CBA will take over the recently closed Christian Trade Association International (CTAI), which was established, ironically, when the Christian retail organization shed its overseas chapters in 2005.

"We are very saddened by Christian Trade's closing, but CBA wants to see the work continue," said CBA President Curtis Riskey. "Our desire is to maintain international services and possibly create something new."

Kim Pettit, CTAI's executive director and CEO, informed supporters in an email to Christian Retailing earlier this week that CTAI had 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," she wrote.

However, the Association for Christian Retail will now provide CTAI's members "options to continue existing memberships and benefits without charge directly with CBA," CBA officials said.

CTAI Chairman Jean-Luc Cosnard, publisher of Editions Vida in Paris, France, said CTAI's board expressed its desire to see international services continue through CBA, and all of the group's assets were transferred to the Association for Christian Retail.

"In my term as chairman of Christian Trade, I have found that CBA Chairman George Thomsen and President Curtis Riskey have shared Christian Trade's fervent desire to serve the trade, not just in the U.S., but internationally as well," Cosnard said. "As the product, pricing and distribution models in our industry continue to evolve, rather than continuing our separate efforts to serve Christian suppliers and retailers around the globe, we are passing the torch to CBA.

"We trust they will continue the good work that Christian Trade has carried out, and that our members will benefit from having a wider range of resources and services available to them in the future," Cosnard added. "Our desire has always been to see the industry grow so that more people might come to know Christ through our resources, and we believe that this consolidation is the best way to accomplish this in the future."

Pettit will work with CBA to transition international services.

"It is tough to see the association close, but I am encouraged to see the legacy of Christian Trade's late founder, Jim Powell, continued to further broad distribution of the gospel message," said Pettit.

Powell, who died of cancer last November, Powell stepped down as president of CTAI in 2011 in order to serve in Papua New Guinea.

Riskey said CBA will work to multiply what CTAI achieved by leveraging broader industry resources to benefit global distribution.

"The heart and mission of Christian Trade has been the heart and mission of CBA since its beginning," Riskey said. "Ultimately, we want to see the work that was begun brought to fruition and the Word of Jesus Christ shared throughout the world."

CTAI has members in 148 countries and national member associations in 18 nations, which will continue to operate. CTAI also has worked with other international organizations such as CLC International, Letra Viva and the United Bible Societies.

CTAI's closing will not affect the Korean Christian Rights Fair, to be held Aug. 22-23 in Seoul, South Korea, or other local chapter programs and initiatives.

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