ChristianTrade Association international
Vision: To see excellent Christian resources impact the lives of people everywhere.
Mission: To support the Christian resource industry worldwide as it advances the Gospel.
ChristianTrade Association International (CTAI) is a worldwide association of nations, companies, and individuals committed to fulfilling the Great Commission through the distribution of Christian resources.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matt. 28:19, 20, ESV)
In a world of over 200 nations, the opportunities for God’s kingdom are overwhelming. Though the centuries, many approaches have been used to advance His kingdom. The Bible is full of testimonies and experiences of saints committed to telling others the Good News. The apostles accomplished much through their travels and the letters we now have as part of the New Testament.
The invention of the printing press brought us the first mass-produced Christian “product.” That beginning lead to other Bible translations, Bible study and reference books, music, gift items, and much, much more. Today, Christian resources are best sellers in some countries, almost unheard of in others. ChristianTrade's mission is to foster development and distribution of Christian products where they already have a foothold and to open up other countries to these life-changing resources.
In Isaiah 12, Scripture commands us to:
“Give thanks to the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.” (Is. 4-5, ESV)
Objectives:
- To promote Christian resources worldwide. ChristianTrade advocates the importance of this vital industry to God's kingdom. We call the Church to work together toward accomplishing this great mission. We encourage producers of Christian resources to commit to a higher standard. And we recognize all who claim the Christian faith as partners in this mission.
- To equip, encourage, and train members. ChristianTrade will design and develop training programs leading to professional excellence for participants in the Christian trade. Some training will happen in traditional workshops or seminars and some will be provided in print or other media, including new media. The goal is to make this training as widely available as possible to ensure the vitality of effective market channels for the distribution of Christian resources.
- To facilitate the sharing of ideas. Through conventions, periodicals, and electronic means, ChristianTrade will give members the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences - not only producers and distributors of Christian products, but also other associations that encourage the growth of the industry.
- To provide a model for Christian business ethics. We encourage the industry to grow based on fairness, equally accessible markets, and a biblical model. To this end, we will produce a clear set of ethical principles and require member agreement.
- To form, develop, and recognize national organizations committed to the growth of the Christian trade. Although ChristianTrade will accept memberships from all who agree with its goals (though first, if the company or individual is from a ChristianTrade member nation, membership in that national organization will be required), our focus will be on establishing and/or recognizing member nations. Our prayer is to see national organizations lifting up the importance of Christian resources and encouraging companies to work together toward reaching their populations with the Gospel. Our mission cannot be complete until the Christian trade is active in every nation.
- To celebrate our cultural distinctives. We recognize that in an organization like ours, cultural diversity must be encouraged and accommodated. This may impact how quickly consensus is reached, but the end result will reflect the vitality of the worldwide Church. Membership is open to all Christians who recognize that God is working throughout the world through His Body.
For more information, visit http://www.ctaintl.org/.
