Roger Campbell, radio teacher, newspaper columnist, and author of over 30 books, including the well-regarded Preach for a Year series, passed away Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, at 84.

Kregel Publications published Campbell’s books for over 35 years. During that time, over 220,000 copies from his eight-volume Preach for a Year series have been printed in the United States. Volume 8 released in August 2014.

Additionally, over 172,000 copies of the Spanish editions have been published by Portavoz, the Spanish division of Kregel Inc., and distributed in over 20 Spanish-speaking countries. There are also editions in Portuguese and Korean, as well as English editions in Nigeria, India and the Philippines helping to make over 500,000 copies worldwide. This sermon series, along with his numerous other titles, have been a source of blessing for thousands of pastors.

“During the twenty-some years that I worked on projects with Roger, I always found him to be unfailingly gracious and kind,” Kregel Publications publisher Dennis Hillman said. “A careful writer with a pastor’s heart, he wanted to communicate the message of Christ clearly and persuasively. He used our many phone conversations to share a personal word of encouragement with me. His impact on untold numbers will continue for years to come through his writing ministry.”

Campbell was laid to rest in Waterford, Michigan.

A celebration of Andraé Crouch’s life will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 20 and Wednesday, Jan. 21 at West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, California. Both services will be open to the public.

On Tuesday, the viewing will take place from 2 PM to 5 PM, with a tribute celebration set for 7 PM.

The seven-time Grammy Award winner died at 72 on Jan. 8 after being hospitalized for health complications on Jan. 3.

The memorial service, preceded by another viewing on Wednesday from 9 AM until 10 AM, will begin and be officiated by Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, with the eulogy delivered by Pastor Marvin Winans. Artists CeCe and BeBe Winans, Shirley Caesar, Yolanda Adams, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, Kim Burrell, Erica Campbell, Ledisi and Israel Houghton will perform in tribute to Crouch during the services. Mano Hanes and Bill Maxwell have assembled an all-star band, including an 80-voice choir.

Also scheduled to speak are the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Dr. Bobby Jones and Kirk Franklin.

Cable network BET will stream both services “LIVE” at bet.com/andraecrouchfuneral. West Angeles Church of God In Christ will also stream both services at watch.westa.tv.

“People are coming from all over the world to say goodbye, from as far away as Japan and South Africa,” says Crouch’s publicist, Brian Mayes. “Sandra Crouch (sister) and everyone on Andraé’s team appreciate the outpouring of love and support from the fans, media and music community. He would have been completely overwhelmed.”

In addition, video tributes will be shown by Bishop T.D. Jakes, Kenneth Copeland and Michael W. Smith.

The legendary Crouch won 6 GMA Dove Awards, an Academy Award nomination for “The Color Purple,” induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His songs have been recorded by everyone from Elvis Presley to Paul Simon, and he worked as a producer and arranger with many of music’s top artists, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Quincy Jones, Diana Ross, Elton John and many others.

Crouch can also be heard on Michael Jackson’s hit singles “Man in the Mirror,” “Keep the Faith,” “Will You Be There” and “Earth Song.”

The year 2014 was a banner one for Signature Marketing. The group has announced a record 81 Christian retailers joined the Network last year, bringing the total number of Signature Marketing member stores to over 300.

“The addition of so many retailers is due primarily to other retailers sharing their success in growing their sales and profits with our program, which is easy to use and low cost,” said Richard Hauhuth, director of signature sales and marketing. “In today’s marketplace it is critical that retailers be price competitive while maintaining margin, promote monthly and communicate with customers frequently to successfully drive store traffic and sales,” he explained.

As a part of the Signature Marketing Network, retailers receive a comprehensive promotion and marketing program designed for ease of use that allows retailers to focus on serving customers and creating sales. Signature retailers are now selling more by not spending their time trying to create promotions, signage, email plans, etc. By providing retailers personalized monthly promotion signs, working with industry partners for added discounts with easy ordering and marketing directly to retailers’ customers weekly, Signature Marketing is helping retailers bring customers back into the store more often with higher average purchases.

As of 2014 year’s end, Signature Marketing promotions with customer savings to 40 percent were featured on over 1,200 in-store end caps every month. These in-store promotions were supported with over 28 million customers reached digitally in 2014. This resulted in bringing more customers into independent Christian retailers to make their purchases.

“We are really excited to be partnering with so many retailers to grow their traffic, sales and church connection every month, with solid profitability through the proven success of the Signature Marketing Program,” said Larry Haege, president of Innovative Signature Marketing.

The co-author of Tyndale House Publishers’ The Boy Who Came Back From Heaven is recanting the story of his visit to heaven—and blaming Christian retailers for selling the book.

In “An Open Letter to LifeWay and Other Sellers, Buyers and Marketers of Heaven Tourism, by the Boy Who Did Not Come Back From Heaven” published at pulpitandpen.org, Alex Malarkey, who wrote the book with his father, Kevin Malarkey, wrote:

“Please forgive the brevity, but because of my limitations I have to keep this short.

Howard Books has hired Ami Webster McConnell as vice president, editor in chief.

“I am delighted to have Ami McConnell join our team” said Howard Books’ Vice President and Publisher Jonathan Merkh. “She brings a wealth of knowledge and best-selling success to the position and will help take Howard Books to new heights.”

The 2015 Christian Retailing’s Best Awards program is now open for business. Vendors and authors may submit their 2014 and backlist products for the awards from now until the Feb. 24 nomination period.

Companies who nominate products by Feb. 13 will save with the Early Bird option (for every five paid, get one free). The nomination fee remains at $60 per item entered, and companies do not need to send in the physical products they are submitting.

Click here to see the 2015 categories to determine the best category for your product entries. Enter your products by clicking here.

The awards sponsored by Christian Retailing were introduced in 2001 and have been acknowledged as an important way of recognizing some of the most significant, life-changing products in the industry.

After the voting period in March, winners will be announced at the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando, Florida. Watch for details in Christian Retailing Update.

Email the awards coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions.

Following up on its disclosure last summer that it might be willing to sell all or part of its 15-acre downtown Nashville campus, LifeWay Christian Resources has announced that it is accepting offers for the facility, the Nashville Tennessean reported this week.

In a letter sent to its employees, LifeWay CEO Thom Rainer said once the sale proposals come in, “We’ll then begin an involved process of studying, comparing, and considering any offers we receive. I’m pleased to share with you the results of the feasibility study were favorable enough for us to take another step.”

The company conducted a study this year—the results of which were released five months ago—to determine the feasibility of selling a part of or all of the Nashville facility, which includes nine buildings and over 1 million square feet of office, warehouse and parking space in the downtown area.

In the letter, Rainer explained to employees that LifeWay, the publishing arm of the Southern Baptist Convention, needs only about one-third of that space and that the company is looking for potential sites on which to build a new facility, the Tennessean reported. The letter also cited talks with local, regional and national entities that are interested in the venue.

“You may have noticed a LifeWay team escorting small groups of visitors through the building, seemingly interested in every facet of what they were seeing,” Rainer said in the employee letter. “They were probably potential buyers.”

The Tennessean reported that LifeWay is forecasting a two-year time frame between the sale of the current campus and the move to a new location.

“Right now we’re looking at several pieces of property in the downtown area that would be potential sites for us to build a new LifeWay building,” Rainer said. “We need a workplace designed to support the technologies, collaboration and culture needed for today’s and tomorrow’s successful national and international ministry. This could be a wonderful opportunity to build a new facility designed specifically for the ministries we provide now and in the future.”