Lakewood Church Bookstore, located at best-selling author and pastor Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, has been named the Church Bookstore of the Year for 2007.

The 9,960-square-foot store, which opened in July 2005, was chosen for “outstanding contributions in the development of Christian retail in the local church” by fellow church bookstore operators from across the country.

The award was presented to Lakewood bookstore manager Ted Terry at the third annual Gathering of Church Bookstores, which drew 211 representatives from 128 stores to Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, April 18-21.

Terry received the trophy at a special awards night from Deb Graham, co-manager of the Prestonwood Bookstore at the host church, which won the inaugural award last year.

Located off the rear lobby of Lakewood Church, in the converted former Compaq Center basketball arena, Terry's store features a giant aquarium. Eight cash registers-with 13 more at resource centers scattered around the building-are in place to meet demand from weekend attendance that can top 40,000.

Sponsored by The Church Bookstore magazine, launched two years ago to serve the growing church bookstore movement, the Texas conference combined training sessions, a panel discussion, worship and fellowship, and an exhibition day all tailored to the needs of church-run stores.

Among those who attended was Ray Oda who traveled from Honolulu, Hawaii. The manager of the bookstore at New Hope Christian Fellowship in O'ahu, said: “It has been such a blessing. I really enjoyed it, the learning and being able to meet with vendors. We talk to people on the phone, and we look at what other retail stores have done (in Hawaii), but to be able to come here and actually meet with other people is great.”

Workshops covered topics including accounting, inventory control, handling personnel and how to make the most of limited floor space. Instructors included regional representatives of the Church Bookstore Network, formed to provide a forum for ongoing support and encouragement for church stores.

More than 60 suppliers were featured in the expo part of the event, including publishers, music companies, gift suppliers, design and fixture companies and CBA. The program also included a gala author-signing evening at which attendees mingled with more than a dozen writers and an international reception hosted by STL Distribution North America.

Also honored at the awards dinner was Heidi Bodette, manager of Daily Bread Books at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minn., who was named Church Bookstore Manager of the Year. Vendor of the Year went to DaySpring, while Jeff Miller, regional sales director for Thomas Nelson, was Sales Representative of the Year.

The Church Bookstore is a supplement to Christian Retailing magazine.

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