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After 85 years in business, Family Christian Bookstores announced Feb. 23 that it will shutter the more than 240 retail locations it operates in 36 states.The chain continued to face difficult retail headwinds with an increasing number of shoppers turning to the Internet rather than physical stores for their purchases.This has proven doubly true in the book business, which has seen the collapse of retailers like Borders, Waldenbooks, Crown Books, Encore Books and others since the advent of Amazon and other online sellers.We had two very difficult years post-bankruptcy, Family Christian president Chuck Bengochea said in a press release. Despite improvements in product assortment and the store experience, sales continued to decline. In addition, we were not able to get the pricing and terms we needed from our vendors to successfully compete in the market.Family Christian leaves behind a legacy of ministry initiatives that provided humanitarian aid for more than 14 million orphans, widows and oppressed people across the glob

Sad but a sign of the times. The e-book, the internet ordering is hurting many brick and mortar stores. I order my chalk and magic supplies from the net. I do not have to drive 35 miles to a store that may not have them is stock.But it is a sad state of affairs. I do miss chatting with the clerks when I did shop. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

Welcome to the internet. My wife came across a little book she started reading this morning. She read some of it to me and I was impressed. It is a book of Scriptures, entitled God's Promises & Answers. I wanted to give one as a gift so I went to Amazon to price one. $4.69 & free shipping to prime members. Now what book store can make it selling books for that price. I wonder how many of us really realize how huge Amazon and other internet sellers are.Do you remember the days of Mom & Pop stores. Then came Walmart and put most of them out of business. I love/hate Walmart. I hate it but go there. Shopping has changed drastically in the last 40 years. In our small town of less than 15K we have Lowes and Home Depot next door to each other. We also have a family owned hardware store that has been here for decades. When I need a hardware item I go to the local hardware because I can go in and ask for an item and they know what I want and where it is. The box store employees has no idea what I want or where it is Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

Walmart's biggest competitor.

About 10 years ago, as a cookie salesman I went to a sales meeting in Atlanta. In that meeting they told us that there was one company that Walmart was afraid of, Dollar General. Dollar General is taking over in our area. They are putting stores in all the small towns around us. Towns of less than 1000 people are now getting Dollar General stores. In some areas Dollar General has also started building larger stores. More like grocery stores with all the other products that DG carries. Friends, things are changing. I know you want believe this but churches are changing.I preached in a church Sunday that has a TV screen behind me and one in front of me. I was afraid they would start playing Bonanza if my sermon did not satisfy them. Seriously last year I preached a home coming at a church I pastored before. They told me that one person quit coming to that church because they put a TV in the church. The TV was a monitor used for announcements and for the song lyrics. I have heard some dumb reasons for not coming to church but this may top the chart Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com

Yep there are hold-overs from the day of anti-tv. The devil's box. Amazing that on a hand held device you can have many versions of the Bible and many other books for less than the price of one book at the book store. My e-books out sale the paper books. I still find it hard to read a book on my kindle, I am used to holding a book in my hand.BUT to the comment, yep Dollar General is growing. Some facts but mostly just my [email protected]/

There are 6 Dollar General stores in Chattooga County.Population a little over twenty thousand.Very convenient. Charles A. HutchinsSenior Pastor SPWCCongregational Church of Godwww.spwc.church

Several Christian bookstores in our area have closed down over the last few years.Family Christian was one of the last remaining, so I've gone there a few times.Last time I wandered around the store for half an hour - didn't see a single thing I needed or wanted.

Maybe they were raised Fire Baptized Holiness. If that were the case, if it weren't a TV, it might have been a necktie or a plastic wrist watch that could have run them off

I find this to be true as well [Jesus] will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. - Nicene Creed