NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2006 NEWS

Re:fresh books and christian resources has just completed its second year in business at 23 The Broadway, Tolworth.  We thank God for his goodness.  During this second year we have achieved our most optimistic budget but that does not mean we are making a huge profit!  Re:fresh is about more than just sales. 

Recently, we have been encouraged by a number of people who have said how they have been helped when they visited the shop at a time of particular need.  One lady subsequently committed her life to Christ and is eagerly studying the Bible and considering going to Bible College.  Another couple had just learned of the death of their son.  Please pray that when needy people come into the shop, we will be able to give them time and will have sensitivity and wisdom in knowing how to help them.

With Christmas fast approaching, re:fresh has a large range of attractive Christmas cards from five leading Christian charities, plus seasonal items such as Advent calendars and Nativity sets.  Throughout November and December there are some superb offers on books and Bibles, many of which will make excellent Christmas presents.  They include books by popular authors and ‘3 for the price of 2’ offers on Christian biographies and Christmas books for children.

Visit the lights of Broadway!     On Wednesday November 22, the Christmas Lights will be switched on in Tolworth Broadway.  Re:fresh books and christian resources plans to stay open until 7.30 on that evening and on the following two Wednesday evenings and will be offering light refreshments. Here are a few ways in which you can take advantage of this late night opening:- ·         Tolworth Broadway has many eating places to suit every pocket and every taste – visit re:fresh  and go on for a meal afterwards. ·         If you are a small group leader or youth group leader, bring your group for an hour and combine it with a social event such as bowling or a group meal. ·         If you pass re:fresh on your way home from work, make good use of time by calling in to buy books, music, cards or gifts Please pray for the shop during this Christmas season that staff will be able to share the Light of the World with those in spiritual darkness.

 

Christmas cards and gifts
Re:fresh is majoring on charity cards this Christmas because these are preferred by many customers.  This is a way to show friends and relatives that we remember them and, at the same time,  to help those less fortunate than ourselves.  The shop is stocking cards from five Christian charities – The Leprosy Mission, Samaritan’s Purse, Spurgeon’s Child Care, Tearfund and Toybox.  There are some distinctive and attractive cards from each of these charities (for examples see our website www.refreshbooks.co.uk and click on ‘Christmas Cards’.)

Other seasonal items include advent calendars and nativity sets.  Nativity sets range from £3.99 to £200 !   Meanwhile there is a wide range of gift items at prices to suit every pocket.    See also the selection of pictures, pewter photo frames, glassware, mugs, jewellery, and specific gifts for men and women.   Re:fresh also sells its own gift tokens, redeemable against any goods in the shop, or National Book Tokens that can be redeemed at Christian or secular bookshops.

 Books for Christmas
There are a number of new books at re:fresh that will make excellent Christmas presents.  Philip Yancey’s thought-provoking new book Prayer – does it make any difference? is reduced by £1 only at re:fresh.  Selwyn Hughes’ Joy for Today – a new pocket-sized one year devotional, is reduced by £2.00 to £5.99.  For preachers and teachers, John Blanchard’s Complete Gathered Gold is a collection of 16,000 quotations and illustrations from a lifetime of preaching. 

 Exclusive to re:fresh, and only available while stocks last, are a number of special offers on Bibles and books to celebrate the shop’s second birthday.  They include £8 off the hardback NIV Study Bible, reduced from £39.99 to £31.99 – an excellent buy for anybody who wants a readable and yet scholarly Bible with a concise commentary and background notes.  Hardback copies of TNIV (the  2005 revision of the popular New International Version of the Bible) are reduced by £7 from £16.99 to £9.99 while ‘Soft-Tone’ Editions are reduced from £24.99 to £16.99.   Finally the pocket edition of The Message New Testament and Psalms is on sale for £2.99.

 Also in this exclusive offer are a number of CWR books at half price including Selwyn Hughes’ autobiography, My Story at £4.99 and three Cover to Cover Bible study guides, at £4.99 each.  Meanwhile the 40-day devotional guide for women, How to be a Secure Woman, is reduced to £3.99.

For children, re:fresh currently has a ‘3 for the price of 2’ offer on selected Lion and Candle Christmas titles.   This offer is only available in independent Christian bookshops like re:fresh, as is a second ‘3 for the price of 2’ offer on popular biographies such as The Heavenly Man, Killing Fields Living Fields, Nobody’s Child, Faith like Potatoe,  God’s Golden Acre and many more!

In common with many other Christian bookshops, re:fresh is also part of the ‘Select’ promotion with £2 off a large selection of popular books by well-known authors including John Eldredge, Richard Foster, J John, RT Kendall, Rob Lacey, Max Lucado, John Maxwell, Stormie Omartian, John Ortberg and Philip Yancey.  There is also £1.00 off three of the popular Alpha course books by Nicky Gumbel – Questions of Life, Searching Issues and A Life Worth Living.  There is £3.00 off Francine Rivers’ modern interpretation of the story of Hosea, Redeeming Love, and £2.00 off two other novels by this award-winning writer.

 … and music
Special offers on Christian CDs include £1.00 off the latest Stuart Townend and Chris Tomlin CDs – Monument to Mercy and See the morning.  These are exclusive to re:fresh and while stocks last.  The new Delirious album Now is the Time is now in stock while two other Delirious albums, Mission Bell and World Service, are reduced to £10.00 and £9.00 respectively.

The best thing is to come in and see!

OCTOBER 2006 NEWS

2^nd Birthday celebrations for re:fresh

Re:fresh books & christian resources  celebrated its second birthday in October.

The shop opened on October 23, 2004.   In February this year it won the Small Retailer of the Year Award at the Christian Booksellers' Convention, after only 16 months in business.  Last year it made budget, despite the difficult retail environment, and this year it looks set to achieve its most optimistic budget with a 30% increase in sales.

But re:fresh is not just about sales - the mission of the shop is to work in conjunction with local churches to help people come to faith in Jesus, to grow in their faith and to become more effective in their Christian service.

Re:fresh books & christian resources is at 23 The Broadway, Tolworth (close to Tolworth Tower.)  There is free parking for one hour in the M&S/public car park nearby and meter parking all day Saturday in Tolworth Broadway.

 June News

With the Holiday Season fast approaching, re:fresh books and christian resources has books for every taste including Christian biography, devotional books and Christian fiction – many on special offer.   Why not look for opportunities to leave a good book where somebody else may pick it up – see our Take it & Leave it initiative below. Camps and Holiday clubs If you are planning a summer camp or holiday club, re:fresh books can provide books and other items (pens, stickers, bracelets etc.).  Some children’s books are available on special offer – but only while stocks last! New!  Expanded DVD range Re:fresh books has introduced an extensive new range of DVDs for adults and children including Christian biography, teaching materials, movies etc.   Topical subjects are The Prize, The Ultimate Goal and More than a game which feature spectacular football action with world-class players discussing their dreams, disappointments and motivation.  Childrens’ titles include classics such as Treasures of the Snow and Tanglewoods’ Secret.  Classic films such as  John Wesley and Martin Luther are available along with biographies of well-known Christians past and present.  The evangelistic DVD So, Who is this Jesus? featuring The Bill actor Russell Boulter is an excellent resource for youth discussions or seeker groups (See review on www.refreshbooks.co.uk.)       Holiday Reading Take it and Leave it Many holiday venues have a ‘library’ or book corner where holidaymakers can leave books they have read and pick up books left by other holidaymakers. Why not take a good Christian book on holiday – the biography of a well-known Christian, or a good Christian novel – and leave it for somebody else to read?  Holidays are times when otherwise-busy people have time to relax and read. This is an opportunity to leave something that may awaken somebody’s spiritual interest or change their life!  Think about the book.  Look for something that will have topical appeal or grab a person’s interest – a sporting theme, crime or intrigue, a well-known personality in the world of sport, entertainment or politics.  Try to avoid something that is too overtly “Christian”.  Look for an attractive cover and a publishers’ blurb that will appeal.  Read the book first yourself to make sure that you are happy with its content … but avoid the temptation to underline passages that you think especially pertinent for non-Christians!   Holiday Reading - Biography Here are a few suggestions for books that you could enjoy on holiday and then leave for somebody else:- Taming the Tiger by Tony Anthony, three-times World Kung Fu Champion. Startling Beauty by Heather Gemmen – one woman’s spiritual journey after rape. The Cross & the Switchblade by Dave Wilkerson – still compelling after 40 years. Saddam’s Secrets by Georges Sada – The book that made headlines in January. Walk on: The Spiritual Journey of U2 by Steve Stockman – New edition, explores the spiritual themes behind U2’s music and lead singer Bono. Bernhard Langer my autobiography – his golfing achievements and Christian faith. Pride and Perjury by Jonathan Aitken – The fall from grace of the former Cabinet Minister and his journey to faith. End of the Spear by Steve Saint - Fifty years after five missionaries were martyred in the jungles of Equador, the son of one of them tells the story of the Waodani (or 'Auca') Indians Holiday Reading - Fiction Re:fresh books has special offers on Christian fiction by authors like Karen Kingsbury, Frank Peretti, Dee Henderson and Ted Dekker.  It includes all 17 titles featured in the recent free sampler, Escape with a good book, and more! Billy Graham Billy Graham has been used by God to win thousands for Christ over the last 60 years. His new book The Journey reflects his lifetime of Christian experience and ministry with a wealth of practical advice on how to live an effective Christian life in an uncertain world.  Meanwhile John Pollock’s biography of Billy Graham has been updated and is available at a reduced price of £6.99 (RRP £8.99.) New!  Just in and hot off the press is Billy Graham – living in God’s love - the complete transcript of his historic June 2005 New York Crusade.   New! Help for small groups There is a variety of modern resources for cell groups and home groups including helps for worship and DVD-based study materials, in addition to long-established group study materials such as the ever-popular Lifebuilder series.  Re:fresh books has introduced a new section on Small Group Resources to its website, www.refreshbooks.co.uk.  This includes reviews of CDs for use in worship (beautiful scenery, musical accompaniment and lyrics on screen), and DVD-based study materials.  Look at the site and visit the shop. Evangelistic Courses If you are planning any autumn Alpha or Christianity Explored courses or something similar, don’t forget we are happy to publicise these in the shop and on the Courses & resources section of our website.  Please send specific details on start date, venue, time and contact number.

April 2006 News

An evening with Jennifer Rees Larcombe Re:fresh books & christian resources, in association with Hodder & Stoughton and Holy Trinity Church, Claygate, hosted a book event with Jennifer Rees Larcombe on Monday April 24th.    Jennifer spoke about her latest book Journey into God’s Heart, which retells the story of her troubled childhood, her life-threatening illness and subsequent miraculous healing and more recent events including the trauma of bereavement and divorce.  Re:fresh wins Retailer of the Year Award Re:fresh books & christian resources won the ‘Small Retailer of the Year Award’ at the recent Christian Booksellers Convention in Telford.  The Award is one of two awards made each year at the Convention, one for “small” bookshops with a turnover up to £200,000 a year and the other for “large” bookshops.  There are approximately 600 Christian bookshops in the UK of which the majority are “small”.  Criteria used by the judges include organization and control of business activity, originality and creativity in presentation and marketing activity, turnover growth, customer care, community involvement, stock turn and staff development.   The Award is especially pleasing because re:fresh books only opened 18 months ago. Easter offers at re:fresh Re:fresh books offers a wide range of attactive Easter cards and gifts.  The much-anticipated DVD of The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is available.   Meanwhile the March book promotion is continuing through April, giving customers more time to purchase books that were featured in the free World Book Day sampler.  These include Jesus – Safe, Tender, Extreme by Adrian Plass, End of the Spear by Steve Saint, Spoken from the Heart by Selwyn Hughes, Dinner with a Perfect Stranger by David Gregory and The Busy Christian’s Guide to Busyness by Tim Chester. Back to Narnia The DVD of the Disney/Walden Media film The Chronicles of Narnia – the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is now in stock, making an ideal Easter gift for Narniacs.  The release of the film just before Christmas provided re:fresh staff with opportunities to talk to people about the spiritual realities behind CS Lewis’ imagery.   Now the DVD will offer Christians the chance to watch the movie again with family or friends and discuss the meaning behind the story.  Re:fresh books still stocks copies of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and other related books including Christin Ditchfield’s Family Guide to the Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe.  These are reviewed on the re:fresh website www.refreshbooks.co.uk. Answers to The Da Vinci Code The movie version of The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks, Audrey Tautou and Sir Ian McKellen, is scheduled to be released on May 19.   Despite it’s attacks on some of the fundamentals of the Christian faith, Dan Brown’s book can offer the opportunity for Christians to tell non-Christian friends what they believe and why.  Re:fresh books stocks a number of books and pamphlets dealing with issues raised by The Da Vinci Code.  They include Nicky Gumbel’s helpful booklet The Da Vinci Code – a Response at £1.00 and Richard Abanes’ The truth behind the Da Vinci Code at £4.50.   Reviews of these and other books on the Da Vinci Code can be seen on www.refreshbooks.co.uk.

Re:fresh wins Retailer of the Year Award

Telford: February 27, 2006

Re:fresh books & christian resources won the Retailer of the Year 2006 Award at the annual Christian Booksellers’ Convention in Telford this week.

The bookshop, which only opened 16 months ago, won the “Small Retailer of the Year 2006” Category in the annual awards.   There are around 600 Christian Bookshops in the UK, the majority of which fall into the “small” category, with a turnover of up to £200,000 a year.

Criteria used by the judges in making an award include organization and control of business activity, originality and creativity in presentation and marketing activity, turnover growth, ministry impact, customer care, community involvement, stock turn and staff development.  Bookshops are normally nominated for an award by the publishers’ sales representatives but judging of the final shortlist includes a visit by an independent assessor.

Re:fresh books & christian resources is an independent Christian bookshop, set up in October 2004.  In its first year of trading it managed to achieve its budget despite the downturn in retail sales generally.  This has hit the Christian book trade along with most sectors of the retail trade.  Figures to date indicate that  re:fresh will achieve a planned 25% increase in sales in its second year.

Re:fresh has a spacious, well-lit interior with seating.   Customers often comment on the breadth of stock.  Special features include a well-stocked children’s corner, a music centre with CD browser and listening post.  In addition to the wide stock of Bibles and Christian books, it also stocks quality greetings cards, gift items and fair trade goods.

Re:fresh books & christian resources is located at 23 The Broadway, Tolworth (close to Boots and Marks & Spencer) a few hundred yards from the Tolworth Junction on the A3.  This makes it easily accessible from many parts of SW London and North Surrey, and there is free parking in the public/Marks & Spencer Car Park nearby or meter parking in The Broadway.

FEBRUARY 2006 NEWS

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World Book Day
Thursday March 2 is World Book Day.  Schools, libraries and bookshops will be holding special events to encourage reading.  The Christian book trade, including re:fresh books, is running its own initiative through March with a free sampler book containing chapters from books by well-known authors including  Patrick Johnstone, Selwyn Hughes, Eugene Peterson, Joyce Meyer, Adrian Plaas and Jonathan Aitken.  There will be discounts of £1.00 or £2.00 off the related titles.

Thought about a reading group?
Reading groups are increasingly popular, encouraged by leading publishers, National Newspapers, radio and TV shows such as Richard and Judy’s Bookclub.  
Re:fresh books is exploring ways in which it can encourage Christian reading groups.   We are extending our discount scheme for churches and schools to include reading groups when they purchase five or more copies of a book.  We are also prepared to publicise local groups on our website and in the shop.  An article on reading groups, with links to suitable resources can be found on the re:fresh books website www.refreshbooks.co.uk.

What about a library for your church or group?
One local church-based Mums and Toddlers group recently purchased a stock of books in order to start a small library.  The books were mainly geared to parenting and related issues, including Rob Parsons’ Sixty Minute Mother, currently on special offer at £4.99 instead of £6.99.  The library provides an opportunity to introduce non-church parents to positive Christian values.     

New books
J. John’s new novel, The Road Home, is a retelling of the story of the Prodigal Son.   With the continuing interest in CS Lewis and The Chronicles of Narnia, a new evangelistic book Knowing Aslan by Thomas Williams (£1.99), is suitable for people who have been to see the movie. New from RT Kendall and Andrew Sampson is Can you handle the Truth (£8.99) which uses 2 Timothy to challenge readers to be sure of what they believe and to stand by their faith.  Other new titles include A Universal Heart: The Life and Vision of Brother Roger of Taizé (£10.99) 

Planning a Holiday Club?
Pyramid Rock is the new Scripture Union five-day Holiday Club programme for 5s-11s featuring the story of Joseph.   The leaders’ book costs £8.99 while there is an accompanying DVD with the five daily episodes (£14.99) and Joseph’s Jotter, for the children (£1.99) which includes the Bible text in a child-friendly format and activities to help the children explore each day’s theme.

Website developments

We are continuing to develop the re:fresh website www.refreshbooks.co.uk.  It includes a list of courses such as Alpha, Christianity Explored and the York Course for Lent – Where is God?  If your church is running courses that should be added to this list please email our administrator at refresh@wordservice.net with details

Beyond Narnia

The release of the movie The Chronicles of Narnia – The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe has promoted new interest not only in CS Lewis’ children’s books but also in Lewis’ other writings such as Mere Christianity.   This has given opportunities to talk to people in the shop about the message behind Lewis’ writings.  Click HERE for details of some of the titles available, including family guides to The Chronicles of Narnia and to The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, which explore the spiritual lessons behind the imagery.  

Not such good news will be the release in May of the movie of The Da Vinci Code, starring Tom Hanks.  Despite its scurrilous and inaccurate attacks on the Christian faith and on the character of Jesus, the Da Vinci Code does present Christians with the opportunity to talk about the truth of Jesus Christ when challenged.   Re:fresh books stocks a number of books examining The Da Vinci Code  including Nicky Gumbel’s helpful booklet The Da Vinci Code – a response.  At £1.00 this is a useful booklet to have available to give to friends and colleagues who ask questions.  Click HERE for information on books about The Da Vinci Code.