Church resource organization Outreach has produced church resources tied to The Bible, a 10-hour TV miniseries to air on the History Channel for five weeks in March.

The five-part miniseries of major Bible stories, from Noah's ark and the Exodus to the death and resurrection of Jesus, received a rousing reception at the International Christian Retail Show last summer during a sneak peak of the project launched by Mark Burnett and Roma Downey. Best known for producing the TV shows Survivor, The Voice and The Apprentice, Burnett and his wife, Downey, of Touched by an Angel fame, gave attendees a first look at the series, slated to air this Easter season.

"Too many Bible films end up feeling like documentaries, with stilted dialogue, second-class sets and narration that feels like a lecture," said Rick Warren, pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life. "In contrast, this series draws you into the story from the start. The key to its effectiveness is that it lets the Bible speak for itself, without commentary, excuse or qualification, which makes it unique. This is living history at its best."

Outreach created The Bible 30-Day Church Experience Kit along with a small group DVD study and personal guidebook, "so that you can help your church and community experience the Bible in a whole new way," said Eric Abel, vice president of marketing at Outreach. "Many churches plan to launch The Bible 30 Day Experience in conjunction with the miniseries to begin March 3 and conclude on Easter Sunday, but the kit and study can be used anytime of the year to help your church experience the Bible in a deeper, more meaningful way."

Click here to read a column about The Bible miniseries by Downey and Burnett in the February issue of Christian Retailing.

Click here for more information on The Bible 30-Day Church Experience Kit, which retails for $79.99, and here to see a trailer for The Bible miniseries. 

Christian music pioneer and worship champion John Paculabo died Jan. 22 in Eastbourne, England, after a six-month battle with cancer. The managing director of Kingsway for more than 20 years was 66.

"The impact of his vision and legacy will continue to be felt through the worship of local churches on a global scale," Kingsway officials said. "Even though we know he ran a good race (2 Tim.4: 6-8), we miss him dearly."

Originally from Liverpool, England, Paculabo was signed by Kingsway in 1971 as an artist/writer with his band Parchment. A year later, the group enjoyed mainstream chart success with the single "Light Up the Fire," a song which is still being used in school assemblies throughout Britain.

In 1976, Paculabo was appointed A&R manager of Pilgrim Records, where he produced hundreds of albums. In the 1980s, he moved into copyright acquisition and management, relocating to Eastbourne in 1988 to accept a position at Kingsway as director of music.

Within two years, he became managing director. In 2008, Paculabo received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Christian Booksellers Convention—the main Christian product trade show in the U.K.

"John's gentle spirit, relaxed approach, great sense of humor and love of people was matched by his desire to live with purpose and passion, with a tenacity to see lives transformed," Kingsway officials said. "John was much loved and respected, particularly for his ability to empower, support and serve others with humility. ... He was a dedicated visionary who was determined to mentor and develop songwriters. "

Paculabo established Thankyou Music as a global publisher, working in partnership with Capitol CMG Publishing. He is credited with helping inspire worship songs such as "In Christ Alone," "All Heaven Declares," "Here I Am To Worship," "Everlasting God," "Blessed Be Your Name" and "Heart of Worship."

Through the years, his focus was global song development, seeking to discover indigenous songwriters from around the world. Paculabo was passionate about worship and justice, which led him and his wife, Juliet, to launch Ray of Hope. Over the last 10 years, the charity has brought education, healthcare and pastoral guidance to thousands of lives across the Amazon basin and established more than 14 schools and a community center. It has also planted pepper plantations and funded pastors to go into the deepest parts of the Amazon jungle to evangelize the unreached.

Paculabo is survived by his wife of 33 years, three children and one grandchild.

Sarah Young's 2004 devotional, Jesus Calling (Thomas Nelson), dominated the best-selling Christian books of 2012, according to the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

The association's top 50 Christian title listing for last year, exclusively using sales from Christian retailers, also included: 2. Be a Better Dad Today!, Gregory Slayton (Regal ); 3. Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson); 4. Jesus Calling, Young, large print deluxe (Thomas Nelson); 5. The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine/Charisma House Book Group); 6. Jesus Calling, Young, deluxe (Thomas Nelson); 7. Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman (Zondervan); 8. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (Zondervan); 9. The Jesus Storybook Bible, Sally Lloyd-Jones (Zondervan); and 10. The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman (Northfield Publishing).

Suzanne Woods Fisher's The Lesson (Revell/Baker Publishing Group) was ranked No. 6 on the Fiction best-sellers from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), tracking sales for the week ending Jan. 19, according to Pubtrack Christian data. The third novel in the "Stoney Ridge Seasons" series was released Jan. 1.

The Top 20 General best-sellers were: 1. Daily Wisdom for Women: 2013 Devotional Collection (Barbour Publishing); 2. Jesus Calling, Sarah Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 3. Jesus Calling, Young, large print deluxe (Thomas Nelson); 4. The Harbinger, Jonathan Cahn (FrontLine/Charisma House Book Group); 5. Jesus Today, Young, hardcover (Thomas Nelson); 6. Jesus Calling, Young, deluxe (Thomas Nelson); 7. The 5 Love Languages, Gary Chapman (Northfield Publishing); 8. Praying God's Word, Beth Moore (B&H Books); 9. Heaven Is for Real, Todd Burpo (Thomas Nelson); 10. Not a Fan, Kyle Idleman (Zondervan); 11. I Declare, Joel Osteen (FaithWords); 12. Multiply, Francis Chan, Mark Beuving (David C Cook); 13. Crazy Love, Francis Chan (David C Cook); 14. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren (Zondervan); 15. One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp (Zondervan); 16. Battlefield of the Mind, Joyce Meyer (FaithWords); 17. Every Body Matters, Gary Thomas (Zondervan); 18. Throw It Down, Jud Wilhite (Zondervan); 19. Unglued, Lysa TerKeurst (Zondervan); and 20. Made to Crave, Lysa TerKeurst (Zondervan).

The Top 10 Fiction best-sellers were: 1. The Harbinger; 2. The Shack, Young (Windblown Media/Hachette Book Group); 3. Cross Roads, William P. Young (FaithWords); 4. Full Disclosure, Dee Henderson (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group); 5. The Tutor's Daughter, Julie Klassen (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group); 6. The Lesson; 7. Redeeming Love, Francine Rivers (Multnomah Books); 8. Bridesmaid, "Home to Hickory Hollow" No. 2, Beverly Lewis (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group); 9. Vanished, "Private Justice" No. 1, Irene Hannon (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group); and 10. Coming Home, Karen Kingsbury (Zondervan).

The top five Bibles were: 1. The Story, NIV, deluxe, hardcover, New International Version (Zondervan); 2. NLT God Sightings, softcover, New Living Translation (Tyndale House Publishers); 3. King James Version Pew Bible, Large Print, hardcover, black (Zondervan); 4. NIV Adventure Bible, hardcover (Zonderkidz); and 5. NLT Chronological Life Application Study Bible, hardcover, New Living Translation (Tyndale).

Eleonore Forder, co-founder of the American Christian Writers (ACW), died Thursday, Jan. 24 at home in Nashville after being diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer last month.

"A hospice caregiver and I were with her when she passed," said Reg Forder, her husband who co-founded ACW in 1988. "There was no struggle. She slipped away peacefully when she simply stopped breathing. We were married almost 30 years, and she was just a few days short of her 68th birthday."

Two days after Christmas, Forder was diagnosed with cancer.

"They said it was so advanced that there was nothing they could do for her," Reg said. "So they sent her home for myself and hospice to care for in her final three weeks. It happened that I took her to Florida for most of December, and told her I would give her a vacation she would always remember. We went on two cruises—she loved those—along with some other things she always considered special.

"Although confined to her bed knowing she only had a couple weeks left, she phoned many members of the family and friends to say goodbye, and tell them she loved them," he added. "She was very much at peace through this, but she knew I was having a hard time with it. The only times I saw her cry was out of concern for me after she was gone."

Forder was referred to as the "First Lady" of the ACW conferences for the past 25 years.

"Over that time, the ACW family grew into the thousands, and she loved every one of them," said Reg, noting that the writers group now has chapters in 31 states and holds conferences nationwide. "Her comment after every conference was, 'Wow! Those were the nicest people.' "

Since the Forders have no family in Nashville, there will not be a funeral service.

"We both agreed years ago on cremation," Reg said. "We will have a private memorial service later this year in Canada, where most of our kinfolks live. I will continue with ACW, but it won't be easy without her by my side. She was my princess. I thank God for this special gift that He gave me to enjoy over the last three decades."

United Methodist pastor and best-selling Abingdon Press author Adam Hamilton delivered the sermon Jan. 22 during the Inaugural Prayer Service at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

President Obama started his second term with a challenge from Hamilton to help heal the nation's divides.

"We find ourselves desperately longing to find common ground, to find a common vision, to be one nation indivisible with liberty and justice for everyone," said Hamilton, senior pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kan., Religion News Service reported. "In this city and in this room, are the people who can help."

Besides Hamilton, the interfaith service featured an imam, Jewish cantors, a Sikh woman and a Catholic layman.

Wearing black robes and speaking calmly, Hamilton delivered his sermon titled "Compassion, Vision and Perseverance: Lessons from Moses," which also weaved lessons from Martin Luther King Jr. and current issues, the United Methodist News Service (UMNS) reported.

"Humility and courageous compassion for the marginalized and oppressed are central to the heart and character of Moses and are meant to be central to the heart and character of this nation," said Hamilton. "Jesus said at the Last Judgment it all comes down to this: 'How did you respond to the needs of the least of these?' This is America at her best. At our best, we're a humble people. And we remember the call to have compassion for the least of these."

The pastor drew laughter, especially with remarks aimed at the president.

"God has given you a unique gift, Mr. President," Hamilton said, according to UMNS. "Unlike any other president we've ever had, you have the ability to be to cast a vision and inspire people. You should've been a preacher."

Hamilton ended his sermon with a story about a young Robert Louis Stevenson. After watching a man light lamps on the street, he said: "Daddy, I'm watching that man out there knock holes in the darkness."

"There's a lot of darkness in our world," Hamilton addressed the president. "Help us rediscover a vision for America that is so compelling it unites us and calls us to realize the full potential of this country, to be a shining city upon a hill. And when you feel your lowest, don't give up. Wait upon the Lord, He will renew your strength, that you might lead us as a nation to knock holes in the darkness."

Hamilton's Abingdon books include The Way; 24 Hours That Changed the World; and Final Words: From the Cross. See Book News Close Up in Christian Retailing's December issue for a Q&A with Hamilton.

Mission offerings collected through the new Concordia Publishing House (CPH) Vacation Bible School (VBS) program for 2013, Tell It on the Mountain, will benefit a special fund of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), which aims to help disaster victims. LCMS' Ready Now: Disaster Response Fund is used to provide food, water, and survival and shelter kits in areas of need.

"Typically, when a disaster strikes, it can take several days and perhaps weeks for donations from the church to move from household and congregation across the nation to those who have been traumatically impacted," said Mark Hofman, executive director for LCMS Mission Advancement. "People affected are forced to wait until resources are available. The new fund is designed to function as a bridge between the disaster event itself and the availability of long-term financial assistance that follows, as households and congregations respond in Christian love to a specific disaster event.

"The fund will serve as a source of immediate, rapidly deployable assistance in the first critical hours and days after an event," he added. "During peaceful times, until a disaster event occurs, it will stand as a mountain of hope positioned to deploy at a moment's notice. The offerings gathered by children participating in this year's VBS program will make a tremendous difference when this new fund is called into action."

Retailers can click here to learn more about CPH's 2013 program, Tell It on the Mountain. 

In other VBS news, Standard Publishing's God's Backyard Bible Camp VBS has been named Top Pick for 2013 by Lynda Freeman, an expert in children's ministry and "About the Children's Department" blogger.

"I've been reviewing VBS resources for 16 years," said Freeman. "Standard not only 'hits the nail squarely on the head' with God's Backyard Bible Camp, but they have 'raised the bar' by presenting a VBS resource, which will change, once again, the way we look at VBS."

She specifically commended the way the service focus is put into action through the lessons, activities and missions partnership with Back2Back Ministries.

Retailers can click here to learn more about Standard Publishing's 2013 program, God's Backyard Bible Camp.