After four critically acclaimed albums, the Desperation Band returns Sept. 15 with Light Up the World, a new 16-track CD inspired by the selflessness of young members of the group's home church.

Born out of the student ministries at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., the band took its name from the church's Desperation student conferences. The group "has always been and always will be about the presence of God," said Jon Egan, frontman and co-producer.

"We exist to bring Him glory and reveal His truth to a broken world. If we know who He is, we know who we are," he added. "If we know who we are, we can live as God meant us to live. ... It's all about His purposes."

On Light Up the World, Egan and his bandmates dig deeper into those purposes, reflecting on the type of worship that spurs the church to compassionate action. Much of the inspiration for the album came from New Life's student-driven effort to change the lives of children by building orphan homes in Uganda and Kenya.

The students went far beyond donating pocket change and weekly allowances, Egan noted, with many of them taking on odd jobs or second jobs to reach their goal.

"As I watched the students give all that they had, I started to realize that the best way to reach a young person in Colorado Springs was to help them reach a young person in Uganda," Egan said.

The youth worship pastor at New Life, Egan penned most of the songs for the new project, including the title track, "Be the Change" and "Holy Ground," which he co-wrote with Hillsong Music's Mia Fieldes.

With a companion digital songbook, the enhanced studio CD features new songs, plus bonus live versions of the band's hits "Rescue" and "I Am Free." Also included is a bonus video.

To order the CD and digital songbook (0-00768-46910-1), call 800-333-9000, or go to www.provident-integrity.com.

The new line, featuring stylish graphics, includes three design themes on spiral notebooks ($2.49), composition notebooks ($2.99), three-ring binders ($4.99), portfolios (99 cents) and pencil pouches with inside mesh pockets ($3.99).

"Back-to-school is the second-largest shopping season after Christmas," said Brenda Turner, director of communications for DaySpring. "This season is also the largest opportunity companies have to influence future generations' buying patterns. We want to supply them with functional and Scripture-based products they use year-round.'

"The designs appeal to a broad consumer base and reflect the style of today's Christian youth," said Jennifer Moore, product manager at DaySpring. Appropriate for ages 8-18, there are "selections in feminine, masculine and what we call 'Big Kid,' a fun and colorful theme."

The Scripture used on the products is kid-friendly with an emphasis on one-word truth, Moore added.

"Christian youth want inspirational products that can assist them in witnessing and expressing their faith," Turner said. "Boldness is a trend in Christian teen faith-sharing, and these products are also a permissible religious expression in public schools."

For more information, go to www.dayspring.com. To order, call 800-944-8000.

The Bonair Daydreams company launched its "Bonair Daydreams" frameable greeting card line at the International Christian Retail Show in July. Designed to appeal to men and women, the cards have everyday and special occasion themes.

The cards have inspirational sayings reflecting God's glory, and feature black and white photography that captures everyday life. One card featuring a child playing in the snow bears the Henry Ward Beecher saying, "The thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessing."

Teamed with a card, a 5-by-7-inch thin black frame—available on the display unit—allows the customer to purchase a complete gift item in the $10 range. Frames can be displayed with a wall mount or table easel. The cards can also be purchased on their own, for $2.95 each.

The Conroe, Texas-based marketing company also offers its own Trinity Set jewelry, which released last month. The set includes a two-tone necklace and earrings, which are not sold separately and together retail for $29.99.

As its name reveals, the jewelry is designed to reflect the nature of the God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The set is accompanied by a card explaining the correlation between the three rings, or circles, on the necklace and the "never-ending circle of love from The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit."

To order, call Servant Marketing at 800-811-5392.

Things Not Seen Clothing & Accessories has expanded its product line, and announced the launch of "Moral Art by TNS," a higher-end boutique line that features distinct shirt styles, fabrics, foiling in many different colors, rhinestoning, studding and more.

With the launch of "Moral Art," Things Not Seen (TNS) aims to show that Christian clothing is mainstream and doesn't need to take a back seat to secular fashion. "Moral Art" features upgraded TNS designs as well as new designs only available in the "Moral Art" line. The designs are available in unisex and women’s offerings, with retail pricing starting at $21.99.

The company is also expanding its current product lines—and lowering its wholesale and retail costs. Things Not Seen Clothing & Accessories unisex short-sleeve shirts have been reduced to $14.99, and its women's short-sleeve T-shirts are now $15.99, intended to make pricing easier for stores with flat rates. Long-sleeve offerings in the same line are $18.99.

Many new designs were launched recently at the International Christian Retail Show and include Sanctified, Saved and the Cross With Wings design. The company will continue its expansion by adding more women's and unisex designs.

In addition, the company offers a jewelry line with unique products ranging from $4.95 to $19.95, and with several of the pieces made in-house. A variety of necklaces, bracelets and earrings, including the Nail Cross Necklace ($7.95) and Drop Cross Earrings ($7.95), are available.

The newest addition to the company's products is a decal line. Made from six-year, high-grade vinyl, original decal designs feature several images from the company's shirt art, plus many new images. The decals—which encourage the expression of one's faith on vehicles, walls and elsewhere—are retail-priced from $3.95 to $6.95.

TNS products are available through Dove Sales, a unit of the Omco/LaSalle Co. of South Bend, Ind., by calling 800-253-8144; by contacting Things Not Seen Clothing & Accessories at 480-774-0110; or by calling TOLA Sales Group of Port Isabel, Texas, at 866-374-2091. For more information, visit the company's Web site, www.tnsclothing.com.

Robert Taylor is CEO of Things Not Seen Clothing & Accessories.

Released this month, the five-part Fasting (978-1-599-79769-0, $19.99) series is intended to help participants tap into the spiritual power that can be found when Christians fast together. The Charisma House curriculum is being supported by the launch of a Web site, www.fastingchurches.com, which includes downloadable resources such as health advice.

With a Fasting Study Guide also available for $9.99, the DVD series features Franklin—pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville, Ga., and Free Chapel West in Orange County, Calif., as well as founder of the Kingdom Connection Media Ministry—teaching the core principles of fasting. He also shares stories of how the spiritual discipline has impacted individual lives and churches.

Published in 2008, Fasting made the New York Times best-sellers list. "From the overwhelming response, it soon became clear to us that there would be an interest in ancillary products," said Woodley Auguste, senior publicist for the Strang Book Group. "In particular, we wanted to be able to help churches and church groups explore the corporate benefits of fasting together.

"There have been remarkable stories of what has happened when churches have fasted corporately—changes in people's lives, marriages healed. There's a spiritual dynamic that takes place."

To order the Fasting DVD, call 800-283-8494.

Real-life ministries run by two brothers form the basis of Set Apart (6-02341-00359-9, Provident Films, suggested retail price not available), an inspirational family film releasing this month with a cast including Shaft star Richard Roundtree.

The famous actor appears as J.T., a friend of rodeo riding ministry partners Randy and Heidi Gunn, who use their Western skills on horseback and with guns to share the gospel at cowboy events across the country.

They appear as themselves in the movie, which sees them taking on four troubled inner-city youngsters referred to them by The Power Company Kids ministry. It is run by Randy's brother, John, and his wife, Michele—the two portrayed by John Schneider (The Dukes of Hazzard) and Jennifer O'Neill (Summer of '42).

Mixing drama and comedy, the 97-minute film follows the quartet's adventures as they learn new skills and values and endeavor to make new starts. The movie is aimed at families "hungry for entertainment that opens kids and adults to a positive experience and a good message," said Kris Fuhr, marketing vice president for Provident Films.

"Parents like the conversation it opens about risk, about what's right, about true friendship and how to look at life," she added.

Schneider welcomed the opportunity to help bring to the screen an example of everyday Christian ministry. "We have a tremendous problem in the inner cities with bored-ness," he said. "These kids need something positive to do. Instead of sitting around and complaining, John Gunn and his wife, Michele, are providing kids with something to do."

Through their GunnPoint organization, Randy—known as "The Pistol Packin’ Preacher"—and Heidi—dubbed "Straight Arrow"—lead cowboy services at rodeo events and have both earned mounted shooting trophies. They also sing, and have won several inspirational country music awards.

The drama was shot in Los Angeles and in the Black Hills of South Dakota, from a script by George Flynn, an award-winning actor and writer, and host of the "Words of Freedom" radio show.

Set Apart is to be distributed by Provident-Integrity Distribution. To order, call 800-333-9000.