Discover timeless leadership principles through the lives of Scripture’s greatest figures. In Great Leaders of the Bible, John C. Maxwell, a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s most trusted voices on leadership, explores 28 biblical examples of men and women who demonstrated extraordinary courage, faith, and wisdom in the face of life’s greatest challenges.
From Moses leading God’s people through the wilderness to Esther risking everything for her people, each story reveals what true leadership looks like when tested by adversity. Every chapter includes:

• A biblical story highlighting a defining leadership moment
• A life lesson for everyday application
• A leadership principle from the Bible
• A heartfelt prayer for personal growth and guidance

Whether you lead in business, ministry, or your home, Great Leaders of the Bible will inspire you to lead with humility, courage, and conviction—following the example of those who trusted God in the hardest moments.

John C. Maxwell is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, coach, and speaker who has sold more than 24 million books in fifty languages. Often called America’s #1 leadership authority, Maxwell was Identified as the most popular leadership expert in the world by Inc. magazine in 2014. And he has been voted the top leadership professional six years in a row on LeadershipGurus.net. He is the founder of The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team, and EQUIP, a non-profit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 180 countries. Each year Maxwell speaks to Fortune 500 companies, presidents of nations, and many of the world’s top business leaders. He can be followed at Twitter.com/JohnCMaxwell. For more information about him visit JohnMaxwell.com.

New role signals renewed focus on growing bookstore partnerships

NEW KENSINGTON, PA, July 31, 2026 — Whitaker Corporation is pleased to announce that Britt Edwards has joined the company as Bookstore Accounts Sales Manager, a newly created position focused on strengthening and growing relationships with independent Christian bookstores nationwide.

The new role reflects Whitaker Corporation’s renewed commitment to its bookstore accounts, an area of the business the company is prioritizing. Edwards will lead efforts to deepen existing bookstore partnerships, identify new account opportunities, and help bookstore owners grow their businesses through Anchor Distributors’ products and programs.

Edwards brings more than three decades of experience in Christian retail, publishing, and wholesale distribution. Most recently, he served as Co-Manager at Hobby Lobby in Coralville, Iowa. Earlier in his career, he was the General Manager of a new Christian bookstore in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, overseeing everything from store layout and vendor relationships to marketing and staffing. His background also includes significant roles at Family Christian Stores, Crossway Publishers, QuickVerse, Spring Arbor Distributors, and LifeWay Christian Stores.

Edwards holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a major in Management and a minor in Finance, from Baylor University.

“Britt’s industry experience both as a bookstore manager and in his work for a distributor gives him a rare perspective on what our bookstore partners need to succeed. We are intentional about investing in providing strong, continued support to our bookstore partners. We believe Britt will make a significant contribution to this effort and will be a trusted partner to the Christian bookstore community,” said Ned Clements, VP of Sales.

Edwards will work closely with bookstore accounts to support their growth and will play a key role in shaping Whitaker Corporation’s strategy for the independent Christian bookstore market going forward.

About Whitaker Corporation and Anchor Distributors
Anchor Distributors, a division of Whitaker Corporation, has served the Christian retail and secular gift industry since 1970. Located in western Pennsylvania, Anchor supplies books, Bibles, music, and gifts to Christian bookstores, churches, and general gift retailers across the country. With a longstanding commitment to quality and service, Anchor remains a trusted partner to thousands of stores and ministries nationwide. To learn more about Whitaker Corporation, Anchor Distributors and marketing opportunities, contact Beth Swaney at beth.swaney@anchordistributors.com.

Media Contact:
Beth Swaney, Anchor Distributors, 1-800-444-4484 x203, Beth.swaney@anchordistributors.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.— August 4, 2026 —Multnomah, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, welcomes bestselling author, hip-hop recording artist, and Bible teacher Jackie Hill Perry to its publishing program with a major, multi-book, multi-format agreement. One of the most theologically distinctive and culturally engaged voices in the church today, the program launches with We Shall All Be Changed, a trade book for publication in Spring 2028 that offers readers a biblically grounded vision of sanctification, helping them to stop striving for self-improvement and instead trust the transforming work God is already doing in them. Drawing on Scripture and Perry’s own hard-won experience of walking through darkness toward holiness, the book makes a case the church urgently needs: that God is not asking His people to get better but making them new.

Beyond the lead title, the program includes trade books, devotionals, Bible studies with video access, and young adult resources from WaterBrook Children’s. World rights were acquired at auction by SVP and Publisher Campbell Wharton and Executive Editor Drew Dixon, with WaterBrook Children’s Publishing Director Sarah Rubio editing children’s product, from Jevon Bolden of Embolden Media Group.

“Jackie Hill Perry is one of the most important Christian voices of this generation,” said Campbell Wharton. “She is a gifted creative whose work is deeply rooted in Scripture and speaks powerfully to the questions shaping the church and our culture today. We’re thrilled to welcome Jackie to Multnomah, not simply for a single book, but as a long-term publishing partner. Together, we have an extraordinary opportunity to build an enduring body of work that equips readers to engage more deeply with God’s Word for years to come.”

Perry is a bestselling author, hip-hop recording artist with Reach Records, and Bible teacher.  Her six titles have sold more than 1.2 million copies, and she reaches over 2.4 million followers across Instagram, Facebook, and Threads.

For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cronin, decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com

Multnomah is an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House.

August 2026 | LISLE, IL—American Book Fest honored five InterVarsity Press (IVP) titles as part of the 2026 American Fiction Awards. Charlie Can’t Sleep was the award-winning title in the Children’s Religious category, and four other IVP titles were named finalists in their categories. Those books include Abigail and the Waterfall, Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World, Chapter One Again, and This Shore of Light.

The IVP finalists of this year’s contest join a prestigious group of past honorees, including Pope Francis, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, George Sanders, Julie Andrews, Clive Barker, Vanessa Williams, Shark Tank’s Daymon John, Brad Thor, Kitty Kelley, and many others.

In addition to being selected as the top book in the Children’s Religious category of the American Fiction Awards Charlie Can’t Sleep: Trusting God When You’re Afraid of the Dark (October 2025) was also the winner of a 2025 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award and an Illumination Book Award. Written by Rachel Joy Welcher and illustrated by Breezy Brookshire, this IVP Kids book helps children feel understood in their nighttime fears and draws on Scriptural truths to remind kids of God’s constant presence and care.

Another IVP Kids title, Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World: God Hears Every Prayer (May 2025), was named a finalist in the Children’s Religious category. Written by Helen Lee and illustrated by Shin Young Maeng, this book follows Kaylee and her grandfather, Halbi, as they read the morning newspaper. While reading, they look for ways to pray for the children of the world. This heartfelt story gently guides children to recognize the brokenness in our world and to turn their hearts to God with the assurance that He hears every prayer—even when words feel hard to find.

Kaylee Prays for the Children of the World was also the recipient of several other awards: an Illumination Book Award, 2026 Independent Press Award, SOLA Network’s 2025 Asian American Book Award, and a 2025 Moonbeam Children’s Book Award.

Abigail and the Waterfall: Loving God’s Good Earth (August 2025) from IVP Kids was named a finalist in the Children’s Picture Book: Hardcover Fiction category. This book was also named the 2026 Independent Press Favorite for Childrens Religion Fiction. Written by parent and university professor Sandra Richter and brought to life with enchanting illustrations by Michael Corsini, Abigail and the Waterfall is an invitation for families to discuss what the Bible says about caring for the environment, animals, and the beautiful world around us.

Two fiction titles from IVP were named finalists in the Women’s Fiction category of the American Fiction Awards. Chapter One Again: A Novel (June 2026) is the debut novel from actress Keelia Clarkson. This cozy, clean second-chance romance is the perfect read for anyone searching for love, purpose, and a place to call home. This is the first book in the Avila Falls series.

The other finalist in the Women’s Fiction category is This Shore of Light: A Novel by K. C. Ireton (October 2026). This story involves a small town, a big secret, and one chance to heal. In the small Pacific Northwest town of Port Lawrence, five people search for a way forward in the wake of broken trust and lost hope.

Winners and finalists for the American Fiction Awards were announced in over seventy genre-specific categories. Awards were presented for titles published in 2021 to 2026.

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

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church, and the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. For more information, visit ivpress.com.

Media Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Aug. 5, 2026)  — The Bindery announces the addition of veteran publishing executive Michael Covington as a literary agent, expanding its team as the agency approaches a decade of representing authors across both the general and faith-based publishing markets.

Covington brings twenty years of experience in book publishing to his work as a literary agent with The Bindery, most recently as VP of Publishing & Acquisitions at David C Cook. Previously, he spent five years in a leadership role at ECPA, where he conceived and developed the ECPA Bestseller List—now the industry standard for recognizing bestselling inspirational books—and led several industry-wide research initiatives.

“Michael is a passionate and talented publishing pro with a publisher’s instincts for what helps great books find readers,” says Alex Field, founder of The Bindery. “With his deep care for enduring, generational content in the books he publishes, Michael will serve his authors exceptionally well in this new role.”

Covington has helped shape many award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, and ECPA bestselling books and studies, working alongside authors and organizations including Francis Chan, Preston Sprinkle, Dallas and Amanda Jenkins, Bob Goff, Rebecca St. James & Cubbie Fink, Greg Laurie, and J. Warner Wallace. He focuses on spiritual growth, personal growth, contemplative spirituality, practical theology, leadership, Bible studies, and Christian living. Covington, who lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Christina, can be reached at mcovington@thebinderyagency.com.

Since its founding by Alex Field in 2017, The Bindery has helped its authors achieve remarkable success, representing nearly 600 book deals, negotiating publishing agreements with more than 80 different publishers, celebrating more than 75 national and ECPA bestsellers, and selling more than 5 million copies. Prior to starting The Bindery, Field served as Vice President and Publisher for two imprints of Penguin Random House, the largest publisher of trade books in the English-speaking world.

Literary agents at The Bindery have cultivated expertise in both general and faith markets and are known for representing both first-time and established writers with a wide range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds, reflecting the breadth and complexity of today’s readers. They provide targeted and strategic publishing guidance for each author they serve and leverage their deep relationships with publishers across the publishing industry—from the largest trade houses to leading independent and faith-based publishers—to match each project with the publishing home where it can have the greatest impact.

The Bindery’s agents offer more than a century of publishing experience, spanning editorial, acquisitions, publicity, marketing, contract negotiation, and author representation:

Ingrid Beck, Managing Director, who has worked in book publishing for more than twenty-five years. In addition to representing a select list of authors, she oversees agency operations including contract negotiations, proposal development, client relations, and more. She is open to compelling nonfiction proposals in the following categories: practical self-help, mental health and wellbeing, religion and spirituality, social and cultural issues, and lifestyle.

Trinity McFadden, Senior Literary Agent, who champions thoughtful people with important ideas and represents narrative and idea-driven nonfiction that combines intellectual depth with commercial appeal. She seeks authors in categories including: personal growth; psychology, relationships, and human behavior; history and narrative nonfiction; cultural criticism and big-idea books; journalism; science and social science for general readers; parenting and family life; and faith and spirituality books that thoughtfully explore meaning and belief.

John Blase, Associate Literary Agent, spent over a decade as an editor and ghostwriter in traditional publishing, working with such names as Eugene Peterson, Ann Voskamp, Brennan Manning, and Brian Zahnd. During that time, he penned two books with his name on the spine—one of them a self-published poetry endeavor titled The Jubilee. A good story, well-told, he simply finds hard to resist.

Morgan Strehlow, Associate Literary Agent, is an experienced book coach, editor, and writer, has worked in various capacities with a range of content providers and education platforms, and spent the first decade of her career in the sports industry as a go-to communications strategist and creative collaborator for major brands, coaches, and athletes. Morgan seek compelling nonfiction by athletes, journalists, experts, academics looking to publish for the general market, and emerging voices with a growing platform who can speak to pop culture, sports, feminism, social justice, sex/sexuality, or religion/spirituality.

Alex Field, Founder & Literary Agent, represents authors writing books of religion & spirituality, self-help, pop culture, parenting, relationships, and memoir & biography.

To learn more, visit www.TheBinderyAgency.com.

Contact: Alexander Field, The Bindery Principal & Founder, afield@thebinderyagency.com

Series debuts with The Jesus Discoveries Bible Study, the companion Bible study to Johnston’s #1 New York Times bestseller

NASHVILLE (August 6, 2026) — HarperChristian Resources today announced Evidence-Based Faith, a new Bible study series by New Testament scholar and #1 New York Times bestselling author Dr. Jeremiah J. Johnston. The four-part series is built to help small groups and individuals engage the historical and archaeological case for the Christian faith Each work will pair Johnston’s scholarship with an immersive video experience with biblical artifacts, placing participants directly among the objects and discoveries explored in the study.

“We want to equip people to engage the evidence for Jesus with the same rigor and confidence they’d bring to any other question of history—and come away with a faith that’s been tested, not just assumed,” said John Raymond, Vice President and Publisher, HarperChristian Resources. “Dr. Jeremiah Johnston brings rare credibility as both a New Testament scholar and a gifted communicator, and this series gives churches and small groups a resource they can trust.”

The series opens with The Jesus Discoveries Bible Study, the companion Bible study to Johnston’s #1 New York Times bestselling book The Jesus Discoveries: 10 Historic Finds That Bring Us Face-to-Face with Jesus. The video sessions for the Bible study were filmed on location at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.

Across six sessions, The Jesus Discoveries Bible Study guides participants through pivotal archaeological and historical discoveries connected to the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus—including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Magdalen Papyrus, the Jesus Cup, the Crucifixion Nail, a collection of ancient Roman and Byzantine coins, and the debated Shroud of Turin. Each session of the Bible study combines on-location video teaching with guided group discussion, Scripture study, and personal reflection, helping participants move from historical evidence to a deeper, more confident faith. The evidence and artifacts featured in the study go far beyond what was examined in the bestselling book.

“I walked off that set the same way I walk away from the evidence every time—with scholarly respect and spiritual awe,” said Johnston. “This study was made for anyone who has ever wondered whether the story of Jesus really holds up under scrutiny. And we go beyond the book. We filmed with the actual artifacts, including an authentic Roman crucifixion nail that appears nowhere in The Jesus Discoveries. That is why we created the Evidence-Based Faith series: an invitation to examine the evidence for yourself and to own your faith.”

The Jesus Discoveries Bible Study will be available in January 2027 in softcover and ebook formats, with streaming video access included. Details on the remaining three studies will be announced at a later date.

Jeremiah J. Johnston, PhD, serves as President of Christian Thinkers Society, Pastor of Apologetics at Prestonwood Baptist Church, and Senior Fellow of Christian Origins at Dallas Baptist University. He is the author of several books, including Body of Proof and the #1 New York Times bestseller The Jesus Discoveries. As a New Testament scholar, Johnston has published with Oxford University Press, E. J. Brill, Bloomsbury T & T Clark, Macmillan, and Mohr Siebeck. His work has been featured on Fox News, CNN, CBS This Morning, Publishers Weekly, Vanity Fair, TBN, and the Christian Post. Johnston lives in the Dallas area with his wife, Audrey, and their five children.

HarperChristian Resources publishes video Bible studies, study guides, and small-group curriculum designed to help people better understand Scripture, cultivate spiritual growth, and live an inspired faith, featuring teaching from today’s most trusted pastors, authors, and Bible teachers. HarperChristian Resources is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, whose imprints also include Thomas Nelson and Zondervan. For more information, visit HarperChristianResources.com.

Media Contact:
Sarah Gerkins, Marketing, HarperChristian Resources — sarah.gerkins@harpercollins.com

August 2026 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is kicking off a new Discovering God in Pop Culture series with a book from Kutter Callaway titled Be Afraid: What Horror Reveals About Facing the Darkness. Releasing on September 29, 2026, this first title in the series engages popular horror narratives to ask what our deepest fears reveal about what we truly love, long for, and believe.

Zach Gordon, acquiring editor for the series, said, “Kutter’s book sets the tone for the rest of the series. We’re moving beyond the usual, less interesting questions that have dominated faith and pop culture discussions, most of which have centered on identifying religious themes and determining whether it is permissible for Christians to engage with pop culture. Instead, we’re focusing on more interesting questions. How can Christan faith be enriched and made better by an informed engagement with pop culture? How can pop culture provide a way of understanding that illuminates theology? Kutter’s opening book absolutely nails these goals. The prose is engrossing, and the ideas are challenging and illuminating in all the right kinds of ways. I’m extremely excited for IVP to share the book with the world. Whether or not readers are fans of the horror genre, this book will change the way they read the Bible and think about their faith.”

The Discovering God in Pop Culture series, edited by Callaway and Matthew William Brake, invites readers to see faith and popular culture in conversation. Brake, who is the associate professor of philosophy and religion at Northern Virginia Community College, said, “This series serves as a tool and resource for Christians who want to engage constructively with popular culture in their churches and educational institutions. Each book in the series introduces readers to a particular area of pop culture (e.g., a film genre, a music movement, a specific franchise), while providing a brief contextual background of its impact on the broader culture.”

One forthcoming book in the series is an offering from renowned theologian Soong-Chan Rah, who is writing with his son, Elijah Rah, on intergenerational and interfaith dialogue centered on popular contemporary films. Another Discovering God in Pop Culture title, authored by Andrea Robinson, will explore what anime reveals about the meaning of life.

Brake added, “This series will examine the theological questions raised by pop culture and engage with relevant theological scholarship, exploring the ways that the messages in popular culture may inform Christian faith and practice. However, each volume will also reverse the hermeneutical flow, which is to say it will not only examine the pop-cultural form and/in/as theology but will also explore the ways in which a deeper understanding of popular culture might illuminate our understanding of Christian theology.”

Rather than dismissing pop culture or accepting it uncritically, the series invites readers to discover how pop culture can help them to imagine and think about Christian belief and practice in new and creative ways. In Be Afraid, Callaway, a theologian and psychological scientist, explores how our Christian faith is made better when we engage with the horror genre.

Scott Derrickson, director of The Exorcism of Emily Rose, Sinister, and The Black Phone, said, “Horror art exists to confront what we deny, and Be Afraid fundamentally understands that. Kutter Callaway neither sanitizes nor exploits his subject but rather treats it with moral and emotional seriousness. By engaging horror films as a medium of truth, this book offers a rare and thoughtful conversation between theology and terror, between faith and dread. Be Afraid insists that when faced honestly, fear can be the beginning of wisdom rather than an enemy to avoid.”

According to Callaway, the Christian life isn’t about eliminating fear, it’s about redirecting it. This book offers a fresh, often funny, and deeply honest theological reflection on the shared fears and anxieties of our culture.

Callaway said, “I hope readers come away with a more honest relationship with darkness—their own and the world’s. Not a morbid one, not a despairing one, but an honest one. One of the things I’ve noticed in a lot of Christian communities is that we’ve lost what I’d call the muscle memory to sit in darkness. Our liturgies, our sermons, our whole formation tends to rush us from Good Friday to Easter without actually letting us stay in the tomb. And the result is that when people encounter real darkness—grief, fear, trauma, moral complexity—they feel like something has gone wrong with their faith. When actually, the Christian faith was always meant to be a resource for navigating exactly that kind of dark, chaotic, foreboding, and trauma-filled world.”

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church, and the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. For more information, visit ivpress.com.

Media Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

Nashville, TN (August 10, 2026) – Expert therapists and New York Times bestselling authors Sissy Goff and David Thomas combat back to school anxiety on the national stage with practical insights from their New York Times bestselling book, Capable: How to Teach Your Kids Strength, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience (Baker Publishing). On Monday, August 10, the pair will be featured live on The TODAY Show (airs 9:40 am ET) to discuss an A+ Anxiety Plan for kids to know that they are capable as they return to school. NBC News Now will feature Sissy and David at 1:45 pm and 3:45 pm ET on Wednesday, August 12. During their time in New York City, they will also be featured on The Mighty Pursuit and Raising Good Humans with Dr. Aliza Pressman, to join the many, many other voices discussing Capable such as The Parenting Chat with Dylan Dreyer, That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs, Christianity Today, and more.

In these interviews, Sissy and David will speak on how to combat back to school anxiety, such as:

• What actually helps kids to not feel anxious starting school?
• What are the specific tools kids need when anxiety hits?
• What role do parents have in developing resilience and capability for their children?
• Is anxiety a sign that kids aren’t ready to start school?

Drawing from more than fifty years of combined counseling experience at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Sissy and David provide parents with practical tools to cultivate capability in children—an internal confidence that empowers them to face adversity with resilience. Together they advocate that raising capable kids isn’t about shielding them from struggle but preparing them to meet it with courage. They teach parents how to help their children believe, deep down, “I can do this”—whether that means overcoming frustration and disappointment, managing conflict with peers, or standing firm in who they are and who God made them to be.

SISSY GOFF AND DAVID THOMAS
New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP, and David Thomas, LMSW, have spent more than thirty years listening to kids, walking alongside families, and helping children discover their strength, courage, and capability. As the Executive Directors of Daystar Counseling in Nashville, Tennessee, they count it one of their greatest joys to help children, teens, and parents navigate the ups and downs of growing up—often alongside the beloved Daystar dogs.

Sissy and David are nationally recognized speakers and frequent guests on media outlets including the TODAY Show, NBC News, CNN, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, Christianity Today, The Washington Post, and USA Today. Together, they have written more than twenty-five books, including their newest release, Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills & Strategies to Build Resilience.

They also co-host the Raising Boys & Girls podcast, which has been downloaded more than 15 million times by parents seeking practical wisdom, encouragement, and hope. Through counseling, speaking, writing, and podcasting, Sissy and David are passionate about helping families feel less alone, more connected, and more confident in the journey of raising emotionally healthy and resilient kids.

You can connect with them at raisingboysandgirls.com or find daily encouragement on Instagram at @sissygoff and @raisingboysandgirls.

Bethany House has been publishing high quality books for over 60 years. From humble beginnings as a publishing ministry for a missions organization, they are now a division of Baker Publishing Group, one of the top Christian publishing houses. Bethany House seeks to uplift readers’ families, faith, and free time with our library of industry-leading fiction and bestselling, Christ-centered nonfiction. Their nonfiction encompasses a variety of subjects, including Christian living, family resources, theology, heaven, and many more. Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers. For more information, visit bakerpublishinggroup.com.

Media Contact:  Sarah Miller, MMPR, sarah@mmpublicrelations.com

Launches August 11 with National Media Attention, FoxNation Special

Bestselling author and “America’s pastor”^[1] Max Lucado intersects today’s headlines with timeless truths of Scripture in his new book, Unbreakable Courage: Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, Chaos, and Exhaustion (Nelson Books, releasing August 11, 2026). His message was featured on a live broadcast on FoxNation from Museum of the Bible on July 30 called A Night of Unbreakable Courage with Shannon Bream. The special is still available for on-demand viewing at FoxNation. The event and Max’s words were also featured on Fox Sunday on August 1.

The week of August 10, Max Lucado and Unbreakable Courage will be featured national media outlets including:

• FoxNews.com – original op-ed on Unbreakable Courage (August 9, online 6 AM ET)
• Chris Fabry LIVE (airs 2 pm CT) and Susie Larson LIVE (August 10, airs 2:55 pm CT)
• The Rick Burgess Show (August 11, airs 7 am CT),
• The 700 Club (August 11, airs 8:25 am CT),
• Karl and Crew Morning Show (August 11, airs 9:15 am CT),
• New Life LIVE Radio (August 11, airs 12 pm CT), and
• Point of View with Kerby Anderson (August 11, airs 2 pm CT)
• TBN Praise (August 12, airs 8 pm CT).

After launch week, Max Lucado will appear on numerous national media outlets such as: Livin’ the Bream with Shannon Bream, Tipping Point with Jimmy Evans, TBN’s Rooted and Real with Sheila Walsh, AnnVoskamp.com, 4:13 Podcast with Jennifer Rothschild, Pastor to Pastor with Dave Stone, Theology in the Raw with Preston Sprinkle, P31 Podcast, and more.

In these conversations, Max Lucado offers a fresh exploration of the prophet Elijah – a man who faced cultural upheaval, spiritual opposition, personal exhaustion, and deep discouragement. Elijah’s story reveals critical insight for people today to discover unwavering, unshakeable, unbreakable courage through faith in the one true living God.

“Elijah’s story is relevant because the challenges he faced are similar to yours,” writes Max Lucado. “By the time Elijah appeared on the scene, Israel was six decades and four kings deep in a cesspool of death and decadence. Ungodly idol worship. Unholy clergy. Unbridled evil. Untold sordid scandals. Sound like a good era in which to live? Sounds like the era in which we live?”

ABOUT MAX LUCADO
Since entering the ministry in 1978, Max Lucado has served churches in Miami, Florida; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and San Antonio, Texas. He currently serves as the teaching minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He is the recipient of the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding contribution to the publishing industry and society at large. He is America’s bestselling inspirational author with more than 150 million products in print, and host of The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast, with over 10 million downloads. Visit his website at MaxLucado.com or join Max on socials, with more than 3 million followers: Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

NELSON BOOKS is passionate about collaborating with a diverse array of thought leaders, experts, and creatives to publish biblically-informed books from a Christian perspective that enhance the spiritual and personal growth of our readers. We are proud to be the publisher of many commercially and critically acclaimed authors including Lysa TerKeurst, Tim Tebow, John Mark Comer, John & Stasi Eldredge, Jennie Allen, Bob Goff, Ruth Chou Simons, Tyler Staton, Anthony O’Neal, Christine Caine, Jason Wilson, and Zach Windahl to name a few. We believe in the power of books not only to inform but also to transform.

Media Contact:  Sarah Miller, MMPR, sarah@mmpublicrelations.com

^[1] https://www.christianitytoday.com/2004/03/americas-pastor/

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.