Just one year after its release, THE BIBLE, SIMPLIFIED: Learn the Story. Live the Story. by Zach Windahl has surpassed 100,000 copies sold, marking a significant milestone for one of the fastest-growing voices helping a new generation engage with Scripture. At a time when many people are searching for meaning but feel intimidated by the Bible, Windahl’s approachable guide has become a trusted resource for readers seeking clarity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of God’s Word.

While access to Scripture has never been greater, biblical literacy continues to decline, particularly among younger generations. THE BIBLE, SIMPLIFIED meets that challenge by breaking down the Bible’s overarching story in a way that is practical, accessible, and deeply encouraging. Through relatable teaching, concise explanations, and practical application, Windahl helps readers move beyond confusion and discover how every part of Scripture points to God’s redemptive story and their place within it. Readers learn to understand the Bible’s storyline, grow in confidence in their faith, and apply biblical truth to everyday life.

The remarkable success of THE BIBLE, SIMPLIFIED reflects more than strong book sales, it highlights a broader cultural movement. Still early in his publishing career, Zach Windahl has quickly become one of the most influential voices among younger Christians by meeting people where they already are, particularly on TikTok and Instagram. Through approachable Bible-reading resources and engaging social media content designed to make Scripture feel less overwhelming, he has built a rapidly growing community eager to deepen their faith. Rather than asking people to enter traditional religious spaces first, Windahl brings spiritual formation into the digital platforms where millions spend their time, offering an accessible pathway into biblical literacy for a generation searching for authentic faith.

“When I first started reading the Bible for myself, I had no idea where to begin and the whole thing was overwhelming to me,” Windahl said. “Someone taught me the storyline and history behind the books and that’s when it all started to make sense to me. Now it’s my hope to help others fall in love with Scripture for themselves. Seeing more than 100,000 readers take that journey already is incredibly humbling, and I’m just grateful that God has allowed me to be a part of it.”

Watching THE BIBLE, SIMPLIFIED reach more than 100,000 readers in its first year has been amazing to witness,” said Hanha Parham, Acquisitions Editor for Nelson Books. “Zach has an incredible ability to make Scripture approachable without sacrificing its depth. This milestone is a testament not only to his gift as a communicator but to the growing desire among readers to engage with God’s Word in fresh and accessible ways.”

About Zach Windahl
Zach Windahl is the bestselling author of The Bible, Simplified and the creator of The Bible Study, which has sold more than 500,000 copies and helped hundreds of thousands of people open the Bible for the first time. He lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife, Gisela, and their son, Eben. Connect with Zach at @ZachWindahl or ZachWindahl.com.

About Nelson Books
Nelson Books, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, is a leader in the Christian nonfiction publishing realm. Nelson Books is dedicated to acquiring, developing, and promoting authors whose content inspires, informs, and invokes real change. The imprint publishes dozens of new titles each year in the areas of spiritual growth, inspiration, and practical living with select memoirs, biography, history, and culture releases. The Nelson Books roster of best-selling authors includes Max Lucado, Lysa TerKeurst, Bob Goff, John Eldredge, Dr. Anita Phillips, and Jefferson Bethke.

Cece Winans Invites Readers to Deepen Their Faith and Strengthen Generational Connections with New Devotional ‘Faith For Generations’ Available Today

LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2026 — For decades, CeCe Winans has inspired audiences around the world through music rooted in faith, worship, and hope. Now, she continues her mission of encouraging believers with the release of her newest book, Faith For Generations: 50 Devotions to Ignite a Passion for Christ through Love and Worship (K-LOVE Books), available wherever books are sold.

Marking her fifth literary release, Faith For Generations is a heartfelt 240-page devotional offering daily encouragement and spiritual wisdom designed to guide readers through life’s challenges one day at a time. Through transparent reflections, biblical truths, and uplifting messages, Winans reminds readers of the importance of staying spiritually grounded in an increasingly distracted world.

The timely release serves as a powerful follow-up to her bestselling 2022 title, Believe For It: Passing on Faith to the Next Generation. While that book focused on preserving faith within families, Faith For Generations expands the conversation by encouraging believers to cultivate stronger spiritual connections across every season of life. The devotional will inspire parents seeking to build faith-centered homes, grandparents desiring to leave a lasting spiritual legacy, mentors guiding younger generations, and believers searching for daily renewal and deeper intimacy with God.

“My prayer for Faith For Generations is that it encourages people to spend daily time with God and grow stronger in their faith together. No matter what’s happening in the world around us, God is still faithful, His Word still matters, and His love still changes lives,” says Winans.

Like many women balancing multiple roles, Winans understands the demands of modern life. As a wife, mother, daughter, sister, pastor, and mentor, she recognizes the necessity of making space for prayer, reflection, and worship amid life’s daily pressures. Through these 50 devotions, readers will discover practical ways to nurture spiritual growth at home, strengthen intergenerational relationships rooted in Christ, and remain anchored in God’s promises regardless of circumstance.

Winans’ broad multigenerational and cross-demographic appeal uniquely positions Faith For Generations to resonate far beyond traditional audiences. Much like her music ministry, which has transcended cultural and generational boundaries for more than four decades, this devotional is poised to encourage seasoned and emerging voices seeking guidance and spiritual encouragement.

CONTACT: erma@ebyrdcom.com

Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) announces the release of Marriage Moments: 130 Devotions to Strengthen Your Life Together (July 15, 2026) by Pastor Thomas Kock.

Designed for couples seeking to grow together in faith and love, Marriage Moments offers 130 concise, Scripture-centered devotions that encourage husbands and wives to navigate both the joys and challenges of married life with Christ at the center. From celebrating life’s milestones to weathering seasons of conflict, uncertainty, and hardship, each devotion points readers to the lasting strength found in God’s Word.

Written in a warm, conversational style, Pastor Kock explores God’s gracious design for marriage while demonstrating how Christ’s redeeming work provides a firm foundation for healthy, enduring relationships. Each reading presents practical biblical wisdom that couples can readily apply to everyday life, making the book an ideal resource for daily devotions, anniversaries, wedding gifts, or marriage enrichment ministries.

With marriage facing increasing cultural pressures, Marriage Moments offers timely encouragement rooted in Scripture, reminding couples that lasting unity is cultivated not through human effort alone but through lives lived together at the foot of the cross.

Through resources like Marriage Moments, NPH continues its mission of equipping Christians with biblically faithful publications that nurture faith, strengthen families, and encourage lifelong discipleship.

The book is well suited for personal devotion, marriage mentoring, small groups, church libraries, premarital counseling, and ministries that seek to support couples throughout every stage of married life.

From the authors of the beloved and bestselling Lead With Prayer, a 60-day invitation to experience the life-changing practice of regular prayer.

When you’re a leader, prioritizing prayer—for your own growth, your family, and your team—isn’t just a nice thing to do. It’s an essential spiritual discipline. Yet it’s difficult to make daily prayer a priority.
​
In The Prayerful Leader, Ryan Skoog, Peter Greer, and Cameron Doolittle draw from personal experience and the wisdom of world-changing global leaders to help leaders make prayer an anchor, not an afterthought. This 60-day devotional distills the wisdom of the bestselling book into inspiring daily readings, enhanced with Scripture, reflection prompts, application points, and prayers.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ryan Skoog has co-founded several travel technology companies, such as Faith Ventures and Yonder Travel Insurance, and he is also the founder and president of VENTURE, a nonprofit that works in the toughest places of the world, serving war refugees, trafficked people, oppressed children, and the unreached. VENTURE has planted thousands of churches that serve in their own communities to rescue girls from trafficking, start farms, and train in microenterprise and feminine hygiene, leading to generational transformation. Ryan is the co-author of the book Chosen: A 30 Day Devotional.

Cameron Doolittle is senior advisor to the Maclellan Foundation, executive director of John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way, and co-founder of Generosity Path. He previously served as an advisor to senators, congressmen, and senior executives at Fortune 500 companies through his consulting firm, since acquired by Gartner. Cameron advises high-impact givers and great ministries. He now consults with organizations that his family loves, including BibleProject, Desiring God with John Piper, Faith Driven Giver with Henry Kaestner, ECFA, Awana, Christianity Today, YoungLife, and others. He served as founding CEO of Jill’s House, a ministry for kids with intellectual disabilities.

Peter Greer is the president and CEO of HOPE International, a global Christ-centered economic development organization serving throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Under Peter’s leadership, HOPE has expanded from working in 2 to over 20 countries and served over 2.5 million families. Prior to joining HOPE, Peter worked in Cambodia, Zimbabwe, and Rwanda. He has co-authored 15 books, including Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals, The Gift of Disillusionment, and The Spiritual Danger of Doing Good.

Blending medical insight with biblical wisdom, physician and pastor Matt Rehrer explores both the physical and spiritual reasons why we struggle to sleep.

Available September 21, 2026

Our struggles with sleep impact every area of life, from physical and spiritual health to emotional well-being and thinking clearly. When Sleep Won’t Come​ approaches sleep from both physiological and biblical angles to help us understand our bodies’ physical rhythms and needs and to show how God uses sleep and sleeplessness to reveal his grace and care. Sleep is not just a complex biological rhythm of the body but a spiritual rhythm of the soul and a divine gift that reveals our human limitations and dependence on God.

Dr. Rehrer shares his personal experiences with sleep challenges and provides readers with tools to better understand their sleep patterns, manage stress, and find rest in the God who never sleeps. With clarity and compassion, he explains how sleep works, why it often fails, and what our restless nights reveal about both our bodies and our souls.

• A holistic approach walks readers through the purposes of sleep, root causes of sleeplessness, and solutions for sleep struggles.
• Offers actionable tips for body stewardship, improving sleep habits, and creating a conducive sleep environment.
• Provides a framework for prayer and Scripture meditation to find hope and rest during sleepless nights.

Matt Rehrer, MD, is an emergency medicine physician in the San Francisco Bay Area and also serves as a pastor at NorthCreek Church. He is the author of When Sleep Won’t Come and Redeeming Memory and is a contributor to The Christian Counselor’s Medical Desk Reference. He and his wife, Kara, have three children. Learn more at mattrehrer.com or follow him on X (@matt_rehrer).

For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com

San Diego, CA – 2026 — ONE Audiobooks has reached a significant milestone in its publishing partnerships, securing exclusive distribution rights to more than 3,000 audiobook titles.  These titles encompass the full breadth of categories, from bestselling and award-winning Christian nonfiction and fiction titles, to children’s/YA, Christian living & theology, counseling, and more.

Over the past seven years, the company has built a diverse partnership ecosystem that includes full-service audiobook production with distribution, licensing agreements, and distribution-only partnerships. Today, ONE Audiobooks works with hundreds of Christian publishers, ministries, and organizations, as well as numerous independent authors creating faith-based and Christian-adjacent content.

As one of the top three audiobook distributors in the Christian market, ONE Audiobooks has focused on helping small and mid-sized Christian publishers compete more effectively in the rapidly growing audiobook marketplace. By combining the catalog strength of hundreds of partners, the company has created opportunities for publishers to achieve greater visibility through its direct-to-platform promotional efforts and obtain higher-quality audiobook products than they could often create independently.

“What began as a vision has grown into a thriving network of partners committed to sharing meaningful content through audio,” said founder and President Cory Verner. “We’re incredibly grateful to work alongside so many publishers, ministries, and creators who produce thoughtful, helpful, enjoyable, and Christ-centered content that serves listeners around the world.”

As ONE Audiobooks celebrates this milestone, the company remains committed to developing and expanding new opportunities for Christian publishers and content creators while continuing to grow the reach and impact of faith-based audiobooks worldwide.

ONE Audiobooks specializes in the high-quality production, distribution, and promotion of clean, inspirational audiobooks through a personalized, strategic approach. Whether you’re launching your first title or expanding a large catalog, ONE offers flexible publishing models designed to meet you where you are and scale with your goals — prioritizing targeted reach and long-term growth. Combining over 20 years of experience with a forward-thinking approach, ONE is always at the ready to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving audiobook industry.

Contact: Jeremy Park, jeremy@oneaudiobooks.com

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., JULY 25 2026 — Zondervan Reflective, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is celebrating a landmark milestone for Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Gregory Koukl, which has now surpassed 500,000 copies sold. The achievement arrives at a moment when questions of faith, meaning, and truth are drawing unprecedented attention in the public square – from viral online debates to chart-topping podcasts – making Koukl’s approachable, conversation-first method to apologetics more relevant than ever.

First published in 2009 and later expanded in a widely praised 10th-anniversary edition, Tactics equips Christians with practical ways to engage skeptics and seekers with confidence and grace. Rather than arming readers with combative arguments, Koukl teaches a disarming, question-driven method that keeps conversations constructive and gets people genuinely talking about the claims of Christianity.

The milestone comes amid growing interest in apologetics globally. Koukl himself recently joined a widely discussed panel on The Diary of a CEO, one of the world’s most-listened-to podcasts, for a candid conversation on meaning, purpose, and truth. Conversations like these have introduced classical apologetics to audiences far beyond the church – precisely the readers Tactics was written to reach.

“Half a million copies sold is an amazing testament to how Tactics has equipped Christians to confidently talk about their faith,” said Ryan Pazdur, VP and Publisher for Zondervan Reflective. “In a culture full of noise and hostility, Tactics offers something rare: a way to have the conversation that is both winsome and wise. Its continued growth shows how hungry Christians are for exactly that.”

Built on decades of frontline experience engaging skeptics on the air and on university campuses, Tactics teaches readers how to meet challenges and provocations with poise and conviction, start spiritual conversations naturally, and present the truth of Christianity clearly, cleverly, and persuasively. Koukl’s aim is not to help readers win arguments but to help them, in his words, “put a stone in someone’s shoe” – leaving people with something to think about long after the conversation ends.

“When I wrote Tactics, my goal was simple – to help Christians feel confident and stay gracious in their most important conversations,” said Koukl. “To see it reach half a million readers is humbling. In a moment when so many people are genuinely seeking to graciously and confidently defend their faith, I’m grateful that God has used Tactics to help do just that.”

For more information about Tactics, visit zondervanacademic.com.

About the Author
Gregory Koukl holds MA degrees with honors in both apologetics and philosophy. He’s spoken on over 90 university campuses throughout the world and hosted his own call-in radio talk show for over 33 years defending “Christianity worth thinking about.” Greg is founder and president of Stand to Reason (str.org) and serves as adjunct professor of Christian apologetics at Biola University. He is the author of the award-winning The Story of Reality and the best-selling Tactics and Street Smarts.

About Zondervan
Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in numerous genres and subject areas; academic and reference works; curriculum resources; and books for children and young adults. Zondervan is based in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit zondervan.com.

‘The Stories We Live By’ explores the flaws of popular stories that leave us feeling hollow and offers a more satisfying hope.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 2026) – As rates of depression and anxiety continue to rise, The Stories We Live By: Seven Cultural Myths That Fail Us and the Story That Never Will (Zondervan, Sept. 22, 2026) explores whether the very stories meant to guide us to happiness and meaning are actually leading us to despair and loneliness. 

In this new co-authored book, Michael Keller with insight and analysis from his father, pastor and author Timothy Keller, unmasks the hidden cultural narratives that shape our lives, often without our knowledge, to make sense of both the beauty and brokenness of the world. 

“Everyday expressions like ‘Follow your heart’ and ‘You do you’ are not throwaway phrases; they are powerful mini-stories of our modern culture that subconsciously inform our choices and actions,” writes Michael Keller. “Nursed on these narratives from birth and barely conscious of them, our understanding of the world and our place in it has been shaped by these stories.”   

The Stories We Live By is the culmination of a project Michael Keller and his dad began working on years before Timothy Keller’s passing in 2023. The father-and-son project became even more meaningful to Michael Keller after his father’s death, when he was bombarded with well-meaning cultural platitudes that failed when he needed them most. It was in this season of grief that Michael Keller returned to the notes and papers he and his father had been working on before he died.  

“Dad spent his last years thinking through seven narratives that quietly shape how we live—about who we are, what freedom means, what makes us happy, who holds power, where history is heading, what science can tell us and how justice works without a moral foundation,” Michael Keller said. “This book is the result of that work. His last cultural analysis for us.” 

As the Kellers note in The Stories We Live By, belief-transmitting stories are everywhere. We are taught them, not formally in a classroom, but by the music we listen to, the films we watch and the social media we scroll each day. These popular cultural narratives shape how we think about ourselves, how we act and how we tell the difference between right and wrong.  

The Stories We Live By explores seven key cultural narratives that interlock and reinforce one another to form a larger, cohesive metanarrative that shapes our lives: 

•  Identity: “You Have to Be True to Yourself” 
• Power: “The Only Way to Bring Change Is to Take Power from the ‘Bad’ and Give It to the ‘Good’” 
• Freedom: “Live Free. Just Do No Harm” 
• Morality: “Morals—Right and Wrong—Are Socially Constructed, and We Should Work for Justice” 
• Truth: “Science and Reason Alone Can Tell Us What Is True and Fix Our Problems” 
• Happiness: “Do What Makes You Happy, and Don’t Let Anyone Keep You from It” 
• Progress: “Be on the Right Side of History, Which Is Always Moving Toward More Liberty and Prosperity and Away from Superstition (Religion) and Oppression”

Michael Keller notes that each story correlates with answers to life’s biggest questions about our very existence and impacts views about societal issues including abortion, politics, sexuality and even child-rearing.  

“Cultural narratives are like a pair of glasses we have worn for so long that we’ve forgotten they exist,” Michael Keller writes. “We do not look at the glasses; we look through them. They are invisible lenses that shape everything we see.”  

Dedicating one chapter to each cultural narrative, The Stories We Live By examines how these stories are failing us, evaluates their effectiveness and compares and contrasts each with the Christian story. The final chapters are centered around helping readers understand how to apply the gospel story with our family, at work and with ourselves to determine how to engage culture without being consumed by it.   

“You can’t simply banish a cultural story like ‘money will make me happy’ by trying to ignore it,” writes Michael Keller. “You must displace it. You must shove it out and replace it with a story that’s more beautiful, more compelling and truer.”  

A supplemental six-session curriculum, The Stories We Live By Bible Study Guide, which includes a streaming video, will also release from Zondervan on Sept. 22, 2026. 

More information about The Stories We Live By at www.zondervan.com.    

About Michael Keller
Michael Keller is the lead pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church Lincoln Square and also the longest-tenured senior pastor in the Redeemer network of churches in New York City. He has spent two decades engaging with one of the world’s most culturally diverse populations. He holds a Ph.D. from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and M.Div. and Th.M. degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. His writings have been featured in publications such as Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, ByFaith magazine and Gospel in Life. 

About Timothy J. Keller 
Timothy J. Keller (1950–2023) was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, cofounder of Redeemer City to City, and the author of numerous books, including The Reason for God, The Prodigal God and The Meaning of Marriage. His 31 books have sold over 6 million copies and been translated into 29 languages.  

About Zondervan Books 
Zondervan is a HarperCollins company and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian communications. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.   

CONTACT:
Kristin U. Cole, kristin@kccommunications.co  

 

Christian publishers and authors can create free profiles and build reader communities centered on gratitude.

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — ActsSocial has retained FrontGate Media to support the public launch of its faith-first social platform. FrontGate will also lead Christian-market outreach to publishers, authors, ministries, nonprofits, and other Christian organizations.

ActsSocial is creating a healthier social experience. FrontGate Media brings 25+ years of experience helping Christian organizations reach the right audiences.

As ActsSocial enters the July launch, they reported more than 7,000 verified members from the beta testing phase across 195 countries. In addition, the community grew through referrals without paid advertising. This early growth reflects interest in a platform that prioritizes real relationships over outrage, anonymous accounts, and endless scrolling.

What Is ActsSocial?

ActsSocial is a faith-first social platform built for real people, real names, and meaningful community. It welcomes Christians and anyone seeking a more respectful, positive online experience.

Instead of optimizing its feed for screen time based on conflict and controversy, ActsSocial helps people spend more time with one another. The platform emphasizes gratitude, local relationships, useful content, and direct connections with the people and organizations users follow.

• Real-name profiles representing verified users
• No third-party advertising in the social feed
• A built-in Bible reader with 12 versions across 7 languages
• Daily devotionals and multi-day reading plans
• A community prayer wall
• Local and interest-based groups
• Community events, invitations, and RSVP tools
• Profiles for individuals, churches, nonprofits, creators, artists, groups, and eligible businesses

Benefits for Christian Publishers, Authors, and Content Creators

Christian publishers, authors, and content creators can use free profiles to share announcements, excerpts, and long-form posts. They can also post audio, video, podcast appearances, launch events, and behind-the-scenes content.

Followers choose whether to subscribe. As a result, authors gain a direct path to interested readers instead of relying only on an algorithm. Publishers can also encourage authors to claim profiles early and build verified identities. These profiles can become a home for new releases, reading plans, interviews, and reader engagement.

Benefits for Churches, Media Organizations, Ministries, and Nonprofits

Broadcasters, digital media, churches, ministries, nonprofits, and faith-based businesses can share articles, broadcasts, podcasts, program updates, prayer needs, devotionals, events, groups, impact stories, and volunteer opportunities on ActsSocial.

Churches and ministries can use a free profile as a digital front door beyond Sunday. Likewise, nonprofits can share impact stories, coordinate volunteers, and direct supporters to their existing donation tools. ActsSocial does not take a platform cut. Finally, media organizations can build a verified presence where audiences can discover trusted content.

Create Your ActsSocial Profile
ActsSocial is available worldwide. Individuals and eligible organizations can create an account or claim the appropriate profile at ActsSocial.com. Watch the ActsSocial introduction: YouTube video

About ActsSocial
ActsSocial is a faith-first social platform that encourages authentic relationships and positive engagement. Features include verified real-name profiles, a Bible reader, devotionals, prayer tools, groups, events, and profiles for individuals and organizations. Its “gratitude over outrage” philosophy puts real people and meaningful connections first.
Learn more at ActsSocial.com.

About FrontGate Media
FrontGate Media is an award-winning, full-service marketing agency and media group specializing in the Faith and Family audience. With over 7,500 campaigns and a powerful digital network, FrontGate offers expert services in public relations, advertising, media buying, social marketing, and content development. Its work has earned honors from the Internet Advertising Competition, the WebAwards, and the Emmy® Awards.
Learn more at FrontGateMedia.com.

Media Contact:
Jesús Peña, FrontGate Media, 949-799-4477, JesusP@FrontGateMedia.com

July 2026 | LISLE, IL—An author with InterVarsity Press (IVP) for nearly a half century, J. I. Packer (1926–2020) was one of the most beloved and widely read Christian theologians of the twentieth century and was once named in Time magazine’s list of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America. July 22, 2026 marks the date of his 100th birthday, and IVP is honored to carry on Packer’s legacy with two new editions: Knowing Christianity and Truth and Power.

Knowing Christianity: The Foundations of the Christian Faith and How They Shape Daily Life covers key elements of spiritual life, Christian living, and our ultimate end. Truth and Power: The Place of Scripture in the Christian Life explores how the Bible should shape every aspect of Christian discipleship.

Jon Boyd, IVP’s associate publisher and vice president of editorial, said, “On Packer’s hundredth birthday, it’s natural for us both to look back in gratitude for all he contributed to that century as well as to turn ahead in prayer and endeavor to press on up the path he pointed out. That path is marked by the Bible as chief among books, the center point of everything else we can say.”

The author of forty-seven books, as well as untold numbers of journal articles, book reviews, dictionary entries, and forewords, Packer’s prolific work, particularly his best-known book Knowing God, has impacted countless pastors, thought leaders, theologians, and authors. Billy Graham once said, “A hundred years from now only a handful of books written today will still be widely read and accepted as Christian classics. Dr. James I. Packer’s Knowing God may well prove to be one of them. A gifted theologian and writer, Dr. Packer has the rare ability to deal with profound and basic spiritual truths in a practical and highly readable way. This book will help every reader grasp in a fuller way one of the Bible’s greatest truths: that we can know God personally because God wants us to know him.”

Boyd noted how formative Knowing God has been in his own life and work: “In one of my first conversations with an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campus staff worker when I was an undergrad, he pushed a copy of Knowing God across the table to me in the Michigan Union and said, ‘Let’s start with this.’ It was a great beginning. Packer’s wisdom sharpened my appetite for Christian theology, as it has done for countless others.”

Packer was born in a village outside Gloucester, England, on July 22, 1926. When he was seven, while being chased by a bully as he left school, Packer suffered a severe head injury in a collision with a van. Unable to participate in sports after the accident, Packer instead turned his attention to his love for reading. And when he turned eleven, Packer was gifted an old Oliver typewriter from his parents. Little did they know that their son would go on to craft every word of every one of his books on a typewriter, including Praying, A Quest for Godliness, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, Rediscovering Holiness, and more than forty others.

Packer’s time studying at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, became another formative experience for his future as a prolific author and theologian. During his years at school he attended lectures by C. S. Lewis, whose thought became an influential part of Packer’s life and work. While at Oxford he also committed his life to Christ at an evangelistic service sponsored by the campus InterVarsity chapter.

Packer left a lasting impression on those he interacted with on various projects. Bob Fryling, former publisher for IVP, recalled, “One day at lunch with some colleagues I asked him, ’Jim, how would you describe the uniqueness of IVP?‘ After a brief pause he said, ‘Some publishers tell you what to believe and other publishers tell you what you already believe, but IVP helps you to believe.‘ We were so grateful for not only his kind and generous affirmation, but we were a bit stunned that he had captured in a brief moment what indeed was integral to IVP’s vision and mission. He was a publisher’s dream!”

In addition to the new editions of Packer’s books, IVP has been sharing stories, quotes, and excerpts throughout the month of July. But Packer best sums up his life and legacy with these words from a Crossway article published in 2020:

“As I look back on the life that I have lived, I would like to be remembered as a voice—a voice that focused on the authority of the Bible, the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the wonder of his substitutionary sacrifice and atonement for our sins.

“I would like to be remembered as a voice calling Christian people to holiness and challenging lapses in Christian moral standards.

“I should like to be remembered as someone who was always courteous in controversy, but without compromise.

“I ask you to thank God with me for the way that he has led me, and I wish, hope, pray that you will enjoy the same clear leading from him—and the same help in doing the tasks that he sets you—that I have enjoyed.

“And if your joy matches my joy as we continue in our Christian lives, well . . . you will be blessed indeed.”

For more about IVP’s commemoration of Packer visit ivpress.com.

Media Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com