When spiritual needs require something more tangible than a prayer, Fayetteville has three stores supplying everything from Bibles to baptismal cards.

Joining Sonrise Christian Book Store on Glynn Street and Family Christian Stores at the Pavilion is The Covenant Box at Banks Station, specializing in Catholic books and gifts.

A first on the south side of Atlanta, The Covenant Box is owned and managed by Karen Crumley Grubb and her parents, Dennis and Peggie Crumley of Fayetteville. Grubb's desire to open a store showcasing quality religious art and sacramentals like medals, rosaries and holy cards, evolved from job dissatisfaction and a reflective period spent recuperating from spinal surgery.

In August, she resigned from her sports marketing position and began researching the demographics for opening a store. Grubb took classes in small business management at Clayton College & State University, joined two professional associations, Christian Booksellers and Catholic Marketing Network, and compiled lists of vendors. A blizzard in Baltimore, Md. nearly wiped out the big trade show Grubb attended in January, but as luck would have it, her main distributors made it in before the storm, giving her an opportunity to order gifts face to face.

Book orders were made with the help of the Rev. Tim Hepburn, pastor of Catholic Church of St. Gabriel's, and two former nuns. “I drew from the parish a lot,” she said. Grubb is still receiving orders and expects to have her music section in place soon.

The Covenant Box opened on Valentines Day, Feb. 14, and will be blessed by Hepburn Sunday, March 19. Special features include a children's book area where Grubb plans to have story hour on Saturdays, a quiet garden corner complete with fountain, and a full complement of icons, statues and religious articles unique to Catholics.

Sonrise is owned by Rick and Susan Harrell and has been a fixture for Fayette County Christians for years. Harrell also owns and operates The Olive Branch in Peachtree City and The Ark in Newnan. Encompassing 8,000 square feet, Sonrise is the largest Christian book and supply store in the county. They are currently expanding their book line and “resetting the store,” according to Harrell, giving the shop a face-lift.

The inventory found at Sonrise gives testimony to the wide range of products available to today's Christians.

The music section includes everything from alternative and techno to contemporary and gospel, all with the underlying theme of praise for the Lord. Books run the gamut from Sunday School and Vacation Bible School curriculums to Christian fiction and humor. T-shirts and medallions bearing the name or words of Jesus are outward signs of faith. “People want ways to visibly show their Christianity,” Harrell said.

Family Christian Stores will celebrate its first anniversary in Fayetteville next month. Assistant manager Cherish Overby has been with the company for two years and is part of the 300-store chain which began 68 years ago as the family-owned Zondervan book stores. Books and CD's compose a large portion of the shop's inventory with the “Left Behind” series currently topping the charts.

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