PASSING ON A LOCAL CORNERSTONE: HOW GEORGE AND MEGAN SHINN ACQUIRED CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN BOOKSTORE
From the Summer 2024 edition of The Journey
Written by Caroline McCrorey with George & Megan Shinn & Ben Cox
When you drive past Cornerstone Christian Bookstore it stands out against the landscape of Boone. It is a beautiful stone building that contrasts the hustle and bustle of Blowing Rock Road, the main strip of town. George and Megan Shinn believe that “you can feel the peace and presence of the Holy Spirit when you walk through the front doors.” The high ceilings, beautiful lumber detailing, and great customer service reflect this statement.
Passing on the Cornerstone
George and Megan Shinn recently became the new owners of Cornerstone Christian Bookstore. John and Pat Pope sold it to them after building up the business for over 40 years. The Shinns have had an affinity for this special place in Boone since the first time they visited. It was a storm of perfect opportunity under God’s providential hand.
The Shinns have a vacation house in Linville that they frequent often. George shared that whenever they have guests, Cornerstone would be the first place they would bring them to see. He has always been impressed with the store and thought the Popes had done a fabulous job. They would always purchase books, art, or gifts for their loved ones and friends when browsing.
When George heard that the Popes were potentially selling the bookstore, he felt the Lord leading him to contact them and find out more. John Pope told George he had to make him a promise: the bookstore would stay a Christian bookstore. In George’s mind this was not even a question, he feels that Christian bookstores are extremely important. After doing some research, George found that over 1,000 Christian bookstores have closed their doors in the past 10 years – this process was expedited by the pandemic. George has a dream of changing this narrative starting with Cornerstone.
For George this deal was a done deal, no matter the cost. He shared that, “I felt the Lord had tapped me on the shoulder telling me this is something I need to do.” George feels that his previous business endeavors have prepared him to not only maintain Cornerstone Bookstore, but expand it.
George and Megan’s Personal Cornerstone
During the early part of his career, he built one of the largest chains of private business schools in the nation. After selling the schools, George dedicated all his efforts to bringing the Charlotte Hornets NBA franchise to North Carolina. With God’s help, and an incredible team of people, George was able to pull off a miracle and bring professional basketball to the smallest market in the NBA. It was during this time George came up with his mantra “you gotta believe.” George and Megan have been seeking the Lord in how to most wisely expand the business so more people can encounter Jesus.
The Shinns know the importance of deliberately putting God first in business endeavors, or rather in everything. When George was pitching to franchise the Charlotte Hornets he prayed, “help me get through this and I’ll let you be the chairman of the board. I will follow your lead all the way.” This is the point when George says he really turned his life over to God.
George and Megan are passionate about Cornerstone Bookstore because of their love for the Lord. They hope that through investing in Cornerstone to potentially expand they will be able to reach others for the kingdom.
George grew up in Kannapolis, North Carolina in a Christian household. George was raised around the church, but began really growing in faith in college. George had financial struggles in college but said “I knew that God's presence was there” because the Lord always provided through jobs and close, important relationships.
George’s mom would always make fried chicken on Sundays after church. Except one Sunday George mistakenly did not go to church and he was disappointed to find out that this meant he did not get his weekly fried chicken. His mom said, “you didn't go to church” and George argued, “well, I still gotta eat.” But he was told, “Well, you can fix your sandwich.” He shared that his mom would use little tricks like that to motivate him but she had a positive, loving attitude.
His mom had always told him that he needed to focus on the Lord first to be successful in life. In his college days he really learned the importance of this along with prayer. George is grateful for the ways God has blessed him. In some of his hardest times George shared, “I just had the feeling that God was walking right beside me.”
Megan grew up in Dover, Massachusetts which is farmlands right outside of Boston. As a child Megan became very ill, later in life it was diagnosed as lyme disease. Megan shared that this is when her personal relationship with Jesus began, “I asked Jesus to save me and guide me. Through His love and mercy he came into my heart.” Not only was she saved, but she was healed of this disease by “God, the great physician.”
Megan shared that she continues to grow in her faith today and sees it as such a joy to share her testimony of what God did in her life with others. Through her testimony she wants to share that God is the ultimate healer, both physically and spiritually.
Casting a Vision for Cornerstone
Megan felt the Holy Spirit leading her to have Cornerstone partner with churches around the country through an online bookstore. The first steps for Cornerstone is to develop a virtual bookstore tour so people can shop the iconic store from the comfort of their home all over the country. George shared that when they partner with churches everyone will benefit, not only financially, but also spiritually.
The idea is that customers can feel like they are walking through the bookstore. It is a more encompassing experience than traditional online shopping. If the virtual tours are successful, this will lead the way to physically expanding Cornerstone Christian Bookstore in interested markets.
The Shinns are excited about continuing to embark on this new journey with God at the center of it all. They are grateful that the Pope’s sold the business to them and the legacy of Cornerstone Christian Bookstore can live on instead of it becoming a restaurant or apartments which would fit in with the typical landscape of Boone.
Megan stated that, “this is the heart of Jesus, right here.” It is true, in the middle of Boone there is a constant standing reminder that our King is to come and His body is here.
“YOU GOTTA BELIEVE”
