Approximately two-dozen attendees representing industry leadership and retailers got an early start Monday morning to pray for the Christian products industry at ICRS.

The hour-long Industry Prayer Meeting took place at 7 a.m., instead of an early evening time slot at the start of some previous CBA conventions. The gathering began with worship led by author Rachel Hauck, followed by a brief message by author and speaker John W. Stanko.

Jeff Banashak, director of marketing for Evergreen Press, which has organized the event for the past four years, prayed for the international visitors at the show. Jane Charette, general manager of Gregg Gift Co., interceded for retailers.

Danni Schneidt-Hill, secretary of CBA's board and owner of Promises "His" Coffee & Cottage Shoppe in Malta, Mt., prayed for Curtis Riskey, CBA executive director, and CBA's staff.

“Whether we are team CBA, retailers or vendors, family and friends, You have called us for a time such as this,” prayed Schneidt-Hill, whose six-year term as a CBA board member ends at ICRS. “Lord, team CBA has spent a year working hard, studying Your way, making a way. We want to acknowledge their work, their efforts, their diligence and their commitment to bringing this entire group together. Lord bless them.”

Zena Lewis, owner of Family Bookstore Books, Music and More in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, told Christian Retailing that she “definitely wanted to come” to pray. “Prayer is so important,” said Lewis, who came forward during the gathering to pray for staff workers of retailers. “We connected with God as we prayed together. This wasn't too early. It was nice to start our waking hours with the Lord.”

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