Press Release
May 30, 2008

GPA Announces Change of Venue for Beijing Book Fair
God is at work in China. Will you join Him?

Contact:
John Eames at 480-966-3998 or john@eamesliterary.com
Tina Jacobson at 800-927-0517 ext. 101 or tjacobson@tbbmedia.com

Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX—According to a report in the May 2008 issue of Christianity Today, the newest churches in China bear little resemblance to the secret rural home churches that have been the norm since the end of the cultural revolution. Today, many new Christians are college educated, some having acquired both their degree and their Christian faith while overseas, and they are joined by other members of China’s elite. In the words of CT writer Rob Moll, “Urban church buildings are rising up like bamboo shoots.” These new churches operate in full view of and cooperation with the government. And they are actively seeking resources that will develop their faith and equip them to take their place in the global church.

For the past five years, GPA (Global Publishers Alliance), a sister organization of ECPA, has been actively pursuing avenues for the introduction of Christian literature in the Chinese market. “The church in China has been experiencing explosive growth over the last several years. At the same time, there is a dearth of good quality materials for follow-up and discipleship,” says GPA president John Eames. “A wealth of content on these specific topics has been developed in the West, and the member publishers of ECPA want to make those materials available to the people of China.”

To that end, GPA has represented Christian publishers at the annual Beijing International Book Fair for three years. GPA’s program at these events includes seminars, speakers, bookstore tours, face time with Chinese publishers and translators, and cultural experiences. The program has yielded increasing returns every year. The board of GPA, along with ECPA, view this event as one of the major ministry opportunities currently available to the Christian publishing industry.

Unfortunately, due to the summer Olympic games that will be held this summer in Beijing, the logistics of participating in a book fair in that location in 2008 proved impossible. But a change of venue has actually resulted in an even greater opportunity for American Christian publishers looking to license their content in Chinese language editions. For the past four years, CTAI (Christian Trade Associates International) has been hosting an event similar to the Beijing Book Fair in Hong Kong that attracts publishers from Hong Kong, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Singapore. On September 7-9, 2008, GPA and CTAI will combine resources to present a massive combined rights fair in Hong Kong.

“To make it a really compelling event for American publishers, we are inviting 35 publishers from mainland China, who have already done some publishing of religious content, to attend, and we are creating some compelling incentives to persuade them to come,” Eames states. “The combination of mainland publishers plus the normal attendees of the annual CTAI conference will make this a great deal for American publishers. Basically, it’s like attending two rights fairs for the price of one.” GPA is underwriting the total cost of participation of the mainland publishers in the event in order to eliminate the financial barrier to this important group.

Exhibitors should register before June 15 to get the discounted registration fee of $1495.

For the Christian publishing industry, there can be no greater endeavor than to satisfy the spiritual needs of those who truly hunger and thirst for righteousness. Don’t miss this opportunity to encourage the growing church in China.