CBA and CLC Ministries International, a ministry with 180 bookstores in the U.S. and around the globe, have joined in a mission-retail partnership called the Legacy project—The Call Never Ends. The partnership aims to encourage retired and transitioning retailers to use their skills to help stores overseas.

Knowing that retailers who have retired or have closed their stores for any number of reasons often still have a passion for the retail ministry, CBA and CLC are inviting them to volunteer in Christian bookstore start-ups and turnarounds or at stores recovering from disaster or trauma in one of 58 countries CLC serves.

CBA and CLC will work together to identify and recruit missionaries. CLC will assess and train them, then deploy them for service.

Candace Tucker, manager and buyer at CLC Bookcenter in Center City Philadelphia, was on to hand at CBA's NEXT 2013 event—concluded today in Atlanta—to present the new venture, highlighting projects in countries including Liberia and Sierra Leone.

"Your calling truly does never end," Tucker said. "There is something after."

Retailers will serve as missionaries, but their housing and healthcare will be provided for during their time of service.

CBA President Curtis Riskey said it is "an opportunity for booksellers to continue in ministry abroad."