CAROL STREAM, Ill. (July 26, 2017) – Beginning this fall, congregations of the Evangelical Covenant Church will begin a three-year Bible reading experience using Immerse: The Reading Bible. This denomination-wide initiative was formed in partnership with Tyndale House Publishers and The Institute for Bible Reading (IFBR).

Earlier this year, Tyndale and IFBR announced an alliance to introduce new Bible reading practices to the church through innovative new Bible resources. Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience is the first campaign of that alliance and the inspiration for the Evangelical Covenant Church’s initiative. The Experience uses Immerse: The Reading Bible, a six volume version of the New Living Translation featuring single-column format text but without chapter numbers, verse numbers, footnotes, and section headings. Each volume offers an eight-week reading plan, meant to be punctuated by weekly unmediated group discussions.

Immerse is an accessible way for entire congregations to read the Bible together and then, in community, engage with what they have read. The New Living Translation is considered the most readable version of the Bible in English, and the unique design of the Immerse series highlights the natural literary structure of each book, allowing readers to encounter the Bible in a new way.

Michelle Sanchez, Executive Pastor of Make and Deepen Disciples for the ECC and who announced Immerse: The Covenant Bible Reading Experience at the 132^nd Covenant Annual Meeting, says, “In the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination, we have long called ourselves ‘People of the Book.’ And as People of the Book, we believe that there is no better foundation to make and deepen disciples than the Word of God. The Covenant church has a long tradition of valuing deep engagement with the whole Bible. We are committed to building upon this strong foundation for the future, and Immerse will be a marvelous resource to help us and many others to do just that.”

Tyndale House Publishers and The Institute for Bible Reading hope that other denominations and individual churches will follow the example of active, communal engagement with Scripture set by the Evangelical Covenant Church. Churches across North America are set to begin the first eight-week Immerse reading experience on September 17, 2017.

Immerse: Messiah and Immerse: Beginnings are now available for purchase. Immerse: Kingdoms, Immerse: Prophets, Immerse: Poets, and Immerse: Chronicles are available for pre-order.

Visit ImmerseBible.com or call 877-277-9400 for more information.

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is one of the largest privately held Christian publishers of books, Bibles, and digital media in the world. Tyndale has published many innovative category-leading products such as Life Application Study Bible, The One Year Bible, The Book, The Life Recovery Bible, Hands on Bible, and Inspire Bible. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of readers. www.tyndale.com

The Institute for Bible Reading is an activist think tank uncommonly focused on providing people tools and frameworks that fundamentally change the way they read the Bible so it can achieve its mission and become that story that defines their lives. www.instituteforbiblereading.org

Carol Steam, Ill. (July 26, 2017) —This fall, Tyndale House Publishers is releasing ten new devotional products to grow readers’ faith daily by engaging their creativity, intellect, and imagination. This varied collection features titles to inspire wonder and contemplation, practical needs-based devotionals organized by topic for easy reference, themed guides based on the One Year Bible-reading plan, and two additions to Tyndale’s Living Expressions creative coloring and journaling product line. By helping establish habits of worship, reflection, rest, and action, these titles encourage readers to invite the presence of God into their everyday lives. All titles are available through Tyndale.com.

Habits of the Heart: 365 Daily Exercises for Living like Jesus
Katherine J. Butler | ISBN: 9781496418067 (hardcover) | September 5, 2017

Are you spiritually “out of shape”? Do you long for a life that is fully and deeply engaged with the Creator? Does your heart ache to be transformed by God? Real change happens only when we train ourselves to be in the habit of exercising our hearts in the practice of godliness. Each day of the year, this simple guide will help you focus on one essential aspect of your walk with God and show you how to make it a habit.

Bible Promises to Live By for Women
Katherine J. Butler, Ronald A. Beers | ISBN: 9781496418074 (leatherlike) | September 19, 2017 

God’s promises hold great power. The more we meditate and reflect on his promises, the more we see real change in our lives. Living by God’s promises puts our hearts at ease and gives us assurance, strength, and encouragement for the future. Bible Promises to Live By for Women offers more than 500 promises from God and is arranged alphabetically by topic for quick and easy reference. Hold these promises close to your heart and let them guide you through life.

The Wonder of Advent Devotional: Experiencing the Love and Glory of the Christmas Season
Chris Tiegreen | ISBN: 9781496419095 (hardcover) | October 1, 2017

Rediscover the heart of the Advent season with this gracefully compiled devotional from beloved author Chris Tiegreen. After completing a week of short readings to prepare your heart for the Advent season, you’ll journey through December with daily Scripture readings, prompts for reflection, and guided prayer to help you savor this remarkable divine story. Take time away from the busyness to slow down, ponder the birth of Christ, and refocus on what the season really calls us to: worship.

The Book of Amazing Stories: 90 Devotions on Seeing God’s Hand in Unlikely Places
Robert Petterson | ISBN: 9781496428141 (hardcover) | October 3, 2017

You’re probably familiar with the contributions of famous figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Howard Hughes, Mother Teresa, Muhammad Ali, Ronald Reagan, and Susana Wesley. But you might not know about Ronnie’s faithful church-going single mom or William’s early days as a humble shoemaker’s apprentice. In The Book of Amazing Stories, you’ll marvel at how God used the lives of these ordinary people to change the course of history. Petterson’s compelling devotions show how each of these 365 amazing stories reveals something amazing about life and about God.

THE ONE YEAR^®

The One Year Experiencing God’s Love Devotional
Sandra Byrd | ISBN: 9781496413185 (softcover) | October 3, 2017

To experience something is to encounter and explore it with our hearts, minds, and souls; our five physical senses and our God-given spiritual ones. When was the last time you took a break to experience God’s love? Love unfurls its blossoms in our lives when we take time to concentrate all our senses on the small gifts we pass by every day: reminders of God’s beautiful background hum in our lives. This new devotional from Sandra Byrd helps you intentionally carve out moments to savor God and his love for you. It even includes special recipes for each month to help you taste and see that the Lord is good!

The One Year Daily Acts of Kindness Devotional
Kristin Demery, Julie Fisk, Kendra Roehl | ISBN: 9781496421616 (softcover) | October 17, 2017

Our world desperately needs more kindness. What would happen if we got intentional about being kind? This year, make kindness a part of your life, home, and soul by committing to doing one act of kindness every day. In this devotional, you’ll find Scripture passages and inspirational personal stories about why God calls us to show kindness, what it means to live a life of generosity, and how you can incorporate kindness into your everyday routine (and teach it to your kids) with easy-to-do ideas. Draw closer to God and show your world the kind of love that is possible with daily acts of kindness.

THE ONE YEAR^®  WALK THRU THE BIBLE^®

The One Year Daily Moments of Strength: Inspiration for Men
Walk Thru the Bible | ISBN: 9781496406064 (softcover) | October 3, 2017

Today, spend time with God that will fill your spirit with strength. Complete with Bible verses, helpful explanations, and practical applications, the short daily devotions in The One Year Daily Moments of Strength cover a variety of everyday issues and will help you experience a more powerful connection with the Lord each day. By showing up to meet with God daily, you’ll grow in your commitment to faith and be inspired to go deeper with him all year long. 

The One Year Daily Moments of Peace: Inspiration for Women
Walk Thru the Bible | ISBN: 9781496406071 (softcover) | October 3, 2017

Take a moment to relax, reconnect with God, and fill your spirit with peace. The One Year Daily Moments of Peace will help you engage with the Lord in a new way and experience a more thoughtful, insightful quiet time each day. With Bible verses, helpful stories, and practical applications, the short daily readings in this devotional cover a variety of everyday issues and will inspire you to deepen your faith and equip you to serve God more fully. Seek God daily, and be at peace. 

LIVING EXPRESSIONS™

Picturing Heaven: 40 Hope-Filled Devotions with Coloring Pages
Randy Alcorn | ISBN: 9781496425270 (softcover) | September 5, 2017

Imagine Heaven the way the Bible describes it—a place of exquisite beauty, free from corruption and sin, brimming with marvelous detail; a place of both rest and enjoyable, meaningful work. Savor a respite from daily life as you read devotions from bestselling author Randy Alcorn, a leading authority on Heaven, and color these 40 designs, carefully interpreted from Scripture and illustrated by Lizzie Preston. The truths illustrated in Picturing Heaven will offer you comfort and relaxation, filling your heart with the restful assurance that God prepares a special place for those who love him.

Hinds’ Feet on High Places: An Engaging Visual Journey
Hannah Hurnard | ISBN: 9781496424679 (softcover) | November 7, 2017

Hannah Hurnard’s beloved Christian allegory is now a mixed-media special edition, thanks to the work of illustrators Jill De Haan and Rachel McNaughton. This new edition features charming watercolor paintings, antique tinted photography, hand-lettered Scripture, journaling and doodling space, and designs to color. As you read the story of Much-Afraid and her trials, the pages of this book become a canvas on which to chronicle your own story, struggles, and personal triumphs.

Hinds’ Feet on High Places, with more than 2,000,000 copies sold, is a story of endurance, persistence, and reliance on God. This book has inspired millions of people to become sure-footed in their faith, even when facing the rockiest of life’s terrain. The story of Much-Afraid is based on Psalm 18:33: “He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.”

U.S. Retail Associates Who Complete the Training Will Be Entered in a Sweepstakes Drawing for the Chance to Win Comfort Prizes

Grand Rapids, Mich., July 28, 2017 – Beginning July 31, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan are opening the “Get Comfortable with Comfort Print®” retailer training program. This training will help retail associates understand the background, purpose, and important benefit of Comfort Print®, which is easy to read at any size.

Comfort Print Bibles training will introduce you to the exclusive new typeface work done for Thomas Nelson’s KJV and NKJV translations and Zondervan’s NIV translation. This training will give you the knowledge you need to guide Bible customers about Comfort Print Bibles and why typeface matters.

“For years, pastors have told us that the number-one challenge they face in their churches is biblical illiteracy,” says Doug Lockhart, senior v-p of Bible marketing and outreach. “Several years ago, our Bible leadership team prayerfully addressed that challenge, knowing that biblical illiteracy can only be overcome when people spend time reading Scripture.”

Bibles often feature tiny letters and cramped page designs, which interfere both with reading and comprehension. Few fonts are capable of delivering a beautiful, readable, easy-to-understand Bible, says Lockhart. This led to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan commissioning the creation of three distinct, translation-specific typefaces for the KJV, NKJV, and NIV.

“Each of these specially designed typeface is beautiful—appropriate for reverently conveying the sacred truths of Scripture—yet efficient and wonderfully legible even at small sizes,” adds Lockhart. “The handcrafted characters and cutting-edge typographical design ensure that Bible reading is easy and comfortable, and they invite readers to engage more deeply—and more often—with God’s transforming Word.”

As an added incentive, U.S. retail associates who fully complete the Comfort Print® training between July 31 and November 30, 2017, will be automatically entered in a sweepstakes drawing for the chance to win one of thirteen prizes.

Three first prize winners will receive:

• Brookstone Tapping Neck & Shoulder Massager with Heat
• Brookstone Shiatsu Full Foot Massager with Heat
• Brookstone NAP™ Luxury Throw Blanket

Ten second prize winners will each receive:

• Brookstone Theraspa® Nap® Massaging Wrap
• Brookstone NAP™ Luxury Throw Blanket

To complete the Comfort Print® training, visit https://bibl.es/ComfortPrintBibleTraining.

About Thomas Nelson: Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson, is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

About Zondervan: Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Trinity McFadden, Senior Manager of Publicity
trinity.mcfadden@harpercollins.com | 616-698-3514

A Blueprint for Church Leaders Who Want to Create Irresistible Environments, Define Their Ministry Goals, and Communicate More Effectively with Unbelievers

Grand Rapids, Mich., July 28, 2017 — Every Sunday people walk into church and decide if they will return the following week before the preacher even opens his mouth.

In his bestselling book Deep & Wide, author and pastor Andy Stanley showed church leaders how to create churches unchurched people love to attend. Now Zondervan is pleased to announce the release of Stanley’s new companion guide, Going Deep & Wide (on sale August 1), in which Stanley lays out a blueprint and offers practical steps to help leaders turn up the irresistible in their churches. Each section includes discussion materials that walk readers deeper into the content of Deep & Wide and invites conversations about how to apply what they’ve learned.

Stanley’s next book, Irresistible Faith: Our Chance to Change the World … Again, releases with Zondervan on February 2, 2018. In it, Stanley will help readers to align their personal faith and that of their local church with what Jesus came to unleash in the world. This will change how the church and Christianity are perceived by the unchurched.

About Andy Stanley: Communicator, author, and pastor Andy Stanley founded Atlanta-based North Point Ministries in 1995. Today, North Point Ministries consists of six churches in the Atlanta area and a network of 30 churches around the globe that collectively serve nearly 70,000 people weekly. As host of Your Move with Andy Stanley, which delivers over five million messages each month through television and podcasts, and author of more than 20 books, including The New Rules for Love, Sex & Dating; Ask It; How to Be Rich;Deep & Wide; Visioneering; and Next Generation Leader, Andy is considered one of the most influential pastors in America. Andy and his wife, Sandra, have three grown children and live near Atlanta.

About Zondervan: Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact: Trinity McFadden, Senior Manager of Publicity
616-698-3514 | trinity.mcfadden@harpercollins.com

Nashville, Tenn. (July 31, 2017) – In 2014, Jamie Ivey began a weekly podcast, “The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey” out of her home in Austin, Texas. Each week, she invited a girlfriend to chat about “the big things in life, the little things in life, and everything in between.” In just three years, over eight million listeners have tuned in to “The Happy Hour” to hear Ivey chat with influential guests from around the world.

On January 30, 2018, Ivey will release her first book, If You Only Knew: My Unlikely, Unavoidable Story of Becoming Free (B&H Publishing). In the humorous, authentic style that her podcast listeners know and love, Ivey shares her backstory – a story of failure, mistakes, redemption, and ultimately finding freedom in Christ.

“When you look at your own story, maybe all you can see are the goof-ups, the mess-ups, the things you’re afraid of ever bringing up, even the parts that happened this week or this morning or five minutes before you started reading this chapter today,” Ivey writes.

“But if you’d turn your head to look at your story just a little bit differently, you’d see it’s actually the record of a faithful God, willing His unwilling child to return to Him, loving you through all your unloveliness. His pursuit of you is simply unavoidable. And His desire is to set you free by His power to forgive, to put you to great use for Him.”

In addition to hosting “The Happy Hour,” Ivey writes and speaks to women all over the country. She hopes that as women read If You Only Knew, they will join her in owning their stories and becoming vulnerable about their lives, so that “Jesus’ grace and mercy take center-stage.”

B&H is supporting the release of If You Only Knew with a robust marketing campaign, national publicity and advertising, and promotion at “The Happy Hour” live events in Austin. The book will be available for preorder beginning at “The Happy Hour” live event in September until November 1, prior to the holiday season. For more information, visit www.bhpublishinggroup.com. 

Jamie Ivey believes we are all on this journey of life together and we need each other to get to the end. Through her blog and podcast, ”The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey,” she uses a raw and intimate approach to connect with her audience. Jamie’s prayer and hope is for God to use her words to encourage and show others that they are not alone, while constantly pointing them to Jesus. She is mother to four kids and wife to Aaron. Jamie loves reading, date nights, Mexican food, and traveling the world with her family.

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.

Media Contact: Jenaye White
Jenaye.White@BHPublishingGroup.com  615-251- 2964  www.bhpublishinggroup.com