Lighthouse Christian Products introduces the new “Devoted Sculpture Series” this month. The sculptures are themed on Acts 2:4 where the believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, sharing and prayer.

Made of cast stone, the Devoted pieces are laser-engraved and handpainted.

Each of the collection’s three pieces also bears another scripture. Praying Couple (667665201809) focuses on Ephesians 4:2-3; Praying Man (667665201816) on Jeremiah 29:13 and Praying Woman (667665201823) on Psalm 17:6.

Each piece includes the We All Need Hope booklet and retails for $24.99.

Orders: lcpgifts.com.

In God’s Got an Answer for That (9780736959858, $12.99), author Jon Nappa sets out to help kids ages 8-12 realize that God cares about their challenges and fears—from bullying to battles with siblings, loneliness and guilt—and has given them practical help in His Word. With the help of a parent, young readers become “truth sleuths,” uncovering the root of their problem and looking to the Bible for the ultimate solution. Through a simple, straightforward process, kids will develop the ability to seek biblical wisdom for their real-world problems.

Harvest House Publishers releases the 96-page softcover book Jan. 1. An activity book (9780736961257, $6.99) and devotional (9780736961233, $9.99) are also available. Learn more at harvesthousepublishers.com.

Children and parents will be attracted to Noah: A Wordless Picture Book, a masterfully illustrated reimagining of one of the greatest stories of all time that closely follows the Old Testament narrative. Illustrator Mark Ludy’s art digs deeper than the Sunday-school tale of Noah, exploring the biblical figure’s relationship with his family, the natural world, God—and a formidable engineering challenge.

Children also will find a bonus in its pages as they search for Squeakers the mouse who appears on every page.

The Plough Publishing House releases the 64-page hardcover book (9780874866391, $19.95) Nov. 5.
Orders: plough.com.

Coordinating with DaySpring and one of the gift company’s most popular brands, Thomas Nelson has repackaged the Really Woolly Bible, releasing Dec. 30.

Adding to the top-selling brand’s products, which include greeting cards, plush and animated DVDs, the new hardcover Bible is available in a larger trim size and retails for $19.99. The readability of the New International Version combined with the whimsical DaySpring characters are meant to find an audience among children ages 2-7.

Learn more at thomasnelson.com.

BIBLE STUDY

ANONYMOUS: WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY PARTICIPANT BOOK

Cindi Wood
Abingdon Press
softcover, 208 pages, $15.99
9781426792120
Nov. 4

The Bible is filled with “anonymous” women who made a significant impact in God’s story. Anonymous: Discovering the Somebody You Are to God helps women discover their uniqueness and significance to Christ by exploring some of the “anonymous” women of the Bible. Though these women in the Bible are not named, they all were known and loved by God. Each week of Wood’s six-session study begins with an overview of the anonymous woman’s story, including background material with relevance to the cultural lifestyles and environment of the day. The study’s daily lessons explore her story and the ways that all women can relate to her. Contemporary “anonymous” stories and quotes from everyday women are sprinkled throughout, reinforcing the personal relevance of this study. A Leader Kit is also available, which includes the Participant Book, Leader Guide, DVD and Preview Book.

Orders: abingdonpress.com.

CATHOLIC

THE GRACE OF YES

Lisa M. Hendey
Ave Maria Press
softcover, 160 pages, $15.95
9781594714726
Nov. 3

Catholicmom.com blogger and best-selling author Hendey is fueled by a lifelong passion for her faith. In The Grace of Yes: Eight Virtues for Generous Living, she guides readers through pivotal moments of her journey and the eight virtues that have helped her learn how to say yes to God. She explores the eight spiritual virtues that she believes are foundational to the Christian life, helping readers learn about belief, creativity, integrity, humility, vulnerability, saying no and starting over. She shows how these virtues lead to generous living and the ability to joyously say yes to God. Hendey reflects candidly on her own real-life struggles: the identity adjustment of leaving a blossoming career to become a stay-at-home mom; the temptation of divahood as her online celebrity grew; the freedom and opportunities of empty-nest status versus the middle-aged body’s pull to slow down; her encounters with a spiritual community during treatment for cancer; and the contrast between the lingering grief she confronted at a Rwandan genocide memorial and the willingness of survivors there to forgive. Hendey also provides questions for personal reflection and a prayer to close the exploration of each virtue.

Orders: avemariapress.com.

THEN COMES BABY

Gregory and Lisa Popcak
Ave Maria Press
softcover, 288 pages, $16.95
9781594714115
Nov. 3

In this foundational book for Catholic couples who are becoming first-time moms and dads, the Popcaks lend readers the benefit of their 25 years of experience in counseling to help couples navigate the earliest years of parenthood. The authors recommend rituals, routines and tips on how to manage feeding, fatigue and finances and how also to prioritize marital bonding and faith. The authors coach parents as they adjust to their new identities and help them face the inevitable challenges of parenthood—all while seeing these everyday experiences through the lens of Catholic teaching on the purpose of family life.

Orders: avemariapress.com.

CHILDREN

GOD KNOWS ME

Juliet David; illustrated by Mike Byrne
Lion Hudson (Kregel Publications)
board book, 10 pages, $7.99
9781781281130
Nov. 27

David and Byrne help very young children explore their world and discover God’s love. These colorful, padded board books teach children the importance of knowing God, knowing God loves them and knowing God will be there to help them. Illustrated with bright pictures of everyday scenes and one simple sentence per page, the book also can be used to introduce children to the idea of prayer. Other titles in the series include Please, Thank You and Sorry.

Orders: kregel.com.

GOOD ALWAYS WINS: KIDS’ EDITION

Ed Strauss
Barbour Publishing
softcover, 128 pages, $4.99
9781630583842
Nov. 1

If God really cares about people, why does He allow terrorism, disease, war and financial hardships? Good Always Wins—Kids’ Edition tackles these tough questions with Bible-based answers for readers ages 8 to 12. This book shows that God is working in and through the tragedies of our world to redeem them and bring good from evil.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

GUESS WHO? NOAH’S ARK

Christina Goodings; illustrated by Angela Muss
Lion Hudson (Kregel Publications)
board book, 6 pages, $9.99
9780745964966
Nov. 27

This Flip-The-Flap book is useful for toddlers who love a game of peek-a-boo. While children learn about the story of Noah, they will guess who is hiding beneath the book’s 12 flaps. With bright collage artwork and a different character under each flap, this board book aims to captivate the very young.

Orders: kregel.com.

HUMBLE PIE

WANDA E. BRUNSTETTER
Barbour Publishing
softcover, 160 pages, $5.99
9781628363890
Nov. 1

Twins Mattie and Mark Miller get a taste of humble pie in their Holmes County, Ohio, community. Whether they’re bragging about their ability to play sports, ace a test, bake a cake or win a pie-eating contest, the almost 10-year-olds just can’t seem to tame their pride. This fifth book in the series from best-selling author Brunstetter is designed for readers ages 8-12.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

MY FIRST MATCH-N-LEARN PUZZLE: ALPHABET

Barbour Publishing
$12.99
9781630584405
Nov. 1

The My First Match-n-Learn Puzzle: Alphabet game teaches children basic first sounds skills as they piece together 26 self-correcting puzzle pairs. Each of the puzzle pieces flips over to reveal either a letter of the alphabet (upper and lower case) or an illustration of an object that begins with that particular letter. The puzzle pieces are designed with rounded corners for little hands. A bonus guide is included for teachers and parents, offering suggestions on how to tie in biblical characters and principles while playing the puzzle game.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.
 

MY FIRST MEMORY MATCH GAME: NOAH’S ARK

Barbour Publishing
$12.99
9781630584436
Nov. 1

My First Memory Match Game: Noah’s Ark helps to build children’s basic memory skills as they attempt to match 24 card pairs—including doves, elephants, rainbows and arks. Children can use each of the puzzle pieces for a fun game of memory match, or they can flip the game board over to place the matching cards as they help Noah get all of the animals on the ark. Each of the game pieces is designed with rounded corners for safe play for young children. This game helps to reinforce the principles of trust and obedience to God.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

MY LITTLE LIFE OF JESUS

Karen Williamson; illustrated by Amanda Enright
Lion Hudson (Kregel Publications)
hardcover, 68 pages, $8.99
9781781281314
Nov. 27

My Little Life of Jesus introduces the story of Jesus’ life to 3- to 5-year-olds. With illustrations from a popular Candle Books artist, the book also includes a map to show the land where Jesus lived. This padded hardcover book comes with a presentation page for gift- or award-giving.

Orders: kregel.com.

MY VERY FIRST BIBLE AND PRAYERS

Juliet David; illustrated by Helen Prole
Lion Hudson (Kregel Publications)
hardcover, 64 pages, $9.99
9781781281529
Nov. 27

From the award-winning “Candle Bible for Toddlers” series comes this combination of the My Very First Bible and My Very First Prayers titles. With Bible stories and prayers interwoven throughout, the compilation brings the best of these two books together. This title is a useful tool for those wanting to take the first steps in introducing their children to the Christian faith.

Orders: kregel.com.

THE BIBLE AMIGOS: FIVE LOAVES, TWO FISH AND ONE BIG HAT

Frank Fraser
Barbour Publishing
hardcover, 48 pages, $7.99
9781624168888
Nov. 1

“The Bible Amigos” series for kids ages 3-7 is from a creative artist who has worked on Disney and PBS Sprout projects. In the series, the three amigos—Walla the koala, Donk the donkey and Edge the hedgehog—carry God’s love and guidance wherever a flying Bible takes them. Featuring action-filled pictures, each story shares key biblical truths. In Five Loaves, Two Fish, and One Big Hat, kids will learn they’re never too little to serve God in a big way.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

THE LION NURSERY BIBLE

Elena Pasquali; illustrated by Priscilla Lamont
Lion Hudson (Kregel Publications)
hardcover, 192 pages, $19.99
9780745965475
Nov. 27

Fifteen Bible stories for the nursery shelves are compiled in this keepsake volume. The soft, traditional illustrations provide a focal point for little children, while the accompanying stories are told in uncomplicated yet lively language—easy for a parent to read aloud. The Lion Nursery Bible gift edition features a white padded cover with the title and the words “a special gift” in silver foil, and with silver edging on the pages and rounded corners to make it more child-friendly. A dedication page and ribbon marker are included.

Orders: kregel.com.

COMMENTARY

THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES: A NEWLY DISCOVERED COMMENTARY

J.B. Lightfoot; edited by
Ben Witherington III and Todd D. Still
IVP Academic (InterVarsity Press)
hardcover, 400 pages, $40
9780830829446
November

In the spring of 2013, Witherington discovered hundreds of pages of biblical commentary by J.B. Lightfoot in England’s Durham Cathedral Library. Among those pages were two sets of lecture notes on the book of Acts. Together they amount to a richly detailed, albeit unfinished, commentary. In fact, the project of writing a commentary on Acts had long been on Lightfoot’s mind, and now Witherington and Still have brought his work to InterVarsity’s frontlist with The Acts of the Apostles: A Newly Discovered Commentary, the first installment of “The Lightfoot Legacy,” a three-volume set of previously unpublished material.

Orders: ivpress.com.

GIFT BOOKS

WRITTEN ON MY HEART

Jean Fisher
Barbour Publishing
softcover, 240 pages, $14.99
9781628369014
Nov. 1

Dozens of readings sharing spiritual truths are featured in Written on My Heart, a devotional journal and Bible memory plan. Set in a one-color design, Written on My Heart is a reminder for women to live their best life according to God’s plan, and features topics such as friendship, love, serving and encouragement.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

YOU ARE HIS DAILY DEVOTIONAL JOURNAL

Darlene Sala
Barbour Publishing
softcover, 384 pages, $24.99
9781628369656
Nov. 1

Author of Created for a Purpose, Encouraging Words for Women and You Are Blessed, best-selling author Sala offers a mix of encouragement and challenge for today’s busy, stressed woman in this 365-day devotional journal. The readings in the You Are His Daily Devotional Journal address topics such as loneliness, money, aging, purpose, perseverance and beauty. Women also can record their own observations, reactions, prayer and praise notes in the journaling space provided.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

SPANISH

CÓMO PROBAR UN ESPÍRITU (HOW TO TRY A SPIRIT)

Mary Garrison
Whitaker House
softcover, 64 pages, $9.99
9781629111933
November

Now available in Spanish, Garrison’s guide helps believers identify and combat the principal evil spirits at work in the world today. She gives the biblical name of the spirits, their fruit, the tactics they use in the lives of believers, the scriptural methods of overcoming evil spirits, and how to live in victory.
Orders: whitakerhouse.com.

SABIDURÍA DIARIA PARA MUJURES (DAILY WISDOM FOR WOMEN)

Barbour Publishing
softcover, 384 pages, $9.99
9781630586584
Dec. 1

This devotional collection—now available in Spanish—is designed to draw women closer to their heavenly Father’s heart. With a devotional reading and prayer for each day of the year, Daily Wisdom for Women aims to provide encouragement and refreshment as readers come to know how deeply God loves them.
Orders: barbourbooks.com.

YOUNG ADULT

10 ULTIMATE TRUTHS GIRLS SHOULD KNOW

Kari Kampkis
Thomas Nelson
softcover, 224 pages, $12.99
9780529111036
Nov. 4

When Kampakis wrote a blog post in 2013 titled “10 Truths Young Girls Should Know,” it went viral. This nonfiction book for teen girls expands on the 10 truths in that post. In a world where teen girls deal daily with cliques, bullying, rejection and social-media nightmares, the author wants girls to know that they don’t have to compromise their integrity and future to find love, acceptance and security. With practical advice, loving support and insightful discussion questions, 10 Ultimate Truths offers an approachable list of guidelines that will help young girls become the young women God made them to be.

Orders: thomasnelson.com.

PSYCHOLOGY: A STUDENT’S GUIDE

Stanton L. Jones
Crossway
softcover, 128 pages, $11.99
9781433539787
Nov. 30

This introductory resource examines the field of psychology from a distinctly Christian perspective. The first section looks to the history of psychological inquiry, focusing on thinkers such as Augustine and Thomas Aquinas, the influence of the Enlightenment and Darwinism, and the development of modernist psychology. In section two, readers interact with “great ideas” such as the origins of morality, nature vs. nurture, the relationship between the mind and the brain, and the concept of personal identity.
Orders: crossway.org.

SEARCH FOR THE SHADOW KEY

Wayne Batson
Thomas Nelson
softcover, 288 pages, $9.99
9781400323678
Dec. 9

The second book in “Dreamtreaders” explores the concept of dreams and their effects. Fourteen-year-old Archer Keaton discovers he has the ability to enter and explore his dreams. He is a dreamtreader, one of three selected from each generation. Their mission is to protect the waking world from the evil lurking in the Dream. The Nightmare Lord has been thrown down, but his throne is no longer empty. Rigby Thames has taken up the evil mantle with Kara Windchil as his queen. Now the only living dreamtreader, Archer Keaton finds himself on the outside of two worlds looking in. Dream Walking Inc. is taking the world by storm, allowing Rigby to build an unstoppable empire. Worse still, Rigby has unleashed the Tendrils, shadow people who can cross over into the waking world. As Archer’s family and friends begin to disappear, unexpected help comes in the form of the Wind Maiden, a mysterious angelic being who seems to know how Archer can rescue his loved ones and defeat the new Nightmare King. But the cost may prove too dear for Archer to pay. This second book in the “Dreamtreaders” series teaches kids the importance of key Christian values—being a light in the darkness, resisting temptation and keeping your faith—even when they feel like they are standing alone.

Orders: thomasnelson.com.

YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US

Nancy Rue
Thomas Nelson
softcover, 288 pages, $9.99
9781400323715
Dec. 2

Written by best-selling author Rue, each book in the “Mean Girl Makeover” trilogy focuses on a different character’s point of view: the bully, the victim and the bystander. The books reveal biblical solutions to the bullying problem set in a story for tween girls. You Can’t Sit With Us tells the story of Ginger Hollingberry, a new sixth-grader at Gold Country Middle School. Ginger has been the brunt of teasing and taunting from the queen bee of the school, Kylie Steppe, and her so-called Wolf Pack. Kylie and the Pack favor a new and especially hurtful medium of taunting: social networking. What follows is a candid look into the growing world of cyberbullying, showing kids that bullying doesn’t always end at school.

Orders: thomasnelson.com.

Action Bible, Duck Commander brands expand

Master illustrator Sergio Cariello is back with the Bible’s creation story in an all-new graphic novel, The Action Bible: The Battle Begins: The Story of Creation (9780781411424, $12.99, softcover, David C Cook), for kids ages 9-12.

Releasing Oct. 1, this animated story of the beginning of time takes readers to the Garden of Eden, meeting God walking there and seeing Jesus, the Word, active in creation. Readers see Lucifer betray his friend, Michael the Archangel, and how Adam and Eve fall into Lucifer’s trap.

Cariello teams up with Caleb J. Seeling, a columnist for arts magazines and Examiner.com on The Story of Creation, the first of four volumes.

Orders: davidccook.com.

Willie and Korie Robertson’s son, John Luke, of A+E’s Duck Dynasty family teams up with novelist Travis Thrasher on four fiction books for readers ages 8-12 from Tyndale House Publishers. Titles in the Be Your Own Duck Commander Boxed Set (9781414398174, $29.99, October) also are sold individually for $9.99 each.

After a few chapters in each book, readers can choose to go down different paths in the Duck Commander world—each filled with humor and life lessons. The individual titles are: Willie’s Redneck Time Machine; Phil and the Ghost of Camp Ch-Yo-Ca; Si in Space; and Jase & the Deadliest Hunt.

Orders: tyndalebooksellers.com.

CATHOLIC

CATHOLICS, WAKE UP!

Jesse Romero
Servant Books (Franciscan Media)
softcover,
160 pages, $15.99
9781616368166
October

A retired veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Romero is an author, theologian and director of religious education at a parish north of L.A. He believes that Catholics are called to radically live their faith. In Catholics, Wake Up! Be a Spiritual Warrior, he aims to jolt believers out of their spiritual lethargy and challenges them to show up to claim every situation for the Lord. Romero says that believers are to be spiritual warriors who triumph with God’s strength in life’s difficulties.

Orders: franciscanmedia.org.

THE DIDACHE BIBLE

Ignatius Press
hardcover, $35
9781586179731
October

The Didache Bible presents extensive commentaries on all books of the Bible based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The Bible includes the complete Scripture text using the Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition. It features a 6-by-9-inch trim size, 27 full-color maps, a glossary, topical index and apologetic explanations to common questions about faith.

Orders: ignatius.com.

WOULD YOU BAPTIZE AN EXTRATERRESTRIAL?

Guy Consolmagno, SJ; Paul Mueller, SJ
Image (Crown Publishing Group/Random House)
hardcover, 304 pages, $25
9780804136952
Oct. 7

Pope Francis posed the question in this book’s title to provoke deeper reflection about inclusiveness and diversity in the church. Authors Consolmagno and Mueller—scientists at the Vatican Observatory—often hear similar questions. In Would You Baptize an Extraterrestrial? …And Other Questions from the Astronomers’ In-box at the Vatican Observatory, they explore a variety of questions at the crossroads of faith and reason such as how to reconcile the Big Bang with Genesis and what really went down between Galileo and the Catholic church. With humor, the authors explore these questions and more.

Orders: imagecatholicbooks.com.

Children

BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES

Barbour Publishing
softcover, 384 pages, $14.99
9781628369601
Oct. 1

Going beyond Bible stories, this colorful book challenges children ages 5 to 8 to stop and think about the meaning of each story recounted. More than 180 stories are drawn from the breadth of Scripture—from “In the Beginning, God” of Genesis 1 through heaven’s tree of life in Revelation 22—and are illustrated in full color. Bedtime Bible Stories is compiled from the Barbour series with sales of nearly a half-million copies.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS

Angie Smith; illustrated by Breezy Brookshire
B&H Kids (B&H Publishing Group)
hardcover,
256 pages, $14.99
9781433680465
Oct. 1

Best-selling author Smith offers a new storybook collection of women from the Bible, retold for girls ages 6-10. In For Such a Time as This, her attention turns to 40 women from the Old and New Testaments, including Eve, Sarah and Hagar, Esther, Mary Magdalene and Gomer. Summaries at the end of each story highlight an attribute of God to be learned from the story and offer thoughtful reflections for parent and child.

Orders: bhpublishinggroup.com.

JESUS DETECTIVE: A PUZZLE SEARCH BOOK

Peter Martin; illustrated by
Peter Kent
Kregel Publications
hardcover,
48 pages, $14.99
9780745964447
Oct. 27

This picture-search puzzle book offers 17 illustrated scenes of events from the life of Jesus. Young detectives are invited to find answers to the questions posed on each page. Some puzzles involve looking for details of everyday life, while others highlight things that happened in the Bible stories. Visual learners may find Jesus Detective particularly appealing.

Orders: kregel.com.

SECRET KEEPER GIRL PAJAMA PARTY

Dannah Gresh
Harvest House Publishers
softcover,
64 pages, $12.99
9780736960021
Oct. 1

Secret Keeper Girl Pajama Party is a mom-daughter study for 8-to-12-year-old girls and their moms. More than 300,000 moms and daughters have experienced Secret Keeper Girl Live! The Pajama Party Tour, created by the author. Moms and daughters can enjoy an evening of giggles and games—and also find opportunities to open up about concerns tweens have like drama with friends or what she thinks about boys along with her friendship with Jesus. The games, recipes, lessons and discussion questions Gresh provides are geared for a group or just for mom and daughter.

Orders: harvesthousepublishers.com.

SURPRISE AT YORKTOWN

Marianne Hering, Nancy I. Sanders
Tyndale House Publishers
softcover, 144 pages, $4.99
9781589977761
October

In Surprise at Yorktown, readers will travel back two centuries to the final battle of the American Revolution at Yorktown, Virginia. Cousins Patrick and Beth sneak through trenches and race across battlefields to warn General Washington about a dangerous spy. The spy is stealing his secret plans and giving them to the British. Cannons roar and the ground shakes as the struggle reaches a climax. Washington’s ragtag soldiers are up against the most powerful army in the world. Will Patrick and Beth witness the American Revolution come to an end? Or will they be caught in a dangerous trap they can’t escape?

Orders: tyndalebooksellers.com.

TRUTH DARE, DOUBLE DARE

Ann-Margret Hovsepian
David C Cook
softcover,
432 pages, $14.99
9781434702111
Oct. 1

This all-new companion to the best-selling devotional Truth and Dare challenges girls to put their faith into action. Truth, Dare, Double Dare is a fast-paced, real-life daily devotional for girls ages 8 to 12. Each day of reading includes a few Bible verses, an exploration of what they mean and ways tweens can apply God’s truth to their lives. It includes journaling prompts, fun quizzes and relevant messages for tween girls.

Orders: davidccook.com.

SPANISH

Quién es Quién y Dónde Es Dónde en la Biblia 2.0 (WHO’S WHO AND WHERE’S WHERE IN THE BIBLE 2.0)

Stephen M. Miller
Barbour Publishing
softcover,
480 pages, $19.99
9781628368918
Oct. 1

Who’s Who and Where’s Where in the Bible has sold more than a quarter-million copies. Now, the revised and expanded edition is available in Spanish. This A-Z magazine-style dictionary features insights about more than 500 of the most important people and places of Scripture.

Orders: barbourbooks.com.

Young Adult

A YOUNG MAN’S GUIDE TO DISCOVERING HIS BIBLE

Jim George
Harvest House Publishers
softcover,
208 pages, $11.99
9780736960151
October 1

Best-selling author George encourages young men to know their Bible, what it says and make it their personal guide for all of life. Along the way, he also offers ideas for Bible study and practical application. The young women’s counterpart by Elizabeth George is also available.

Orders: harvesthousepublishers.com.

FREE TO BE ME

Stasi Eldredge
David C Cook
softcover,
224 pages, $15.99
9781434708632
Oct. 1

In the teen edition of the best-selling title Becoming Myself, Eldredge challenges girls ages 15 to 18 to learn to believe God’s truth about their beauty and worthiness. Age-appropriate examples and stories encourage and equip readers to embrace what God says about them and His dream for their lives. Practical and interactive elements, including helpful hints, questions and advice, end each chapter.

Orders: davidccook.com.

LIVE ORIGINAL

Sadie Robertson with Beth Clark
Howard Books
hardcover,
224 pages, $22.99
9781476777801
Oct. 28

Seventeen-year-old Sadie Robertson—star of A&E’s Duck Dynasty and daughter of Willie and Korie Robertson—opens up about herself and the values that make her family what it is in Live Original. Robertson lives by a list of simple principles—think happy, be happy, dream big, shake the hate, do something and many more—that have led to personal and spiritual growth and have helped her relationships flourish.

Orders: simonandschuster.biz/booksellers/ordering-books.

How long in Christian retail: About seven years.

How you came to work in Christian retail: I homeschooled our daughter until she was in eighth grade when I put her in private school. I needed more income. I prayed that I could find a job without having to go through the long process of a job search. A few days later a friend at my church told me that the Christian bookstore in Monroe was looking for part-time help. I knew that was the answer to my prayers. I had just moved to Monroe a year prior and I didn’t even know there was a Christian bookstore in Monroe until that day.

First job of any kind and your age then: Babysitting when I was a teenager. In ministry, I had worked for my church full time until our children were born and then part-time in preschool ministry when my children were young. I also started the media ministry in my church and worked there until my son was born.

Are you living your dream job? I love my job because of the ministry part of it.

Describe yourself in three words: Honest, sincere and happy.

Hobbies: Gardening, crosswords and keeping up with politics. 

Favorite place: I enjoy being home working in the garden.

Favorite verse: “Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us” (Eph. 3:20, HCSB).

Mission in life: My first goal was to raise Christian children. Now that that’s been fulfilled, I seek to witness to people any way that I can and that’s why working at the bookstore offers me a lot of opportunities to do that.

Mentor or role model: I have a favorite pastor-author, David Platt. He’s truly anointed and he really humbles me.

Share a recent idea that has worked in your store. The owner is always open to new ideas. Most recently we’ve added a $5 section (books, CDs, DVDs) to our store. It has been very successful. Another area that we’ve been very successful in is jewelry and scarves.  

How about an idea that hasn’t worked? Facebook worked a while, but now it doesn’t seem to reach out to as many people as it used to.

Pet peeve in retail: Bad customer service. I had quite an episode in a big-box store recently. 

How can our readers pray for you? That God will give us wisdom as we try to improve ourselves at our store and that we can minister to the needs of our community. 

What’s the best way to reach you online? Christian Art and Book Shop on Facebook.

How long in the Christian products industry: 17 years.

How you first came to work in the industry:  I was good friends with a gentleman who was opening a store; we went to church together. I have a background in retail [mostly shoes], and we partnered together to start and grow the store.

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? A baseball player.

Describe yourself in three words: Quiet, loyal, helpful.

Favorite hobby: It’s a tie between golf and fishing.

Favorite place: Mountains, to anywhere outside that’s quiet.

Mission in life: To do what God wants me to do—whatever that is.

Favorite verse: “… make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you” (1 Thess. 4:11, NIV).

What motivates you to go to work each day? My background—12 years as a Christian retailer. My motivation is just knowing that I can go in and help retailers succeed. It’s so much more difficult now than it was when I first started back in the mid-’90s.

What work issue keeps you up at night? Not having enough time to do all the things that I’d like to do, although I sleep pretty well.

Who do you consider your mentor in business? Larry Haege, president of Innovative. His background experience in the industry as well as from a business standpoint, marketing and sales.

Pet peeve in business: Not doing something you’ve committed to do.

Share a recent success story you’ve experienced in business: Just being able to help the retailers when they call. There’s a lot of times where a retailer will call who needs help with something, [so] just being able to help them get through, whether it’s a business issue, a personal issue—that to me is, over all of the work things, why we’re here. That spells success for me. 

What would people find surprising about your job? Probably the difficulty of working with 250 different retailers in different parts of the country and trying to provide services, tools, promotions that fit everyone’s needs.

What is one thing the Christian products industry can do to improve its business? From a publisher’s standpoint, to provide the best resources possible; from a retailer’s standpoint, continue to focus on being a light in the community, customer service and being there.

How can our readers pray for you? That God continues to direct me and that I receive that and understand what He’s directing me to do.

Website: Thinkinnovative.com

Building sales of DVD Bible studies

Recently Zondervan conducted two independent surveys of consumers on its DVD Bible study buying habits. We asked small group leaders and women’s ministry leaders how they discovered the material that they ultimately used in their groups. The top two answers were exactly the same on both surveys: word of mouth and bookstore browsing. Other answers included online searching, catalogs, emails and references from other leaders.

People are coming into Christian retail stores to learn about what is new, available and trusted. How can you capitalize on this? I think there are several ways:

Understand it. Local retailers are in a unique position to learn about DVD Bible studies. Many online retailers do not get an opportunity to engage the consumer directly with personal recommendations. When I worked at a local bookstore several years ago, we were encouraged to take the product home on loan to experience it for ourselves. Consider allowing your employees to do the same so they can understand and recommend products to consumers who are browsing.

Stock it. You cannot sell it if you do not have it. I visited three local stores earlier this week and only two or three titles at each store had more than one copy each. The majority of people experience DVD Bible studies in groups—and need multiple copies. If customers cannot find the study locally, they will be forced to purchase online. My suggestion would be to stock four study guides for each DVD you carry and bring in studies from authors that your customers and employees resonate with, as well as new releases.

Organize it. With so many DVD Bible studies coming out each month, it’s difficult to know how to best display them all. Many stores alphabetize by author. This seems to be the simplest for the stores and consumers. I might also recommend adding three designated shelves—New Releases, Best-sellers and Employee Recommendations. Also consider placing the DVDs and study guides that correspond to trade books with the books.

Show it. Consumers are much more likely to purchase a DVD Bible study if they are able to experience it in some fashion. Consider playing trailers or clips on a television or computer with a looped or menued DVD.

With a little extra attention and taking advantage of the natural ways you have to engage the people that walk in your door, you can see your DVD Bible study sales increase.