The only independent Christian store operating in a 70-mile radius of Green Bay, Wis., saw a sales bump at the weekend as thousands of Green Bay Packers fans from across the nation traveled to the NFL's smallest town to watch the Super Bowl.

A massive snowstorm last week cut her sales by more than 40%, but business was up 15% Saturday, Karen Grosse—owner of Lighthouse Christian Books in Green Bay—told Christian Retailing. "I'm sure that the increase in sales was due to the influx of fans."

The Packers, one of the league's storied franchises, came through in a big way last night, beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV.

Grosse's store drew customers who were "completely decked out" in Packers gear, along with her staff, for "Packer Day" on Feb. 5. Lighthouse sold some Packers memorabilia, including mugs, magnets and pins.

A lifelong Packer fan and Green Bay resident, Grosse said that several Packers players—including Aaron Rodgers, Mason Crosby, Ryan Pickett, James Jones, Greg Jennings, A. J. Hawk and Donald Driver—are regular customers at her store. The late Reggie White, a former Packers player, was also a frequent customer.

Named this year's Super Bowl MVP, Rodgers shopped at Lighthouse last month, purchasing a plaque "with his favorite saying on it," Grosse said. "The verse that Aaron likes is Psalm 91:1-2, which says, 'He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty,' " she added. "Aaron has purchased a number of different pictures and plaques with these verses on them."

After Rodgers suffered his second concussion during the regular season, Grosse told the star quarterback that her staff had been praying for his quick recovery.

Grosse, who will attend the Packers celebration at Lambeau Field tomorrow, said that Packers players who are Christians are "all quiet and unassuming, but are willing to speak up for God." "I think that is wonderful," she said. "If I see any of them in the store before they leave (for the off season), I would tell them that I am proud of them for bringing the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay. But above and beyond that, I am prouder of the way that they allowed their testimonies to shine and the teamwork they had to win this honor."

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