Christian Art Gifts launched its first Spanish gifts this season and is planning a second product release this summer.

“We’ve seen that there’s a need for inspirational items that speak the heart language of people around the world, so we wanted to provide something that would inspire people and spread God’s Word wherever Spanish is being spoken,” said Melissa Faccini, who is coordinating the Spanish initiative and tradeshows.

Gracefully Yours Cards & Journals has signed Genesis Marketing to represent its growing line of scripture-based products.

“We are very pleased to join forces with Genesis,” said Rick Tocquigny, CEO of Gracefully Yours. “Their leadership position and quest to grow God’s kingdom matches our vision.”

Cross Border Sales Agency, Canadian representatives for Precious Moments Inc. (PMI), is now representing Ne’Qwa Art, the newest addition to the PMI family of brands.

Ne’Qwa Art is the creator of ornaments and decorative accessories that are hand-painted on the inside of the glass with the painting in reverse. Ne’Qwa Art revived the technique a decade ago, and its 2013 line includes the works of artists Susan Winget, Thomas Kinkade, Dona Gelsinger, Mary Englebreit and Sarah Summers, among others, each recreated by skilled artisans.

Christian wall art company Carpentree launched a new website last month with user-friendly features for stores, making online ordering easy and convenient. Retailers can expect to see special deals and coupon offers and are advised to watch for promotional emails from the Tulsa, Okla.-based supplier to take advantage of the deals.

Christian Retailing’s awards program is accepting nominations for 2013, its 13th season honoring the best gifts and other products in the Christian retail market. Winners of the Christian Retailing’s Best awards—formerly known as the Retailers Choice Awards—will be announced at the International Christian Retail Show in St. Louis in June.

Gift suppliers and other companies who enter by Friday, Jan. 25 benefit from the Early Bird discount (for every five paid, get one free entry), but nominations will be accepted until Feb. 15, 2013. Nominating companies or authors will be invoiced for the appropriate entry fee. This year’s fee is $60 per entry, but no sample product is required as in previous years.

Sand story artist Joe Castillo—known as a finalist on NBC’s America’s Got Talent show—will appear this weekend on FOX News’ Huckabee. Television personality, pastor and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee will host Castillo, also an author and speaker, on the show Saturday, Jan. 19. 

Long before Castillo’s stint on America’s Got Talent, with its 23 million viewers, he was creating sand-story performances for youth conventions, churches and companies, including Fortune 500 companies such as CBS, The Walt Disney Co., Mercedes-Benz and Apple. He also has performed for world leaders in nearly 20 countries.

Halle Joy moved into a new warehouse and distribution center in Carrollton, Texas, in December. The move brings all of the company’s products into one central location from six factories in China.

“Our new space allows for quicker turnaround of orders and ease from receiving to shipping,” said Steve Slaughter, owner, president and CEO.