CAROL STREAM, Ill. (August 9, 2023) – Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) has announced that Jeff Johnson, Chief Administration Officer, will retire on September 29, after 37 years at the company. “Jeff Johnson has been instrumental in guiding Tyndale House Publishers and the greater Christian publishing industry during his many years of executive leadership,” said Scott Mathews, CEO of Tyndale House, “We are grateful for his contributions over the years and for all his efforts in furthering the mission of Tyndale House Ministries. He will be missed.” Johnson will continue to serve on the board of Tyndale House Foundation.
Jeff Johnson began his career at Tyndale as a stock runner in 1986. Johnson became Tyndale’s director of human resources and administrative services in 1988 where he oversaw three major building projects and coordinated the initiation of the 401(k) plan to replace the pension plan model for employees. In 1998, he was promoted to vice president of publishing services, and in 2004 was named chief operating officer. In 2016, Johnson was promoted to the role of president and chief operating officer.
During his tenure at Tyndale, Johnson played a vital role in shepherding initiatives that helped expand Tyndale’s catalog and contributed to the financial and ministry success of the company. It was his vision to create Tyndale Español in 2005 and to acquire Hendrickson Publishing Group in 2021. Johnson also recognized the potential for the page-recognition technology behind Tyndale’s Filament-enabled Bible, which earned a patent from US Patent and Trademark Office in 2021. Additionally, he helped lead a cross-departmental, company-wide effort to bring the product to market, and it continues to be one of Tyndale’s leading Bible lines today. Johnson’s vision also included the development of Tyndale’s e-commerce websites and the internal publication management system that manages the company’s daily operations.
In addition to his work at Tyndale, Johnson brought his expertise and experience to the ECPA board of directors for many years, serving as vice-chair and providing counsel and direction to this important Christian publishing consortium. “Jeff has always had a heart for service,” notes Sharon Heggeland, COO of Tyndale House. “He has always been mindful of Tyndale’s mission legacy, encouraging all of us at THM to serve one another.”
“My focus as a leader at Tyndale has always been on completing the Great Commission,” offered Johnson. “It is my hope that all publishers will honor the call to supply products and support authors and organizations that help fulfill this command from our Lord and Savior.”
A retirement reception to celebrate Jeff Johnson’s contributions will be held at Tyndale during the last week of September.
For media inquiries, please contact Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com.
Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a substantial portion of annual revenue—millions of dollars per year—through corporate donations and the work of Tyndale House Foundation. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.
Grand Rapids, MI – August 8, 2023 – Zonderkidz is pleased to announce that 12-year-old Orion Jean, the 2021 TIME Magazine Kid of the Year, will publish a children’s picture book titled Race to Kindness, releasing May 7, 2024.
“Orion’s story was so inspiring to us and we want to help him reach more young readers with this message of kindness to do what they can, from wherever they are. Working with Orion and his family has been a true joy! His passion fits our publishing mission so well,” says Megan Dobson, Vice President and Publisher of Zonderkidz.
Grand Rapids, Mich. (August 9, 2023) — New York Times bestselling author, respected broadcast journalist and producer Raymond Arroyo continues his Turnabout Tales series with The Magnificent Mischief of Tad Lincoln, releasing Oct. 3, 2023, from Zonderkidz. The story of Abraham Lincoln’s rambunctious son is the second heartwarming, historic picture book in the series, following The Unexpected Light of Thomas Alva Edison, which debuted in March.
TEMPE, ARIZ., (August 14, 2023) – The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announces that Sally Sampson Craft will join its staff as Manager of Member Care. In that position, Craft will serve existing, new, and potential voting members and small press, international, and industry affiliates to foster strong member engagement and retention and to enhance the services ECPA offers to its community. She will also partner with other ECPA staff to launch a new quarterly onboarding webinar for new members.
The trials of life can wear us down. Unexpected events force us to face a new reality and unanswered prayers lead us to a growing frustration about why God doesn’t intervene. But only in the hard seasons and storms of life are vital spiritual disciplines developed.
Everyone has dreams. Usually, they look like a set of achievements: a dream house, a dream job, a dream family, a dream vacation. However, in pursuing them, we often become disgruntled and disheartened as challenge, setback, and opposition come in our way. We blame God for what he hasn’t provided yet, instead of asking what he has in store for us today.
Journalist Sarah Stankorb presents a full, layered portrait of where Christian extremism stands in the twenty-first century, and how women from within are challenging that standing.
In the tradition of his well-loved bestsellers The Ology and WonderFull, Machowski weaves a study of the Bible with a fictional story. The Treasure follows the adventures of Mira and Theos who discover a sea captain’s personal journal which offers clues to a hidden treasure. They can only solve the riddle of the treasure by studying two ancient scrolls, the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Young readers will journey with the siblings as they solve their puzzle and the discover the captain’s treasure—Christ!
Grand Rapids, MI—August 7, 2023— Zonderkidz, the children’s division of Zondervan, is pleased to announce that its New York Times bestselling series “Fiona the Hippo” book products have now sold over 500,000 copies in all formats in just under five years. The beloved children’s books are inspired by the world’s most famous real-life hippo, Fiona, who resides at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
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