Plans to launch a new network to help serve the growing number of church bookstores were announced today in Houston. The Church Bookstore Network, to be officially launched June 1, will provide training, support, fellowship and access to resources for churches, with retail operations set up to serve their congregations and local communities.

The initiative was announced at the second annual Gathering of Church Bookstores, organized by The Church Bookstore magazine. More than 400 people representing 205 church bookstores across the country registered for the April 19-21 event, hosted by Houston First Baptist Church.

The founding president of the new network will be Geni Hulsey, manager of the bookstore at Houston First Baptist for the last 12 years, and a longtime church bookstore advocate and trainer. Hulsey said she was “excited but humbled” by the invitation to help lead the new group.

“This network is important in helping meet the specific needs of church bookstores,” she said. “Because it will be group-specific, we hope that church bookstores will feel welcomed and accepted.”

Dave Condiff, associate publisher of The Church Bookstore, said: “The church bookstore market is the fastest-growing part of the Christian products industry, and we are finding a great need for practical help and encouragement. The Church Bookstore Network is another part of our response to the demand.”

Members of the network will receive free subscriptions to The Church Bookstore and Christian Retailing magazines, and invitations to take part in regional training events in addition to the annual national gathering. They will also be able to join an online community to be set up where they can share problems and exchange ideas.

Condiff said that a survey of more than 460 church bookstores nationwide found that 63% were started within the last five years, and 37% had no paid staff. Additionally, only 32% were members of another association.

“There's a tremendous need for training and encouragement, and we believe that we have been called to help meet it,” Condiff said.

The first Gathering of Church Bookstores in June last year drew 50 stores and 75 people. Attendance quadrupled this year. The third Gathering will be hosted in 2007 by First Baptist Church in Atlanta.

It was also announced that seminars designed to attract church bookstores would be held at the Charisma Book Expo, sponsored by Strang Communications, Sept. 27-30 at the Georgia International Convention Center in College Park, Ga.

Strang Communications publishes Christian Retailing and The Church Bookstore magazines.

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