In a bleak retail economy that is even darker for many independent Christian retail stores, Bibles continue to be one of the bright spots.

Not only do Bibles remain the heart and soul of a Christian retailer's mission to spread the gospel, but they also continue to be in strong demand.

"It's real hard right now, but the Bible continues to sell, and I think it always will," said Bonnie Whitaker, owner with husband Jim of New Life Christian Stores in Lynchburg, Va., which will celebrate 20 years in business next January. "It is something we can't really explain, except that it's God's Word. It's living, and it always will be. Economic trends can't stop the sale of God's Word."

In July, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's 2008 Christian Book of the Year award went to Thomas Nelson's The Word of Promise: New Testament Audio Bible. The same month saw Nelson's project tie with Zondervan's Inspired By…The Bible Experience: The Complete Bible for first place in the Bibles category in the 2008 Christian Retailing Retailers Choice Awards.

The Bible focus has been given a boost in recent weeks by CBA's Operation Worship campaign, in association with Tyndale House Publishers, which is promoting the purchase of a special $4.99 edition to be sent to U.S. military personnel.

As Tyndale and Crossway Books & Bibles prepared for the fall launch of major new study Bibles--the NLT Study Bible and the ESV Study Bible, respectively--Christian Retailing spoke to publishers and retailers about the latest Bible trends.

Read the full report in the Sept. 8 issue of Christian Retailing.

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