A message from Geni Hulsey, president of the Church Bookstore Network:

"Happy Anniversary to you, happy anniversary to you, happy anniversary dear The Church Bookstore magazine, happy anniversary to you!"

Be glad you are reading the words and not hearing me sing ... but I can hardly believe it has been four years since the very first issue of the The Church Bookstore magazine was published. We have been so blessed to have this magazine. I know that you, as managers and workers in church bookstores, have found it beneficial because you have told me so.

by Ted Terry

Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, celebrated its 50 year anniversary as a church on Sunday, May10. There were many special activities and events throughout the entire weekend, with the Saturday and Sunday morning services filling up fast.

But it was the 11 a.m. Sunday service that drew the biggest crowds-almost 22,000 people attended with special guests, founding members, government officials, and the entire Lakewood family filling the church to overflow capacity. A beautiful bronze statue of the late John Osteen, founding pastor of Lakewood Church, and his wife Dodie, was unveiled by the Osteen grandchildren.

GEORGIA, CAROLINAS

Friday, June 5, at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Speakers to include novelist Maggie Brendan, addressing the value of Christian fiction, and David McIntyre, president and CEO of KVI Consulting, and former manager of World Harvesters Church International Bookstore in Atlanta.

There will be giveaways, and a drawing and lunch will be provided at no cost.

Contact: Regional Director Dottie Poythress at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 770-795-3227.

 

CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Monday, Aug. 10, at Harvest Bookstore at Eastview Christian Church in Normal, Ill. (within three hours of St. Louis, Chicago and Indianapolis). Topics and vendors TBD.

Contact Regional Director Susan Chipman at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 

Building trust with your customers begins with recognizing who they are. Your customers come to your store because they first come to your church. The worship experience your church offers should be paralleled in your church bookstore. Your congregation will want to shop in your store if you focus on providing items that are "specialties" in your church.

Does your church sing a lot of gospel music? Then gospel music should be a key feature in your music department. Feature the music that is sung most often in your ministry. We have found the most success when we offer CDs featuring songs we sing in Sunday services.

The digital revolution may be having a big impact on music, but in-store sales are not dead--especially for church stores, where congregants may want to obtain a copy of songs they have appreciated in the worship service. Listening stations and in-store burn units can help stores with limited space offer a broader selection, while song lists from church services and staff recommendations can offer a personal touch.

The policy regarding personal calls during work, including the use of cell phones, should be firmly stated in your employee manual. (Betty is assuming that you have one!)

I stand firm by the adage, "What you do on your time is your business, but what you do on my time is my business." And, I am certainly not paying my staff to yap on the phone.

Almost 60% of self-described Christians told Barna Group researchers that they strongly agreed or agreed that the Holy Spirit was only "a symbol of God's power or presence but is not a living entity." Just one third of poll respondents disagreed that the Holy Spirit was not a living force.

Every store manager and staff member who votes in the 2009 Retailers Choice Awards will be entered in a drawing to win some of the 250 nominated products for their stores.

Share your thoughts at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

"Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning"

(Prov. 9:9, NIV).