from the band's most recent tour. "When we say 'all access,' we really went to the extreme with it," said Tai Anderson, the band's bass player. "You'll see Mac, Mark, David, me living day-to-day with the people we call our 'family on the road' and just being ourselves--sometimes intense, sometimes funny, but always real."

"We all need to pull together in this economy to serve our customers and give them a reason to shop at Christian retail stores," said Standard Publishing President Larry Carpenter. "We want to make every effort to help our retail partners and give them tools and information that will help customers make the best decisions."