In another sign of a changing Christian retail industry, the Christian Trade Association International (CTAI) has closed.

"After much prayer and long deliberation, our board of directors made the unanimous decision to dissolve Christian Trade and its affiliated ministry Christian Trade Association International World Ministries, effective June 30," Kim Pettit, CTAI's executive director and CEO, wrote in an email to supporters.

She added that "because negotiations were still in progress" during last month's International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in St. Louis, the move wasn't announced at that time.

"We hoped that we would find a solution to allow the ministry to carry on," Pettit said. "We also wanted to be respectful of the investment you made in coming to ICRS, allowing the focus of the show to remain on your business and ongoing relationships with others in the trade. ... Nevertheless, Christian Trade is closing, and letters to members and member nations will be issued this week."

CTAI founder Jim Powell, who died of cancer last November in Queensland, Australia, established the association when CBA shed its overseas chapters in 2005. Powell stepped down as president of CTAI in 2011 in order to serve as a mission-station guest house manager with his wife, Peggy, in Papua New Guinea for Wycliffe Bible Translators. Pettit took over for Powell after he resigned.

CTAI hosted an annual international celebration event and the International Marketsquare section at the exhibit floor of CBA's summer show, providing a meeting point for those doing international business.

In 2008, CTAI debuted Marketsquare International, an annual January show providing a one-stop North American buying opportunity for overseas visitors in the absence of CBA's canceled winter show. CTAI also staged other events, including its annual Korea Christian Rights Fair in August in Seoul, South Korea.

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