An independent Christian retailer is throwing a party this month to mark 75 years as one of the oldest Christian bookstores in the country.

Andrea Rizzito, co-owner of the 2,500-square-foot Churchtown Book & Gift Shoppe in Pennsville, N.J., told Christian Retailing that she felt prompted by God to celebrate the longevity of the store?opened by Norman Kellow in 1935 as Pinebrook Bookstore.

Scheduled for Nov. 6-13, the celebration will feature a $1,000 drawing, giveways, book signings and activities for children, including games and face painting by a clown. "I'm being obedient because God says we're doing a celebration," she said. "He wants people to know that Christians can have a good time and not focus on the gloomy stuff."

Citing Internet competition, business has been "very slow" for the store?located in a farming community, where many residents are on a fixed income, Rizzito added.

"We buy and sell new and used church furniture and furnishings," said Rizzito, who has owned the store with her husband, Joseph, for 20 years. "We take hymnals and robes and sell them for churches. That's what has kept us alive.

"Fourteen Christian bookstores have opened and closed since we've been here," she added. "I'm hoping that this isn't our farewell party. We used to have a celebration for our first 10-12 years. We stopped because I couldn't afford it. We're hoping to draw more traffic with this celebration."

Click here for more information on Churchtown Book & Gift Shoppe.

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