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

Most of us will be sitting down soon to a table laden with beautiful, tasty food. We will eat too much and fall asleep pretending to watch football. And at some point someone will ask, “What are you thankful for this year?”

To prepare, this year I am sitting down with pen in hand to write out the blessings I have seen. I will thank Him for each one and then place the list in my Bible where I will see it frequently and be reminded of all of the good things, challenges and wonderful people God has brought into my life.

It goes without saying that the one thing in my life I am most grateful for is the grace and mercy Christ has shown me through salvation, but in this space I want to thank some very special friends.

First, the managers and workers in our church stores in all 50 states. I have been calling through a list of more than 2,000 churches and have talked to volunteers, paid personnel and church staff doing three or more jobs, including the bookstore. I have heard the hearts of those involved in this ministry. Thank you for your commitment to a sometimes very hard and thankless job. I am so grateful that you have the vision and commitment to serve our Lord in this way.

Many of you are in tiny stores in areas that are more secular than Christian—you are a light in a dark corner. Some of you are at larger stores with your own unique challenges—especially with all of the economic turmoil of the last two years. Thank you for staying strong and being an encouragement to others.

Within this group there is a smaller group of managers to whom I owe special thanks. They are those who have taken on the job as regional directors for the Church Bookstore Network and others who have organized smaller local groups for encouragement and education. You have meant much to strength of the church store channel.

Then there are the vendors in this industry. From the CEOs to the guys and gals on the road and on the phones calling on our stores, they are committed to bringing quality Christian products that will encourage, educate and minister. They are interested in making our businesses succeed so that our ministry can prosper.

One of the ways they have shown their commitment to us, as church stores, is by being involved in advertising in The Church Bookstore magazine, being a part of The Gathering and taking part in regional and local church bookstore meetings. I am forever grateful that they have come alongside, believed in us and encouraged our ministry in the church.

I cannot complete a thanksgiving list without mentioning the folks who were willing to step up and start a magazine and an event especially for church stores. For six years we have had the support of Steve and Joy Strang and their Strang Communications team in the persons of Publisher Dave Condiff and Editor Andy Butcher. With all my heart, I am thankful to God for the hours Dave has given to The Gathering and all that goes with the Church Bookstore Network. And to Andy, I am so grateful for his making it sound like I can write.

So, this Thanksgiving I am especially grateful for the church store channel of Christian retail. Thank you and God bless you, each one.

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