Colorado Springs, CO, April 24, 2017—David C Cook today announces the addition of Jon Burgess as Chief Publishing Officer (CPO), overseeing the Learning Resources group beginning on June 5, 2017.

“We are pleased to have Jon join David C Cook as CPO,” said Cris Doornbos, Chief Executive Officer. “He brings a wide breadth of leadership experience to this critical position and his proven abilities will enable him to add immediate value to the team.”

He was the Director of Marketing for Compassion International. While at Compassion, Burgess directed the development of innovative user-focused designs, customer facing technology, embedded operational systems, and live reporting capabilities.

Jon was also a Development Executive with Apple where he led a $140 million operational segment that included HQ and field office communications, as well as KPI reporting. He leveraged HQ product managers, engineers, designers and marketers for all operations, including exactingly designed meetings, seminars, and retreats for various targeted visionaries. He creatively collaborated with corporate executives, product marketing, finance, logistics, and HR for cohesive impact and unified, on-brand results.

Burgess is the founder of Nvision Consulting, and has served as Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force Reserve Command, Acting Director of Strategic Communications for the Air Force Academy. Currently, he holds the rank of Colonel in the Air Force reserves.

Burgess received both his bachelor’s degree and his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota. His Air Force Professional Education was from the Air War College. He and his wife Lisa live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. They have a daughter and are expecting a new addition mid-August.

Burgess says, “I have never been part of a job search, where I saw God move more clearly than through this process. I was astonished at how my own philosophical, theological, and leadership beliefs aligned in such a convincing and resolute manner as I did with the ministry of David C Cook. I am both humbled and thrilled.”

With the addition of Burgess, Verne Kenney, who served as Executive Publisher for more than two years, will transition back to his consulting business located in Western Michigan.

“Verne has done a remarkable job leading our publishing team,” said Doornbos. “I am deeply grateful for all he has done for the organization.”

Founded in 1875, David C Cook is a leading nonprofit discipleship resource provider based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. For more than 130 years, David C Cook has served the global church with life transforming materials from best-selling books and curriculum, to worship music and media, to small group resources. With additional offices in Elgin, Illinois, Nashville, Tennessee, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Eastbourne, UK, David C Cook is a global organization whose resources are published in more than 150 languages, distributed in more than 80 countries and sold worldwide through retail stores, catalogs, and online.

Contact: Karen Campbell
karen.campbell@davidccook.com  616.309.4390

 

Shares Inside Details of the 2014 Supreme Court Case, Explains Who is the True Owner of Hobby Lobby and Encourages Readers to Live Generously to Impact Future Generations

Giving It All Away…And Getting It All Back Again by David Green Releases from Zondervan Today

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 17, 2017— Hobby Lobby CEO and founder David Green, one of America’s most successful businessmen, offers both inspiration and practical advice in his new book, Giving It All Away… And Getting It All Back Again (Zondervan). Written by Green and National Christian Foundation Heartland CEO’s Bill High, Giving It All Away… And Getting It All Back Again chronicles the path that the Green family has chosen regarding their legacy and encourages readers to live generously and focus on what is truly important – faith and family

“My hope and prayer for this book is that it ignites a movement of people who understand their place in history and are excited to make this place better for future generations,” said Green in the book. “I believe we can chart a course for our lives and our families that allows us to think beyond one generation. We can outline our vision, mission and values. And we can live that out through our generosity. These ideas will allow us to stay rich for generations – not just in a monetary sense, but in a values sense.”

Many came to know David Green and the Green family through the landmark 2014 Supreme Court religious freedom case,Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. In Giving It All Away… And Getting It All Back Again, Green discusses the family meeting that took place before he filed the suit, where he laid out the many hurdles they faced – including fines of $1.3 million a day – for not complying with the contraception requirements of the Affordable Care Act. It was a meeting that gave the Green family the courage and conviction to proceed with the grueling legal fight that ultimately resulted in victory not only for Hobby Lobby, but also for the cause of justice and righteousness.

Early praise for Giving It All Away… And Getting It All Back Again has come from major American faith leaders and business experts, including Dave Ramsey, who writes, “His business wisdom is surpassed only by his integrity and faith. This book reflects David at his very best.” Dr. David Jeremiah said, “Because of his faith and generosity, David Green has changed the world.  His story will change your walk with God.”

Green will launch the book with major national media in New York City this week including CBS This Morning and multiple interviews with FOX News and FOX Business.

David Green and Bill High deliver what they feel is “our clarion call” in Giving It All Away… And Getting It All Back Again: “If we give our lives to this idea of passing wealth on to future generations, then we’ll get it all back again in the form of future generations who will still follow hard after Christ.”

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: Robin Barnett
robin.barnett@harpercollins.com  (616) 863-1924

Dare 2 Share Continues a Legacy to Motivate and Equip Teens to Share their Faith through Events, Curriculum and Resources

Orange County, CA – Dare 2 Share has selected FrontGate Media, the leading Faith and Family marketing agency, for representation for Publicity, Social Media and Grassroots Outreach.

Over the past 25 years, Dare 2 Share has inspired and equipped over 1 million teenagers and youth leaders to talk about their faith through conferences, training curriculum and resources.FrontGate is poised to support Dare 2 Share in promoting their mission to Energize the Church to Mobilize youth to Gospelize their world, and their latest endeavor, the Dare 2 Share Live event.

For 2017, the organization is launching Dare 2 Share Live, a national, live, multi-site training and outreach event.  On September 23, the event will be held in Denver, CO and simulcast live into over fifty churches across the nation.  Dare 2 Share Live seeks to raise the profile of evangelism in youth ministry by empowering over 50,000 teenagers and youth leaders.

Scott A. Shuford, Founder/CEO of FrontGate Media, added, “Dare 2 Share is an incredible organization focused on empowering teens to share the gospel, and providing youth leaders the resources they need to build thriving ministries. We believe in Dare 2 Share’s mission and are honored to support and grow their ministry.”

Dare 2 Share Founder and CEO Greg Stier, explains, “It was important to find not only a company that understood our marketing needs, but that shared our mission and goals to reach teens and support youth leaders and the Church at large.  FrontGate was uniquely positioned as an industry leader made up of people who support evangelistic causes. We are glad to be a part of the FrontGate family.”

About FrontGate Media
Award-winning FrontGate Media (http://FrontGateMedia.com) is the leading marketing agency and media group specializing in the faith and family audience.  Having celebrated their 15-year milestone in 2016, the firm serves as “Your Gateway to the Christian Audience.” FrontGate’s full service agency and media group has been trusted with over 5,000 campaigns, providing Faith-based market Strategy Development, Public Relations, Media Buying, and Social Media & Marketing. FrontGate’s own Web & Events Network also provides reach to more than 10 million people each month and over 17 million email subscribers. Founded in 2001, FrontGate has repeatedly been honored in the Internet Advertising Competition and the WebAwards. The company plays a key role in the success of for-profit and non-profit organizations seeking the faith-based and family-friendly audiences.

Owen and Eleanor Move In (April 2018) will kick off a new children’s chapter book series, following two unlikely friends who bond over the challenges of their families moving into the same duplex. Owen, an introspective seven-year-old, joins forces with his downstairs neighbor Eleanor, a gregarious eight-year-old. The Owen and Eleanor series follows two kids from two different Christian families as they navigate the ups and downs of childhood. The duo exhibits Christian values and learns important life lessons through common childhood experiences.

“Sparkhouse Family is delighted to be moving into the chapter book category with Owen and Eleanor Moves In,” said Andrew DeYoung, director of product development for Sparkhouse Family. “Heather’s storytelling in the book is charming and funny, and the way she integrates faith into the lives of these two characters is completely natural and organic, never forced or heavy-handedly didactic. Owen and Eleanor feel like real kids dealing with real issues, and we know that kids are going to fall in love with both of them.”

Heather Bouwman is a middle-grade author of historical fantasy. As H.M. Bouwman, she is the author of The Remarkable & Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap (2008) and A Crack in the Sea (2017). Bouwman is also an associate professor of English at the University of St. Thomas. She is a homeschool mom, a member of the United Methodist Church, and a regular attender of writing and book conferences.

Landover, MD, April 27, 2017 – Earlier this month Christian Retailing announced that ChristianAudio has received all three nominations in the audio category for the 2017 Christian Retailing’s Best Awards. The three titles are B&H Publishing Group titles: Unashamed by Lecrae, She Reads Truth by Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams, and The Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer with Gina Detwiler.

Introduced in 2001, the Christian Retailing­–sponsored awards recognize life-changing products in the Christian retail industry. Members of the Christian products industry judged the nominations on their ability to speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion, open people’s minds to new ways of thinking, and encourage and affirm Christlike living.

ChristianAudio also produced the audiobook for each of the category finalists listed below:

Auto/Biography:
Unashamed by Lecrae (B&H Publishing Group)

Charismatic:
Prophetic Activation by John Eckhardt (Charisma House)

Children’s Fiction:
The Prince Warriors and the Unseen Invasion by Priscilla Shirer with Gina Detwiler (B&H Publishing Group)

Christian Living/ Practical Life:
Looking for Lovely by Annie F. Downs (B&H Publishing Group)

Church and Culture:
Who Moved My Pulpit? by Thom S. Rainer (B&H Publishing Group)
Designed to Lead by Eric Geiger and Kevin Peck (B&H Publishing Group)

Evangelism:
Tell Someone by Greg Laurie (B&H Publishing Group)
Not All Roads Lead to Heaven by Dr. Robert Jeffress (Baker Publishing Group)

Fiction/ Contemporary:
Priceless: She’s Worth Fighting For by Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone (Worthy Publishing)

Fiction/ Historical:
Risen by Angela Hunt (Baker Publishing Group)

First-Time Authors:
She Reads Truth by Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams (B&H Publishing Group)

Relationships:
Letters to My Daughters by Barbara Rainey (Baker Publishing Group)

Social Issues:
The Gospel & Racial Reconciliation by Russell Moore and Andrew T. Walker (B&H Publishing Group)
I AM N by The Voice of the Martyrs (David C. Cook)

Backlist:
Fervent by Priscilla Shirer (B&H Publishing Group)

Cory Verner, general manager and publisher of ChristianAudio, said, “It’s an honor to have been recognized by Christian Retailing and our peers for these nominations. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner with CBA publishers and authors who are making a significant impact on people’s lives.”

Visit Christian Retailing’s website for a full list of finalists. Winners of the Christian Retailing’s Best Awards will be announced at CBA UNITE in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Wednesday, June 28.

About ChristianAudio
ChristianAudio was founded in 2004 and has been producing award-winning audiobook productions with more Audie nominations in the nonfiction category than any other. ChristianAudio’s focus is thoughtful, solid, nonfiction titles. They produce approximately 300 new titles annually and have the largest core CBA backlist of any audio publisher. For more information, contact Marilyn Largent at marilyn@christianaudio.com or 760-745-2411 x 207.

Landover, MD, April 27, 2017 – ChristianAudio, an RBmedia company, produced and distributed audiobook editions for eight 2017 Christian Book Award® finalists, announced March 31.

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) named 59 books in 11 categories as the year’s best Christian books and Bibles, including the newly added categories of Faith & Culture, Biography & Memoir, Young People’s Literature, Ministry Resources, and Bible Study.

Biography & Memoir:
Eight Women of Faith by Michael A. G. Haykin
The Passionate Preaching of Martyn Lloyd-Jones by Steven J. Lawson

Christian Living:
Zeal without Burnout by Christopher Ash

Faith & Culture:
Impossible People by Os Guinness
Seeking Refuge by Stephan Bauman, Matthew Soerens and Dr. Issam Smeir

Devotion & Gift:
Blessings for Women by Susie Larson

New Author:
Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side by Natasha Crain

Ministry Resources:
Who Moved My Pulpit? by Thom S. Rainer

Cory Verner, general manager and publisher of ChristianAudio, said, “It is an honor to partner with ECPA publishers and authors who create books that make a significant impact on individual lives and our culture at large.”

The Christian Book Award winners in each category, plus the 2017 Christian Book of the Year®, will be named May 2 at the ECPA Awards Celebration held during the ECPA Leadership Summit in Colorado Springs.

About ChristianAudio
ChristianAudio was founded in 2004 and has been producing award-winning audiobook productions with more Audie nominations in the nonfiction category than any other. ChristianAudio’s focus is thoughtful, solid, nonfiction titles. They produce approximately 300 new titles annually and have the largest core CBA backlist of any audio publisher. To contact them for more information, please contact Marilyn Largent at marilyn@christianaudio.com or 760-745-2411 x 207.

 

CBA entered an agreement with The Friedman Group to provide in-person and online/on-demand retail training. The scope of training will range from customer service and sales to store management and operations.

The program will launch at UNITE 2017, CBA’s annual convention this year in Cincinnati, Ohio, June 27-30.

The Friedman Group has more than 35 years of retail training that has helped small and large retail companies implement processes for goal setting, metrics analysis, coaching, hiring, training, progressive discipline, and other disciplines that help retailers succeed.

“Our mission is to help retailers create world-class customer experiences that will set their companies apart from the competition and foster growth,” said Marlene Cordry, The Friedman Group president.

Training is designed for frontline sales people, sales managers, field supervisors, and owners.

CBA selected The Friedman Group after discussions with a group of leading storeowners and managers who voiced needs and expressed recommendations.

The online training program contains the latest innovative coaching, leadership, and accountability courses for managers at every level, plus basic customer-service and sales courses for every team member’s skill level. This will provide not only easy access to training and information, but also make it easier for stores to conduct consistent and effective professional training that advances customer service and sales capabilities, Cordry said.

The training platform has more than 50,000 users and is available very affordably via web or mobile devices.

“Every aspect and level of retail management will be easily accessed to help Christian-store leaders and staff create engaging customer experiences that connect with people and ensure their needs are met,” said Tammy Horvath, CBA membership director.

Additionally, CBA and The Friedman Group will plan a two-and-a-half day retail management seminar to help storeowners and managers organize and operate their stores to compete more effectively.

Wendi Swanson, a Friedman Group trainer and presenter, worked with CBA several years ago with high marks from attendees and returns to help lead in-person sessions at UNITE 2017’s Retail Academy plus a customer experience workshop.

“I am excited to be able to reconnect with Christian retailers during a time of retailing transition,” Swanson said. “Despite the rise of e-commerce and online shopping, consumers will continue to shop in stores. Retailers must be able to provide an exceptional customer experience to counter or complement online trends and keep customers coming back to the store.”

The Friedman Group
The Friedman Group is a 35-year-old company that specializes in retail sales, management and operations training. Its business is helping salespeople sell more. With an unparalleled track record, the company has thousands of success stories from many years of focused effort to bring a higher level of performance and professionalism to retail in just about every retail industry. 

CBA, the Association for Christian Retail
CBA is the leading association for providers of Christian products to reach all people. It supplies vital connections, information, education and encouragement to Christian resource providers.

Contact: Sharon Roberts
E-mail: sroberts@cbaonline.org  719-272-3504