Nashville, July 20—Abingdon Press, the trade imprint of The United Methodist Publishing House, announced today that the James W. Moore Award for Inspirational Writing will be presented to the Reverend Jessica LaGrone, Dean of Chapel at Asbury Theological Seminary, for her book The Rewritten Life: When God Changes Your Story (Abingdon Press, 2017). The $2500 award honors longtime Abingdon Press author James W. Moore, an anchor in the inspirational category for almost thirty years.
lsparrow@abingdonpress.com (615)749-6420
Mary Whitaker passes away peacefully
Widow of Whitaker Corporation founder Robert E. Whitaker Sr. is at home with Jesus
NEW KENSINGTON, Pa — Surrounded by family, Mary Heurich Whitaker, wife of the late Robert E. Whitaker Sr., founder of Whitaker House publishing and Anchor Distributors, passed away quietly early this morning.
Whitaker Corporation President Robert E. “Bob” Whitaker Jr. said his mother’s quiet strength and faithful prayers served as the perfect complement to his innovative and highly motivated father.
“It was my father who articulated the mission to spread the gospel worldwide through books and materials. But that mission was first realized with the prayers and support of my mother,” he said. “Her strength and love has been an inspiration and example to multiple generations.”
John Whitaker, vice president of Anchor Distributors, echoes his brother’s sentiments.
“My mother’s steadfast faith and love for my father and us six kids served as the bedrock of our home. She was loved by many and will be sorely missed.”
When her husband of 62 years passed away in 2012 Mary Whitaker would tell those attending the memorial service that their mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ through books began by simply answering God’s call.
“God changed Bob’s life through Christian books and after that, his excitement about Jesus was contagious,” she said. “Pretty soon we were following God’s leading into Christian publishing. We wanted the world to know about the real, living power of a God who saves and transforms the lives of any and all who ask Him.”
Mary is survived by six children, 26 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
Visitation will take place Friday July 21, 4-8pm at Jobe Funeral Home, 445 Beatty Rd, Monroeville, PA 15146 and Saturday July 22 at Monroeville Assembly of God, 9-11am with a service immediately following. Monroeville Assembly of God is located at 4561 Old William Penn Hwy, Monroeville, PA 15146.
Family owned and operated, Whitaker Corporation was founded in 1970. Its two divisions include Whitaker House which publishes Christian books and materials, and Anchor Distributors, a worldwide distributor of thousands of books, Bibles, and products produced by hundreds of companies.
CONTACT: Cathy Hickling, 724-334-7000
LeeEric Fesko named associate publisher of HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s specialty division
(Nashville, Tenn.) – HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced today that LeeEric Fesko has been named associate publisher for the specialty division.
B&H to host first-ever Charles Spurgeon Conference in London featuring Spurgeon experts, authors
Speakers include Spurgeon experts Christian George, Alistair Begg, Matt Carter, Aaron Ivey, and others
Nashville, Tenn. (July 24, 2017)—B&H Publishing Group is proud to host the first-ever “Charles Spurgeon Conference” at Spurgeon’s College in London on August 1.
This historic event is hosted by B&H in partnership with Spurgeon’s College and Spurgeon’s Children’s Charity. The event will celebrate of the life and legacy of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) and the release of notable Spurgeon resources from B&H, including:
- The Lost Sermons of C. H. Spurgeon Volume I: A Critical Edition of His Earliest Outlines and Sermons Between 1851 and 1854, edited by Christian George, part of a 12-volume series (B&H Academic, February 2017)
- CSB Spurgeon Study Bible, edited by Alistair Begg (Holman Bible Publishers, November 1, 2017)
- Steal Away Home: Unlikely Friends on the Passage to Freedom by Matt Carter and Aaron Ivey (B&H Books,August 1, 2017)
Speakers include Spurgeon experts Alistair Begg, Peter Morden, Ross Hendry, Martin Ensell, Christian George, Susannah Spurgeon (a descendant of Spurgeon), Aaron Ivey, and Matt Carter. Ivey will also present Spurgeon poetry set to music.
In addition to the conference, authors Begg, George, Carter, and Ivey will tour historic Spurgeon sites in both London and Cambridge, including the Metropolitan Tabernacle, the Warebeach Chapel, the site of Spurgeon’s baptism, and the Stockwell Orphanage, where they will participate in panel discussions and Facebook Live broadcasts.
For more information, visit www.bhpublishinggroup.com.
B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team of mission-minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church, and academic markets, titles include The New York Times No. 1 bestsellers The Love Dare and The Vow, #1 CBA bestseller I Am a Church Member as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.
The Good Book Company to release new children’s book on ethnic, cultural and social diversity
Purcellville, VA – The Good Book Company has announced the upcoming release of a children’s book that celebrates ethnic, cultural and social diversity within the church.
God’s Very Good Idea: A True Story About God’s Delightfully Different Family, written by Trillia Newbell and illustrated by Catalina Echeverri, will launch globally in September 2017.
Author Trillia Newbell is Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC, and author of the critically acclaimed United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity. God’s Very Good Idea, her debut children’s book, will show 3-7 year-olds how people from all backgrounds and of all abilities are valuable to God, and how Jesus came to rescue all kinds of people.
Charming storytelling is brought to life by colorful artwork from Catalina Echeverri, a Colombian freelance illustrator specializing in children’s books.
Carl Laferton, TGBC’s Editorial Director, describes the book’s premise: “God’s ‘very good idea’ is to have lots of different people enjoying loving him and loving each other. The book retells the big sweep of the Bible’s story—from the garden of Eden to God’s heavenly throne room—to show how despite our sinfulness, everyone can be a part of God’s very good idea through the saving work of Christ. It ends by exciting kids about God’s ‘delightfully different family,’ the church.”
Author Trillia Newbell said: “God’s Very Good Idea is ultimately an invitation to celebrate. Catalina and I want to help children celebrate our wonderful Creator God, the amazing value he has given each person made in the image of God, and the rescuing work of Jesus on the cross.”
TGBC’s US Director Brad Byrd said: “Research shows that the ages of 3-7 are formative in shaping a child’s worldview, so we’re excited to be working with Trillia on this resource to help families to talk about differences positively and celebrate the beauty of diversity in the church.”
God’s Very Good Idea is the fifth title in The Good Book Company’s award-winning Tales That Tell the Truth series of picture books illustrated by Catalina Echeverri. Other titles include the bestselling The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross by Carl Laferton, and The One O’Clock Miracle by Alison Mitchell, winner of the Speaking Volumes Award for Children’s Book of the Year 2016.
About the Author: Trillia Newbell is author of United and Enjoy and Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC, based in Nashville.
About the Illustrator: Catalina Echeverri is a Colombian freelance illustrator specializing in children’s books. She illustrated the bestselling The Garden, The Curtain and the Cross.
About the Publisher: The Good Book Company is an international Christian publisher of biblical, relevant and accessible resources.
God’s Very Good Idea: A True Story About God’s Delightfully Different Family
Written by Trillia Newbell, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri
Publisher: The Good Book Company (www.thegoodbook.com)
ISBN: 9781784982218
Hardcover: US $14.99
Specifications: Full-color hardback, 32 pp, 10.2” x 8.7”
Release date: September 2017
Review copies, interviews, and other promotional opportunities are available.
Contact Brad Byrd: USoffice@thegoodbook.com
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