THE MILLENNIAL MIND AND THE CHANGING CHURCH

Where is the U.S. Church Headed? Watch the Bookstores--
And this June's Natl. Meeting of Christian Bookstores
www.ChristianRetailShow.com

ATLANTA – June 9 – Is church in the US still growing by ABCs--attendance, buildings, cash? The answer is no. Digitized and relationally driven, the Millennial generation is changing how and where church happens, and increasingly it’s not in a church building.

Enter one of the activist Christian bookstores--or into the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), the annual meeting of Christian booksellers, June 22-25 in Atlanta--and you pick up that the store experience, is increasingly, well, “churchy.”

“For the same things their parents went to church to find, Millennials are going to Christian bookstores,” Curtis Riskey, President of The Association for Christian Retail (CBA) said. “Think fellowship, guidance, talks, events, mission trips . . . Retail can never replace church, of course, but increasingly stores are an entire experience.”

This year’s ICRS will host not one but three events to spotlight the changing church:

1) Keynote: Church & Retail. In the ICRS keynote address, eclectic author Thom Schultz is known for his incisive comparisons of churchgoing and retail trends. Founder of Group Publishing and Lifetree Café, Schultz’s blog topics range from why congregations have stopped singing to standard responses to church decline.

2) General session: Where US Christianity is headed. The ICRS general session includes Ravi Zacharias, bestselling author/scholar/speaker and observer; legendary author/asker Philip Yancey; radio gadfly Ryan Dobson; and will be moderated by Craig Cable of Lifetree Café. All weigh in on where Christianity is headed.

3) Wednesday panel: Especially for church leaders, “Capturing the Millennial Mind,” features Roxanne Stone (Barna Group VP, Relevant magazine editorial director, she’s covered and researched the Millennials); Palmer Chinchen (author of the upcoming “The Barefoot Tribe” manifesto is organizing a Millennials service-and-expertise network); Brad Lomenick (president of Catalyst, the premiere, dynamic leadership conference for young church leaders); and Dennis Moles (the popular RBC Ministries bible teacher who researches Millennials).

At the crossroads of a culture in flux and the changing church, CBA stores are the conversation, Riskey said. “As technology and new generations upend old practices, the stores able to survive and thrive extend customer values,” he said. “They go beyond retail to community involvement--supporting local services and ministries--and examples are out there.”

Riskey summed it up. “Technology will never replace human connection.”

To interview Curtis Riskey, contact:
Michael Conrad Michael@Lovell-Fairchild.com 214-616-0320

To talk to specific store owners about the blurring lines between church and the Christian bookstore experience, here are four of many examples:

Family Christian Stores in Grand Rapids MI
Keith Watkins Keith.Watkins@FamilyChristian.com
Family’s “Goodgoers” program invites customers on mission trips through the store’s James Fund, a comprehensive outreach to orphans and widows.

Christian Supply in Spartanburg SC
Chuck Wallington CWallington@CovenantGroupStores.com
Chuck sponsors local festivals for youth and music pastors, in-store author panels and other events to rally and support community.

The Parable Store in San Luis Obispo CA
Steve Potratz Steve.Potratz@parable.com
The Parable Store engages the community with pastor events, lifestyle marketing and merchandising and links to church and community ministry.

Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, MI
Sue Smith Sue.Smith@bakerbookstore.com
Since Sue changed her store’s strategy and hours, not only do college students regularly meet there, the store is more woven into the community fabric.

About CBA CBAonline.org
CBA is the leading association for the providers of Christian products to reach all people. We supply vital connections, information, education and encouragement to Christian product providers, who diligently distribute Bibles, Christian books, curriculum, apparel, music, videos, gifts, greeting cards, children’s resources and other materials to communities worldwide.

The King's Heralds Perform For Christian Bookstore Buyers

Nashville, TN (February 26, 2014) The oldest active Gospel quartet in America, The King's Heralds, recently performed a special showcase for over 100 Christian Bookstore owners and buyers in Murfreesboro, TN. Sharing the stage with them that evening was best selling Christian author Stacey Eldridge. Other performers who have been featured in the past are CeCe Winans, Andy Andrews , Jason Crabb, Ken Davis and author Max Lucado.

This puts the King's Heralds in an elite group of Gospel singers as only the best of the best are requested to perform for the owners and buyers. Jeff Pearles, bass singer extraordinaire, stated “It was an honor for the Heralds to perform in front of the people who decide what music will be on the shelves for people to buy.”

In other news about The King's Heralds, they have recently released a new recording entitled “Thy Blessed Spirit”. All of the songs are done in the King's Heralds accapella style with the exception of one, the old southern gospel favorite “On The Jericho Road” which features the newest addition to the quartet, lead Jered Otto.

The unique arrangements of Russell Hospedales, baritone for the group, are sure to delight their fans as they listen to the new recording. Be watching for information coming soon about the Heralds' overseas Mission trip.

You can find more information about the King's Heralds at http://theheralds.org or https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kings-Heralds .

You can book the Kings Heralds by E-mailing theheralds@aol.com .

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About The King's Heralds

The King’s Heralds have shared their music with thousands, including the Christian Booksellers Association, the National Association of Religious Broadcasters, the Protestant Health and Welfare Association, the Greater Pittsburgh Charismatic Conference and the Baptist World Alliance. The King’s Heralds have been regular guests on “Praise the Lord” on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and on the “It Is Written Telecast”. In addition to maintaining an extensive touring schedule, the group also shares their musical talents with patients and their families through a hospital ministry and have witnessed to hardened inmates with a prison ministry.