STRANG MEDIA GROUP The industry at your fingertips at www.christianretailing.com APRIL 2010 $7.00 CHRISTIAN RETAILING The Gathering 2010: show guide Details of the schedule, speakers, workshops and exhibitors at our annual trade and training event, page 42 God and the gunman Campus shooting pastor looks for meaning in the midst of tragedy, page 21 READ BY THE SUPPLIERS AND RETAILERS OF THE $4.6 BILLION CHRISTIAN PRODUCTS INDUSTRY are the DNA of Christian Publishers on the opportunities in the cornerstone category, page 48 INDEX IN 21 BOOK NEWS 26 BOOK REVIEWS 28 TOP 50/50 BOOKS 29 CATEGORY LEADERS 34 PRODUCT BRIEFINGS 42 THE GATHERING 46 RETAILERS CHOICE AWARDS 48 BIBLE ROUNDTABLE 53 MYSTERY SHOPPER 54 VIEWPOINT Stores expectant as inspirational movies make waves with media, at the box office RIC IANSAY aith-based movies are making waves in theaters and bringing hopes of a high tide for Christian retailers. Ancillary product tie-ins and DVD sales present opportunities for stores to from the strongest mainstream media buzz about Christianity on screen since Mel The Passion of The Christ in 2004. While the success of Fireproof prompted some headlines in 2008, a bumper crop of recently released and forthcoming faith-based productions has drawn widespread attention. Among them is Oscar-nominated The Blind Side, starring Sandra Bullock and based on the true story of an unabashedly Christian, white adoption of a homeless African-American teen who becomes a football star. MOVIES, page 53 A high tide for faith-based films Faith-based movies to and Save a feature ancillary product tieins offered in the Christian retail channel, including novelizations and journals. Publishers eye the future e-books iPad reader welcomed as possible Hachette Book Group USA, HarperCollins, Simon Schuster, MacMillan and Penguin As entry into the e-book reader Group (USA). Karen Campbell, director of public Christian publations for Zondervan, part of lishers are looking to embrace HarperCollins, said all Zonderwhat some are calling a van product would be available for the book world. in the iBook store by July. FaithZondervan and FaithWords Words, a division of Hachette, are scheduled to offer books on will also have titles in iBooks. the new device, with Thomas Although a deal was not yet Nelson expected to be among signed at press time, Thomas other evangelical publishers Nelson was also expected to joining in. join the group of Christian Announced in January and publishers with iPad offerrolled out late last month, the ings. Lindsey Nobles, direciPad will work in conjunc- iPad tor of corporate communication with a digital book store, iBooks, and already has agreements with IPAD, page 13 AYNE AMBY A serious look at religious play Academics assess value of leading Christian toys and games Some of the best-known Christian toys and games have come under scrutiny from two academics examining the intersection of faith, play and business. The likes of Missionary Conquest, Kingdom of Heaven and the Messengers of Faith Bible dolls are evidence of global commerce, pluralism and shifts in social of 21st century according to Nikki Bado-Fralick and Rebecca Sachs Norris. The pair discuss mixture of consumerism with in their Toying With God: The World of Religious Games and Dolls. The Baylor University Press book asks whether humans have fun with spirituality for good or for Also referenced and critiqued are video games, Spirit Warriors and Almighty Heroes Bible Bibleland, Journeys of Paul, Resurrection Eggs and Armor of God play sets. FULL REPORT, page PERSPECTIVE CLICK HERE to view the The Church Bookstore digital version. Wanted: big-picture thinkers A NDY UTCHER Christian Retailing DITOR been so concerned about the falling trees, in recent times, that I fear that we have lost sight of the forest. But time to recognize that any discussion about the future of Christian retailing needs to include more than just those of us directly inPERSPECTIVE, page 54