Christian retail veteran remembered as a ‘forward-thinking, customer-serving, Christ-honoring retailer’

Christian retailer and best-selling author and editor Jim Reimann died Dec. 18 following a recent diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, a neurological condition. He was 63. 

Reimann founded and owned The Christian Armory in Atlanta, named by CBA the 1988-1989 Store of the Year, and was chairman of the CBA board for two years. He was also COO of Family Christian Stores and facilitated the six-year expansion from 148 to 362 stores in 39 states.

He was editor of the classic works My Utmost for His Highest, Streams in the Desert, Morning by Morning and Evening by Evening, and has more than 6 million books in print. An ordained minister, he led 26 Bible-teaching tours to Israel.

Reimann was born in Chattanooga, Tenn. He graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. 

The family entered this post and an excerpt from his books Dec. 18 at JimReimann.com:

“At 4:44 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, Jim went to be with the Lord and to hear the words he has wanted to hear, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant!’ We know that God is completely sovereign and has a plan for all of us, indeed fulfilling His plan for Jim. He ‘ran the race’ and ‘fought the good fight.’ Our prayer over the past few weeks has consistently been for God’s will so that He may be glorified through all of this. Jim is with the Lord now, but isn’t it wonderful that he has already said what he would want to say to you today in his writings, Morning by Morning and Evening by Evening?” 

Former CBA President Bill Anderson applauded Reimann’s life and work.

“Jim Reimann not only built one of the most outstanding and successful Christian stores in the history of the CBA industry, he also was a servant to many and an inspiration to retailers across the U.S. and internationally,” Anderson said. “He distinguished himself as a forward-thinking, customer-serving, Christ-honoring retailer. Jim was committed to exercising biblical discernment in what he bought so he could be aggressive in selling widely. He understood and modeled that content matters, that what we sell must not run cross-grain with Scripture, that there’s increased ministry in increased sales when the products are biblically accurate and culturally relevant. Jim’s service on the CBA board was characterized by godly wisdom, business insight, spiritual sensitivity and devoted servanthood. I had the privilege of working with many stellar chairmen during my tenure, but none more outstanding than Jim. He was a true blessing and became a very special friend.”

Current CBA President Curtis Riskey also felt the loss.

“We are grieved to hear of Jim’s passing today, and our thoughts and prayers are with his family,” Riskey said on the day of Reimann’s death. “We are all extremely grateful for his contribution to our industry and for the outstanding legacy of godliness, excellence and compassion he leaves for us to follow.”

Similar reflections were expressed among Christian retailers and others in the industry. 

Reimann is survived by his wife, Pam Reimann; children Jeremy Reimann, Aaron Reimann and Bethany Belt; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in Sandy Springs, Ga.