Christian retail offers for the week of Aug. 16

Back-to-school shoppers are a focal point again, with Mardel Christian & Education and CLC Bookcenters offering specials for students' equipment and resources.

Mardel promises "limitless style" in its e-mail promotion that includes rhinestone tees for $19.99 each, two regular "guys and girls" tees--usually priced at $21.99 each--for $30 and two pairs of jeans fro $60.

The promotion also highlights "school of rock" music titles including Hawk Nelson's Live Life Loud and Skillet's Awake for $9.99 each. "Class clown" comedy DVDs by Anita Renfroe (Big Ol' Sweet Iced Tea) and Chonda Pierce (Did I Say That Out Loud?) are $14.99 each.

CLC's back to school resource specials include Experiencing the Heart of Jesus: Student Edition Bible study by Max Lucado, reduced from $17.99 to $14.99, and the Teen Devotional Bible, NIV, priced $4 off at $23.99. Deal of the Week is VeggieTales' Sweetpea Beauty: A Girl After God's Own Heart, cut from $14.99 to $12.49.

The mailing also includes a coupon for 20% off any in-store purchase of a regularly priced item, through Sept. 6.

Love comes cheaply at Family Christian Stores, where the movies based on the popular Janette Oke books are among titles offered for $10 each. They include Love Comes Softly, Love's Abiding Joy and Love Takes Wing.

The chain also has a pre-buy offer on Amish Grace, the forthcoming movie based on the book of the same name that tells the true story of how an Amish community responded with faith and forgiveness aftyer five of their children were murdered. Those purchasing the title in advance for $19.97--down from the regular price of $22.98--also get two family Rewards cards worth a total of $10.

Mary Beth Chapman's Choosing to See leads a selection of "new books that inspire." It is priced at $17.59, down from the regular price of $21.99.

LifeWay Christian Stores' music newsletter presents the Gaither Vocal Band's Greatly Blessed and The Hoppers' Best Of collection for $11.99 each, down $2. Newsboys' Born Again is offered for $7.99, down from $13.99. Audrey Assad's The House You're Building is the same reduced price.

Another LifeWay e-mailing promotes its Bibles sale, ending Saturday. Among the specials are the NIV Adventure Bible, down from $27.99 to $13.99, and the digital Bible, Glo, available for $44.89 instead of $89.99.