A message from Geni Hulsey, president of the Church Bookstore Network:

Let's spend some time thinking about one of the most important categories for a church store: small group studies.

In almost every church you will find small groups-they may be called Bible studies, family groups, neighborhood groups, discipleship groups or any of a myriad of other titles. But their purpose is almost always the same.

They come together in small numbers-usually less than 15--and they study something that is of common interest. There is always fellowship and sharing, but at the center of the small group time, there is study and discussion.

They don't always meet at the church. Some are lunchtime groups that meet in the breakroom on the job, some get together at breakfast before they go to work. There are others that meet in homes or places central to the members of the group.

These small groups may choose a book of the Bible, a character in the Bible, a topic from the Bible or a life situation that relates to the members--raising children, taking care of elderly parents, making a marriage work. They may choose a study that involves homework, a book with discussion questions or just a current or classic title.

The one thing they all need is material, and many times they need suggestions for that material: Enter the church bookstore and its staff.

This is where we shine. This is our forté. Because we read Christian Retailing, because we look at the catalogs and visit with the reps from the publishers, we know what is available in the market to fill their needs.

The challenge is communication with the people who decide to facilitate these small group studies. So many times these groups will form, and the only person who knows the topic to be discussed or the book to be used is the leader of the group and the minister to whom he/she is accountable. And, somehow, they often just don't think of the bookstore. So it is our job to be sure the church bookstore is the first place they think of when they are looking for resources.

There are certain times of the year when these groups form and make decisions about their material--usually in the fall and in January, though a few groups may carry on through summer.

One of your store's best friends should be the minister who oversees these small group studies. In many larger churches, each of the age-level ministers is in charge of any small groups that form. In the adult ministry, many times the women's and men's ministers are in charge of the studies in their ministries. The education or program minister might be in charge of the general discipleship studies.

Once you know when the studies are going to happen and who will make the decisions about the study material, you can make suggestions based on the needs of each group. It will be vital that you provide the books or other study materials in a timely fashion. The earlier you discover the various groups' needs and the start dates for their programs, the easier it will be to get the books to them on time without special shipping.

The small group study category in your store can be one of the most important if you stay in touch with the leadership of your church, plan well and provide what they need in a timely fashion. If you haven't begun this process for the fall studies, now is a great time to get started-and a great way to introduce new customers to your store.

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