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

In recent days we have been blessed with a number of calls wanting to know "how to start a church bookstore." It is an exciting thing for those of us involved in The Church Bookstore magazine and the Church Bookstore Network to hear there are churches who want: (1) to provide excellent resources to their congregation; and (2) to do it in a Christlike manner that includes the legal, ethical and business elements of retail. The very mission of the magazine and network is to be a resource for churches who want to do just that.

The Church Bookstore magazine has always been a training piece. Every article is written by a bookstore manager, employee or volunteer who is working in or has experience in a church bookstore, or by a vendor who knows well some aspect of the industry and has worked hand in hand with church bookstores.

The magazine is free to anyone who is involved in the church bookstore channel and requests a subscription, either online or by mailing in the subscription card found in Christian Retailing. You can also call 800-749-6500.

If you have not been receiving The Church Bookstore or have missed some issues, our Web site is the place for you. If you go to the Web site and click on "Issues," you will find the cover of all of the issues we have published. If you click just below the cover, you will see a list of the articles in that issue.

Whatever the topic related to managing a bookstore you are struggling with, you will find at least one article that will address your problem.

The magazine is just the beginning of the resources available through the Church Bookstore Network.

Your president and the regional directors scattered throughout the country are available for consulting with you, your store staff and/or your church staff. If you have specific problems about which you need to talk, feel free to call one of us. You will find contact information on the Web site under "Network."

Once a year, more intense training is provided at The Gathering. For those of you just beginning, there is day-long training for those in the process of opening a store or who are new to Christian retail. These classes are very basic, but vital in getting a store off to a strong start.

This year The Gathering will be in Louisville, Ky., at Southeast Christian Church, April 21-23. Because budgets are tight, now is the time to plan for the expense involved and the extra help you will need in the store while you are gone. Information about travel and hotels will be coming soon.

If you are in the process of starting a church bookstore or have just begun and need some assistance, please feel free to use any or all of the resources we have discussed here.

I am always available to you at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..