Choice Books hosted a reception at last month's International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) to celebrate 50 years in business.

"We give thanks to God for his faithfulness in leading Choice Books these past 50 years and fondly remember the four founders who cast the original vision that continues to inspire and motivate us today," CEO John Bomberger told Christian Retailing.

"Choice Books has a rich history of dedicated, hard-working staff committed to sharing God's love through books and many strong partnerships with publishers and retailers who have helped Choice Books fulfill its mission and purpose over the years," Bomberger added. "We say thanks to all our partners and give God the glory for our collective work together."

Held June 24 at the Ramada Plaza Downtown in St. Louis, the reception drew nearly 80 representatives from various publisher partners "for a time of fellowship and reflection on the past 50 years," the company said.

Started in 1962, Choice Books has made major inroads in general market distribution of Christian books, selling more than 5 million faith-based titles in 2012 through more than 12,000 kiosks at supermarkets, highway rest stops, drugstores, department stores and airports, company officials said.

The vision for Choice Books began in the late 1950s and the early 1960s when Mark Martin of Harrisonburg, Va.; Eugene Garber of Kalona, Iowa; Norman Martin of Chambersburg, Pa.; and Orrin Eichelberger of Canton, Ohio, began selling inspirational books to local stores.

Based in Harrisonburg, Va., the company now has seven regional distributors and more than 250 employees.

During the ICRS reception, six publishers were presented with an engraved book clock and recognized for significant sales in their longtime partnership with Choice Books: Moody Publishers; Baker Books/Baker Publishing Group; HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Zondervan and Thomas Nelson); Tyndale House Publishers; Harvest House Publishers; and Barbour Publishing.

Choice Books purchased books from more than 90 publishers last year. For more information, visit choicebooks.org.

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