
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.
‘Is God Anti-Gay?’ surpasses 100,000 units in print with The Good Book Company
Purcellville, VA—The Good Book Company is pleased to announce that Is God Anti-Gay? And other questions about homosexuality, the Bible and same-sex attraction (The Good Book Company, May 2013) by Sam Allberry, has now sold over 100,000 print copies worldwide.
Christians, the church and the Bible seem to be out of step with modern attitudes towards homosexuality. And there is growing hostility towards those who hold a different view to the world around them. So, is God homophobic? And how do we relate to Christians and non-Christians who experience same-sex attraction?
In Is God Anti-Gay?, Sam Allberry helps readers understand what God has said about homosexuality, and offers a positive and liberating way forward for those confronting issues of faith and sexuality. The revised and expanded second edition also contains highly practical material looking at whether Christians should attend gay weddings, whether it is sinful to experience same-sex attraction and whether the Christian view of sexuality could ever be seen as dangerous.
“For such a short book this was a very painful writing process, confronting an issue that has caused me a huge amount of shame over the years,” Sam reflects. “I never thought it would get to the publication stage let alone be used so much by God. I’m profoundly thankful it is being read so widely.”
Carl R. Trueman has called Is God Anti-Gay?, “A truly marvelous book,” adding that, “as a pastor who himself struggles with same-sex attraction, Sam’s humanity shines through every page.” Russell D. Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, has also warmly commended the book, saying, “The gospel is good news, for homosexuals too. The gospel doesn’t define us by our temptations but by the righteousness of Christ. This book sets forth the biblical case. The author captures perfectly the gospel’s call to repentance and offer of mercy. Read this book and consider how God is calling you to love, in word and in deed, all of those around you.”
Is God Anti-Gay? is part of the Questions Christians Ask series—a range of short, simple books designed to help Christians understand what God has said about big questions, including Is Forgiveness Really Free?, Why Bother with Church?, and Where Was God When That Happened?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sam Allberry (@samallberry on Twitter) studied theology at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford, England and has served on staff at St Ebbe’s Church, Oxford, and St Mary’s, Maidenhead. He is now part of the team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and also works as UK Editor for The Gospel Coalition. A popular conference speaker, Sam has written several books, including James For You, Is God Anti-Gay?, Lifted: experiencing the resurrection life, and Connected: living in the light of the Trinity. His hobbies include reading, watching The West Wing and anything to do with South-East Asia.
ABOUT THE PUBLISHER
Founded in 1989, The Good Book Company is an international Christian publisher. Our Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. All of us here at The Good Book Company are passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church and His gospel of grace. Motivated by this passion and our involvement in local churches, it is our privilege to create and publish biblical, relevant and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing and keep sharing their faith. For additional information, visit thegoodbook.com.
Contact: USoffice@thegoodbook.com • (866) 244-2165 • thegoodbook.com
Blog: thegoodbook.com/blog
Facebook: thegoodbookcompanynorthamerica
Twitter: @thegoodbookusa
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT IS GOD ANTI-GAY?
“Sam is a same-sex attracted Christian, and a faithful brother. I cannot overstate how grateful I am for his life and testimony. The Lord has raised him up for our time. If you haven’t yet read Sam’s book, you need to.”
—DENNY BURK Professor of Biblical Studies at Boyce College, Louisville, KY
“The gospel is good news, for homosexuals too. The gospel doesn’t define us by our temptations but by the righteousness of Christ. This book sets forth the biblical case. The author captures perfectly the gospel’s call to repentance and offer of mercy. Read this book and consider how God is calling you to love, in word and in deed, all of those around you.”
—RUSSELL D. MOORE President, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Southern Baptist Convention, Author, Tempted and Tried: Temptation and the Triumph of Christ
“Empathetic & wise, learned and clear, hopeful and kind – this book by Sam Allberry is on a topic that can be very challenging. It would be helpful for just about anyone to read.”
—MARK DEVER Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church
“EXCELLENT. Short, clear, kind, understanding…this needs to be widely distributed.”
—JONATHAN LEEMAN Editorial Director at 9Marks, blogger and author
“A truly marvelous book. Sam writes as a pastor who himself struggles with same-sex attraction. Sam’s humanity shines through every page; his understanding of weakness undergirds the whole. A compassionate and compelling resource for pastors and elders to keep on hand, as this is an issue which will become more, not less, important.”
—CARL R. TRUEMAN Dept. Chair of Church History at Westminster Theological Seminary, Author, Pastor and Ref21 blogger
“This short book is outstanding. Sam Allberry handles people carefully, texts wisely and issues sensitively, and the result is a supremely helpful book on perhaps the most challenging issue western Christians face today. I highly recommend it.”
—ANDREW WILSON pastor and blogger at thinktheology.co.uk
“Every minister should read this book and we should endeavor to get it into the hands of as many of our congregation as possible.”
—PAUL LEVY Reformation 21 blog
“Sam writes with genuine pastoral warmth out of his own personal experience. He argues convincingly that, far from being anti-gay, God loves those who experience same-sex attraction and that the gospel is good news for us too.”
—JONATHAN BERRY Director, True Freedom Trust
“This is becoming the issue of our day. Short books like this that are biblical, grounded in the writer’s personal experience and pastoral concern are a gift to all the church family, those struggling and those looking in. Sam Allberry meets objections and misunderstandings graciously, truthfully and persuasively.”
—RICO TICE Christianity Explored Ministries
Barbour launches unique historical fiction series
Barbour’s Exciting New Fiction Series Follows a Family Tree through American History
Uhrichsville, OH—Barbour Publishing is excited to announce the launch of a one-of-a-kind new fiction series created for lovers of history, adventure, romance, and family legacy. The Daughters of the Mayflower will follow a family tree linked by daughters across American history from the landing of the Mayflower through the events of Word War II.
The 18-book series, scheduled to release over the course of three years, will kick off in February 2018 with The Mayflower Bride by popular author Kimberley Woodhouse. This book, which takes place in 1620, features voyages on both the Speedwell and the Mayflower and will set the stage for subsequent books with its focus on adventure, romance, and a thread of espionage that is woven throughout each of the 18 stories.
Releasing every other month by a team of well-known authors, the Daughters of the Mayflower will satisfy voracious readers of Christian fiction continuously for three years. The books are written in such a way that they can be read in succession or stand alone, making them perfect for readers interested in specific time periods in American history.
Release Schedule for First Six Books:
February 2018:
The Mayflower Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
Setting: Atlantic Ocean and Massachusetts Bay Colony, 1620
Notable Events: The Voyage of the Mayflower
April 2018:
The Pirate Bride by Kathleen Y’Barbo
Setting: New Orleans, 1725
Notable Events: Backdrop of the former French and Spanish stronghold
June 2018:
The Captured Bride by Michelle Griep
Setting: Upper Fort Wilderness in Upstate New York, 1760
Notable Events: French and Indian War
August 2018:
The Patriot Bride by Kimberley Woodhouse
Setting: Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, 1774-1775
Notable Events: The Revolutionary War
October 2018:
The Cumberland Bride by Shannon McNear
Setting: Cumberland Gap, 1794
Notable Events: Settlers migrating West and conflicts with Native Americans
December 2018:
The Liberty Bride by MaryLu Tyndall
Setting: Maryland, 1812
Notable Events: The War of 1812
To learn more about the Daughters of the Mayflower series, visit www.barbourbooks.com or view our latest catalog on Edelweiss.
Media Contact: Shalyn Sattler ssattler@barbourbooks.com 740.922.6045 X 109
“Feeding your Family’s Soul” strikes a chord, a TV series, and a Foodie Column — with 14,000 copies sold
Since its publication one year ago Feeding Your Family’s Soul by bestselling author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle has been steadily gaining momentum. Written specifically for a Catholic audience, this book answers questions that face all parents of faith: How to keep the family meal time intact, and how to teach children important messages of faith in the midst of a busy and often chaotic life?
Now in its fourth printing, with over 14,000 copies sold, the book has been enthusiastically received by families and religious educators in parishes and schools.
Creative and specific, with lessons, activities, and recipes, this book has launched a brand that also includes laminated prayer cards for families (8,000 sold) and the release of an accompanying DVD. Author Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle also has launched a branded TV series, Feeding Your Family’s Soul, that can be seen on EWTN’s network At Home with Jim and Judy show.
Legatus, the magazine for Catholic businessmen, now includes a monthly column, Feeding the Foodie. Donna-Marie shares monthly on the topic of nourishing both the body and the soul! Click here for her post on enjoying the fruits of labor and blessing, and a great recipe for Summer Double Berry Cobbler: http://legatus.org/enjoying-fruits-of-labor-and-blessing/
For more information, contact Sr. Antonia Cleverly, srantonia@paracletepress.com, (508) 255-4685 x 329
Executive director of MennoMedia and book imprint Herald Press plans to resign
HARRISONBURG, Va.—Russ Eanes has announced his intention to resign as executive director of MennoMedia and its book imprint Herald Press, effective early 2018.
Eanes was named executive director to lead MennoMedia in 2011, when the new organization was formed from a merger of Mennonite Publishing Network and Third Way Media and set up its headquarters in Harrisonburg.
Under Eanes’s leadership the organization expanded and revitalized its Herald Press book imprint, which saw a 20 percent increase in sales for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2017.
In recent years the organization has copublished a new children’s Sunday school curriculum called Shine: Living in God’s Light. A highlight of that ongoing curriculum, copublished with Brethren Press, has been the successful launch of the Shine On story Bible.
Last year MennoMedia began work on a new worship and song collection, scheduled to be published in 2020.
Eanes has been keen on learning from peers and translating best practices in publishing to the ongoing work of MennoMedia and Herald Press.
Previously an ordained pastor, Eanes first begin specific work in trade book publishing with Plough Publishing 20 years ago. “Serving as publisher first with Plough and these past six years with Herald Press and MennoMedia has been one of the dreams of my lifetime,” said Eanes. “I love the business of publishing, being able to take an author or writer’s ideas and put them between covers, to work with creative editors, designers, and marketers,” he said of his work. He has also enjoyed in recent years collaboration with constituents and leaders across the Mennonite church in North America and abroad. “I will miss the many valued relationships with colleagues in other Mennonite Church USA and Mennonite Church Canada organizations, area conferences and agencies. I will especially miss working with the wonderful staff that it has been my privilege to lead over the past six years.”
Eanes started at what was then Mennonite Publishing Network in 2007 as director of finance and operations. He oversaw the merger of MPN and Third Way Media and the relocation from Scottdale, Pennsylvania, to Harrisonburg. Eanes is currently president of the Protestant Church-Owned Publishers Association, a group representing the major denominational publishing houses in North America. “I especially have enjoyed getting to know and exchange ideas with my peers in other publishing houses,” said Eanes.
“We are grateful for Russ’s deep commitment for producing quality resources for living Christian faith from an Anabaptist perspective,” said Lee Schmucker, chair of the MennoMedia board. “Russ has implemented many best practices in a fast-changing publishing industry, resulting in transformation of operations and marketing.”
Schmucker noted that under Eanes’s leadership, Christian formation resources and the Herald Press imprint have been strengthened and the market expanded beyond Mennonite churches and members. “Through his ardent attention to streamlining operations, overhead has been reduced and debt has been eliminated. Russ has served MennoMedia well during his 10 years of dedicated service,” she stated.
Going forward, MennoMedia’s management team and board are carefully considering how to reconfigure the organization to meet the changing demands of the church and the changing environment in publishing. The board and management will be meeting face to face at the end of September to finalize plans for leadership succession.
Contact: Melodie Davis, news manager, MennoMedia
540-574-4874 MelodieD@mennomedia.org
Harvest Kids™ to publish children’s books by Tony and Lauren Dungy
Eugene, Oregon—August 11, 2017—Harvest House announced today the signing of a multi-book contract with Tony and Lauren Dungy to produce a series of thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated children’s books.
The series showcases the Dungys’ love for children and highlights their desire to make a difference in the lives of young readers. Comprised of picture books for children first through third grade, these meaningful stories will inspire children everywhere and teach important lessons about life and character.
Three books fall under the series title of “Team Dungy” and the stories follow a diverse group of friends at an elementary school as they learn life and character-building lessons through the sports they play. Coaches Tony and Lauren appear as mentors at crucial moments in every story to help the main character work through a problem. The Team Dungy series kicks off with Austin Plays Fair and Maria Finds Courage in August 2018, followed by Carson Chooses Forgiveness in August 2019.
Distinct from the Team Dungy series and scheduled for release in April 2019 will be We Chose You: A Book About Adoption, Family, and Forever Love. Adoption is an issue near and dear to the Dungys, who have seven adopted children. In addition, they are also foster parents. With this book, Tony and Lauren seek to convey to adopted children that they have specifically been chosen to be part of their families, which is a special and forever bond.
“We are tremendously excited to have the Dungys join our Harvest House family,” says Barb Sherrill, Publisher and EVP. “Their passion to share Christian principles and character-building lessons through engaging stories, diverse characters, and compelling artwork fits beautifully with our Harvest Kids line. We can’t wait to see how these books will be used to positively impact children’s lives.”
“We are passionate about children and in particular have focused on encouraging them to read as a means for opening up opportunities for them as they grow. We are excited to partner with Harvest House Publishers in launching a new line of children’s books that we hope will honor the Lord and inspire children of all backgrounds,” say the Dungys.
The Dungys are well respected and highly regarded. Tony’s success in the National Football League as a player and coach, his induction to the NFL Hall of Fame, and his on-going role with NBC clearly showcase his impressive career. He is the author of several books, including bestsellers Quiet Strength, The Mentor Leader, and Uncommon. However, it’s the work he and Lauren do outside of football that is truly his heart and soul.
Lauren is an early childhood educational specialist, best-selling author, and frequently sought-after speaker. A graduate of Duquesne University with a degree in elementary education, she taught school and volunteers as a reading specialist in Title I schools. Lauren has a great passion and love for children, and works closely with several adoption agencies and women’s shelters. She is a devoted wife and mother to ten children.
The Dungys have dedicated their lives to serving others and giving back. They generously open their home to foster or adoptive children, give their time to organizations like Mentors for Life, Boys & Girls Clubs, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Basket of Hope, Title I and many other charitable organizations. The Dungys are a force for good, making a difference in a wide range of ways and lives.
“The Dungys’ love for children is no secret and we are delighted to partner with them on these excellent books,” says Bob Hawkins, President of Harvest House. “An investment into the life of even one child has far greater impact than anyone can fully measure, and our prayer is that the timeless truths in these books multiply that impact through many generations to come.”
About the Publisher:
Harvest Kids™, an imprint of Harvest House, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, creates a wide variety of products that promote biblical values, spark imagination, and encourage young readers up to 12 to develop a lifelong love of Jesus. The Harvest Kids™ line includes Bibles, picture books, devotionals, and other inspiring products, with a special focus on resources for tweens ages 8 to 12.
Media Contact: Christianne Debysingh, Harvest House Publishers
888-468-4108 cdebysingh@harvesthousepublishers.com www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Print quality images to accompany this press release are available in digital format. Available images are: author photos, Harvest Kids and Harvest House logos.