Contact: Kim Pettit
ChristianTrade Association International
+1 (719) 432-8428
E-mail: kpettit@ChristianTrade.com
How fast is the Gospel spreading in Africa? According to the 2010 Status of Global Mission report just issued by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, the rate of growth of the Church means that in just the next 24 hours, there will be 34,000 new Christians in Africa. In just one week, that adds up to 238,000 people; in a month, to more than one million. It is statistics like these that draw Nelson, Tyndale, Kregel, Swanson and a host of suppliers to Marketsquare Africa.
They come to answer the questions: “How will these new Christians be discipled? Who can provide the Bibles and study materials they will need for their faith to grow?” At Marketsquare Africa, publishers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers are gathering to learn from each other and to do business—all with the hope of furthering the Great Commission.
“Marketsquare Africa is a ChristianTrade convention organized in three countries: Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya,” says Jim Powell, ChristianTrade president. “We want to make sure that new believers in every part of the globe can obtain life-giving resources. What better way is there to do this than by strengthening the Christian trade where the Church is growing most?”
In Ghana, with the assistance of Challenge Enterprises and the Ghana Publishers Association, Marketsquare Africa will take place in Friday and Saturday, 9-10 April in Accra. ChristianTrade is partnering with CBA Nigeria to hold Marketsquare Africa Monday and Tuesday, 12-13 April, in Lagos. And in Nairobi, ChristianTrade is working with ChristianTrade Association Kenya to hold Marketsquare Africa Friday and Saturday 16-17 April. Each location will feature exhibitions, training for booksellers and publishers, inspiration, and fellowship.
Exhibitors include American companies AMG Publishers, B&H Publishing, Baker, Barbour, Crossway, Destiny Image, Great Value Books, Kregel, Moody, NavPress, Rollins Pilot, Strang, Swanson, Thomas Nelson, Tyndale, and Whitaker House. South African companies joining the event are Christian Art Gifts, Living Products, and Lux Verbi. China-based Kingneed and Denmark’s Scandinavia Publishing House will also take part in Marketsquare Africa, and there will be local exhibitors as well in each country.
“All of us in the Christian trade share the vision to grow the Church and fulfill the Great Commission,” says Kim Pettit, ChristianTrade director. “We are so grateful for suppliers who have caught this vision and are joining us for Marketsquare Africa. We look forward to gathering with our African brothers and sisters to celebrate, support, and pray for our ministries and what the Lord can do through them to reach Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and the entire region.”
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ChristianTrade Association International is a worldwide association of nations, companies, and individuals committed to fulfilling the Great Commission by distributing Christian resources. It holds international regional conventions in Asia, Europe, Africa and North America; publishes an annual Christian-trade directory; hosts international events at CBA’s International Christian Retail Show; and serves as a catalyst for growing the Christian trade worldwide. For more information, please visit www.ChristianTrade.com or e-mail info@ChristianTrade.com.