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April 28, 2009

Christian Book Expo Nixed for 2010

ECPA president and CEO Mark Kuyper: “We want to clean up the debt before we consider future options."

Stan Guthrie

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association has decided to not stage another consumer-focused Christian Book Expo next year. This year's event, held last month in Dallas, drew only 1,500 of an anticipated 10,000 to 15,000 attendees and left the ECPA with $250,000 in bills. Christianity Today participated in the event by convening five author panel discussions on topics such as "Does the God of Christianity Exist, and What Difference Does It Make?" (Podcasts and videos of these discussions are available.) Mark Kuyper, ECPA's president, told Publisher's Weekly, ""We want to clean up the debt before we consider future options."

posted by Stan Guthrie | Comments (4)

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I became aware of the Expo very late in the day but when I did I found the program fascinating. My wife and I identified it as an event we should keep an eye on, with a view to attending it in future. Accordingly, I subscribed to the mailing list.

Is my situation unusual? Might this be an event that needs wider publicity to be successful, or was I simply off the grapevine that most people were on?

Posted By: Terry | April 28, 2009 8:25 PM

My wife and I attended this year's Expo, and it was truly the highlight of our year. It was a very uplifting experience for us, and we would travel far to attend another one. We were also amazed at how many people we talked to who did not know anything about it, even people who are in the Christian book business or ministry. So perhaps wider publicity would help. We certainly hope there will be another one before many years!

Posted By: Daniel Yoder | April 29, 2009 4:24 PM

Wow, I really hate to hear the CB Expo bombed. That is the only kind of fiction I really read any more. I was hoping to see the new series by Mark H. Barratt show up there (www.GuardianofHeaven.com) - maybe they will be back, we can only hope they overcome their current difficulties. GL, www.aboutlifecolumn.com

Posted By: Glynda Lomax | May 1, 2009 9:20 PM

What is God doing???? The Bible says, we are in the world, but not of the world. Jesus went out & mixed with the world & brought many in. I believe God would want us to mix with the secular book world & let the Holy Spirit...pour out His Spirit in these last days. I thank Him for allowing change to force us to reach ore people. Look at the opportunity to minister to the world in the secular book expos. AMEN.

Posted By: Debbie Patten | April 2, 2010 10:44 AM