While many traditional Christian retailers have been struggling in recent years, a group of faith-based stores with a twist have been enjoying quiet growth.

Go Fish Clothing & Jewelry Co., whose outlets give away free copies of its own Bible and sell Christian-themed T-shirts in addition to imported gifts and crafts, now has 20 locations in 10 states.

Though the stores, mostly in tourist locations, bear the Ichthus fish symbol as part of their design and support overseas missions efforts, "we don't really consider ourselves a Christian store," said founder Curt Coleman.

He personally selects most of the Go Fish products-including art, jewelry, clothing, bags and shoes-from on-site visits made to scores of family and community groups in countries like Indonesia, India, Thailand, Peru, Mexico and Guatemala.

The stores also carry their own Christian tees and give away copies of a special edition of the New International Version of the Bible produced for them by the International Bible Society.

Typically around 1,200 square feet, the stores give away the Bible edition called God's Stories-several thousand copies a year in all-because "I don't like to sell God's Word." But "there's nothing wrong" with regular Christian retail stores-some close to Go Fish outlets-that do, he said. "We tell people about them. Hopefully, they tell people about us."

Read the full report in the July 7 issue of Christian Retailing International.