Christian Retailing

Gathering of Church Bookstores prays for grieving students Print Email
Wednesday, 18 April 2007 08:00 PM America/New_York

Church bookstore managers from across the country last night joined in praying for the impact of donated Scriptures in the lives of grieving students at Virginia Tech.

Welcomed as special guests at the midweek service of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas-hosting this week's Gathering of Church Bookstores-the church bookstore representatives and other worshipers heard that 5,000 copies of the Gideon Scriptures had recently been distributed at the Virginia campus reeling from Monday's massacre.

During a service interview with Prestonwood teaching pastor David McKinley, Marc Plew, associate director of The Gideons International Church Ministry Program, told of the distribution and said that thousands more of the Scriptures were to be sent to the area soon.

McKinley led prayers that many of the students, who might have taken and discarded or put aside their Gideon gift, would look for it, and find comfort and hope in the Scriptures. He also asked church representatives to stand so that others could gather round and pray for them in their ministry with God's Word.

The third annual bookstore event, which runs through Saturday, includes training on topics such as finances and personnel, worship, fellowship and an expo floor with more than 60 exhibitors. Participants were welcomed by Geni Hulsey, president of the Church Bookstore Network and manager of The Garden Bookstore at Houston's First Baptist Church.

Sponsored by The Church Bookstore magazine, the gathering is being held at the home of Prestonwood Bookstore, winner of the publication's first Church Bookstore of the Year award in 2006, when the store also became the first church-run Christian retail operation to win a CBA Store of the Year award.

Following last night's service, gathering participants attended a special concert by award-winning singer Nichole Nordeman. Today's program features training and an international reception sponsored by Send the Light/Appalachian. This year's awards will be presented tomorrow night, after the expo day.