Citing a poor return on investment, Thomas Nelson has announced that it is discontinuing operations of its Nelson Enrichment Program (NEP), which helped Christian schools with fund-raising via the sale of Nelson products.

The largest Christian publishing company created NEP in 2004, but Nelson officials said its operations will be suspended effective May 1. However, support will continue through the end of the school year to service programs already in place.

“It has proven difficult to get the volume we need in order to make this a profitable venture,” said Thomas Nelson President and CEO Michael Hyatt. NEP sales account for less than 1% of the Nelson's consolidated revenues.

The decision impacts about 22 of Nelson's 654 employees. Jim Thomason, Nelson's vice president of human resources, said some of the employees will be given different jobs with the company. “For those that can't be placed, we will provide severance benefits or continued temporary employment while fulfilling existing orders,” added Thomason.