Christian retail channel offers for the week of May 16

The newly named Christian Book of the Year, announced by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, is spotlighted in Parable stores' emailing. Eric Metaxas' Bonhoeffer is offered for $25.97 in an online purchase (regular price, $29.99).

The promotion also include a pre-buy offer on Doug Sherman's June 1 release, More Than Ordinary, which is priced at $12.97. Kristen Heitzmann's Indelible and Meg Moseley's When Sparrows Fall are each priced at $11.97 for online purchases and the promotion closes with a coupon for $5 off an online purchase of $25 or more, through May 21.

LifeWay Christian Stores promotes the hardback HCBS Study Bible, which is offered at half price, for $24.99. The promotion features in two LifeWay emailings, one of which also highlights Beth Moore's new Bible study, So Long, Insecurity, reduced from $14.99 to $11.99. Other deals include Max Lucado's Max on Life for $9.99.

The chain's movie-focused emailing prices several DVDs usually $22.95 each at $17.99 each—among them, The Penny, Reconciliation and Cutback. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is reduced from $29.98 to $22.99.

Mardel Christian & Education reduces all wall crosses by 33%, with prices ranging from $2 for an aluminum mini cross to $30 for several different designs, including a red cross with rusted rose. The chain also promotes an Education Sale coming on July 21, when there will be 20% off all school and homeschool supplies and children's products.

Christianbook.com's Midweek Markdowns include 44% off The Action Bible, priced at $13.99, and Gary Thomas' Sacred Marriage reduced by 53% to $6.99. Tony Campolo's Red Letter Christians is offered at 90% off, for $1.99.

NavPress Think imprint and best-selling author Melody Carlson are inviting readers to help develop the main character of Trapped: Caught in a Lie, the next installment of the “Secrets” series for teens.

In Trapped, the main character finds herself caught in a sticky situation after cheating in school. Readers can help mold this character's identity by submitting ideas for her name, hobbies, activities, job, what her family life is like, who her friends are and the types of people with whom she interacts.

The winner will receive a library of Carlson’s Think books (a $275 value), including the “True Colors,” “Secrets” and “By Design” series.

NavPress will first screen the entries, then forward them to Carlson, who will select the winner. She will use some or all of the winning characteristics Trapped, which is scheduled to release in April 2012.

The contest is open until midnight May 22. Click here to enter. 

Christian retail channel offers for the week of May 8

Three big sales this week focus on Bibles, homeschooling and fiction.

Running through May 22, Berean Christian Stores' two-week Bible sale offers between 30% and 50% off more than 60 different Bibles. The promotion also features several one-day specials, including 20% off children's department purchases, May 14, and boxed cards reduced by a third, May 16.

Mardel Christian & Education’s Homeschool Sale, May 14, knocks 20% off all education products. Alpha Omega products are reduced 15%.

LifeWay Christian Stores' Fiction day, also May 14, presents a range of novels for $5 each, while supplies last. Among the titles available are Francine Rivers' A Voice in the Wind, Jerry B. Jenkins' The Last Operative, Tracie Peterson's Embers of Love and Burn by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy.

The LifeWay emailing announcing the sale also includes two coupons. One takes 25% off a regularly priced fiction title, May 14 only, while the other offers the same discount on any one regularly priced item through May 21.

LifeWay's separate music promotion leads with Nicole C. Mullen's new Captivated, reduced from $13.99 to $7.99. Reduced from $13.99 to $9.99 are Listen to the Sound by Building 429, The Best of Mark Schultz and Mandisa's What If We Were Real.

Another Mardel emailing centers on Bibles for Graduates. Among the offers, an exclusive compact ESV Bible for $6.99, the Life Application Study Bible (NLT) in bonded leather for $24.99 and the NIV Study Bible, leather, for $34.99.

The two of you co-authored the 1963 The Cross and the Switchblade. What was David Wilkerson like to work with?

Elizabeth: He was a very gentle and generous man. He never took on the kind of persona business that so many Christian leaders do. He was a humble person and remained that all his life. We’re so grateful about that. Some leaders of ministries that become big—his ministry did become big after the book came out—and we thought, "Oh, if he goes the way of ... ," as many people from humble backgrounds, from simple backgrounds, when they begin to get a little bit of cash flowing through and a little bit of notoriety, of fame, go a very different way from the way David went.

Eric Metaxas’ biography of World War Two German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer—Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy--has been named the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s (ECPA) Christian Book of the Year.

The Thomas Nelson book was also voted Non-Fiction title of the year in the association’s 2011 Christian Book Awards, announced May 2 on the eve of the ECPA’s Annual Meeting and Executive Leadership Summit in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The other winners were: Bibles: HCSB Study Bible, Jeremy Royal Howard and Ed Blum, general editors (B&H Publishing Group); Bible Reference: Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament, John H. Walton, general editor (Zondervan).

Children: The Action Bible, Sergio Cariello, illustrator; Doug Mauss, general editor (David C. Cook); Fiction: Almost Heaven by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers); Inspiration: You Changed My Life by Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson).

Three of the ECPA winners were also named in Christian Retailing’s 2011 Retailers Choice Awards, announced April 26. Bonhoeffer was voted Auto/Biography, The Action Bible was named Children’s Bible and You Changed My Life took the Gift Book category.

Christian retail channel offers for the week of April 25

Family Christian Stores rolls out the savings in two email promotions.

The chain’s Book of the Year, Crazy Love by Francis Chan, is priced at $11.24—down from the regular price of $14.99—with 25% reductions on select other titles. They include Max Lucado's Outlive Your Life and Beth Moore's So Long, Insecurity (each $18.74) and Stormie Omartian's The Power of Praying Moms 3-in-1 collection ($14.99).

Albums reduced by 25% include Gaither Vocal Band's Greatly Blessed and Lecrae's Rehab (each $10.49) and Third Day's Move ($11.24). The promotion also includes a coupon for 25% off an entire purchase of regularly priced items, valid through May 15.

A separate Family emailing links to the chain's catalog, available online, and highlights forthcoming events: 50% off gifts for moms through May 8; $5 and 50% off kids items, May 9-19; 50% off books, May 20-June 6.

The promotion includes four coupons. There are three Create Your Own Sale offers of 25% off an entire purchase of regularly priced items, valid through July 14, and one for 33% off any one regularly priced item, through May 30.

Mardel Christian & Education spotlights the new “B.IT” apparel line from B. Haley, drummer for TobyMac and Diverse City. The tees are available for $14.99.

Parable stores offer the repackaged “Left Behind” series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye at $9.97 each for online purchases. The Life Application Study Bible (NLT) is half price, at $34.97. A coupon offers $5 off a purchase of $25 or more through Saturday, online only.

Christian retail channel offers for the week of April 18

Family Christian Stores invites shoppers to “share the good news of His hope with your Easter gift giving” with a coupon for 30% off an online purchase through April 24.

Berean Christian Stores promotes several Tommy Nelson specials, including a shiny sequin Bible for $19.99 (down from $24.99) and the Precious Moments Storybook Bible for $13.39 (reduced from $17.99).

To mark the season, CLC Bookstores recommends “a book that captures the effect of the Cross on all mankind,” offering Hanna Shahin's My Enemy... My Brother for 20% off, at $9.59.

Karen Kingsbury's Unlocked is priced at just $5 for April 22 and 23 online sales at Parable stores. The group's email promotion also includes a coupon for 15% off any one Bible purchased online through April 23.

Kingsbury features again, in a LifeWay Christian Stores promotion that offers her Leaving for $11.24, reduced from $14.99, and the movie adaptation of her Like Dandelion Dust for $10, down from $22.98. The promotion also prices Beth Moore's So Long, Insecurity for $14.99, down from $24.99.

This LifeWay emailing and the chain's music-focused one both include an offer for 40% off any one regularly priced item, for a single purchase totaling $35 or more through April 23.

Lillian enjoyed the thrill of courtship, or so her granddaughters thought, considering the eccentric Southerner was married seven times. No matter her flaws, she was loved by her three granddaughters, Ginger, Penny and Rose.

Christian retail channel offers for the week of April 11

LifeWay Christian Stores invites shoppers to its annual Tax Savings Day, April 16, with an offer of 15% off an entire purchase, including sale and clearance items.

The one-day special is included in both the chain's email promotions. One spotlights David Platt's new Radical Together, priced at $9.99 (down from the regular price of $14.99) or $7.99 when purchased in cases of 24. The audio CD edition is reduced from $25 to $17.50.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader leads the LifeWay movie emailing, priced at $19.99 (down from $29.98). Other featured titles included What If... and Most: The Deluxe Edition each for $14.99.

Parable stores lead with Newsboys' Born Again Miracles Edition that includes four new songs, for $12.97. Through May 12, in-store shoppers can also get a free little inspiration greeting card when they buy two others.

Mardel Christian & Education also has a card deal, with a buy one, get one free offer on boxed cards. The chain also prices all performance tracks—usually retailing at $8.99-$9.99--at $5 for one week only.

Berean Christian Stores' savings are a coupon for 20% any one regularly priced item, through May 8, and $10 off a purchase of $50 or more for those registering at the chain's new Web site.

As the inspirational Bethany Hamilton biopic, Soul Surfer, arrives in theaters nationwide, read what mainstream critics have to say about the movie.

“Soul Surfer” “contains enough platitudes to stock a Hallmark shop.”

The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/soul-surfer,1177152/critic-review.html?hpid=z11

“Soul Surfer” “makes very few waves.”

USA Today

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/reviews/2011-04-08-soulsurfer08_ST_N.htm

From the production values to the “savvy delivery of its Christian message, 'Soul Surfer' (is) a champ.”

The Oklahoman

http://newsok.com/soul-surfer-rides-wave-of-religious-true-story/article/3556286

“Soul Surfer” “manages to avoid the preachiness found in many Christian films.”

The Gazette

http://www.gazette.com/entertainment/faithful-115876-surfer-film.html

An inspiring true-life story “gets a less-than-inspired film dramatization.”

The Hollywood Reporter

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/soul-surfer-film-review-171674

 While “formulaic in design, 'Soul Surfer' is an authentic and heartfelt movie.”

Entertainment Weekly

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20479680,00.html

“Soul Surfer” is “the best faith-based film ever made... uplifting, entertaining and wonderfully-acted.”

The Orlando Sentinel

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_movies_blog/2011/04/movie-review-soul-surfer.html

“'Soul Surfer' can't help patting itself on the back at key moments, undermining its own impact. “

The Huffington Post

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marshall-fine/huffpost-review-isoul-sur_b_846521.html

“Soul Surfer” is a kind-hearted coming-of-age drama with killer waves. “

Variety

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117944896?refcatid=31

Christian retail channel offers for the week of April 4

Stores continue to ride the wave of interest in the inspirational Bethany Hamilton biopic, Soul Surfer, which opens in theaters April 8.

LifeWay Christian Stores repeats its offer of last week, presenting the chance for $10 off a ticket or a $5 concession voucher with the purchase of select DVDs. The same promotion is also carried this week by Mardel Christian & Education, amily Christian Stores and Parable stores.

The LifeWay movies featured in the offer include Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story and Faith Like Potatoes, each selling for $14.99. Both those films are included in Mardel's line-up, which prices them at $9.99 each along with To Save a Life and Walking on Water.

Family has Faith Like Potatoes and To Save a Life for $19.99 each with the ticket special. Other titles included are Walking on Water ($15.99) and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs ($19.99) Family's emailing ends with a “create your own sale” coupon for 25% off an entire purchase of regularly priced items.

The $10 ticket offer is included in the 16-page Easter sale catalog spotlighted in Parable stores' mailings.

LifeWay's music promotion leads with new releases from Mandisa (What If We Were Real) and Rebecca St. James (I Will Praise You), each reduced to $9.99. Available for the same price are Kirk Franklin's Hello Fear and Francesca Battistelli's Hundred More Years, each down from $13.99

The LifeWay emailing includes an in-store 40% reduction on any one regularly priced item, April 23-May 7, for those spending $35-plus in a single purchase between April 4 and 23.

A second Mardel promotion highlights children's story Bibles available for $12.99 each and Resurrection Eggs available in-store for $9.99, reduced from $16.99.

CLC Bookcenters' Book of the Month offer prices Richard S. Jensen's Finding the Jewel in Job Loss at $9.97.

Christianbook.com's Midweek Markdowns include VeggieTales' An Easter Carol DVD $10 off at $4.99, Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry Blackaby and Melvin Blackaby reduced from $16.99 to $2.99 and Lee Strobel's The Case for Christ down from $14.99 to $7.49.

Christian retail channel offers for the week of March 28

 The big screen release of Soul Surfer, the inspirational story of teen surfer Bethany Hamilton's recovery from a shark attack in which she lost an arm, rides high with two chains.

LifeWay Christian Stores offers coupons for a $10 ticket to see the film—releasing April 8—or a $5 concession stand voucher in DVDs it promotes in two separate emailings. The cinema savings are available in eight DVDs priced at $14.99 and $19.99, including Faith Like Potatoes, Walking on Water and To Save a Life.

The Soul Surfer special is also found in a LifeWay children's promotion that offers a range of titles for $5 each. They include the second volume of What's in the Bible? and Big Idea’s Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie.

Both LifeWay promotions also offer a pre-buy special on the April 8 DVD release of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Regularly priced $27.98, it is available for $17.99 in advance.

Berean Christian Stores spotlights the Soul Surfer release, encouraging shoppers to “ride the wave with Bethany.” The chain features five tie-in releases, included Soul Surfer: Movie Edition Softcover, Devotions for the Soul Surfer and the Soul Surfer Bible, NIV.

Family Christian Stores offers the New York Times best-selling Heaven is for Real for half off at $8.49 and includes a “create your own sale' coupon in its promotion, giving 25% off an entire purchase of regularly priced items. A second emailing from the chain focuses on greeting cards, with a coupon for one regularly priced card for half price.

Parable stores offer 29% off any one non-sale item in their emailings that also presents a $9.97 pre-buy offer on Beverly Lewis' forthcoming The Judgment. The book's regular price is $14.99.

Music is the emphasis for Mardel Christian & Education. Its Hot New Releases offer features $9.99 pricing for Echoing Angels' self-named release, Shawn McDonald's Closer, Kirk Franklin's Hello Fear and Mary Mary's Something Big.

Rob Bell’s Love Wins (HarperOne) continues to enliven the online world.

David Platt—author of Radical and Radical Together—responded with a video from India. He not only challenges intellectual universalism—“thinking that in the end everyone is going to be OK”—but also what he believes is worse, functional universalism, “living like in the end everyone is going to be OK.”

Rob Stennett’s Homemade Haunting examines the paranormal using allegory and humor, as high school English teacher Charlie Walker takes a six-month sabbatical to write a horror novel.

When Charlie moves his family into an older house that they can afford, he has a poltergeist experience. He realizes then that as a method writer, he needs to actually feel the horror himself to fix the novel he’s been writing—one that’s not scary at all.

Christian retail channel offers for the week of March 21

Karen Kingsbury's latest release, Leaving, is offered for $10—a third off the regular retail price—by LifeWay Christian Stores, while the popular author is featured in Parable's inspirational fiction emailing.

Parable customers are advised that if they enjoy Kingsbury's writing they might also like Missy Horsfall & Susan Stevens' Love Me Back to Life or Trish Perry's The Perfect Blend. The books are priced at $10.97 and $8.97 respectively for online purchases.

The Parable promotion also includes the new edition of Newsboys' Born Again, which features four additional songs, for $12.97 for Internet buyers. The emailing also has a coupon for $10 off a $40 purchase through March 26.

LifeWay's email offer includes $10.99 pricing for David Platt's Radical, Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling, Richard Stearns' The Hole in Our Gospel and Francis Chan's Crazy Love and Forgotten God. It also contains a Springtime Sale coupon for 33% of one regularly priced item through March 26. The special discount is also offered in a separate music emailing from LifeWay that prices Francesca Battistelli's new Hundred More Years at $9.99, down from $13.99, and David Phelp's The Best of at $13.99.

Mardel Christian & Education offers 45% off a wide selection of ESV Bibles, which prices Share the Good News Outreach paperback editions at $1.64 each and DuoTone large print Study Bibles at $49.49 each.

Kingsbury is spotlighted in Christian Book Distributors' Midweek Markdowns emailing, where Leaving is priced at $8.99. Other featured titles include Abby Johnson's Unplanned for $13.40 (a 42% discount) and DVD Fireproof for $4.99.