Scheduled to coincide with CBA’s International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), the event is open to the public, media and conference attendees. The awards will honor Christian businesses, organizations, entertainers, individuals and Christian retail and vendors. The evening will feature the awards presentation, a live and silent auction and a special visual performance by artist Jared Emerson. The event will conclude with a concert by one of Christian music’s top recording artists.

“We feel it is important to lift up and honor those who truly exemplify Christian love and the principles of discipleship taught by Jesus Christ,” said Gene Krcelic, president of the Premier Foundation. “The Champions of the Faith Awards and Benefit Concert does just that while serving as a fundraiser for the Premier Foundation and the global Christian ministries we support.”

Curtis Riskey, CBA executive director, said the association is excited to be part of Premier’s ministry, which is aligned with the mission and practice of Christian retail stores. “This partnership is exciting because it not only supports ministry causes that Christian retailers believe in, but also helps ICRS demonstrate the industry’s ministry purpose and outreach."

Seven honorees will receive awards in various categories: Charity-Richard Stearns of World Vision, Music-Newsong (founder of Winter Jam), Business-Rich Peluso of Affirm Films and Sony Motion Pictures, Author-Karen Kingsbury, Sports-Daytona 500 Winner Trevor Bayne; Independent Christian Retail and Christian Retail Vendor will be announced at the event.

Recognized for their dedication to the Lord in both the personal and professional arena, these deserving honorees have responded to the Scriptural mandate found in Colossians 1:10 to “live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.” At the core of the Champions of the Faith Awards and Benefit Concert is the hope that those who attend will be challenged by these words and rise up in their own lives to answer that call.

The Atlanta event is planned as the first of many cooperative events between CBA and the Premier Foundation presented as part of CBA’s annual convention and trade show. The event benefits the Premier Foundation and the life-saving global Christian ministries it supports. General admission tickets are $50 and are available at www.iTickets.com. Students can purchase tickets for $25 and ICRS members can purchase a discounted ticket for $40.

The Premier Foundation has granted more than $3 million to non-profit Christian ministries and various charities during the past 12 years. The foundation is the charitable arm of Premier Productions, Premier Festivals, Premier Christian Cruises and Camp Electric. Today, the 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization supports charities such as the James Fund, World Vision, Compassion International, Gospel Music Association Foundation, Motor Racing Outreach, Rivers of the World, Skip1, various churches and many other ministries.

For more information, visit www.thechampionsofthefaith.com