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 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
7 THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER UPDATED AND EXPANDED
DAVE RAMSEY
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
10 SINCERELY, STONEHEART
EMILY WILSON HUSSEM
View All
1 LOVED TO LIFE
ANN VOSKAMP
2 DON'T LET DOUBT TAKE YOU OUT
TODD MULLINS
3 BELIEVE
ROSS DOUTHAT
4 HERE BE DRAGONS
MELANIE SHANKLE
5 BATTLEFIELD OF THE MIND 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
JOYCE MEYER
6 LIT UP WITH LOVE
DERWIN GRAY
7 LIVING FEARLESS GUIDED JOURNAL
JAMIE WINSHIP
8 I'VE GOT QUESTIONS
ERIN HICKS MOON
9 STEPS
JOHN ORTBERG
10 WHEN CULTURE HATES YOU
NATASHA CRAIN
View All
1 TWO SECONDS TOO LATE
DANI PETTREY
2 THE SUMMER OF YOU AND ME
DENISE HUNTER
3 WHEN CRICKETS CRY
CHARLES MARTIN
4 THE KEEPER
CHARLES MARTIN
5 REDEEMING LOVE
FRANCINE RIVERS
6 THE BEIJING BETRAYAL
JOEL C. ROSENBERG
7 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES: AN ENGAGING VISUAL JOURNEY
HANNAH HURNARD
8 THE CARPENTER'S SON
JOHN GRAY
9 THE SHACK
WILLIAM PAUL YOUNG
10 HINDS' FEET ON HIGH PLACES
HANNAH HURNARD
View All
1 FORGIVING WHAT YOU CAN'T FORGET
LYSA TERKEURST
2 JESUS CALLING
SARAH YOUNG
3 THE 5 LOVE LANGUAGES
GARY CHAPMAN
4 PRACTICING THE WAY
JOHN MARK COMER
5 NEW MORNING MERCIES
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
6 THE CASE FOR CHRIST
LEE STROBEL
7 THE TOTAL MONEY MAKEOVER UPDATED AND EXPANDED
DAVE RAMSEY
8 IMAGINE HEAVEN
JOHN BURKE
9 THE RUTHLESS ELIMINATION OF HURRY
JOHN MARK COMER
10 SINCERELY, STONEHEART
EMILY WILSON HUSSEM
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 MOSTLY WHAT GOD DOES IS LOVE YOU
SAVANNAH GUTHRIE
6 THE EASTER STORY
PATRICIA A. PINGRY
7 THE WORLD NEEDS THE WONDER YOU SEE
JOANNA GAINES
8 THE BERENSTAIN BEARS AND THE EASTER STORY
JAN BERENSTAIN AND MIKE BERENSTAIN
9 GOD GAVE US EASTER
LISA TAWN BERGREN
10 THE COMPLETE ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BIBLE
JANICE EMMERSON
View All
1 LIVE ON PURPOSE
SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF WITH BETH CLARK AND TAMA FORTNER
2 THE 5-MINUTE BIBLE STUDY FOR TEEN GIRLS
CAREY SCOTT
3 POCKET PRAYERS FOR GRADUATES
MAX LUCADO
4 SINGLE, DATING, ENGAGED, MARRIED
BEN STUART
5 YOURS, NOT HERS
KARI KAMPAKIS
6 WELCOME TO ADULTING
JONATHAN POKLUDA AND KEVIN MCCONAGHY
7 MANGA BIBLE
SIKU
8 TEEN TO TEEN: 365 DAILY DEVOTIONS BY TEEN GUYS FOR TEEN GUYS, Leather
PATTI M. HUMMEL
9 GOD IS WITH YOU EVERY DAY
MAX LUCADO
10 THE POWER OF A PRAYING TEEN
STORMIE OMARTIAN
View All
1 ONE-MINUTE INSPIRATIONS FOR WOMEN
ELIZABETH GEORGE
2 BIBLE PROMISES FOR MOMS
HEIDI ST JOHN
3 THE CASE FOR EASTER
LEE STROBEL
4 THE GOSPEL STORY
MARY WILEY
5 ONE-MINUTE INSIGHTS FOR MEN
JIM GEORGE
6 199 PROMISES OF GOD
BARBOUR PUBLISHING
7 365 READ-ALOUD BEDTIME BIBLE STORIES
DANIEL PARTNER
8 KNOW YOUR BIBLE
PAUL KENT
9 IS GOD SPEAKING TO ME?
LYSA TERKEURST
10 THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE THE VERY FIRST EASTER
THE BEGINNER'S BIBLE
View All
1 ESV CHURCH BIBLE
CROSSWAY
2 KJV GIANT PRINT FULL SIZE BIBLE
CHRISTIAN ART PUBLISHERS
3 CSB SHE READS TRUTH BIBLE, Grey
RAECHEL MYERS, AMANDA BIBLE WILLIAMS, CSB BIBLES BY HOLMAN
4 ESV STUDY BIBLE
J. I. PACKER, MARK DEVER, JOHN PIPER
5 NIV THE WOMAN'S STUDY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
6 NIV ADVENTURE BIBLE, Hardcover
ZONDERVAN
7 NIV LARGE PRINT VALUE THINLINE BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
8 NKJV PERSONAL SIZE LARGE PRINT REFERENCE BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
9 KJV LARGE PRINT PERSONAL SIZE REFERENCE BIBLE
HOLMAN BIBLE PUBLISHERS
10 KJV LARGE PRINT HOLY BIBLE
THOMAS NELSON
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
TYNDALE
5 NIV LARGER PRINT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY EDITION
ZONDERVAN
6 NIV ECONOMY BIBLE
ZONDERVAN
7 KJV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
THOMAS NELSON
8 NLT ECONOMY TEXT BIBLE
TYNDALE
9 NIV GIFT & AWARD BIBLE, Black
ZONDERVAN
10 NLT HOLY BIBLE ECONOMY OUTREACH EDITION
TYNDALE
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 Revised Standard Version
9 New International Reader's Version
10 New American Standard Bible
View All
1 PERDONA LO QUE NO PUEDES OLVIDAR
LYSA TERKEURST
2 UN ANO CON DIOS
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 LOS 5 LENGUAJES DEL AMOR EDICION REVISADA
GARY CHAPMAN
4 UNA MUJER SABIA
WENDY BELLO
5 EL PODER DE LA MUJER QUE ORA
STORMIE OMARTIAN
6 UNA VIDA CON PROPOSITO, Bolsillo
RICK WARREN
7 DESTINADO AL EXITO
DANTE GEBEL
8 BATALLAS SILENCIOSAS
DAVID SCARPETA
9 DICCIONARIO BIBLICO ILUSTRADO HOLMAN
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 UNA MUJER CONFORME AL CORAZON DE DIOS
ELIZABETH GEORGE
View All
1 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Rosa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
2 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro tapa dura
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Negro imitacion piel
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
4 RVR1960 BIBLIA LETRA GRANDE TAMANO MANUAL EDICION TIERRA SANTA
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
5 RVR1960 BIBLIA DEL PESCADOR LETRA GRANDE
DIAZ-PABON, LUIS ANGEL
6 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA LETRA SUPERGIGANTE CON CIERRE
RVR 1960- REINA VALERA 1960
7 RVR1960 BIBLIA PARA REGALOS Y PREMIOS, Turquesa
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
8 RVR1960 SANTA BIBLIA DE PROMESAS EDICION PARA NINOS
EDITORIAL UNILIT
9 RVR1960 BIBLIA DE APUNTES
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
10 RVR60 SANTA BIBLIA TIERRA SANTA ULTRAFINA LETRA GRANDE
VIDA
View All
1 PREOCUPATE MENOS Y ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
2 LA GRAN HISTORIA DEL EVANGELIO
B&H ESPANOL EDITORIAL
3 365 HISTORIAS BIBLICAS PARA LA HORA DE DORMIR
COMPILED BY BARBOUR STAFF
4 EL SECRETO DE LA PAZ PERSONAL
BILLY GRAHAM
5 ¿PARA QUE ESTOY AQUI EN LA TIERRA?
RICK WARREN
6 DEMASIADO BENDECIDA PARA ESTAR ESTRESADA
DEBORA M. COTY
7 EL VIA CRUCIS PARA TODOS
CLARENCE ENZLER
8 ESTRESATE MENOS, ORA MAS
DONNA K. MALTESE
9 ¿Y AHORA QUE?
RALPH HARRIS
10 EL VALLE DE LOS HUESOS SECOS
YIYE AVILA
View All

Upcoming Events

ECPA webinar: AI Legal Developments | AI & The Biblical Story
June 13 | 10 am central
ECPA International Christian Rights & Export Fair
June 17-18, 2025 | Chicago, Illinois
ECPA webinar: Building and Managing an Effective Intern Program
July 11 | 10 am central
ECPA Asia Rights & Export Fair
September 1-2, 2025 | Bangkok, Thailand
ECPA C-Suite Symposium
September 7-9, 2025 | Tucson, Arizona

Career Center

Backlist and Brand Director
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, Remote
Publicity Manager
Baker Book House Company, Ada, Michigan (Hybrid)
Acquisitions Editor
Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon
Assistant Director of Marketing, Christian Publishing Group
Penguin Random House, Remote
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