‘Jesus and Gender’ Encourages Us to Rethink ‘Biblical’ Womanhood and Manhood in Light of Jesus

Co-Authors Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher Share One Vision for Loving One Another as Sisters and Brothers in Christ

BELLINGHAM, Wash., March 2, 2022 — To help Christian men and women explore what it looks like to define and live out gender biblically, Elyse Fitzpatrick and Eric Schumacher have co-authored “Jesus and Gender,” releasing April 6 from Kirkdale Press, an imprint of Lexham Press.

Taking a unique approach to the oft-written-about topic, “Jesus and Gender” reminds individuals that God created men and women not to compete for glory but to cooperate for His glory. Readers are invited to explore how we view ourselves and how we relate to one another through a distinctly gospel-focused lens.

“Much of the teaching on gender in the church is devoid of the gospel and is therefore soul-crushing and conflict-producing,” writes Fitzpatrick. “Our ultimate example is Jesus, our humble King, who used His power to serve others. We must rethink our identities, roles and relationships around Him. Men and women are meant to be allies in God’s mission.”

Drawing from Scripture and experience, Fitzpatrick and Schumacher show how Jesus’s example speaks to all areas of our lives as men and women, including vocation, marriage, parenting, friendships and relating to each other as sisters and brothers in Christ.

The book also includes a chapter of personal testimonies from other Christian leaders―including Christine Caine, A21 Founder, Writer and Speaker; Brian Croft, former Senior Pastor of Auburndale Baptist Church and Executive Director of Practical Shepherding; and Karen Swallow Prior, Author and Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture―who have chosen the life of self-sacrifice and ministry.

“Undoubtedly the virtues of ‘biblical manhood’ can be illustrated with the life of Jesus,” shares Schumacher. “But, just as quickly, the virtues of ‘biblical womanhood’ can be as well. Beyond a few scattered verses, why did the New Testament have almost nothing to say about male discipleship versus female discipleship? Putting on Christ and bearing the fruit of the Spirit didn’t come with male and female icons.”

Readers of “Jesus and Gender” will be encouraged and emboldened to recognize the freedom women and men have in Christ to love each other as family as we stand shoulder to shoulder as allies in Christ.

Dr. Paul David Tripp, pastor, speaker and best-selling author, provided the foreword for the book. “There is evidence in us and all around us that when it comes to our lives together as brothers and sisters in the body of Christ, there remains a huge and pressing need for God’s restorative deconstructing and reconstructing work,” he writes. “I found ‘Jesus and Gender’ to be deeply convicting and encouraging at the same time. I experienced the pain of having some of my walls torn down and experienced the joy of restorative mercy. I invite you to humbly open your heart and read the book with willingness and joy.”

In addition to the book releasing April 6, Fitzpatrick and Schumacher have partnered with Kirkdale Press to create a companion video series to introduce each chapter and share personal stories that supplement the teachings.

For more information about “Jesus and Gender” and the companion video series, visit https://lexhampress.com/product/213951/jesus-and-gender-living-as-sisters-and-brothers-in-christ.

About Elyse M. Fitzpatrick
Elyse M. Fitzpatrick is a bestselling author, national speaker and ministry leader. She is director of Counsel from the Cross Ministries and author of over 25 books, including “Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus” and “Found in Him: The Joy of the Incarnation and Our Union with Christ.” She also is co-author, with Eric Schumacher, of “Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women.” She earned a M.A. in biblical counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary and has been married for more than 40 years.

About Eric Schumacher
Eric Schumacher is associate pastor of Grand Avenue Baptist Church in Ames, Iowa, and co-author, with Elyse Fitzpatrick, of “Worthy: Celebrating the Value of Women.” He earned his M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has been married for over 20 years.

About Kirkdale Press
Kirkdale Press publishes books that will strengthen relationships between God and his people, increase biblical literacy within the church, and put the Word into action in the lives of everyday Christians. For more information, visit https://kirkdalepress.com/.

Media Contact: Kristin Cole, 972-267-1111, kristin@alarryross.com

CHICAGO, Ill. — Independent Publishers Group (IPG) is thrilled to announce the launch of IPG Publishing. The new business development pipeline will make use of the synergy between IPG’s distribution capabilities and in-house publishing programs and extend its suite of services to include additional publishing models, such as licensing and co-publishing and proprietary and custom publishing.

“As a business development officer who has sold distribution services for many years, I’ve seen a pivot in our industry,” says Richard T Williams, IPG’s VP, Business Development, Publishing & Licensing. “Clients need more than a way to get their books into the market. They need the strategy and support from an experienced publishing partner. IPG has 50 years of industry knowledge to secure better business terms with a wide variety of partners and services, and a talented staff to help support publishers with expanding needs.”

IPG Publishing’s new line of projects will be managed by Williams and kick off in June 2022 with the release of “Don McLean’s American Pie: A Fable,” a children’s book co-published with veteran documentary and music producer Spencer Proffer and his media production company, Meteor 17.

“Having IPG as a partner is key to making a relevant mark in the publishing community,” says Proffer. “The team’s professionalism and passion for what they do rivals that of Meteor 17 and together we’ll make a significant impact. The book industry is ever-changing and I’m confident that IPG will continue to raise the bar with innovation and inspiration.”

The alliance offers Proffer and Meteor 17 worldwide distribution and sales and marketing support for titles that are organic extensions of the company’s culturally relevant film and documentary properties. In addition, Proffer and Meteor 17 publishing consultants Lori Burke and John Cerullo will develop music-anchored books with potential for ancillary opportunities, including television, theater and animation.

The partnership will also align IPG and Huqua Press, the boutique publishing arm of Proffer’s holding company, with titles based primarily in the children’s and culinary lane. Helmed by Judith A. Proffer, the Huqua Press catalog includes titles by Brandi Carlile, Heart, and Graham Nash. Huqua will have five topical and timely titles to be announced for 2023.

“Huqua Press has a unique catalog of award-winning titles,” adds Proffer. “And with IPG’s efforts, our independent publishing company will have the same opportunity as the majors to engage, inspire and entertain a significantly wider base of readers.”

About Independent Publishers Group:
Founded in 1971, IPG was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. Today, IPG’s wide reach into the book market includes distribution of both print and e-books from a wide array of publishers, digital printing and traditional publishing. With consistent growth year over year, IPG’s success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its publishing partners in the United States and worldwide. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987, and this acquisition formed the parent company Chicago Review Press, Inc., which now owns Chicago-based indie publishers Chicago Review Press and Triumph Books.

Contact: Sidney Thompson | Corporate Communications | 312.337.0747 | sthompson@ipgbook.com 

Washington, D.C.—The Salem Books imprint of Regnery Publishing announced on March 2nd that Jennifer Valk has been promoted from Senior Marketing Manager to Director of Marketing. Jennifer has worked for Regnery for over two years and has proven to be an invaluable source for the company. In her role as Senior Marketing Manager, Jennifer was responsible for overseeing both marketing and publicity efforts for the Salem Books imprint of Regnery Publishing. She has been an active part of some of Salem Books’ biggest successes, including four national bestselling titles from Salem Books: Fault Lines by Voddie Baucham, Christianity and Wokeness by Owen Strachan, Is Atheism Dead? by Eric Metaxas, and The Babylon Bee Guide to Wokeness from the Babylon Bee.

“I am happy to announce Jennifer’s well-deserved promotion to Director of Marketing for Salem Books. When she joined our team in December 2019, she hit the ground running and established a much-needed overhaul of the marketing and publicity process. The results have been nothing less than spectacular. In 2021, four of the seventeen books we published became nationwide bestsellers due to Jennifer’s adroit marketing efforts and collaboration with the Salem Books team,” Publisher Tim Peterson says.

In addition to her role with Regnery, Jennifer has worked in the publishing industry for nearly five years and twenty-five in publicity and marketing. In her time with HarperCollins Christian Publishing, she drove the success for multiple titles in the Young Adult category with the Zonderkidz and Blink imprints. Such bestselling and award-winning titles include, New York Times bestseller Swing by Kwame Alexander, The Silence Between Us by Alison Gervais, Every Stolen Breath by Kimberly Gabriel, and Tiger Queen by Annie Sullivan —all of which received book awards for YA.

“It is an honor to do what I do and work with amazing people at Salem Books, and I’m delighted to step into this new role,” Jennifer says. “I’ve always longed to have a positive impact on those around me and at Salem Books, it is my privilege to partner with incredible authors who are striving to encourage believers with biblically-based content.”

Salem Books Publishing is the evangelical Christian imprint of Regnery Publishing, a Salem Media Group Company. Founded on biblical principles, Salem Books seeks to enrich the lives of Christians and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus to the world through the written word. Learn more at www.salembooks.com.

Salem Media Group is America’s leading multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with properties comprising radio, digital media and book, magazine, and newsletter publishing.

CONTACT: Katie Anderson, Katie.Anderson@SalemBooks.com

Released on February 8, 2022, this new resource aims to introduce readers to the practice of lectio divina as a helpful form of Scripture engagement.

Carol Stream, IL. (March 3, 2022) — “Reading the Bible, if we do not do it rightly, can get us into a lot of trouble.” So wrote Eugene H. Peterson in his landmark Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading. That insight is observable across the landscape of contemporary Christianity, where “proof-texting” (removing a passage of Scripture from its context to bolster an argument) and other acts of what might be called “hermeneutical myopia” rest awkwardly alongside crimes and cover-ups in all corners of the modern church.

But if reading the Bible wrongly can get us into trouble, Peterson’s solution has never been to not read the Bible. His signature work has, since 1993, been a material appeal to the transformative potential of “just reading the Bible.” In doing so, he writes in his introduction to The Message, “we become insiders to a conversation in which God uses words to form and bless us, to teach and guide us, to forgive and save us.”

The Message Prayerful Reading Bible, which released this spring from NavPress, moves even deeper into Peterson’s vision for Scripture engagement. “Eugene wrote a whole book on the ancient practice of lectio divina,” says NavPress publisher David Zimmerman. “That’s how significant this priority of reading the Bible rightly was to him. And his Bible is distinctly compatible with lectio divina as a practice.”

Lectio divina is practiced in a variety of ways, but it has at its core a sense of process: A selected passage is read slowly, sometimes more than once; the reader then ponders the passage, turning it over and over to consider its essence and its contemporary resonance; the reader then takes time to pray through the passage and what it has evoked, inviting God to guide them in understanding; finally, the reader reflects back on the full experience, considering how this particular passage at this particular moment is touching their own life and circumstances.

The Message Prayerful Reading Bible bookends this basic structure with a moment of consecration at the beginning and a benediction at the end. Understanding that lectio divina is an unfamiliar practice for many, it includes 320 guided experiences, along with ample journaling space for the reader to use once they have assimilated to the practice.

“Eugene Peterson was one of the great modern champions of this approach,” says Pete Greig, cofounder of the 24-7 Prayer movement and author of How to Pray. “His Message translation of the Bible and the lectio divina complement one another like fish and chips!”

Available in hardcover and softcover editions, along with standalone Prayerful Reading editions of Jeremiah & Lamentations and Luke & Acts, The Message Prayerful Reading Bible takes Scripture engagement to the next level: an immersive, transformative, resonant encounter with the Bible.

Take a look inside The Message Prayerful Reading Bible by watching this video, or click here for details about the practice of lectio divina. For more information about The Message, visit NavPress.com.

For media inquiries, please contact Mariah Franklin, mariahfranklin@tyndale.com.

The Message Prayerful Reading Bible
Eugene H. Peterson
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-64158-385-5 | $29.99
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-64158-386-2 | $39.99
Release date: February 8, 2022 

ALSO AVAILABLE:

The Message Prayerful Reading Bible: Jeremiah & Lamentations
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-64158-399-2 | $7.99 

The Message Prayerful Reading Bible: Luke & Acts
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-64158-400-5 | $7.99

The Message Prayerful Reading Bible is a NavPress resource published in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers.

The NavPress mission is to advance the calling of The Navigators by bringing biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical products to people who want to know and love Christ more deeply. Through The Message Bible and other insightful resources, NavPress seeks to bring positive spiritual movement to peoples’ lives. In January 2014, NavPress entered into an alliance with Tyndale House Publishers to strengthen and better position NavPress and its rich content for the future. NavPress provides books and other content that bring spiritual impact, life transformation, and help lead in the mission of making disciples. 

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. 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 also 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, contributing a majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million dollars throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Carol Stream, Ill. (March 4, 2022) — Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) announced today that Jodi Benson, Disney Legend and original voice of Ariel in the Disney classic The Little Mermaid, has penned her memoir, Part of My World, to release in September.

Beyond her best-known work as the voice of Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Jodi Benson also gave voice to Barbie in Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story 2 and 3, and delighted Disney fans with a cameo in Enchanted before reprising her role as Ariel in Ralph Breaks the Internet. She made her starring-role debut on Broadway performing “Disneyland” in Smile, and she earned a Tony nomination as Polly Baker in Crazy for You. In 2011, Disney bestowed upon Jodi their highest honor, naming her a Disney Legend. Jodi continues to share her gift, entertaining audiences across the country and around the world.

In Part of My World, Benson takes readers on a magical journey from a Midwestern town to the bright lights of Broadway and the recording booth where she brought to life one of the most beloved Disney princesses of all time. A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she’s learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God’s call, and chasing your dreams.

Written with warmth, humor, and disarming vulnerability, Part of My World is a captivating glimpse behind the curtain at the making of one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time, and a must-read for Disney fans of all ages.

“Every now and again, a book comes along that makes me just keep pinching myself because I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to publish it,” says Sarah Atkinson, publisher of the Tyndale Momentum nonfiction imprint. “Part of My World is that book! Working with Jodi Benson is a dream come true, and her memoir is every bit as delightful as she is—it’s sparkly, witty, fun, full of backstage stories and ‘you’ll never believe it’ showbiz moments. Disney, Pixar, and Broadway fans will be enchanted by her tales! And at the same time, Jodi shares—with candor and vulnerability—the hard times and missteps that have been part of her journey, and how she’s trusted God to turn ashes into joy through it all. I am so thankful that Jodi has entrusted Tyndale with her story, and I cannot wait for readers to experience this book and become part of Jodi’s world.”

Paige O’Hara (the voice of Belle in Beauty and the Beast) contributes the foreword in Benson’s upcoming release, and legendary Disney composer and songwriter Alan Menken endorsed the book by saying, “Jodi is a treasure on every level, both personal and professional. And we’re truly blessed that fate (through Howard Ashman) made her a part of our world and allowed her to occupy such a precious position in all of our lives. It is so special for her to write this book and share her experiences.”

Jodi Benson’s debut release will be supported by a significant marketing budget as well as a national media tour. Tyndale has acquired world rights, in all languages.

For more information or 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 majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Award recognizes Keller’s outstanding contribution to the Church as author, pastor and theologian, honoring the impact of his published body of work.

Award will be presented on May 3^rd in Philadelphia during ECPA Awards Celebration

MARCH 7, 2022 – Tempe, Ariz. – The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announces today that they will present New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller with the industry’s PINNACLE AWARD for the outstanding contribution of his writing, with significant impact to the Church and society at large. The award will be presented to Keller at the ECPA Awards Celebration on Tuesday, May 3 in Philadelphia during the ECPA Leadership Summit.  He will accept the award virtually amidst an in-person audience of Christian publishing leaders.

Timothy Keller has written more than 35 books, published by a variety of companies, with some co-authored by his wife Kathy.  His published body of work represents a variety of categories including apologetics, biblical studies, theology, prayer, devotionals, marriage, Bible study, the Church, and cultural engagement – with sales exceeding 7.5 million units and translated into more than 25 languages.

His first trade book, Ministries of Mercy: The Call of the Jericho Road (now in its third edition), was published by P&R Publishing in 1997. Keller’s breakthrough book The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism, was published by Dutton in 2008 and catalyzed a series of bestselling books to follow, including The Prodigal God, The Meaning of Marriage, Every Good Endeavor, and Center Church.  A recent book Uncommon Ground: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference, co-edited with John Inazu, features essays by Tish Harrison Warren, Sara Groves, Trillia Newbell, Sara Groves, Rudy Carrasco and others capturing a vision for how we engage the hearts and minds of people with whom we may disagree, even deeply.

“There are four habits of the heart, then, that are required for a peaceful, mutually beneficial exchange of ideas between people who are deeply different,” Keller writes in his essay in Uncommon Ground. “Certainly, Christians need instruction and training in the Bible and theology, and in answering objections to skeptics. But if first and foremost the gospel of humility, patience, love and courage is growing in you, well, love will always find a way.”

Many of Keller’s readers would cite those four traits as indicative of his life and ministry through the church, and through books.

It is a distinct honor for ECPA to present the Pinnacle Award to Timothy Keller,” said ECPA president Jeff Crosby. “From his early works serving the local church to his breakthrough book The Reason for God through his more recent work on suffering and hope in times of fear, Keller has been a pastor not only to those at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, but to believers throughout the world through the power and grace and humility of his published works.”

For 28 years, Keller led a diverse congregation of young professionals at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan, which he started in 1989 with his wife, Kathy, and three young sons. Today, Redeemer is a network of five churches and has helped to start hundreds of new churches around the world.  Christianity Today has said of Keller and his work, “Fifty years from now, if evangelical Christians are widely known for their love of cities, their commitment to mercy and justice, and their love of their neighbors, Tim Keller will be remembered as a pioneer of the new urban Christians.”

His books and thought leadership have had an impact on the life of the church and individual believers in New York City, North America, and throughout the world that is incalculable. The following represent some of Tim Keller’s more notable titles:

• The Reason for God (Penguin Books)
• The Meaning of Marriage, with Kathy Keller (Penguin Books)
• The Prodigal God (Penguin Books)
• The Songs of Jesus (Viking)
• God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, with Kathy Keller (Viking)
• Galatians for You (The Good Book Company)
• Galatians: Gospel Matters (The Good Book Company)
• The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness (10Publishing)
• Center Church (Zondervan)
• Ministries of Mercy (P&R Publishing)
• Uncommon Ground, co-edited with John Inazu (Thomas Nelson)

Timothy Keller is the fifth recipient of ECPA’s Pinnacle Award, the highest honor the organization bestows on an author or book. He follows Dr. Gary Chapman, Stormie Omartian, and 2021 honoree Max Lucado.

Tickets are now on sale for the ECPA Awards Celebration, held the evening of May 3 in Philadelphia, and featuring New York Times bestselling author Latasha Morrison and the presentation of the 2022 Christian Book Awards.  Industry leaders attending the ECPA Leadership Summit will already have the option in their registration forms.  For more information, visit ECPALeadership.org.

Timothy Keller was born and raised in Pennsylvania, and educated at Bucknell University, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. For the first nine years of his ministry he was a pastor in the small town of Hopewell, Virginia. Following that he taught preaching and practical theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.  In 1989 Dr. Keller started Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, with his wife, Kathy, and their three sons. Today, Redeemer is a network of five churches and has helped to start hundreds of new churches around the world. In 2017 Keller moved from his role as senior minister at Redeemer to the staff of Redeemer City to City, an organization that helps national church leaders reach and minister in global cities worldwide. He is the author of God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life, Hidden Christmas, Making Sense of God, The Meaning of Marriage, Rediscovering Jonah, and The Reason for God, as well as On Birth, On Marriage, On Death, and Hope in Times of Fear, among others.  timothykeller.com  timkellernyc  @timkellernyc

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. For more information about ECPA: info@ecpa.org  ECPA.org  @ECPA

Media Contact: Jeff Crosby, president, ECPA, jcrosby@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998

HOW WE LOVE MATTERS: A Call to Practice Relentless Racial Reconciliation by ALBERT TATE
Foreword by Lecrae

How We Love Matters reimagines discipleship amongst believers and in the Church, begging us to acknowledge that racism has been discipled into the church. It didn’t show up by accident, and it won’t go away on its own.

Albert Tate proposes in; HOW WE LOVE MATTERS (FaithWords, March 8, 2022, ISBN: 9781546000532) that if we are all God’s Children then we need to create the space in the church a conversation on racial reconciliation. The church has been noticeably quiet when it comes to conversations on race and discrimination.  It is not an accident that racism is alive and well in the American church. Racism has, in fact, been taught within the church for so long most of us don’t even recognize it anymore. Pastor Albert Tate, a charismatic speaker and rising leader within the megachurch world, guides readers in acknowledging this fact and reimagines discipleship by encouraging siblings in Christ to sit together in racial discomfort and examine the role they may play in someone’s else’s struggle.

How We Love Matters is a series of nine moving letters, reminiscent of Dr. King’s Letter from Birmingham Jail, about different aspects of American and Christian culture. In letters that include Dear Whiteness, Dear America, and Dear Church, Tate calls out racism in the world, the church, and within himself and his reader. The book not only educates and enlightens, but also reimagines discipleship in a way that flips the church on its head. It looks to the life of our savior Jesus Christ as less of a blueprint for how we should live and more as a clear instruction manual for how we need to treat and love one another as siblings and neighbors, regardless of differences like skin color, culture, language, or beliefs.

Tate believes that the only way to make change is by telling the truth about where we are—relationally, internally, and spiritually. How We Love Matters is an exposition of relevant Biblical truth, a clarion call for all believers to examine how they see and understand each other, and it is a way forward toward justice, reconciliation, and healing.

Albert Tate is a pastor, public speaker, podcast host and Mississippi native who accepted a call to ministry at 21 years old. Sunday night service Pastor and finally, to Intergenerational Pastor where he essentially functioned as a Teaching Pastor.

In 2011, Albert left Lake Avenue to found Fellowship Monrovia in Monrovia, California which has a loyal Albert’s speaking engagements have taken him all around the world. He now serves on the board of Azusa Pacific University and the advisory council of the Fuller Youth Institute. He is also deeply involved in international church planting and is a Co-Catalyst of LA Church Planting.

Albert hosts the Albert Tate Podcast and Good News Today, a live weekday morning devotional show with thousands of daily viewers. Albert is the teaching pastor at Willow Creek Church.

“Profound and compulsively readable.” —Silas House, author of Southernmost 

February 10, 2022 —Paraclete Press launches its new fiction imprint, RAVEN, with an important release for Mental Health Awareness month: The Book of Susan (ISBN 978-1-64060-767-5 | May 10, 2022 | Trade paperback | 224 pp | $18.00) by Melanie K. Hutsell. Author Melanie K. Hutsell lives with bipolar disorder, so The Book of Susan is more than a novel: it’s a mirror of the author’s own story.  

Hutsell offers a first person narrative of Dr. Susan Huffman, a woman whose mind has never failed her—until an ill-fated dinner party. Dr. Susan Huffman is wife to chancery court judge Samuel Ellison, mother to adorable Ian, and college professor on track for tenure. She’s a woman who has always lived by her mind, with a plan and a purpose. But then new-in-town Lorraine Davis accepts an invitation to Susan and Samuel’s home, and the mysterious visions begin. Is God warning Susan about this newcomer? And if so, how can she protect her circle of friends, her family, and her life as she knows it? The Book of Susan is the spare and sympathetic recounting of a journey—from derailment, to diagnosis, to the discovery of a lifetime. 

A native of east Tennessee, poet and novelist Melanie K. Hutsell has been learning to live with bipolar disorder for more than fifteen years. She holds a BA in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an MA in English from Indiana University at Bloomington, and an MBA from East Tennessee State University. A lay member of the United Methodist Church, an avid reader, and music lover, she currently resides in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. 

For interviews with Melanie K. Hutsell or advance review copies of “The Book of Susan,” contact Publicist Rachel McKendree at rachelm@paracletepress.com. 

The past two years have taken a toll on humanity in ways that would have been unimaginable in the pre-pandemic world. The publishing industry especially has played an essential role in meeting the needs of a readership hungry for understanding and insight. At this crucial moment, Paraclete Press is pleased to announce its new fiction imprint: Raven.

Great fiction costs something––it costs the writer who makes it, and it costs those who read it. A great novel is willing to expose the dark side of human nature; it doesn’t skirt the issues of manipulation, power, injustice, oppression, jealousy, evil; it authentically gives texture and substance to characters that resonate with us as real human beings. Without darkness, there’s no light. Genres may vary. In every case, we appreciate stories of day-to-day realism but also mind-bending science fiction, stimulating fantasy parables, and nearly dehumanizing horror. These stories startle and perturb us into fresh realizations of truth in a complex modern world. Like a mirror, these stories reflect our lives, marked by doubt and pain, and engage our imagination, challenge our expectations, and throw us out of the familiar into the unknown and uncomfortable. Then we find ourselves surprised and awed—by new encounters, by hope and unexpected goodness, and by astonishing beauty.

---

PRAISE FOR The Book of Susan by Melanie K. Hutsell
(ISBN 978-1-64060-767-5 | May 10, 2022 | Trade paperback | 224 pp | $18.00) 

“In The Book of Susan, Hutsell takes the mysteries of the highs and lows of bi-polar illness and skillfully intertwines them on the page. Written from the unique perspective of Susan—the one who discovers her diagnosis—it’s a page-turner of story and yet a book to be slowly studied for the genuine wisdom it reveals.”  —Katherine James, author of Can You See Anything Now? and A Prayer for Orion

“Profound and compulsively readable, The Book of Susan complexifies typical notions of Appalachia and offers us an unforgettable character in lyrical and accessible prose. Hutsell is a literary stylist who knows how to keep the reader in her grip.” —Silas House, author of Southernmost

“A riveting first-person account of a woman’s realization that she suffers from Bipolar I disorder. Hutsell’s protagonist accepts, overcomes, and reinvents her life through her newfound faith, discovered quite by accident due to the disease’s delusions. ‘God fled me on those days,’ she tells us when her illness begins to tear apart her carefully planned life. But Susan emerges transformed, and without sanctimony gives an account of the power of spiritual seeking to pick up the shattered pieces of life. Anyone who encounters a mental disorder in themselves or a loved one will be gripped by this powerful, raw, honest and intriguing voice.” —Rita Sims Quillen, author of Wayland 

 

New Kensington, PA, February 24, 2022 — Anchor Distributors is pleased to announce its agreement with Atlanta-based iDisciple Publishing to provide distribution and fulfillment services for some of the world’s most well-known Christian resources.

Since 2013, iDisciple Publishing has been leveraging its position in the marketplace as a leader in content, data, and technology to help others experience more moments with Jesus. Through its relationship with world-class authors, iDisciple Publishing provides an ever-growing sweep of compelling resources such as devotionals, Bibles, study guides, and non-fiction works. As an arm of the Giving Company, a global faith and family media network, iDisciple Publishing’s mission is to improve the personal and spiritual lives of people around the world by sharing the love of God with them.

“We are very excited about our new partnership with Anchor. We have a catalogue that represents high quality titles from well-known authors. Before Anchor, we did not have a method for getting this content into the independent retail market, as well as some big box retailers. Anchor will help us improve our reach and provide a better outcome for our authors,” stated David Henriksen, iDisciple’s President and CEO.

John Crowe, iDisciple Publishing’s Director of Operations, said this strategic partnership is a game-changer in terms of scale and scope. “Having the ability to quickly fulfill orders for a variety of partners while getting our extensive line of products in front of key customers was a no-brainer for us. Anchor’s easy-to-use, full-service website has allowed us to streamline and optimize our business in ways we haven’t experienced before.”

Karen Fulton, Director of Operations at Anchor Distributors, noted this move makes sense for the growth of iDisciple Publishing. “Now that they have fully transitioned their supply chain over to Anchor, we look forward to meeting the needs of future customers through this partnership.” She added, “Partnering with iDisciple Publishing means that Anchor is now a part of a worldwide movement to put an end to suffering in other countries, thanks to iDisciple’s giving partnership with World Vision and Crisis Aid.”

About Anchor Distributors
With headquarters just east of Pittsburgh, Anchor Distributors is part of Whitaker Corporation, which also includes Whitaker House, Whitaker House Español, and Word Alive, our Canadian distribution division. A Christian, family-owned business established in 1970, Whitaker Corp. is dedicated to proclaiming the gospel to the lost and flooding the world with life-changing media of eternal value.

Contact: Lisa Barch, Anchor Distributors, 800-444-4484 x.249, lisa@anchordistributors.com

February 2022 | WESTMONT, IL—Outreach magazine named Radiant Church as a 2022 Resource of the Year in the church category. Two additional titles, Lead Like It Matters to God and Tempered Resilience, made the shortlist for the “Also Recommended” resources in the leadership category.

The Outreach Resources of the Year aims to highlight valuable resources for church leaders and bring deserved attention to tools that can help churches better engage in effective outreach to share the gospel and reach their communities for Christ. This year’s titles address issues in evangelism, apologetics, the church, leadership, social issues and justice, among other concerns. The resources are featured in the March/April 2022 issue of Outreach magazine.

More than 150 resources published between November 1, 2020, and October 31, 2021, were submitted for consideration. An expert in each category evaluated the resources and chose what they considered to be the best. The experts also chose how many resources to recognize and whether to include any as “Also Recommended.”

Church 2021 Resource of the Year

Radiant Church: Restoring the Credibility of Our Witness by Tara Beth Leach was one of two titles Resources of the Year in the church category. Leach casts a vision for Christians to rediscover a robust, attractive witness and form the radiant communities God intends. Challenging idolatrous false images of God and calling out toxic patterns, she shows how we can recover a winsome picture of a kingdom of abundance and goodness.

Leach writes, “I pray that the church would begin to see, acknowledge, and name the bronze layers that are saturated with worldly beliefs and behaviors and flee from them. I pray that the church would know that we have not been destroyed—it’s not too late. I pray that we would reclaim, be renewed and revived, and allow the work of the Spirit to birth something new and radiant. Like the bronze statue, may the layers of our own systems that have hurt and harmed others begin to peel away, and may the lamp of truth, love, and righteousness be placed firmly on its pedestal and shine in all of its illuminating beauty. Not beauty for the glory of ourselves but for the glory and majesty of our King and Creator. May we shine in such a way that instead of hard lines in the sand being drawn, those who once felt excluded are now drawn to the radiant light of the church.”

“Also Recommended” Leadership Resources

Lead Like It Matters to God: Values-Driven Leadership in a Success-Driven World by Richard Stearns shares captivating stories of his life journey and unpacks seventeen crucial values that can transform leaders and their organizations. After stints as CEO of Parker Brothers and then Lenox, Stearns accepted the invitation to leave his corporate career to become the president of World Vision US, where he became the longest serving president in their seventy-year history.

Stearns shares the leadership principles he has learned over the course of his remarkable career. As a leader who has navigated both secular and sacred spaces, Stearns claims that the values Christian leaders embrace in their workplaces are actually more important than the results they achieve—that God is more concerned about a leader’s character than a leader’s success.

“This book is a rare treat—a fireside chat with a battle-tested Christian CEO who has led big organizations in both the secular and ministry worlds,” said John C. Maxwell, author of The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. “Rich Stearns offers a master’s-level course on leadership with faith as his north star. Embrace these seventeen leadership values and you will become a better leader and a better ambassador for Christ.”

In Tempered Resilience: How Leaders Are Formed in the Crucible of Change Tod Bolsinger, also the author of the award-winning Canoeing the Mountains, writes, “To temper describes the process of heating, holding, hammering, cooling, and reheating that adds stress to raw iron until it becomes a glistening knife blade or chisel tip.” When reflection and relationships are combined into a life of deliberate practice, leaders become both stronger and more flexible.

Jim Herrington, cofounder of The Leader’s Journey: Coaching for Wholehearted Leadership, said, “Once again Tod Bolsinger has written a book for our times. With his incredible capacity for storytelling that allows principles to shine, in Tempered Resilience Bolsinger has spelled out a pathway for leadership and leadership development for this era of unprecedented change. This will become a classic that I’ll refer to over and over again.”

For a complete list of IVP award-winning titles visit ivpress.com.

Contact:  Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com