CBA honored Jean-Luc Cosnard, a Christian publishing innovator and former ChristianTrade chairman, with the International Lifetime Achievement Award on Tue0sday morning during Unite 2016.

Jack Scott of Scott Training and Marketing presented the award to Cosnard, president of Editions Vida, at the Global Crossroads: International Business Fellowship event.

"This is someone who has been a friend, an industry pioneer and a leader," Scott said. "Today I’m delighted to be speaking on behalf of CBA International to give a Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Prior to the presentation, CBA President Curtis Riskey welcomed international attendees to the breakfast event and offered a word of encouragement.

“We must unite in one mind and one voice, and accept each other to glorify God, as it says in Romans 15: 5-7,” Riskey said. “Just so you know, CBA is working hard to better connect our international community.”

Along with CBA’s recently rebranded magazine, Christian MARKET, the association provides a dedicated international e-newsletter with CBA membership. The association also offers the CBA International Market Directory with more than 150 countries represented and over 1,300 companies listed.

During the Global Crossroads event, participants were led in a time of prayer and fellowship. They enjoyed worship led by Heinz Winckler, who won South Africa's version of American Idol. Winckler shared four songs, including “Let It Rain” and the title track from his forthcoming independent album, The Roar, releasing in August.

The meeting attracted attendees from such regions as Korea, Nigeria and Europe.

“I wanted to come to this because I spend a lot of time teaching on prayer in Kenya, so anything international is interesting to me,” said Mark Mirza, founder of Atlanta-based CTM Publishing. “It is especially important since I am looking to start a publishing company in Kenya. By the end of this year, I’m hoping to start CTM Publishing Kenya.”

Joogi Tor, a retailer with Excel Scholars, reflected on the state of the market in Nigeria.

“Our business has not been as buoyant as it was before, so if there’s anything that will shed light on what other people are doing, I’m interested in those kind of meetings,” Tor said.

He added that youth in his country are reading fewer books and playing more games or watching movies. Piracy is another obstacle.

“It’s important to focus on ministry and try as much as possible to sustain business,” Tor said.

At the event, attendees were reminded to save the date for CBA MarketSquare Budapest, a book rights and licensing fair, to be held March 8-10, 2017, in Hungary.

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