Training workshops addressing some of the specific challenges of the growing church bookstore movement will be a center point of a nationwide event for leaders of congregation-based stores, next month.

Industry leaders will discuss the importance of matching church bookstore inventory with the church leadership's vision and how to work with key ministries in the church to make sure appropriate Christian resources are readily available, at the third-annual Gathering of Church Bookstores, April 18-21.

Other classes at the event will address issues including store security, effective marketing, financial planning, and choosing and promoting children's products. The training sessions will be led by longtime church bookstore managers from across the country.

“It's exciting to see how the church bookstore movement continues to grow,” said Dave Condiff, associate publisher of The Church Bookstore magazine, which is sponsoring the gathering at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas. “Because of their nature, church-based stores face some unique issues, and we are glad that we have been able to enlist some of the most experienced people out there to share some of the lessons they have learned.”

In addition to the workshops, the gathering will feature times of worship and inspiration, an awards ceremony, and an exhibition area where more than 60 suppliers will be available to meet with bookstore representatives, discuss new products and take orders.

Prestonwood Baptist is home to Prestonwood Bookstore, which last year won The Church Bookstore's inaugural Bookstore of the Year award and also was the first church bookstore ever to receive a Bookstore of the Year award from CBA.

For more information, go to www.thechurchbookstore.com.