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2011: The James 1:27 calling becomes the mission for all areas of business at Family
Christian, from internal communication to catalog and emails. Greater initiative is taken to inform the customer of how a percentage of every purchase with Family Christian goes to support orphans and widows around
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2012: Family
Christian Stores reaches two significant ministry milestones: 100,000 child sponsorships through customer generosity and nearly 1,000,000 Bibles donated around the world through various promotional partnerships with Bible ministries. Launches new company logo and branding in all print
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2010: Family
Christian’s commitment to The James Fund and the mission of James 1:27 moves center stage, being adopted as the company’s “calling.” In support of their commitment to orphans and widows around the world, Family Christian launches Good Goers Mission-based Adventure Travels and begins
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of the Bible. The two companies shared the same office complex in
Western Michigan. Family Christian Stores increased its size through acquisitions, including Joshua's Christian Stores and Shepherd Shoppe. Christian items and church supplies were also sold over the internet through the company
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which had been the majority owner since 1999. The new owners had the singular idea to turn it into an engine for increased
Christian generosity by pledging to its customers that 100% of store profits would go towards Christian organizations and causes, preferably ministries serving widows and
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1993: Zondervan reorganizes again into two distinct businesses, Zondervan
Publishing House and Family Book Stores, both reporting directly to HarperCollins. Leslie Dietzman who had been in charge of the division continues as president and CEO of Family Book Stores
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the world through the work of their non-profit foundation The James Fund. Family
Christian Stores adopts new logo and begins rolling out new brand strategy that reflects this calling. Company also re-launches website on new e-commerce/multi-channel platform.
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1981: Family Book Stores’ stands at 64 stores in 20 states. Zondervan establishes a policy to open stores only in established shopping centers. At this time, it’s estimated that 30% of the chain’s customers do not attend
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website which transitioned to a new platform in the fall of 2011. Some of the larger stores in the chain hosted large in-store events including concerts for
Christian artists, book signings and special events.
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1971: Zondervan reorganizes into six distinct divisions, which includes the retail division. The company changes the name of its bookstore chain from
Zondervan Book Stores to Family Book Stores.
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launched
Zondervan Publishing House as a company committed to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ through publishing and eventually Christian resources and products as well.
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2003: Family Christian Stores establishes The James Fund, a non-profit 501(c)(3) foundation dedicated to serving orphans and widows as based on the Bible verse James 1:27.
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orphans. In December of that year, the organization was granted 501 (c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service, officially transforming it into a nonprofit company.
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1994: The leadership organizes a management buyout of Family Book Stores from HarperCollins, making the organization an independent company with 153 stores nationwide.
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1932: Zondervan opens its first store in Grand Rapids, Michigan to sell remainders purchased from Harper Brothers. It is simply named Zondervan Book Store.
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February 27, 2019: Family Christian Stores reopens as an online store two years after going out of business. They changed their name to Family Christian.
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1997: Family Book Stores changes its name to Family Christian Stores to better reflect the variety of Christian lifestyle products it sells.
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In 2012, the management team and a group of Atlanta based Christian businessmen purchased the company from the private equity firm
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collateral and in-store signage. Company purchased by current management team and a group of Atlanta-based Christian businessmen.
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1960: Zondervan opens a third bookstore in Wyoming, Michigan. Stores in Flint, East Lansing and Indianapolis were soon to follow.
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1937: Zondervan opens its second bookstore in Winona Lake, Indiana. They also begin selling books, music and cards by catalog.
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The company was founded in 1931 by two young brothers who were first generation Americans at the start of
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focused retailer. In 2013, the chain transitioned to a non-profit before filing for bankruptcy in 2015,
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In 2015, Family Christian Stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and in 2017, closed all retail stores.
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is a Christian themed web retailer. Originally a retail chain, by 2008, it was the world's largest
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1988: Zondervan is acquired by Harper & Row Publishers, which later becomes HarperCollins.
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In 2019, Family Christian Stores reopened two years after closing and became an online store.
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2013: Family Christian Stores transitions from a for-profit to a non-profit organization.
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1933: Zondervan publishes its first book, Women of the Old Testament, by Abraham Kuyper.
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facilitation and coordination of mission trips in North, Central and South America.
234:, Cathy Lynn Grossman, December 13, 2007, USA Today, Retrieved January 22, 2008
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2000: Family Christian Stores’ store count stands at 356 stores in 39 states.
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2002: David M. Browne becomes President and CEO of Family Christian Stores.
268:; August 21, 2001; christianactivities.com; Retrieved January 22, 2008
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1999: Family Christian Stores is acquired by a private equity firm.
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81:, the Christian publishing company that owns the copyright to the
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May 13, 2017: Family Christian Stores closes all their stores.
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2015: Family Christian Stores files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
289:, Family Christian Press Release, Retrieved November 16, 2012
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1975: Family Book Stores’ location count stands at 40 stores.
301:"Family Christian closing all stores including 7 in W. MI"
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FFH Draws Crowds Nationwide with Release of New CD, Book
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Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017
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Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015
299:Deiters, Barton; LaFurgey, Joe (23 February 2017).
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54:in 2017 and returning as a web retailer in 2019.
217:Family Christian Stores, Inc. quick information
150:1989: Family Book Stores opens its 102nd store.
384:Defunct retail companies of the United States
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175:2006: Cliff Bartow becomes President and CEO.
16:American web retailer and former retail chain
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247:Family Christian Stores Company Description
389:Companies based in Grand Rapids, Michigan
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93:Going out of Business Sales in April 2017
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404:Retail companies disestablished in 2017
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394:American companies established in 1931
249:, Hoovers, Retrieved January 22, 2007
219:, Hoovers, Retrieved January 22, 2007
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399:Retail companies established in 1931
429:Madison Dearborn Partners companies
379:Defunct companies based in Michigan
439:Religion in Grand Rapids, Michigan
424:2017 disestablishments in Michigan
77:Until 1993, the chain was part of
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66:. From their family farmhouse in
419:1931 establishments in Michigan
374:Bookstores of the United States
369:Christian mass media companies
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325:"Family Christian website"
434:Protestantism in Michigan
112:Family Christian Branding
99:Madison Dearborn Partners
83:New International Version
232:Faith's purchasing power
40:Family Christian Stores
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44:Grand Rapids, Michigan
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23:Simi Valley, CA Store
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444:Christian bookstores
68:Grandville, Michigan
64:The Great Depression
32:Zondervan Book Store
42:) headquartered in
285:2012-11-18 at the
264:2007-10-31 at the
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52:closing all stores
36:Family Book Stores
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70:. Pat and Bernie
30:(formerly called
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363:Categories
310:2019-10-26
305:woodtv.com
204:References
79:Zondervan
72:Zondervan
48:Christian
283:Archived
262:Archived
120:Timeline
144:church.
58:History
335:13 May
38:, and
337:2017
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