Sparking a Curiosity and Love for God’s Word

The Really Radical Book for Kids (New Growth Press/March 6, 2023) by Champ Thornton continues the exciting dive into the roots of the Christian faith started in The Radical Book for Kids, winner of ECPA’s 2018 Christian Book Award for Young People’s Literature. This new edition offers young readers more Bible exploration, more history, and more faith-filled direction for how to live as a believer in the here and now.

The Really Radical Book for Kids is packed with fun, captivating, and age-appropriate content to help kids ages 8–14 grow in curiosity and learn more about how to read the Bible and apply it to daily life. There are more than forty short chapters filled with rich biblical content on a variety of topics to grab the interest of not only young readers, but adults as well and over two hundred pages of full-color illustrations, maps, and engaging graphics designed and illustrated by Scot McDonald. Thornton makes science, history, geography, and even math related to the Bible interesting and infuses a healthy dose of humor along the way. He also tackles topics such as making hard decisions, exploring certain books of the Bible, and even asking hard questions about faith.

“God is not boring! After all, ice cream, sports, friends, and stories are all his idea. So, if we’re talking about God—the God who is so incredibly amazing—why should we speak of him in boring ways?” Thornton asks. “That’s why I want to make this book fun.”

Thornton introduces kids to ancient kings, legendary battles, and fierce snakes and dragons. Kids will discover unusual food to make, secret codes to break, and fun crafts to try. They’ll also uncover exciting ways to read God’s powerful Word, factual reasons to believe, stunning truths about God, and incredible examples of “radical” men and women who have gone before them and trusted Jesus in challenging times.

“I wanted to do something very specific with this book: I don’t want to merely fill minds; I want to spark curiosity. What I really want is not for kids to read my book and set it aside, but having read my book, want to go learn more,” says Thornton. “I wrote this book to be a starter kit for the Christian faith. And as such, I hope it makes them think, makes them curious, and makes them excited to keep learning and growing in their faith.”

The Really Radical Book for Kids was designed for children and young teens to explore on their own; however, it can be used as a part of part of family devotionals or as a supplemental resource for Sunday school teachers and homeschooling parents.

“It is imperative for parents to catechize their kids in the fundamentals of the Christian faith, but many struggle with the best way to communicate the beauty and truth of Christian doctrine in a way that is accessible,” writes bestselling author Daniel Darling. “Champ Thornton offers a creative, innovative resource that communicates timeless truths from church history, apologetics, and theology that will help parents pass down the sacred Scriptures to the next generation. You’ll want this book in your home, in your children’s ministry, and to liberally distribute among family and friends.”

The Really Radical Book for Kids: More Truth, More Fun
By Champ Thornton, Illustrated by Scot McDonald
March 6, 2023 / Retail Price: $29.99
Print ISBN 978-1-64507-081-8
Religion / Christian Education / Children & Youth

Champ Thornton is an acquisitions editor at Crossway and the author of a number of books for kids and families, including The Really Radical Book for Kids, The Radical Book for Kids, Wonders of His Love, The Serpent Slayer and the Scroll of Riddles, Why Do We Say Good Night, and Why Do We Say Thank You?.  Thornton has pastored churches in Delaware and South Carolina and served as director of SOMA, a ministry training school in Columbus, Ohio.  Thornton enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, drinking coffee, listening to music, doing genealogical research, and reading theology, biographies, and fiction. Thornton and his wife, Robben, have three children and live in Newark, Delaware.  Visit www.champthornton.com to learn more. He can also be found on Twitter (@champthornton) and Instagram (@thorntonchamp).

About the Designer/Illustrator:
Scot McDonald is an award-winning graphic designer and illustrator. Illustrated books include Wings and Feet and David’s Christmas Wish by Lisa Reinicke. He has designed and illustrated Wise Up, Walking with the Wise, and Listen Up by Marty Machowski; The Radical Book for Kids and Radically Different by Champ Thornton; and the Hearts Alive curriculum. He lives with his wife, Betty (a children’s librarian), and a senior cat in Colorado Springs.

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

To the Girl Looking for More: 90 Devotions to Help You Ditch the Lies, Love Yourself, and Live Big for God releases Tuesday, April 11

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 2023) – In a world filled with frustration and disappointment, beloved author and podcast host Grace Valentine reminds young women of their true purpose and identity in her first devotional, To the Girl Looking for More: 90 Devotions to Help You Ditch the Lies, Love Yourself, and Live Big for God (ISBN: 9781400236701) releasing Tuesday, April 11.

Author of the ECPA bestselling book What Will They Think?, Grace Valentine is best known for being a relatable and honest voice among her generation. Having felt the pressure of our culture’s conflicting messages firsthand, she has made it her mission to help teens and young adults navigate their own faith journey. In her new devotional To the Girl Looking for More, she shares the lessons she has learned through her own challenges and guides readers to discover their true identity and self-worth in the eyes of the Creator.

“The world tells girls to be more: be more beautiful, be more Christian, be more like her, be busier…and we try so hard,” says Valentine. “My prayer is that this devotional will help take the pressure off of girls and guide them in discovering their true identity in Christ.”

In these 90 daily devotions, Grace breaks down the truth of Scripture with her genuine, been-there honesty that has made her a role model for young women. She shows girls of all ages how to

• stop hustling to please, perform, and be perfect
• recognize toxic relationships and leave them
• let go of impossible expectations on yourself, your people, and your body
• replace worry, pressure, and fear with God’s peace
• choose kindness and positivity
• navigate all the mixed messages around sex and dating
• live out God’s amazing plans for your life

Covering topics such as body image, disappointment, navigating relationships, failure, purpose, and faith, To the Girl Looking for More encourages girls to stop settling for the world’s image of post-worthy perfection and live for more: more joy, more peace, and more meaning. Grace shares, “Five minutes a day will help you discover how to live your MORE. You deserve this, sister!”

To the Girl Looking for More: 90 Devotions to Help You Ditch the Lies, Love Yourself, and Live Big for God (ISBN: 9781400236701) releases on April 11, 2023, everywhere books are sold. Copies of the book and interviews with Grace are available upon request.

About Grace Valentine
Grace Valentine is an author, blogger, podcast host, and speaker. Her readers love the fact that she is young, ordinary, and relatable; they say her fresh voice helps them navigate their own faith and life. Grace’s mission is to show others that Christianity is not lame–it is an adventure worth living.

Grace grew up near New Orleans, Louisiana, in a suburban town called Mandeville. She graduated from Baylor University in 2018 with a degree in journalism. She currently resides in Orlando, Florida, where she enjoys going on runs and eating lots of sushi. You can find Grace on Instagram @thegracevalentine; her podcast, I’m Tired; Twitter @GraceV96; or her website, GraceValentine.org. Grace loves connecting with her readers, so send her a message!

About Tommy Nelson
Tommy Nelson® is the children’s division of Thomas Nelson. As a leading provider of Christian content, Tommy Nelson publishes a wide variety of high-quality, enjoyable products that are consistent with the teachings found in the Bible. Tommy Nelson’s award-winning products are designed to expand children’s imaginations and nurture their faith while inspiring them to develop a personal relationship with Jesus. For more information, visit https://www.tommynelson.com/.

Media contact: Megan Wordsworth, Publicity Manager, 615.902.1747, megan.wordsworth@harpercollins.com

(Nashville, TN) January, 16, 2023 — HarperChristian Resources will be releasing a new six-session video study based on the life and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr on sale August 8, 2023. Share the Dream: Shining a Light in a Divided World through Six Principles of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will cover six biblical principles that shaped Dr. King, Jr.’s life and motivated him to speak out on behalf of African Americans and take his place as the leading figure of the Civil Rights Movement: love, conscience, freedom, justice, perseverance, and hope.

Share the Dream will be published by HarperChristian Resources, in collaboration with America’s leading African-American church publisher Urban Ministries, Inc., and The K.I.N.G. Movement which seeks to help men and boys reach their God-given potential in every realm of life.  The video’s study sessions will be co-hosted by award-winning journalist and broadcaster for FOX Sports 1 and FOX Sports Radio, Chris Broussard, founder and president of The K.I.N.G. Movement, and global human rights activist and founder of non-profit organization Good of All, Matthew Daniels, J.D., PhD.

Dr. Daniels, creator of Share the Dream, and Chair of Law & Human Rights at the Institute of World Politics in Washington, D.C. said, “Dr. King was a martyr for the Gospel whose sacrificial commitment to the cause of human dignity and non-violence saved the American South the generational cycle of racial violence that we’ve seen in Rwanda and other nations.  Ambassador Andrew Young has been my guide to the transcendent principles that Dr. King and other courageous men and women harnessed to save America from hundreds of years of slavery and segregation.  Chris and I are honored to follow in their footsteps and join with great contemporary leaders in sharing these same unifying principles with a new generation.”

“Dr. King and other courageous men and women were able to change history through the power of a dream that was rooted in the Gospel and the love of God for all of His children made in His image,” said Urban Ministries’ CEO, C. Jeffrey Wright. “Our Share the Dream series explores the profoundly spiritual dimension to the early civil rights movement. We also show how the Gospel-based principles behind the astonishing success of that movement can be applied in our nation and our world. Perhaps this is most clearly seen in the famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech that Dr. King delivered on August 28, 1963, in which he called for racial equality in America.”

The video study will be available for pre-order in March 2023.

Broussard said, “For our nation to thrive, we need to help a new generation better understand, live, and experience the Gospel-based principles at the heart of the dream to which Dr. King dedicated his life.  That is why Matt Daniels, and I created our Share the Dream curriculum.  We hope churches and small groups of all ethnicities will join us in exploring how each person can participate in sharing Dr. King’s dream in our time.”

Share the Dream will be a resource for entire church congregations, adult small groups, student and youth groups, and Sunday School studies.  “This project has been an incredible journey and we know that multi-generational church families will be blessed after going through the study,” said VP, publisher of HarperChristian Resources, John Raymond. “The Scripture-based principles of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have left a great impact and enduring legacy of how we are to love each other as human beings in our world today.  We trust this study will help inspire and change a new generation to live with a greater dignity and respect for all. I’m so excited to be a part of a monumental curriculum that brings civil rights education to churches through Dr. King’s teachings. It is an honor to partner with Matt, Chris, the K.I.N.G. Movement and Urban Ministries.”

HarperChristian Resources is the curriculum and video study imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the world’s largest Christian publisher.

UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.) is the largest independent religious media and publishing company serving the African American market. Founded in 1970 in Chicago, IL., by Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr., UMI creates positive, transformative analog and digital content based on a biblical worldview that is especially empowering to the African American community. UMI offices are in suburban Chicago. UMI exists to disseminate culture changing, biblically sound content and has tremendous credibility in producing high quality material reaching millions of people throughout the globe.

K.I.N.G. is a national Christian Men’s Movement geared toward strengthening men in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ by providing brotherhood, encouragement, accountability, knowledge, and fellowship.  The name K.I.N.G. is an acronym for Knowledge, Inspiration, and Nurture through God. K.I.N.G. is a non-denominational movement that seeks to unite true Bible-believing Christian men across racial, denominational, generational and political lines.  It is our hope that Christian men can move past their minor doctrinal differences and work together to expand the Kingdom of God. While founded by Chris Broussard in South Orange, NJ, K.I.N.G. has local chapters across the United States.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com and ChurchSource.com. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio, and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 20 million unique visitors each month. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

Contact: Casey Harrell, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, 615.902.1109, casey.harrell@harpercollins.com

Louisville, KY — 10ofThose.com and Lithos Kids are delighted to announce a new partnership in which 10ofThose.com will exclusively distribute Lithos Kids products globally.

Lithos Kids is an independent publisher whose heart is to magnify Christ through the production of biblically faithful and beautifully crafted books. The founder, Tyler Van Halteren, saw the power of bedtime stories with his own son and desired to produce books that would teach his own children, and other families, the truth of the gospel in a beautiful and compelling way. Since 2020, they have been doing just that through their Ontario based company.

Founder of Lithos Kids, Tyler Van Halteren, said of the partnership, “We’re thrilled to begin a new partnership with 10ofThose, which will get our books out to many more conferences, bookstores, and continents in the coming months and years! We couldn’t ask for a more like-minded and kingdom focused partner. Having 10ofThose handle distribution will allow us to keep our focus as a small publisher of biblically faithful & beautifully crafted books, while getting our books out into more homes around the globe.”

“Partnership with Lithos Kids is a natural fit for 10ofThose.com.” says Jonathan Carswell, CEO of 10ofthose.com. “We love books that point to Jesus in a way that is accessible, creative and attractive. Lithos Kids do this so well. We believe in their vision and are proud to partner with them.”

About 10ofThose.com
10ofThose.com is a publisher, distributor and retailer, and provides the bookstores for many major conferences. They are based in Leyland, England and Louisville, KY.  Their publishing imprints include 10Publishing and Evangelical Press.

Contact: Brianna Smith at brianna.smith@10ofthose.com

(Nashville, TN) December 20, 2022 —Zondervan today announced that on December 27, 2022, Paul J. Pastor will join the company as senior acquisitions editor for Zondervan Books, a nonfiction trade book imprint. Zondervan Books is the home to multiple award-winning books and bestselling authors including Rick Warren, Shauna Niequist, Craig Groeschel, Lee Strobel, and Rebekah Lyons.  Pastor joins the company from WaterBrook & Multnomah where he was able to work with New York Times bestselling authors as well as emerging and influential voices in Christianity. Pastor has nearly 15 years of experience in working within the publishing industry, specifically editing, writing, and consulting with authors and clients such as The Bible Project, Christianity Today, Outreach, Fuller Seminary, and The Luis Palau Association.

As the new senior acquisitions editor for Zondervan Books, Pastor will help identify, acquire, and develop new captivating authors for the imprint’s portfolio. Pastor commented, “I could not be more thrilled to join Zondervan’s world-class team, and look forward to working hard and partnering with some of our day’s best Christian authors to publish well-crafted books of significant impact.”

Pastor holds an MA in Biblical and theological studies from Western Seminary, and is also the author of multiple books. His writing has won over a dozen Evangelical Press Association awards, a prestigious Maggie award, numerous awards from Christianity Today’s book awards, and other accolades. 

“Paul’s unique combination of editorial vision, knowledge of craft, varied publishing experience, and heart for our mission will make a significant and immediate impact,” remarked Webster Younce, VP and publisher of Zondervan Books. “We are delighted to have him join the team.”

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 different  genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is based in Grand Rapids, MI.  For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact: Casey Harrell, VP, Corporate Communications, Casey.Harrell@HarperCollins.com

Bellingham, WA — Lexham Press is pleased to announce the appointments of Ben Amundgaard as publisher and Todd Hains as associate publisher for acquisitions. Amundgaard and Hains assumed their new roles on December 12, 2022.

Lexham Press is an innovative Christian publishing house creating thoughtful Bible study materials, scholarly works, and pastoral resources. Part of Faithlife LLC, the maker of Logos Bible Software, Lexham Press is committed to excellent Christian publishing in service of the church.

Amundgaard has worked for Faithlife since 2013 and has been involved in strategic planning for Lexham since 2020. “I hope to continue executing on Lexham’s mission to increase biblical literacy, thoughtful Christian reflection, and faithful action around the world,” he said.

Hains has been an academic editor with Lexham since 2016. In addition to acquiring titles such as The Care of Souls (Harold L. Senkbeil), he has developed several acclaimed series, including Christian Essentials, Lexham Ministry Guides, and the FatCat children’s books. “I’m excited to maintain Lexham’s reputation for books that love God, his word, and his people,” Hains said.

Amundgaard and Hains assumed their new roles at Lexham following the departure of publisher Jesse Myers, who was recently named the incoming CEO of Baker Book House Company.

“Jesse and I started at Faithlife around the same time,” Amundgaard said. “It has been a privilege to work alongside Jesse all these years. I have been delighted to watch him take Lexham from a startup imprint to one of the premier evangelical publishers in the world. I wish him all the best as he moves on to Baker.”

Myers joined Faithlife in 2014, providing leadership for Lexham in marketing and acquisitions roles before becoming publisher in 2021. “I’m extremely proud of what the Lexham team has accomplished during my tenure,” he said. “I’m confident that Lexham has the team in place for continued success, and I believe Ben has the passion, talent, and experience to lead that team effectively.”

As publisher, Amundgaard will work closely with Lexham’s core leadership team, including Hains, Kim Shurley (associate publisher for marketing and sales), and David Bomar (managing editor). He will continue serving Faithlife as senior director of content products.

Contact:  Lindsay John Kennedy, Publicity Strategist, lindsay@lexhampress.com, lexhampress.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill.—January 6, 2023—Tyndale House Publishers is sad to report the death of Dr. Philip W. Comfort on December 31, 2022, at the age of 72. Phil (as he was fondly known by all who knew him) was a member of the Bible editorial team at Tyndale House for 34 years, from 1984 until his retirement in 2018, serving as Senior Bible Reference Editor. He was also a member of the Bible Translation Committee for the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, serving for many years as New Testament Coordinating Editor.

Dr. Comfort was well known in the world of biblical scholarship as a world-class specialist and expert on the early manuscripts of the New Testament. He served as Professor of Greek and New Testament studies at Trinity School for Ministry and visiting professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. He wrote several comprehensive reference books, including New Testament Text and Translation Commentary (Tyndale House Publishers) and The Text of the Earliest New Testament Greek Manuscripts (Kregel Academic). He also served as General Editor for the Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series for Tyndale. Additionally, he and other scholars collaborated on several lay-oriented reference works published by Tyndale, such as Tyndale Bible Dictionary, The Complete Book of Who’s Who in the Bible, and Who’s Who in Christian History.

Dr. Comfort lived on Pawleys Island, South Carolina. He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia Comfort, and is survived by his three sons, Jeremy, John, and Peter.

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.

Contact: Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com, 630.784.5275

WESTMONT, IL—Christianity Today has released the winners of its 2023 Book Awards, and InterVarsity Press is pleased to announce that it received top honors in three categories: Church and Pastoral Leadership, Marriage and Family, and Politics and Public Life. Another IVP title received the Award of Merit in the Popular Theology category, and three IVP books were finalists in Biblical Studies, Culture and the Arts, and Politics and Public Life. 

“Each year, the Christianity Today Book Awards reviews a distinguished list of books in categories pertinent to the church,” said IVP president and publisher Terumi Echols. “We and others in our industry respect these awards due to the rigorous review that the content receives. It’s not a popularity contest. It honors what nourishes the soul, challenges the mind, moves the heart, and strengthens our walk as Christians.”

The IVP title that received the 2023 CT Book Award in the Church and Pastoral Leadership category is The Flourishing Pastor: Recovering the Lost Art of Shepherd Leadership by Tom Nelson. Pulling from his years of experience as a lead pastor and president of a nonprofit, Nelson offers pastors and ministry leaders a timely vision for leadership that incorporates in-depth biblical teaching and whole-life discipleship.

Steven Garber, senior fellow for vocation and the common good with the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, said, “The deepest, truest learning is always over the shoulder and through the heart. In The Flourishing Pastor we are drawn into Tom Nelson’s long labor of love—a vocation born of commitments to biblical theology and missional practice that have formed his work as a pastor among a particular people in a particular place, a vision for his congregation and his city. With surprising candor and humility rooted in an honest spirituality that seriously wrestles with the Word and the world together, this is a window into the mind and heart of someone who longs for the reality of an integral life for himself and for all of us. Every pastor I know would be graced by this apprenticeship in print, a book where words become flesh in the life of a good man who is also a good pastor.”

The 2023 CT Book Award in the Marriage and Family category went to Teach Your Children Well: A Step-by-Step Guide for Family Discipleship. Sarah Cowan Johnson unpacks how parents can have an active discipleship role in forming their children’s faith, with age-appropriate insights and strategies for different developmental stages. She shows how we can identify God moments, facilitate spiritual encounters, clarify emerging beliefs, and encourage new faith habits in our children.

“Sarah Cowan Johnson’s instincts are absolutely right: parents can be the most important pastoral presence in their child’s life,” said Jared Patrick Boyd, author of Imaginative Prayer. “Our children need something real to grab on to—from our own life with God, from their own encounters with God, and from the everyday moments when God is close. God is always very close to us. This book is a very practical guide helping parents facilitate the practice of encountering God in the tiny moments of everyday life. This book will absolutely help parents in the work of the spiritual accompaniment of their children.”

The top CT honor in the Politics and Public Life category was awarded to Beyond Racial Division: A Unifying Alternative to Colorblindness and Antiracism. Sociologist George Yancey offers an alternative approach to racial relations where all parties contribute and are mutually accountable to one another for societal well-being. He provides empirical rationale for how collaborative conversations in a mutual accountability model can reduce racial division. History and societal complexity mean that different participants may have different kinds of responsibility, but all are involved in seeking the common good for all to thrive. Avoiding unilateral decisions that close off dialogue, Yancey casts a vision for moving beyond racial alienation toward a lifestyle and movement of collaborative conversation and mutuality.

Mark DeYmaz, cofounder, president, and CEO of the Mosaix Global Network, said, “There is not a more theologically sound, empirically informed, well-reasoned, or rational voice addressing the complexities of race, class, and culture in America today than that of Dr. George Yancey. In Beyond Racial Division, he navigates nuance and effectively challenges readers to get beyond rhetoric to results in their engagement of diverse others.”

The IVP title that received the Award of Merit in the Popular Theology category is The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith. “Trevin Wax shows that traditional orthodox Christianity might not be as glossy and glamorous as Christianity gone worldly, but it is ancient, majestic, global, and glorious,” said Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in New Testament at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. “It is a tried and tested alternative to the faddish and fragmentary fakes that masquerade as Christianity in some places. Trevin is not pushing dry doctrine but passing on fresh fire that is thousands of years old.”

The IVP books that were finalists for the 2023 CT Book Awards include The Samaritan Woman’s Story: Reconsidering John 4 After #ChurchToo by Caryn A. Reeder (Biblical Studies), A Supreme Love: The Music of Jazz and the Hope of the Gospel by William Edgar (Culture and the Arts), and What Are Christians For?: Life Together at the End of the World by Jake Meador (Politics and Public Life).

Echols said, “We are grateful to our authors for allowing us to work alongside them to bring their words and passions into fruition. Each gives the best of their hearts and minds in a desire to continue to breathe life into the church. Their words continue to challenge readers to think deeply about their faith and to navigate today’s culture with wisdom and grace.”

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

December 19, 2022, New York, NY — Reflecting the significant changes in publishers’ needs, brought about by advances in technology and hastened by COVID, Nord Compo has launched a completely revamped website.  The new website features Oyez!, a new business unit dedicated to the production of high quality audiobooks in English, French and Spanish.  Working for dozens of publishers, Oyez! has created hundreds of audiobooks in multiple genres, including readalongs (enhanced epubs with audio and word highlighting) for children’s books.

The new site devotes an entire section to Nordsoft, Nord Compo’s custom software division.  Recently created, Nordsoft has developed customized SaaS platforms for multiple mid-sized to large publishers to speed up prepress production, lower costs, and power publishers’ B2C efforts.  Per Denis Desmet, Managing Director of Nordsoft, “Recent advances in digital technology have put online automated typesetting, layout and B2C file delivery platforms affordable for mid-sized publishers, helping to even the playing field”.

Headquartered in northern France, Nord Compo is a 50-year-old, 500-person provider of prepress, digital, editorial, design and audiobook services to book publishers all over the world.

For more information, visit www.nordcompo.com.

Brings New Focus on Storytelling in all Forms of Media

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Dec. 15, 2022—David C Cook announced today that former DreamWorks Animation executive Rick Rekedal will join the team as chief creative officer. For more than 145 years, David C Cook has provided resources to help bring God’s word to people everywhere. Rekedal brings expertise that will enable David C Cook to harness the power of story to reach a new generation with life-changing messages of hope and inspiration.

Rekedal’s award-winning career includes more than 20 years at DreamWorks Animation, where he served as chief creative of global franchises, head of licensing and interactive gaming, and head of online production. Past properties Rekedal has worked on include Trolls, Kung Fu Panda, The Prince of Egypt, Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron and How To Train Your Dragon, as well as Dreamer, Saving Private Ryan, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, The Lost World: Jurassic Park and more.

“The power of story never changes; but new formats, platforms and media are always changing. We want to reach people with the inspirational story of God’s Word right where they are,” Rekedal said. “Gen Alpha is coming fast and will be the largest generation in history by 2025, with 1 billion-plus strong. One of my favorite verses is Luke 18:1: ‘And then Jesus told them a story.’ Using the power of story, we have the opportunity to bring the ‘Greatest Story Ever Told’ to new generations all around the world.”

David C Cook recently created the role of chief creative officer to help shepherd all new storytelling efforts at David C Cook Publishing in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Integrity Music in Nashville, Tennessee. Rekedal will oversee new project development, as well as lead efforts toward innovation in new platforms.

“Storytelling is at the foundation of our ultimate goal at David C Cook, spreading the good news of the gospel.” said John Aden, CEO of David C Cook. “We’re excited for the role Rick will play in helping us use the power of story to reach a new generation.”

Past awards for Rekedal include two Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards; two Annie Awards for Best Animated Videogame; Toy of the Year; Family Board Game of the Year; and Action Figure of the Year. In addition to his corporate experience, Rekedal created and co-authored the comic book series Shapes, and several books, including One Small Step, a story of recovery inspired by his family. He currently serves as senior fellow for storytelling at Belmont University and is president of StoryCrate (thestorycrate.com), helping maximize brands and original story projects for the audiences that most need them.

About David C Cook
David C Cook is a global nonprofit ministry equipping individuals and church leaders with vital learning and worship resources. David C Cook’s desire is for individuals and faith groups to experience the transforming power of the gospel through music and media that fit the culture, language and spiritual needs of their communities.

David C Cook was founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1875 by David Caleb Cook, a businessman who began publishing pamphlets on lessons and songs that equipped local churches for ministry to children displaced by the Great Chicago Fire. Over the years, David C Cook has grown from a Sunday school curriculum publisher to one of the world’s largest providers of dynamic and relevant media, as well as music designed to equip the global church and individuals with creative, Christian content.

CONTACT:  Katherine Epp, 678.360.9894