Author and apologist Josh McDowell will meet with church-store managers and church leaders at a free reception during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS). The reception will be held Tuesday, 4:30-6:30 p.m., June 29, at the Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.

McDowell will bring biblical artifacts to the convention as part of his mission to energize the church and skeptics alike with tangible evidence for the accuracy and reliability of the Bible. At a time when youth are rejecting the church and others are leaving, McDowell hopes his message and ancient artifacts from archaeological discoveries can reshape the conversation to bring people back to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. McDowell will be touring the U.S. to support this initiative based on his recent book, God Breathed (Barbour Publishing).

The Church Bookstore Connection Center also features training sessions designed especially for church stores. Sessions will be on point-of-sale technology, faith and art, store volunteers and effective writing ministries for churches. Other basic retail training sessions are available for all Christian retailers at ICRS.

Martha Brangenberg of Charis Christian Books & Gifts, Susan Chipman of Granger Community Church and church store consultant Geni Hulsey worked together to develop the program and training for the connection center.

Hulsey has been working with church stores for the past 22 years and describes this work as her "passion." She hopes the events will address needs and questions from attendees, but will also grow long-lasting connections of mutual support and prayer among church store leaders.

"Through the fellowship with each other, we are encouraged and challenged," Hulsey said. "We learn from each other and do our jobs better because of what we have learned."

Church leaders and church-store managers may RSVP at christianretailshow.com/connect.

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