CBA Historical Timeline | CBA - The Association for Christian Retail Since 1950

1950 – 2006

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2007

CBA President Bill Anderson introduced the association’s new three-year strategic initiative, More from the Core, which focuses on four main components of retailing: core customers, core partnerships, core staff, and core inventory.
David Crowder and his band were named Artist of the Year at the MSN Music portal, beating out Prince, Christina Aguilera, INXS, and Kenny Chesney.
8% of internet uses keep a blog while 39%, or about 57 million American adults, read blogs.
Consumer online retail spending at U.S. sites during ’06 reached $102.1 billion. Online holiday e-commerce was up 26%.
International Bible Society and Send the Light announced their merger. The new organization is now called IBS-STL.
Christian product sales grew to $4.63 billion in ’06, according to CBA’s research.
Cook Communications Ministries repositioned most of its products under the David C. Cook brand.
A Gallup Poll reported 28% of Americans believe the Bible is the literal Word of God.
Harvest House Publishers, Tyndale House Publishers, and InterVarsity Press were listed in the 2007 Best Christian Places to Work.
Since launching the iPod in ’01, Apple has sold 100 million units of the digital media player.
CBA launched its new magazine CBA Retailers+Resources.
Ruth Bell Graham, wife of Billy Graham, died at the age of 87.
Thomas Nelson planned its first-ever million-copy first printing for the release of 3:16: The Numbers of Hope by Max Lucado.
More than 9,000 people attended the International Christian Retail Show in Atlanta, GA, in July.
Christian Supply (Spartanburg, SC), The Harvest Bookstore (Riverside, CA), and Cornerstone Bookstore (Boone, NC) were each awarded with the Jim Carlson CBA Store of the Year Impact Award.
Jim Whitaker became the CBA Board Chairman on October 1.
A Kelton research study found 80% of Americans knew the ingredients of a Big Mac, while just 60% could identify “Thou shalt not kill” as one of the Tend Commandments.
Parable Franchising, LLC, acquired Lemstone Christian Stores’ parent company, Insight Retail Group.
According to CBA’s 2007 State of the Industry report, nearly 80% of store owners expect their sales to be up in 2008.

2006

The White House nominated Michael W. Smith to serve as a member of the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation that recognizes and promotes the contributions that Americans make through volunteer service to society
Integrity Dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster reports the word most frequently looked-up by its Web site’s 7 million users in ‘05 was “integrity”
Approximately 437 new Christian stores opened in ’05, resulting in a net gain of 87 stores after allowing for the closing of 350 stores during the year, according to CBA data. The majority, 66%, of those that closed were not members of CBA
Max Lucado at 21% is the most recognized brand in the Christian market according to recent Purdue research. Women of Faith at 20% is the #2 brand
The Christian Trade Association International held its first Marketsquare Europe trade show in Amsterdam
Barna research reports 45 million U.S. adults, or 20%, have read The Da Vinci Code. This ranks it as the most widely read spiritually themed book other than the Bible
2006 International Christian Retail Show, July 9-13, 2006, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO
Christian Products Sales grew to $4.34 billion in ‘04, up from $4.2 billion in ‘02 and $4 billion in ‘00 according to CBA’s 2005 Size of the Industry study
Glenn McGinnis, 67, former CBA Board Chairman and Christian retailer died of a heart attack 9/16/06
CBA-CMTA Music Initiative Many independent, franchise, and chain retailers have affirmed the CBA and Christian Music Trade Assoc.’s “New Music First” campaign for the fourth quarter and have agreed to send e-mails to customers encouraging them to sample new music and accompaniment track releases at www.newmusicfirst.com/ecard
Toyota will pass GM as the #1 U.S. auto maker in the next year
Democrats win control of both the U.S. Senate and House

2005

Effective 1/1/05 the UPC (Universal Product Code) was replaced by the EAN.UCC
Big Idea is launching the 25th VeggieTales release Duke and the Great Pie War, a film based on the story of Ruth and Naomi in early March
According to Gallup more than 8 in 10 Americans are Christian while only 9% claim no religious affiliation at all
CBA launched CROSS:BEAM, a new channel-wide solution for Christian retailers to increase efficiencies, reduce costs, and improve their ability to compete and serve customers’ spiritual needs
The new name for the CBA International Convention is the International Christian Retail Show
Jim Daly, 43, has been named the new President of Focus on the Family
The top book title owned by libraries worldwide is the U.S. Census. The Bible is second, according to USA Today Snapshots. Mother Goose is third
CBA Research among a wide ranging group of pastors discovered the primary complaint of Christian leaders about Christian stores had to do with poor customer service
ChristianTrade Association International is the name of a newly formed association whose purpose is to develop Christian trade worldwide
Aspiring Retail, CBA’s new magazine replacing CBA Marketplace, debuted with the June, 2005 issue
Kenneth Taylor, founder of Tyndale House Publishers and author of The Living Bible, died 6/10/05 at age 88 in his home in Wheaton, IL
56th Annual International Christian Retail Show–2005, Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO, July 10-14, 2005
Hurricane Katrina, one of the costliest and deadliest storms in U.S. history, hit New Orleans and Gulf Coast region August 29. More than 1,300 people died in four states
The shuttle Discovery has touched down successfully in California after the first mission since 2003’s Columbia disaster

2004

CBA is working with CBN to develop public-service announcements and “lifestyle” ads to promote Christian stores and resources they carry. A test project to run ads during The 700 Club could potentially reach 101 million core consumers’ homes
Sandi Patti, Al Green, Frances W. Preston and the late Vestal Goodman were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame earlier this month
Mark Kuyper became ECPA President & CEO in early July upon Doug Ross’s retirement. Mark had been serving as CBA Business Development & Marketing VP
According to a new Gallup poll 11% of all Americans have already seen The Passion movie. Another 34% of Americans expect to see the movie in a theater, and 31% expect to see it when it comes out on DVD or VHS. As of day 33, The Passion has grossed an estimated $315, 020,000
Mercy Me won the Group of the Year and Artist of the Year Doves. Other big winners were Switchfoot, Stacie Orrico and Jeremy Camp
The 2004 (55th annual) CBA International Convention was held in Atlanta June 26-30
The Purpose-Driven Life has sold a staggering 20 million copies worldwide. It is selling a million a month
CBA announced strategic changes in it International Convention format. The changes include a new schedule , training and exhibit floor changes. The Denver 2005 CBA Convention will begin a day later than previous shows. The new schedule is designed to help retailers use time more efficiently and to increase the value of exhibit floor hours for both retailers and exhibitors
CBA has restructured its International division by forming an International Executive Committee to oversee the operation
Former President Ronald Reagan died at his California home on June 5, nearly 10 years after announcing that he was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease
President George W. Bush was named Time magazine’s Man of the Year “for sticking to his guns”
In June, the Supreme Court reversed a lower-court decision that teacher-led recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional

2003

Ruth Hardina Anderson, 76 and founder of CAABA (the Christian African American Booksellers Association), died 11/18/03. She was owner of The Jesus Shoppe in Gary, IN
Bethany House Publisher’s has been acquired by Baker Book House
CBA radically upgraded the breadth and data-collection of the Christian Marketplace Best-Seller Lists early in 2003. Bible and book Best-Seller lists in over 20 new categories have been developed
NavPress and Godspeed Computing have announced the complete Bible version of The Message will be available in several popular e-book formats
John Bass, former CBA president, has been awarded the 2003 Christian Management Award by the Christian Management Association at its 26th annual convention
E.V. Hill, speaker, pastor, and civil-rights activist, died 2/24, of pneumonia at age 69
54th Annual CBA International Convention, Orlando, FL, July 13-17, 2003. President George W. Bush spoke via video to the people of the Christian retail industry at the Convention
ECPA reports Christian book sales at Christian retail outlets jumped 11.1% during first-half ‘03 over the same ‘02 period.
ADVANCE 2004 is the new name for the combined CBA Expo, Future of the Industry, and Independents Day events
LifeWay Christian Stores launched a new digital music downloading service offering single songs for 99¢ and complete albums for $10- $12
Seven astronauts — six Americans and one Israeli — died when the shuttle Columbia broke apart in what one witness described as a “ball of fire” about 38 miles above the Earth
Severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS became part of the global vernacular as it spread rapidly around Asia and to North America and Europe

2002

Daywind recording artist LordSong recently was awarded the No. 1 Song of the Year for 2001 for “Day Three”
Christian products purchasers represent 42% of the general population
Zondervan’s new e-format NIV Bible has reached #1 on the best-seller lists of Palm Digital Media and Microsoft Reader in just 6 weeks after its release
70,000 publishers delivered 135,000 new titles in ‘01, up from 120,000 in ‘00
53rd Annual CBA International Convention, Anaheim, CA, July 13-18, 2002
The Power Of A Praying Wife, by Stormie Omartian (Harvest House) has set a new record of 27 months for consecutive #1 appearances on the CBA bestseller lists
12 European countries adopted a single currency, the Euro

2001

The CBA Board of Directors unanimously agreed to restructure itself over the next two years. The purpose was to bring the association closer to its members and ensure voices from all kinds of stores are heard. The board was scaled down from 18 members to 11
Country Music star, Randy Travis, released his first gospel album, Inspirational Journey
Lifeway Christian Stores opened its 95th store in Katy, TX
Provident Music Group closed Benson Music after nearly 100 years
CBA President, Bill Anderson, was named a 2000 Distinguished Alumnus by LeTourneau University
52nd Annual CBA International Convention, Atlanta, GA, July 7-12, 2001
The Prayer of Jabez by Dr. Bruce Wilkinson (Multnomah) was named the 2001 Charles “Kip” Jordon Christian Book of the Year
September 11, 2001, terrorists flew hi-jacked three air liners and crashed them into New York’s The World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A third plan intended to crash into the White House, crashed in Pennsylvania after passengers overpowered the hijackers

2000

CBA moves into new headquarters in June
IBelieve.com, the e-media sister of Family Christian Stores, was launched in January with an industry record setting advertising and promotional budget of $20 million
A new CBA member category was approved to accommodate Internet and catalog resellers
CBA Marketplace won first runner up in the Association Trends 1999 publications contest, over 60 other nominations
The #1 selling Christian book in 1999 was Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Jim Cymbala, Dan Merrill, Zondervan
51st CBA International Convention, New Orleans, LA, July 8-July 13
CBA made it possible for any consumer to click directly to a member store’s website from CBA’s ‘Store Locator’ page in the CBA web site

1999

President Clinton impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives
NATO forces begin air assault in Kosovo
CBA announces new national-image consumer-awareness campaign, “What Goes Into the Mind Comes Out in a Life”™
Ground-breaking ceremony for new CBA headquarters building at five-acre site off Briargate Parkway in Colorado Springs, CO
Tyndale’s “Left Behind” series becomes the most successful Christian fiction series in history with more than 3.5 million copies in print
Barnes & Noble-Ingram deal called off in face of FTC challenge
The Phantom Menace (“Star Wars” Episode 1) release breaks all box-office records
CBA holds its 50th CBA Convention in Orlando

1998

CBA Marketing Strategies research identifies huge retail growth opportunities and specific recommendations
U.S. Congressman J.C. Watts addresses CBA’s Future of the Industry Conference
USA Today features “Life” section cover story on Christian retail
Lemstone opens 75th franchise store
CBA Frontline Training Video” Frontline Feud: Dealing With Difficult Customers receives Silver Telly award
CBA sells two-building office complex in Colorado Springs, CO
Women of Faith Conferences attract 187,000 women to 29 cities
Lloyde Johnson dies at the age of 71
49th CBA Convention in Dallas breaks all attendance records
Family Christian Stores purchases Joshua’s, giving them a total of 266 stores
Munce Marketing Group grows to 300 stores
Parable Group grows to 327 stores
The 75-store Baptist Bookstore chain changes its name to LifeWay Christian Stores
Barnes & Noble announces plans to purchase Ingram

1997

Gaylord Entertainment purchases Word Records from Thomas Nelson
Bill Anderson announces new “Impact x 2”campaign to double the industry’s impact for Christ by doubling the distribution of Christ-honoring resources through CBA member stores
CBA launches CBA Frontline magazine and “CBA Frontline Training Videos”; Bookstore Journal becomes CBA Marketplace
CNN airs Bill Anderson interview
CBA Marketplace is first industry trade journal to publish bilingual Expolit information
A chain/franchise/store rep is added to the CBA board
Ingram acquires Spring Arbor
Scottish scientists clone a sheep
13,599 people attend the 48th CBA Convention in Atlanta
Expolit attracts 7,247 people to its Miami convention
Phillip Keller dies at the age of 76
Billy Graham’s biography, Just As I Am, is released with pre-sales of nearly 1 million books
Bob Carlisle’s Butterfly Kisses becomes the first-ever song by a Christian artist to reach No. 1 on Billboards Hot 100 chart
Rich Mullins dies in a car crash at the age of 41
Mickhail Gorbachev appears in a Pizza Hut commercial
Kip Jordon dies at the age of 52
Princess Diana dies in a car crash in Paris
John Wimber dies at the age of 63
Nine of the 10 best-selling videos for 1997 are “VeggieTales”

1996

Billy and Ruth Graham are awarded the Congressional Gold Medal
Cook Communications acquires Scripture Press and Victor Books
Jars of Clay, Point of Grace, and The Imperials perform at the 47th CBA Convention in Anaheim
“VeggieTales” are the top-selling videos for the year
Bill Clinton is reelected president
CBA Convention reaches 13,000 attendees

1995

Oklahoma City bombing
Hull’s Family Bookstore celebrates its 75th anniversary in Winnipeg, Manitoba
Parable Group stores place an order for 867,000 copies of The Message of Hope
Point of Grace makes radio history when the sixth consecutive single from their debut album hits No. 1 on the Billboard Christian radio chart
788 international delegates from 58 countries attend the 46th CBA Convention in Denver; Michael W. Smith cuts the exhibit floor ribbon
Angel pin sales soar during the O.J. Simpson trial
O.J. Simpson is acquitted
Million Man March in Washington, D.C.
Baker Book House celebrates the 125th year of Fleming H. Revell
Earl Fitz, founder of Riverside, dies at the age of 89
CBA goes online for the first time
Thomas Nelson acquires C.R. Gibson
C.R. Gibson celebrates its 125th anniversary

1994

CBA Expo premieres in Nashville, attracting 161 exhibitors and 3,100 people from 770 stores
Dave Thomas cuts the ribbon to open the CBA Convention exhibit floor in Denver
O.J. Simpson freeway chase
Moody Press celebrates its 100th anniversary
Dicksons celebrates its 50th year
Dan Quayle speaks at the 45th CBA Convention banquet in Denver
SoundScan is launched through Christian retail stores
Lemstone opens its 40th franchise store
Parable Group signs Twila Paris and Steven Curtis Chapman as spokespersons
Big Idea Productions releases the first “VeggieTales” video
HarperCollins agrees to a management-led buyout of Family Christian Stores
The Christian African-American Booksellers Association (CAABA) is incorporated

1993

Cook Publishing announces plans to move to Colorado Springs after 120 years in Elgin, IL
Charlton Heston cuts the ribbon for 44th CBA Convention in Atlanta, which attracts 12,663 people, 2,634 stores, and 414 exhibitors
Bookstore Journal celebrates is 25th year
NavPress releases The Message
Christian industry reaches $3 billion in total sales
Branch Davidian cult headquarters burns down in Waco, TX
Joshua’s opens its 40th store
Expolit, the first Spanish literature trade show, attracts 2,600 people and 50 publishers from 20 countries
CBA UK attracts nearly 2,000 booksellers to its 18th annual convention
Pat Zondervan dies at the age of 94
Israel makes peace with the Palestinians

1992

International Bible Society and Living Bibles International merge
Los Angeles riots in wake of Rodney King verdict
EMI acquires Sparrow Corp.
43rd CBA Convention banquet features Lt. Col. Oliver North; Convention attendance reaches 12,000 people
Sid Zullinger dies at the age of 92
Family Christian Stores grows to 150 stores
Questar acquires Multnomah
Thomas Nelson purchases Here’s Life Publishers
Adventures in Odyssey are the top videos of 1992
Bill Clinton is elected president

1991

Gulf War erupts
Minimum wage jumps to $4.25 per hour
Focus on the Family announces move to Colorado Springs, CO
Promise Keepers holds its first stadium event in Boulder, CO, with 4,200 men attending
Munce Marketing Group is formed
42nd CBA Convention in Orlando, FL, features Chuck Swindoll and Jerry Jenkins as banquet speaker and emcee
Former PTL host Jim Bakker sentenced to 18 years in prison
1991 edition of Current Christian Books contains 40,000 titles from 22,000 authors and 480 publishers

1990

U.S. Congress designates 1990 as the “International Year of Bible Reading”
Promise Keepers begins with an initial gathering of 73 men in Boulder, CO
More than 11,000 retailers from 2,000 stores attend 41st CBA Convention in Denver; CBA is the first event in the new Colorado Convention Center; Bill Anderson speaks at the Center’s Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
CBA executive committee is expanded to include a supplier rep
Average age of Christian bookstore owner/manager is 37
Baker Book House celebrates its 50th anniversary
Hubble space telescope is launched
Randy Voorhees begins selling Bookstore Manager software, which he developed when he owned Bible Bookstore in Abilene, TX
IRT buys Information Partner

1989

Good News/Crossway celebrates its 50th anniversary
Exxon Valdez oil spill
Tiananmen Square riot and massacre
40th CBA Convention features Gordon MacDonald and Frank Peretti as speakers
CBA Convention attendance breaks 10,000 for the first time; Orel Hersheiser cuts the ribbon to open the exhibit floor in Atlanta
Walter Martin dies at the age of 60
A Thief in the Night and McGee and Me! are the top videos of the year
Berlin wall comes down

1988

Word Inc. moves from Waco, TX, to Dallas
Harper & Row acquires Zondervan Publishers and Zondervan Family Bookstores
Bill Anderson is named CEO of CBA and the CBA Service Corp.
Three supplier reps are added to CBA board
Sandy Patti, Twila Paris, and Steve Green perform at the 39th CBA Convention in Dallas
The controversial film, The Last Temptation of Christ, is released
George Bush is elected president

1987

Ronald Reagan gives a speech at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin and says, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”
The 38th CBA Convention in Anaheim, CA, attracts 300 members of the press
Presidential candidate Pat Robertson is the CBA banquet speaker, and Chuck Swindoll speaks on importance of leaders’ character
Bill Anderson and Chuck Swindoll appear on Nightwatch with Charlie Rose
Lt. Col. Oliver North testifies before Congress
Focus on the Family launches its publishing division
Josh McDowell launches his “Why Wait?” campaign
Wall Street crash

1986

Challenger space shuttle disaster
John Bass retires
Bill Anderson meets with Vice-President George Bush
Publishers Weekly begins to reprint Bookstore Journal’s best-selling book lists
Robert Benson dies at the age of 55
Steve Potratz founds The Parable Group with 10 stores
Charles Colson is the banquet speaker at the 37th CBA Convention in Washington, D.C.
Joe Bayly dies at the age of 66
Chuck Swindoll, James Dobson, and Jeanette Oke are the year’s most popular authors
Amy Grant, Steve Green, Sandy Patti, Michael W. Smith, and Petra are the year’s most popular artists
CBA establishes Hall of Honor with John and Betty Bass as first inductees

1985

The International Bible Society celebrates its 175th birthday
Better Book Room in Wichita, KS, and the Canadian Bible Society Store in Edmonton, Alberta, become the first CBA stores to commit to full automation
Bill Anderson is named President of CBA and Gary Foster is named President of CBA Service Corp.
The title of the CBA board’s chief elected officer is changed from “president” to “chairman”
36th CBA Convention features Richard Foster and Philip Yancey as speakers
George Barna founds Barna Research Group
Info Partner is first computer system sold by CBA

1984

Macintosh computer debuts following January Super Bowl commercial
35th CBA Convention in Anaheim, CA, features Lloyd Ogilvie, R.C. Sproul, and Debby Boone
IBID system begins selling through Spring Arbor, first used by Cokesbury Publishing
Francis Schaeffer dies at the age of 72
Russ Taff, Sandy Patti, and the Imperials are Dove award winners
Ronald Reagan reelected president

1983

Congress proclaims 1983 as the Year of the Bible
Charles Colson speaks at the 34th CBA Convention Banquet in Washington, D.C.
Bill Anderson is appointed CBA VP-General Manager
Lemstone Stores founded by Jim Lemon and Del Stoner
Zondervan purchases Chosen Books
Amy Grant’s Age to Age becomes the first gold album on a Gospel label by a solo artist
CBA Service Corp. adds a supplier rep to its board

1982

CBA commits to developing a retail computer system
CBA offers VCRs to retailers at a cost of $630 each
70% of Americans say they attend church
Sandy Patti makes her first CBA appearance at the 33rd CBA Convention in Dallas
Joyce Landorf is the speaker and Mel White the emcee at the closing CBA banquet
Keith Green is killed in a plane crash
Spring Arbor purchases Unilit Distributors from Tyndale
First issue of USA Today goes on sale
CBA breaks ground on a new building, which will house the CBA Service Corp.

1981

IBM PC is released at a cost of $2,880 for 64KB
CBA Service Corp. is formed
Zondervan celebrates its 50th year
Chuck Swindoll is the banquet speaker at the 32nd CBA Convention in Anaheim, CA, and Herbert Lockyer Sr. is keynote speaker
Dorothy Gore joins CBA as Assistant to the Convention Manager
Prince Charles weds Lady Diana Spencer

1980

31st CBA Convention in Dallas features pollster George Gallup at the closing banquet
CBA installs its own computer system
CBA Caravans are renamed CBA Regional Conventions
Word releases the Focus on the Family film series
CNN goes on the air
200th anniversary of the Sunday School
Zondervan acquires the Benson Co.
Future Shock by Alvin Toffler is released
Ronald Reagan elected 40th President
First reported case of AIDS

1979

Bob Benson emcees the 30th CBA Convention banquet in St. Louis
CBA sues city of St. Louis to protect contract for convention center use
Good Housekeeping declares Anita Bryant as America’s “most admired woman”
Worldwide Pictures releases its latest motion picture, Joni
Siege of American Embassy in Teheran

1978

Sadat and Begin sign peace accord at Camp David
CBA moves into its new headquarters building at 2620 Venetucci Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO
Herbert Lockyer Sr. is keynote speaker at the 29th CBA Convention in Denver
New author Charles Swindoll speaks at CBA Convention
David C. Cook reports that sales of its 6-volume Picture Bible have topped 1 million
Contemporary Christian Music magazine debuts
Spring Arbor opens its doors for business
CBN news goes on the air
Scot Foresman & Co. acquires Fleming H. Revell Co.
First test-tube baby
Harper & Row acquires J.B. Lippincott Co.
Jonestown tragedy
Bill Anderson joins CBA staff as first full-time convention manager

1977

Apple II computer debuts
Charles Colson is the banquet speaker at the 28th CBA Convention in St. Louis
Top book of the year is In Search of Noah’s Ark
Minimum wage increases to $2.30
Dr. Francis Schaeffer conducts How Should We Then Live seminars in 18 cities

1976

The United States celebrates its bicentennial
Loizeaux Brothers celebrates its 100th year
Baptist Bookstores celebrates its 50th Anniversary
Dr. James Dobson speaks at the 27th CBA Convention Banquet in Atlantic City, NJ
Best-selling authors for the year are Marabel Morgan, Corrie ten Boom, John Powell, and James Dobson
Current Christian Books is available on microfiche for the first time
Jimmy Carter elected President
Born Again by Charles Colson is the No. 1 book in Christian stores

1975

Last Americans evacuate Saigon; Communists take over the next day
CBA expands its seminar program to include vendors and calls it the Caravan
Johnny Cash performs at the 26th CBA Convention in Anaheim, CA, which also includes Joyce Landorf, Loyde John Ogilvie, Robert Schuller, and Catherine Marshall
CBA Convention attendance breaks 5,000 for the first time
Angels by Billy Graham is Publishers Weekly’s best-selling book of the year

1974

25th CBA Convention in Minneapolis features Anita Bryant, Evie Tornquist, and the 2nd Chapter of Acts
CBA holds Seminar/Exhibit Caravans across the United States
Ernie Owen of Revell is named Salesman of the Year
Best-selling authors of the year are Corrie ten Boom and Hal Lindsey

1973

OPEC oil crisis
Supreme Court legalizes abortion with Roe v. Wade ruling
Last U.S. ground troops leave Vietnam
Hal Lindsey speaks at the 24th CBA Convention in Dallas, with Pete Gillquist as the Teen Banquet speaker

1972

Publishers Weekly names The Living Bible as the fastest selling book in the United States
Congress passes the Equal Rights Amendment
Watergate
George Beverly Shea is the featured speaker at the 23rd CBA Convention in Cincinnati, OH
Campus Crusade sponsors Explo ’72 in Dallas and attracts 200,000
CBA establishes Membership Services Department with Galen Huffman as director

1971

CBA adopts Code of Ethics
Word Records introduces the “1 Free With 3” record coupon for retailers
Los Angeles earthquake damages the offices of Gospel Light in Glendale, CA
22nd CBA Convention banquet features music by Dino and Doug Oldham
Maranatha! Records releases The Everlastin’ Living JESUS Music Concert
Concordia sells its 10 millionth Arch Book
The Living Bible is published with a first printing of 500,000

1970

The New English Bible is released by Oxford
More than 500 Christian retailers attend 13 CBA regional meetings
Fleming H. Revell celebrates its 100th anniversary
Four students killed by National Guardsmen at Kent State
21st CBA Convention in Minneapolis features the theme “Successful Seventies”
CBA moves its offices from Chicago to Colorado Springs
Riverside Book & Bible introduces the first toll-free phone number in the industry
The Late Great Planet Earth is published by Zondervan

1969

Neil Armstrong becomes the first man on the moon
CBA Convention outgrows hotel capacity and moves to a convention center
Musicians at the 20th CBA Convention in Cincinnati include The Peterson Trio and Ray Hildebrand
Larry Norman’s record, Upon This Rock, is released by Capitol
Department of Defense begins funding ARPANET (Advanced Researched Projects Administration), forerunner of the Internet
Gil Tinker is appointed as first full-time editor of Bookstore Journal

1968

Martin Luther King is assassinated
Bookstore Journal replaces the Advance as the official CBA publication
Robert Kennedy is assassinated
George Beverly Shea, Rudy Atwood, and Flo Price appear at 19th CBA Convention in St. Louis
Francis Hunter makes her CBA debut
Student demonstrators disrupt the democratic convention in Chicago
Richard Nixon elected President

1967

CBA and Scripture Press sponsor the first Future Christian Booksellers Institute
Bill Zondervan is named Salesman of the Year at the 18th CBA Convention in San Diego
Israel defeats Egypt, Syria, and Jordan in the Six-Day War

1966

Congress declares 1966 as “The Year of the Bible”
CBA headquarters moves from Chicago to Homewood, IL
Zondervan Publishers acquires Harper & Row’s Bible department
Vonda Kay Van Dyke’s book, That Girl in Your Mirror, has a first press run of 100,000
The Imperials Quartet appear at the 17th CBA Convention in Chicago
Ethel Barrett is the first woman CBA banquet speaker
William B. Eerdman Sr. dies

1965

Bill Moore resigns as CBA Executive Secretary
John Bass is hired as CBA Executive Secretary
16th CBA Convention in Philadelphia features Walter Knott and W. Maxey Jarman
Standard Publishing purchases 30-store Berean Christian Stores chain
Average age of Christian bookstore owner/manager is 54

1964

The Beatles invade U.S.
John Bass is an instructor at the CBA Spring Seminars
CBA delegation presents 50 specially bound books to President Lyndon Johnson
President Johnson gives “Great Society” speech
International publishers and booksellers are recognized at the 15th CBA Convention in Chicago
President Lyndon Johnson orders air strikes on North Vietnam
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is founded

1963

Henrietta Mears, C.S. Lewis, and A.W. Tozer die
14th CBA Convention in Washington, D.C., is the first to feature a model store
Fleming H. Revell establishes the Will Barbour Award for Christian Bookstore of the Year
First CBA Status of the Industry conference is held
Revell signs New York Yankees World Series hero Bobby Richardson to write a book
Ken Taylor launches The Christian Reader
Martin Luther’s gives his “I Have a Dream” speech in Washington, D.C.
JFK is assassinated

1962

First-class postage increases to 5 cents
13th CBA Convention features J. Sidlow Baxter and Audrey Meier
Living Letters is introduced at the CBA Convention in Chicago by Ken Taylor
The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan is published
Cuban missile crisis

1961

CBA membership hits 830
12th CBA Convention is held in Miami Beach, FL
CBA Board establishes a fund to assist overseas bookstores
Berlin wall erected

1960

Paul Harvey is the banquet speaker at the 11th CBA Convention
Mrs. Charles Cowman dies at the age of 90
American annual family income is $4500
Modern Charismatic movement begins in Van Nuys, CA
11th CBA Convention Saturday concert features Rudy Atwood, Frank Boggs, and the Blackwood Brothers Quartet
John F. Kennedy is elected President

1959

10th CBA Convention is held in Grand Rapids
Uncas gives away the first CBA gift jewelry
Bill Moore becomes CBA’s first full-time Executive Secretary
CBA moves into its own offices in Chicago

1958

CBA introduces a $2 Convention registration fee
Henrietta Mears speaks at the CBA Convention banquet, which costs $3 per person to attend
Macy’s celebrates its 100th anniversary
Wham-O manufactures the Hula Hoop

1957

Eighth CBA Convention attracts 163 suppliers and 1,325 retailers from 290 stores
CBA group life insurance costs $15 per $1,000 coverage
The Soviet Union launches Sputnik, the world’s first satellite

1956

CBA presents 50 specially bound Christian books to the White House
Eisenhower re-elected as President
Shirley Hawkins sings at the seventh CBA Convention
Convention rooms at the Sherman Hotel in Chicago cost $9 each for a single

1955

First McDonald’s opens
Sixth CBA Convention is held in Washington, D.C., the first outside of Chicago
First national CBA advertising campaign: Why You Should Buy at Your Christian Bookstore
Whittemore Associates Inc. in Boston becomes the first $1 million store
Elvis Presley records his first song

1954

Fifth CBA Convention in Chicago features Dr. Wilbur Smith
Christian Bookseller magazine is launched by Robert Walker

1953

Korean War ends
603 booksellers attend fourth CBA Convention in Chicago
First CBA Suppliers Directory published

1952

Christian Booksellers Advance, forerunner of Bookstore Journal, CBA Marketplace, and AspiringRetail launched
Eisenhower elected U.S. President
First CBA training for retailers held in Scottdale, PA

1951

Second annual CBA Convention banquet features J.C. Penney
First CBA training course for retailers is held in Chicago

1950

First CBA Convention held at the Hotel LaSalle in Chicago
Christian Booksellers Association incorporated in Illinois with 219 charter member stores and sets up offices at Moody Press
William Moore is named President
Cathode-ray tube perfected
TV dinners invented
First credit card is introduced (Diner’s Club)