Connecting with others and networking were, according to attendees, among the highlights of the Southern California Church Bookstore Network Regional Meeting at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, Calif., Oct 4. The importance of meeting face to face was highlighted during the daylong event as many were able to share useful ideas, meet new vendors and connect with others willing to help.

The attendance of well over 100 church bookstore staff from 24 churches and 15 vendors attested to the fact that it's difficult to underestimate the value of meeting and spending time with other industry professionals in person. Attendees gained from hearing about challenges some are facing, and also finding creative solutions to those challenges during opportunities to share in small groups and one on one.

The meeting was called Shop Talk, and in addition to small-group roundtable discussions, it included vendor meetings, workshops, keynote speakers and author appearances. The scripture theme for the day was Gal. 5:13, which says, " ... through love, serve one another."

Coming together to serve each other is foundational to the purpose of regional meetings because, as one of the authors in attendance, Deborah Pegues, once said, "None of us is as smart as all of us together." She spoke on "Confronting Without Offending." Other authors who appeared at the event included evangelist Danette Crawford, founder of Joy Ministries and author of Don't Quit in the Pit, and Jacqueline Priestly, author of His Word Healed Me.

Workshops offered practical instructions and information for selling products on the Web and insights from the book Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping by Paco Underhill. Revelation Marketing arranged to have publisher Simon & Schuster contribute a complimentary copy for each attendee.

The day concluded with an inspiring message by special guest speaker CBA Chairman George Thomsen, who shared practical ideas on ways to expand our ministries in new directions.

Vendors in attendance included Barbour Publishing, Bob Siemon Designs, Christian Art Gifts, Gregg Gift/GUND, Merch-it!, Noble Marketing, NOTW, Protec, Randolf Productions, Revelation Marketing, Rose Publishing, Say it With Jack, Spring Arbor, STL Distribution North America and Thomas Nelson.

--Rose Seeley is manager of the bookstore at Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, Calif.

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