rush-to-press
The Week's News in Christian Publishing
  • Industry News
  • Milestones
  • Media Announcements
  • Product News
  • Other News

Terence Lester signs contract to release fifth book with IVP in 2025

February 2024 | LISLE, IL—Terence Lester, author of four books with IVP, has signed a contract for a fifth to release in Winter 2025 that is tentatively titled From Dropout to Doctorate.

Recently named by Atlanta magazine as one of the top five hundred leaders in the city, Lester is the founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. His four books with IVP include I See You, When We Stand, All God’s Children, and Zion Learns to See, coauthored with his daughter, Zion. He has also coproduced a biographical documentary based on his book The U-Turn Project: Answering the Call.

Born into a two-parent household that split because of domestic violence, Lester, his mother, and his sister moved from place to place while trying to find stability. Internalizing the trauma, Lester turned to gangs, became a juvenile delinquent, and eventually dropped out of high school. However, a brief encounter with a man experiencing homelessness during Lester’s time on the streets changed his perspective and motivated him to complete his education. After graduating high school as a fifth-year senior, Lester went on to defy the odds by earning five degrees, including a PhD with a concentration in public policy.

He writes, “The reality is that not everyone begins competing in the game of life from the same starting line. In fact, many have been forced to stand outside the stadium and must work hard just to gain admission into it. This book reveals how one man did so—and how you can too.”

In this forthcoming book Lester examines the profound impact of poverty and unjust policies and systems on Black communities, highlighting how poverty disrupts the lives of Black families, leading to homelessness and perpetuating the school-to-prison pipeline. Drawing from personal encounters and scholarly research, Lester sheds light on the complexities surrounding the scarcity of PhDs in urban areas. This has become even more relevant after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action—a policy that personally affected Lester’s family—on June 29, 2023. As a public scholar and nonprofit leader, Lester brings a unique perspective to the discussion, advocating for equitable access to advanced education and addressing the systemic barriers that limit opportunities for Black people.

Lester’s campaigns on behalf of the poor, including #LoveSinksIn (which provides handwashing stations for the poor), have been featured in USA Today, Black Enterprise, Essence, and Reader’s Digest. They have been viewed by millions of people globally on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS News, NBC, Upworthy, and “The Bright Side” with Katie Couric. Lester was named by Coca-Cola as one of their History Shakers.

Lester has also received numerous awards for his community activism, including the Empire Board of Realtists Distinguished Service Award (2017), the SCLC Social Advocacy Award (2016), Atlanta Voice’s 50 Under 50 honor (2016), the True to Atlanta Award presented by the Atlanta Hawks (2016), and the Fulton County Schools Service Award (2015).

The acquisitions editor for From Dropout to Doctorate is Al Hsu, associate editorial director, trade, for IVP. Lester was represented by Trinity McFadden of The Bindery Agency, and this title includes world rights.

Contact | Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com

Sign Up To Receive Industry News Each Week

Subscribe

This Month’s Bestsellers

VIEW BY GENRE
1 TAME YOUR THOUGHTS
MAX LUCADO
2 I JUST WISH I HAD A BIGGER KITCHEN
KATE STRICKLER
3 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
4 STANDING ON THE EDGE OF ETERNITY
GARY HAMRICK
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
7 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
8 A JESUS-SHAPED LIFE BIBLE STUDY GUIDE PLUS STREAMING VIDEO
LISA HARPER
9 THE STRONGHOLD OF THE CHOSEN
AMANDA JENKINS. AND DALLAS JENKINS AND DOUGLAS S. HUFFMAN
10 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
View All
1 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
2 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
3 NIV® STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
4 HOLY SPIRIT
DAVID DIGA HERNANDEZ
5 OUT OF THE WILDERNESS
ANGELA HALILI AND ARIELLE REITSMA
6 100 DAYS OF JOY AND STRENGTH
CANDACE CAMERON BURE
7 GOD CHOSE ME
CHARLES HENRY METCALF
8 NIV® STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
9 THE IMMORTAL MIND
MICHAEL EGNOR AND DENYSE O'LEARY
10 WHERE SECRETS LIE
COLLEEN COBLE AND RICK ACKER
View All
1 FINAL APPROACH
LYNETTE EASON
2 VANISHED
DAVID JEREMIAH WITH SAM O'NEAL
3 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
4 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
5 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
6 GELATO AT THE VILLA
ROBIN JONES GUNN
7 THE FRENCH KITCHEN
KRISTY CAMBRON
8 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
9 SPLENDOR OF THE LAND
CONNILYN COSSETTE
10 A LINEAGE OF GRACE
FRANCINE RIVERS
View All
1 TAME YOUR THOUGHTS
MAX LUCADO
2 I JUST WISH I HAD A BIGGER KITCHEN
KATE STRICKLER
3 KJV STANDARD LESSON COMMENTARY® LARGE PRINT EDITION 2025-2026
STANDARD PUBLISHING
4 STANDING ON THE EDGE OF ETERNITY
GARY HAMRICK
5 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
6 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
7 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
8 A JESUS-SHAPED LIFE BIBLE STUDY GUIDE PLUS STREAMING VIDEO
LISA HARPER
9 THE STRONGHOLD OF THE CHOSEN
AMANDA JENKINS. AND DALLAS JENKINS AND DOUGLAS S. HUFFMAN
10 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
View All
1 THE ACTION BIBLE
SERGIO CARIELLO
2 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
3 THE JESUS STORYBOOK BIBLE
SALLY LLOYD-JONES
4 GREAT AND SMALL PRAYERS FOR BABIES
PAMELA KENNEDY
5 GOD GAVE US YOU
LISA TAWN BERGREN
6 THE WORLD NEEDS WHO YOU WERE MADE TO BE
JOANNA GAINES
7 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
8 BEDTIME PRAYERS FOR LITTLE ONES
MAX LUCADO AND DENALYN LUCADO
9 THE BIGGEST STORY BIBLE STORYBOOK
KEVIN DEYOUNG
10 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
STUART, BEN
3 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
SCOTT, CAREY
4 DO HARD THINGS
ALEX HARRIS AND BRETT HARRIS
5 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST STUDENT EDITION
LEE STROBEL WITH JANE VOGEL
7 MANGA BIBLE
SIKU
8 THE HARBINGER: A GRAPHIC NOVEL
JONATHAN CAHN
9 EVERYDAY INSPIRATION FOR TEEN GIRLS
JANICE THOMPSON
10 STRONG AND SECURE
MICHELLE NIETERT AND LYNN COWELL
View All
1 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
2 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
3 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
4 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
5 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 BIBLE PROMISE BOOK - KJV
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
8 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
9 PRAYER BASICS FOR EVERYONE
TERRY GLASPEY
10 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
View All
1 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
2 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
3 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS AND AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS AND CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
5 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 KJV LARGE PRINT PEW BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
7 NIV VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER
10 NLT LARGE PRINT PREMIUM VALUE THINLINE BIBLE, Garden Pink
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
View All
1 ESV ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 ESV ECONOMY HOLY BIBLE FOR KIDS
CROSSWAY
3 ESV LARGE PRINT ECONOMY BIBLE
CROSSWAY
4 NLT LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
5 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
7 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
8 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
9 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
NEW LIVING TRANSLATION
10 NIV OUTREACH BIBLE STUDENT EDITION
ZONDERVAN
View All
1 New International Version
2 English Standard Version
3 King James Version
4 New Living Translation
5 New King James Version
6 Christian Standard Bible
7 Reina Valera
8 New International Reader's Version
9 New American Standard Bible
10 New Revised Standard Version
View All
1 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
2 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
3 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
5 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
6 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
7 HISTORIA DE LA IGLESIA CRISTIANA
JESSE LYMAN HURLBUT
8 LA MUJER EMOCIONALMENTE SANA
GERI SCAZZERO AND PETER SCAZZERO
9 TEOLOGIA BIBLICA Y SISTEMATICA
MYER PEARLMAN
10 VIVIENDO SU VOLUNTAD
SEBASTIAN FRANZ
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro, Tapa Dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Rosa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
LUIS ANGEL DIAZ-PABON
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
6 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Turquesa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE ESTUDIO ARCO IRIS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
9 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA EDICION PORTATIL CON CREMALLERA
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TIERRA SANTA CON CIERRE
VIDA
View All
1 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
3 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
4 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
5 LA BIBLIA PARA TODOS LOS NINOS
JOAN G. ANGURELL
6 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
7 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
8 COMO ORAR EN EL ESPIRITU
JOHN BUNYAN
9 EL VALLE DE LOS HUESOS SECOS
YIYE AVILA
10 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
RICK WARREN
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona
The Christy Award® Finalist Reveal webcast
September 19 | 10 am central
Christian Book Award submission period
September 1-30, 2025
The Christy Award® Winners Gala webcast
November 7 | 7 pm central
ECPA PubU Online
Oct 31 through Nov 14, 2025

Career Center

VP of Finance & Administration
The Church Initiative (GriefShare / DivorceCare), Wake Forest, NC (Hybrid)
ECPA LOGO
submit icon

Submit a News Item

Submit industry related news releases to rushtopress @ecpa .org for consideration. Rush to Press is sent every Monday and eligible releases must be received by end of day Friday prior to the Monday’s publication.

announce icon

Career Posts

To announce a job opening in Rush to Press, post it first at the ECPA Career Center and your announcement will appear in the next issue.

subscribe icon

Subscribe

To receive Rush to Press, along with other industry updates from ECPA, please follow the instructions here to create or modify your ECPA community profile. To subscribe to Rush to Press without using a profile, subscribe here.

unsubscribe icon

Unsubscribe

If you would like to be removed from the Rush to Press distribution list, please edit your ECPA profile preferences or email info @ecpa .org.

advertise icon

Advertise

If you would like to reach over 3,300 industry subscribers and media contacts each week, consider advertising in Rush to Press. Contact sponsorship @ecpa .org for more information.

More news at RushtoPress.org. #RushtoPress @ECPA
This is a publication of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. For more information about ECPA, contact info@ecpa.org or visit ECPA.org.
Copyright © 2025 · ECPA