Ada, Mich. (August 17, 2022)—Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that they have signed a contract with Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling authors of A Bright and Blinding Sun (Brotherton) and The Line Between (Lee).

Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home, which is scheduled for a May 2023 release, is a coming-of-age story of friendship, sacrifice, love, and the power of unrelenting hope. Based on the lives of three friends, The Long March Home follows the friends’ journey from Mobile, Alabama, to the Philippines during World War II, covering not only the lives and loves they left behind but also the impossible odds they face as they struggle to survive what has become known as the Bataan Death March.

“Reading this novel was an evocative, rich literary and emotional experience that these authors worked seamlessly together to provide,” said Kelsey Bowen, Revell senior acquisitions editor. “Editing this novel was a highlight of my entire career.”

“Normally I write nonfiction,” Brotherton said. “But I’ve discovered that some people read only fiction or read only for the sake of a story. It’s important to get the message out about the war in the Pacific to let people know that events such as these truly happened. Years ago, many people endured much so we can live in freedom today.”

Lee said, “It’s an honor to shine a light on the Defenders of Bataan and hope this story brings greater awareness to this chapter of World War II history and its Allied heroes.”

Marcus Brotherton is a New York Times bestselling author and coauthor dedicated to writing books that inspire heroics, promote empathy, and encourage noble living. His most recent nonfiction book on World War II in the Pacific, A Bright and Blinding Sun, was lauded as “storytelling at its best” by Heather Morris, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz. His commendations include the Christopher Award for literature “that affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” For more information, please visit www.marcusbrotherton.com.

Tosca Lee is a New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Line Between, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker. Her work has been called “superior storytelling” by Publishers Weekly, translated into seventeen languages, and optioned for TV and film. Her commendations include two International Book Awards, Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion, and ECPA Fiction Book of the Year. To learn more, please visit toscalee.com.

Revell Books provides books that inspire and equip readers, offering them hope and help for daily life. Learn more at www.RevellBooks.com.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616) 676-9185 x 100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) announced the winners of the 2022 Golden Scroll Awards at the Golden Scroll Banquet, Sunday, August 14, at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Awards were presented by Linda Evans Shepherd, founder and CEO of AWSA, and Rebecca White, author.

This is the 14th year that AWSA has presented the Golden Scroll Awards. The Golden Scroll Awards are open to the nearly 800 members of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

• Sharon Tedford was named AWSA of the Year.
• The Jennifer Kennedy Dean Award went to Lee Ann Mancini.
• Eva Marie Everson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Everson is the author of over 40 books, a former nurse and a seminary graduate. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s running Word Weavers International, an international membership group of writers who, using the art of critique, become iron sharpening iron.  She’s one of the original members and a founding board member of AWSA and the director of the Florida Christian Writers Conference. She speaks at writers conferences across America and to women’s groups as well as to congregations. She’s written some amazing books, including The Third Path—Intimacy with God on the Path of Questioning, her latest novel, Five Brides, her new children’s book, My God is Bigger Than That (with Michelle Medlock Adams) and The Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd).

• The Golden Scrolls Book of the Year was awarded to Julie Coleman for “On Purpose: Understanding God’s Freedom for Women through Scripture” (Kregel).
• The Nonfiction Book of the Year Award went to Michelle Nietert and Denise Pass for “Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life” (Randall House).
• The Novel of the Year Award went to DiAnn Mills for “Trace of Doubt” (Tyndale).
• The Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Teresa Janzen, illustrated by Samuel But Agot, for “Little Mango in a Big World” (Abundance Books LLC).
• The Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Susan U. Neal, illustrated by Courtney Smith, for “Eat God’s Food” (Elk Lake).

Second place for Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Julie Lavender, illustrated by Shahar Kober for “Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime” (Random House). Third place went to Karen Whiting and Jesse Florea for “Devos for Brave Boys” (Tyndale).

• The Children’s Fiction Book of the Year was awarded to Tricia Goyer and Amy Parker, illustrated by Monica De Rivas for “The Grumbles” (Running Press Kids).

Second place for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year went to Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Ana Sebastián, for “Dachshund through the Snow” (End Game Press). Third place went to Jeanne Dennis, illustrated by Jeannie St. John Taylor, for “Matt’s Compusonic” (Elk Lake).

• The Christian Education Book of the Year was awarded to Karen Whiting for “52 Weekly Devotions for Family Prayer” (RoseKidz).

Second place for Christian Educational Book of the Year went to Rebecca White and Karen Whiting for “The Super-Sized Book of Bible Craft Gifts” (RoseKidz). Third place went to DiAnn Mills for “Exploring the Art of Plotting” (Bold Vision Books).

• The Christian Living Book of the Year went to Tracy Hester for “Get Up, Girl, Let’s Go: Getting Unstuck and Living Free” (Elk Lake).

Second place for Christian Living Book of the Year was a tie with Lynn Eib for “When God and Cancer Meet” (Tyndale) and Tricia Goyer for “Heart Happy” (Salem Books). Third place went to Jennifer Hand for “My Yes Is on the Table” (Moody).

• The Bible Study Book of the Year was awarded to Karen Whiting for “Growing a Mother’s Heart Bible Study” (AMG).

Second place for Bible Study Book of the Year went to Shadia Hrichi for “Tamar: Rediscovering the God Who Redeems Me” (Leafwood). Third place went to Andy Lee for “Radiant Influence: How an Ordinary Girl Changed the World” (CrossRiver Media).

• The Memoir of the Year was awarded to Sandra Flack for “Orphans No More” (Brookstone Publishing).

Second place for Memoir of the Year went to Kris Rystrom Emmert with Julie Voudrie for “Providing Promise: A Navy Widow’s Journey to Hope” (Carpenter and Son). Third place went to Lucinda Kinsinger for “Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life-Changing Bond” (Elk Lake).

• The Inspirational Gift Book of the Year was awarded to Kathy Howard for “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith” (Tyndale).

Second place for Inspirational Gift Book of the Year went to Karen Whiting for “Growing a Mother’s Heart: Devotions of Faith, Hope, and Love from Mothers” (AMG). Third place went to Blythe Daniel and Helen McIntosh for “I Love You, Mom!” (Tyndale).

• The Devotional Book of the Year went to Grace Fox “Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm” (Aspire Press).

Second place for Devotional Book of the Year Danita Jenae for “When Mountains Crumble: Rebuilding Your Life after Losing Someone You Love” (Moody). Third place went to Ava Pennington for “Reflections on the Name of God” (Revell).

• The Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year was awarded to Kimberley Woodhouse for “Bridge of God” (Barbour).

Second place for the Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year went to Lynette Eason for “Peril on the Ranch” (Love Inspired Suspense). Third place went to Lisa Betz for “Fountains and Secrets” (Redemption Press).

• The Contemporary Novel of the Year was awarded to Terri Gillespie for “Really Bad Hair Day: The Hair Mavens, Book 3” (Terri Gillespie).

Second place for Contemporary Novel of the Year went to Cynthia Ruchti for “Facing the Dawn” (Revell). Third place went to Christina Suzann Nelson “Shaped by the Waves” (Bethany House).

• The Historical Novel of the Year was awarded to Tricia Goyer for “The Elder Sister” (Guideposts).

Second place for Historical Novel of the Year went to Jocelyn Green for “Drawn by the Current” (Bethany House). Third place went to Cynthia L. Simmons for “Reflecting Gold” (Elk Lake).

• The Romance Novel of the Year was awarded to Lane Jordan for “Evangeline” (Elk Lake).
• The Novella of the Year was awarded to T. E. Bradford for “Awakened” (Elk Lake).
• The Arise Daily Writer of the Year was awarded to A. C. Williams.

AWSA’s official magazine, “Leading Hearts,” won their eighth straight Evangelical Press Association Merit award. The “Leading Hearts” Contributor of the Year went to Cynthia L. Simmons. Feature Article of the Year went to Christine Trimpe for her article “Protégé to Published Author.” The EPA Higher Goals Award went to Mabel Ninan for her article “Lockdown Lessons: How the Pandemic Reshaped My Understanding of the Church.”

The 2022 graduating Certified Coaches were recognized: Lauren Crews, Loretta Eidson, Virginia Grounds, Sarah Hatmaker and Lisa Worthey Smith.

New ASWA P.O.W.E.R. Speakers were recognized: Sandy Austin, Sandi Banks, Karin Beery, Joan Benson, Penny Carlevato, Laine Craft, Julie Coleman, Cheri Cowell, Tammy Dove, Joy Dunlap, Catherine Finger, Donna Frisinger, Tricia Goyer, Teresa Janzen, Janet Johnson, Betty Kulrich, Lee Ann Mancini, Michele McCarthy, Laura McPherson, Edie Melson, Susan Neal, Carolyn Newell, Cindy Noonan, Joy A. Schneider, Evelyn Taylor and Jessica Van Roekel.

This is the third year to present the Christian Market Book Awards. These awards are open to all authors who publish in the Christian market.

• The Christian Market Book of the Year was awarded to Natalie Ford for “Seeking Answers—Finding Peace” (Elk Lake).
• The Christian Market Christian Living Book of the Year was awarded to Edie Melson for “Soul Care When You’re Grieving” (Bold Vision Books).
• The Christian Market Devotional of the Year was awarded to Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp for “Springtime for Your Spirit: 90 Devotions of Hope, Joy & New Beginnings” (Good Books).
• The Christian Market Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Julie Lavender, illustrated by Shahar Kober for “Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime” (Random House).
• The Christian Market Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Bethany Jett and Victoria Duerstock for “Navigating Mindfields” (End Game Press).

Second place for the Christian Market Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Caris Snider for “Anxiety Elephants for Tween Girls: A 90 Day Devotional” (End Game Press). Third place went to Caris Snider for “Anxiety Elephants for Tween Boys: A 90 Day Devotional” (End Game Press).

• The Christian Market Children’s Fiction Book of the Year was awarded to Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Ana Sebastián, for “Dachshund through the Snow” (End Game Press).

Second place for the Christian Market Children’s Fiction Book of the Year went to Nancy I. Sanders, illustrated by Felia Hanakata, for “Bedtime with Mommy” (End Game Press). Third place went to Teresa Janzen, illustrated by Samuel But Agot, for “Little Mango in a Big World” (Abundance Books LLC).

• The Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Dr. Craig von Buseck for “Victor! The Final Battle of Ulysses S. Grant” (Iron Stream Media).

Second place for the Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Kathy Howard for “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Acts” (Bold Vision Books). Third place went to Christine Trimpe for “Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke: A Christmas to Calvary Advent Countdown” (Redemption Press).

• The Christian Market Novel of the Year was awarded to Kimberley Woodhouse for “A Deep Divide” (Bethany House).

Second place for the Christian Market Novel of the Year was awarded to Anne Greene for “Trail of Tears: The Story of John Ross” (Elk Lake). Third place went to Janet Morris Grimes for “Solomon’s Porch” (Elk Lake).

• The Christian Market Bible Study of the Year was awarded to Leigh Powers for “Unforgotten: Lessons from Lesser-Known Women of the Bible on Leaving a Legacy of Faith” (AMG).

A parody, written by Martha Bolton, was performed by Sharon Tedford. Eva Marie Everson delivered the keynote address.

AWSA, the sponsor of the Golden Scroll Awards Banquet, is an outreach of Right to the Heart Ministries and consists of nearly 800 top women authors who both publish and speak nationally. See www.AWSA.com.

Iron Stream Media is excited to announce two finalists and three semifinalists in two Serious Writer Contests. Serious Writer is a club of writers and literary agents with a goal of providing free and affordable education as well as providing networking opportunities for authors of clean Christian books. Winners will be announced this fall.

Book of the Year (published January through December 2021):

SEMIFINALISTS:

Tempest: The Veil Chronicles, Book 1 by C.J. Campbell
ISBN: 9781563094460

Victor! The Final Battle of Ulysses S. Grant by Craig von Buseck
ISBN: 9781645263159

Book of the Decade (published January 2011 through December 2021):

FINALISTS:

I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel by Craig von Buseck
ISBN: 9781946016980

Anxiety Elephants 31 Day Devotional by Caris Snider
Brookstone Publishing Group ISBN: 9781949856194

SEMIFINALIST:

The Cheesehead Devotional by Judy DuCharme
ISBN: 9781938499234

Iron Stream Media derives its name from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This sharpening describes the process of discipleship, one to another. Iron Stream Media provides a variety of solutions for churches, missionaries, and nonprofits that include in-depth Bible study curriculum, Christian book publishing, and consultative services. Iron Stream Media is the home of Iron Stream, Iron Stream Fiction, Iron Stream Harambee Press, Iron Stream Kids, and Brookstone Publishing Group. Through the popular Life Bible Study and Student Life Bible Study imprints, they also provide web-based, full-year, and short-term Bible study teaching plans as well as printed devotionals, Bibles, and discipleship curriculum.

Book any of these authors as a guest speaker or for book signings by contacting Kim McCulla at kim.mcculla@ironstreammedia.com. A limited supply of giveaway copies is available for special events and interviews. Books can also be ordered through your distributor or by calling 888-811-9934.

(Nashville, TN) August 18, 2022—Thomas Nelson today announced Andrew Stoddard will be joining as the publishing group’s new v-p, publisher of the Nelson Books imprint. Thomas Nelson is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the world’s largest Christian publisher.  Stoddard, who previously served as the editorial director for Waterbrook & Multnomah, Christian imprints for Penguin Random House, will begin his leadership at Nelson Books on September 7, 2022.

“It is an honor to step into this role at Nelson Books, an imprint with such a rich cultural, literary, and spiritual heritage,” commented Stoddard.  “I am looking forward to working with the talented team and our thoughtful agent partners to champion authors with powerful, life-changing messages. I am committed to leading this imprint to publish creatively compelling, commercially impactful, and consistently faithful books for our readers.”

As the publisher for Nelson Books, Stoddard will be stewarding today’s most well-known Christian thought leaders, including #1 New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst and international bestselling author Max Lucado, both with new titles releasing this fall—TerKeurst’s much anticipated Good Boundaries and Goodbyes (November 8, 2022) and Lucado’s Help is Here (September 13, 2022). Nelson Books is also home to many New York Times bestselling authors including Bob Goff (Undistracted), Christine Caine (How Did I Get Here?), John Eldredge (Resilient) and more.

Stoddard’s nine-year tenure in publishing includes acquiring and working with  New York Times bestselling authors John Mark Comer, Michael Todd and Tim Tebow. He has seen titles published under his editorial direction receive esteemed honors such as the ECPA Christian Book Award for Christian Living.  He consistently appears as a top ten Deal Maker in all Nonfiction Religion for Publishers Marketplace and has been ranked as the #1 Deal Maker in that category.

Don Jacobson, senior v-p and group publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing said, “It is my pleasure to now work with Andrew and welcome him to HarperCollins Christian Publishing. I’ve known Andrew for almost ten years and after identifying him early on as a rising star in our industry, I have kept a close watch on his career. Andrew’s strengths begin with his love for the written word and its ability to shape hearts and minds.  He is sincere in his dedication to authors, and he creates strategies that align with their ministry and organizational goals. Andrew is both strategic and a visionary; relational, genuine, and kind.”

Thomas Nelson, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., is a world-leading provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. The publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, children’s books, and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information, please visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Casey Harrell, VP, Corporate Communications, casey.harrell@harpercollins.com

August 2022 | WESTMONT, IL—The Martin Institute for Christianity & Culture and the Dallas Willard Research Center (MIDWC) at Westmont College has announced that Relational Spirituality by Todd W. Hall (with M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall) is the winner of the MIDWC Book Award for 2021.

Mark Nelson, who is on staff with the Martin Institute, said, “Relational Spirituality was chosen because of its lucid, convincing presentation of an interpersonal paradigm of Christian spiritual transformation.”

Dallas Willard (1935–2013) was a thinker, pastor, and author of such books as The Spirit of the Disciplines and The Divine Conspiracy. Now regarded as modern spiritual classics, these works have inspired thousands of ordinary Christians to become extraordinary Christ followers, and have influenced a generation of writers and teachers, especially on the topics of Christian spiritual disciplines and formation. The MIDWC Annual Book Award Program was created in 2015 to help place an enduring emphasis on the intellectual legacy of Dallas Willard by recognizing original written work that shares his vision that invisible things such as soul, spirit, and the kingdom of God are part of reality, and that spiritual transformation is possible, especially through spiritual practices and disciplines.

Drawing on historical theology, biblical interpretation, clinical psychology, and neurobiology, Hall and Hall take a multidisciplinary approach to Christian spiritual formation seeking to overcome the historic split between theoretical knowledge of doctrine and experiential knowledge of Christian life. They argue that trinitarian theology, psychological attachment theory, and connectionist accounts of the mind converge on a view that reality is fundamentally relational, that we are prewired for attachment to other humans and God, and that real spiritual transformation takes place in community. Hall and Hall write how in properly functioning spiritual communities, “we are loved into loving, and as this occurs, we grow into the image of God as exemplified in Christ.”

“With Relational Spirituality, Todd Hall and Elizabeth Hall have, with erudition and mercy, given us a masterpiece that not only tells us who we are but also points us in the direction of who we long to become,” said Curt Thompson, author of The Soul of Desire. “Broad in its scope, prophetic in its conviction, beautifully imaginative in its synthesis of multiple domains of human experience, and accessible in its application, this is sure to become a wellspring of hope and transformation—one that could not come at a more timely moment.”

Todd W. Hall (PhD, Rosemead School of Psychology) is professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, where he teaches courses on the integration of psychology and theology, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and positive psychology. He is a faculty affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and a founding partner at Flourishing Metrics. Hall is also an award-winning researcher, focusing on relational approaches to spirituality, virtue, and leadership. He is the author of The Connected Life and coauthor of Psychology in the Spirit and Relational Spirituality. Hall is also the developer of several widely used spiritual assessments and codeveloper of the Flourish Assessment.

Elizabeth Lewis Hall (PhD, Rosemead School of Psychology) is professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, where she teaches courses on the integration of psychology and theology. She has published over one hundred articles and book chapters and serves as associate editor for Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.

The Halls’ book joins other recent MIDWC Book Award winners, including Barbara Peacock, Soul Care in African American Practice; Angela Carpenter, Responsive Becoming; Gary Moon, Becoming Dallas Willard; Katherine Thompson, Christ-Centred Mindfulness; and Mark McMinn, The Science of Virtue.

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

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

WESTMONT, IL—Two IVP Kids titles have been named finalists for the first annual Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards. Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit and The Celebration Place are two of five finalists in the religion category.

The Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards are sponsored by the National Black Book Festival (NBBF) and were established in honor of the late Jerry Pinkney, a world-renowned children’s book illustrator. Nominated titles for the award must be copyrighted in 2021 or 2022 and be either written by an African American author or have an African American theme.

Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit was written by Esau McCaulley and illustrated by LaTonya Jackson. This IVP Kids book tells the story of Josey, who is spending the day with her dad, getting her hair braided at Monique’s Beauty Shop, and picking out a new red dress for Pentecost Sunday. In the process, she learns to celebrate the differences she sees all around her as part of God’s plan for his creation.

Benjamin Watson, author of Under Our Skin and The New Dad’s Playbook, said, “God has created beauty in diversity. But in a world that can be uniquely unkind to our Black girls, I have known the responsibility and privilege of intentionally celebrating their inner and outer glory. In Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, Esau McCaulley reminds me of deep conversations with my own beautiful daughters, appreciating their differences, affirming God’s love, and telling them they are valuable beyond measure. This message is for today.”

The Celebration Place: God’s Plan for a Delightfully Diverse Church was written by Dorena Williamson and illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks. Told in a delightful rhyme, this colorfully illustrated children’s book also includes tools to help parents engage in conversation about the book’s theme of God’s vision for justice and unity.

Natalie Grant, singer, songwriter, and cofounder of Hope for Justice, said, “Dorena has such a beautiful yet compelling way of writing about these most important topics of justice and unity. Yes, The Celebration Place will inspire children to walk this message out better than the generation before them did. But I also believe it will help challenge the parents, teachers, and leaders of these children that it’s not too late to do the same.”

The award winners in each category will be announced on October 22 at the 2022 National Black Book Festival in Houston. At that time, a grand prize winner will also be announced and receive a $250 grand prize.

More information about the Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards is available at www.jerrypinkneybookawards.com

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

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

New Masterful Suspense From New York Times Bestselling Author Jerry B. Jenkins: Dead Sea Conspiracy Book 2 in the Dead Sea Chronicles Series

“Jerry B. Jenkins is not only my dad (and my hero), but he’s also the writer of dozens of books I’ve devoured. I know you’re going to love his latest novel, Dead Sea Conspiracy.”
-Dallas Jenkins, Creator/Director, The Chosen

NASHVILLE, TN—Readers looking for a master storyteller will find none better than best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins. The thrills continue in his new release, Dead Sea Conspiracy, the second novel in his Dead Sea Chronicles.  Readers will be excited to continue the journey of archeologist Nicole Berman, who they met in Dead Sea Rising, when she was preparing for her first dig in Jordan. In Dead Sea Conspiracy, the adventure ramps up, as Nicole is awarded a permit to dig in Saudi Arabia. Being the first woman to do so only increases the pressure, and as the dig continues the stakes are raised as she finds what she believes to be the key to unifying the three major religions.  Jenkins adds another layer, a parallel story where readers are launched back into ancient Ur, and the story of young Abram—who will become the father of nations.  Readers will be eager to figure out what ties together these parallel story lines.

“The challenge, and the joy, of being a novelist is that I get to, in essence, be the characters I invent and write about,” Jenkins says. “In the case of Dead Sea Conspiracy, I loved being a late-thirties woman archaeologist with two earned doctorates – about as far from my daily reality as one could get. But in alternating chapters, I also got to be the father of Old Testament patriarch Abraham from four millennia ago – again, except for gender, eons from my own identity. The fact that my character (Terah) had a son whose life literally intersected with Noah’s sons allowed me to imagine the boy talking with a man and his wife about their experiences on the ark.  That the contemporary story and the ancient one resonates with each other makes this novel complex and, I hope, compelling for the reader. I had great fun with it and believe the message is timeless. “

Just in time for the perfect late summer read, in Dead Sea Conspiracy fans of Jenkins and new fans alike will come along on the adventure of a lifetime. Readers will also love reading about Abram, and will quickly figure out why the parallel story is so important to the times we live in.  From the Prelude, which covers Dead Sea Rising, to the Postlude, which readers will not want to miss, Jenkins has done it again in Dead Sea Conspiracy, sharing his amazing ability to entertain, educate, and challenge through the power of story.

Jerry B. Jenkins‘ books have sold more than seventy million copies. Twenty-one of his titles have reached the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. The phenomenally bestselling Left Behind series inspired a movie starring Nicolas Cage. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek and his writing has appeared in Time, Reader’s Digest, Guideposts, and dozens of other periodicals. He owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, coaching thousands of aspiring writers in both fiction and nonfiction. Jerry and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons and live in Colorado. More information can be found at www.JerryJenkins.com.

Dead Sea Conspiracy
Jerry B. Jenkins
Worthy Books
ISBN13:  9781546014225
August 23, 2022, Hardcover
320 pages, $15.99

Media Contact: Jeane Wynn, 918-630-9695, Jeane@wynnwynnmedia.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kregel Publications is pleased to announce that On Purpose by Julie Zine Coleman has won the AWSA Golden Scroll Awards Book of the Year for 2022.

On Purpose is a serious study of the verses in the Bible that are often interpreted to demarcate the role of women in the church, at home, and in the workplace. Each chapter focuses on a single passage, considering what it meant to the original recipients, understanding each author’s intent, and applying the passage’s true meaning in today’s cultural setting.

“Julie Coleman’s On Purpose is a delightful contribution to the growing resources for women called to, and gifted for, Christian leadership. It is at once biblically faithful, academically sound, gracious toward those with whom she disagrees, and accessible to a broad readership. The timeless principles she draws from the ancient texts are indeed good news for today’s church.”  — Ronald W. Pierce, professor of biblical and theological studies at Biola University

The Golden Scroll Awards were announced at the Golden Scroll Banquet on Sunday, August 14, at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, KY.  For more information, visit AWSA.com.

Kregel Publications is an evangelical Christian publisher that aims to develop and distribute—with integrity and excellence—trusted, biblically based resources that lead individuals to know and serve Jesus Christ.

Contact: Kregel Publicity Department, 616-451-4775, publicity@kregel.com, www.kregel.com

 

Restoration Is One of God’s Specialties

New Bible study of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah helps readers see God faithfully at work in the messiness of life

Greensboro, NC—The story of Ezra and Nehemiah plays out against a backdrop of ruins. There’s a ruined city, a ruined house of worship, ruined homes—and a ruined life with God. As is often the case in our own lives, the wreckage was largely their own fault. They and their ancestors acted foolishly, unfaithfully, and godlessly. Their path to rebuilding, at its core, was a journey back to God.

In Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined (New Growth Press/August 15, 2022), Iain M. Duguid leads readers in a study that encourages them to return to the God who is always faithful, even when it seems as if everything has fallen apart.

Duguid dives into lamenting sin, facing opposition, worshipping faithfully, and battling discouragement. This study will renew participants’ joy in the Lord and encourage them to turn away from their own way and toward God, ultimately discovering Jesus is the one who rebuilds and brings new life where there is ruin and decay.

“The Book of Ezra-Nehemiah shows us the rebuilding of Jerusalem in three phases, each with distinct leaders and conducted in the face of stiff opposition. Each leader accomplishes a significant goal in the restoration of God’s people, through God’s strength, but even at the end, the people are left short of full redemption from exile, and every accomplishment remains threatened,” Duguid explains. “People tend to make heroes out of Ezra and (especially) Nehemiah, who they then want to model themselves on, but they miss the bigger picture of how these books point us to Christ. Only Jesus can provide the perfect leadership necessary to restore the fortunes of the Lord’s people and complete their redemption.”

Each of the ten lessons in Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined includes rich discussion questions, exercises, and articles to encourage deep examination of the text for one-to-one discipleship, small group, or large group settings. The study will help set realistic expectations for the work of God in a fallen world, distinguishing between the “now” and the “not yet.”

“The vital message the book of Ezra-Nehemiah had for its original readers and has for us today is that ‘success’ is not the measure of a ministry—faithfulness is,” shares Duguid. “God remains faithfully at work in and through us in the messiness of life and ministry in this fallen world, and small triumphs should be celebrated even when so much sin and brokenness continue to be evident in our lives and our churches. But our calling is to obey God in our daily callings, regardless of the outcome.”

Michael Horton, a professor at Westminster Seminary California writes, “Rebuilding ruins seems like a pretty relevant topic right now. We look at our world, society, family, church, and ourselves and can see both a lot of work God has done and work he hasn’t finished yet. More important than all of this, though, is how Iain Duguid points us to Christ, revealing the message of these transitional prophets in the light of God’s unfolding plan. Read, mark, and inwardly digest this wonderful study of God’s Word.”

Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined is part of The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series published by New Growth Press in partnership with Serge. Each book in the series examines how the gospel story is revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The other two new releases in the series are Isaiah: Good News for the Wayward and Wandering by Jonathan Gibson and 1 Peter: Life as an Outsider by Robert H. Thune. For a full list of studies and authors, including releases in The Gospel-Centered Life for Students series, visit newgrowthpress.com.

Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined
Study Guide with Leader’s Notes
The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible Series
by Iain M. Duguid
August 15, 2022/ Retail Price: $16.99
Print ISBN 978-1-64507-244-7
Religion/Biblical Studies/Bible Study Guides

Iain Duguid is a professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary. He received his PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1992, his MDiv at Westminster Theological Seminary in 1989, and his BSc at the University of Edinburgh in 1981. He also served as a missionary in Liberia, West Africa before attending Westminster and planted churches in Oxford, England, Fallbrook, CA, Grove City and Glenside, PA.  He’s the author of Ezekiel and the Leaders of Israel, Esther & Ruth, Daniel, and Song of Songs in the Reformed Expository Commentary, as well as Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints, among many other titles. Ezra and Nehemiah: Rebuilding What’s Ruined is his second book in the Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series. His first, Jonah: Grace for Sinners and Saints, was a finalist in the ECPA’s 2020 Christian Book Awards. Duguid and his wife, Barbara, have been married for more than thirty years and have six adult children.

Serge is an international missions organization that sees God weaving together the frayed edges of our tattered world with His goodness, creating something beautiful. Their work consists of sending and caring for missionaries, mentoring and discipling ministry leaders around the world, and developing gospel-centered resources—such Sonship and The Gospel-Centered Life—for on-going gospel renewal. Learn more at serge.org.

For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com – 903.874.8363

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What Others Are Saying:

“This format is just what so many small groups have been looking for to study, discuss, and apply the Bible together. Dr. Duguid’s sound insights and questions on the text, combined with an interactive way to go about applying this to real life, make this no-homework-required guide to these important Old Testament books a real winner.”
~ Nancy Guthrie, Author; Bible teacher

“When Jesus said that the entire Old Testament was actually about him, he even meant the story and struggles of the returning exiles in Ezra and Nehemiah. You might wonder how that could possibly be true, written as it was hundreds of years beforehand. In this illuminating but also deeply personal study, Iain Duguid will help you see the context of these books and then also place them within a communal study that you’ll embark on as you find Jesus even there. I was personally encouraged and edified by this study, and I’m sure you will be, too.”
~ Elyse M. Fitzpatrick, Author of Finding the Love of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation

“Broken people, who inhabit a world ruined by past sins and present miseries, need repentance, courage, and hope. These come only from God’s grace. That’s the story of Judah’s returning exiles, and the story of our lives. This engaging, heart-searching guide for small groups points us through Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah to Jesus, who alone heals our brokenness.”
~ Dennis E. Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Practical Theology, Westminster Seminary California

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Suggested Interview Questions:

• The Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series examines how the gospel story is revealed throughout both the Old and New Testaments. How does the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra and Nehemiah point to Jesus?
• What are some of the themes that run throughout these two Biblical books?
• Ezra and Nehemiah were considered one book in Bible times. What gets lost when we don’t study them together?
• Why do American Evangelicals gravitate to Nehemiah’s leadership and ignore Ezra?
• Ezra and Nehemiah were two men considered leaders in the rebuilding of the temple and wall, but you say the book is really a story of ordinary men and a community of God’s people at work. What can we learn when we look at the collective whole of those involved in the rebuilding?
• Even if these two men weren’t the heroes of the story, what are some positive characteristics they possessed that are good to model in our own lives?
• Many who were involved in the rebuilding were disappointed that the temple didn’t measure up to the grandeur it was before. How does this parallel our modern-day discouragement over the progress of God’s work in our personal lives and in our churches?
• How is our vision of being successful in our calling different from God’s version of success?
• It’s easy to become discouraged when we look around and see how far the world has turned from God. What encouragement can we gain from this study especially when it comes to facing the opposition around us?
• You write about how the Israelites celebrated the various feasts of their religious calendar during the process of rebuilding. What can those celebrations remind us about worship today?
• How does Nehemiah 13 stand apart from the rest of the entire narrative of the book? What is the takeaway from that chapter?
• What are the elements of each lesson, and how is the study designed to be used?
• Your Ezra and Nehemiah study is a part of the Gospel-Centered Life in the Bible series. What other studies are available in the series?

Ada, Mich. (August 9, 2022)—Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that The Healing of Natalie Curtis has been selected as a finalist in the 2022 WILLA Literary Awards for Historical Fiction.

Women Writing the West (WWW), which is a nonprofit association of writers and professionals who write and promote the Women’s West, underwrites and presents the nationally recognized award on an annual basis. The WILLA Literary Award acknowledges “the best in literature, featuring women’s or girl’s stories set in the North American West.” Awards will be presented at the WWW Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on October 20-22.

The Healing of Natalie Curtis by Jane Kirkpatrick (Revell; ISBN 9780800736132; Ebook 9781493431786; $16.99) Musician Natalie Curtis is broken by strict training and a lost love. After encountering Native American music, she is determined to save these ancient songs which are being silenced by the government. In doing so, Natalie steps inside the space between the notes to discover something she’d forgotten—music powerful enough to heal. Based on a true story.

Jane Kirkpatrick is the New York Times and CBA bestselling and award-winning author of 40 books, including The Healing of Natalie Curtis, Something Worth Doing, One More River to Cross, Everything She Didn’t Say, All Together in One Place, A Light in the Wilderness, The Memory Weaver, This Road We Traveled, and A Sweetness to the Soul, which won the prestigious Wrangler Award from the Western Heritage Center. Her works have won the WILLA Literary Award, the Carol Award for Historical Fiction, and the 2016 Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award. Jane divides her time between Central Oregon and California. Learn more at www.jkbooks.com.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth books, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616)676-9185 x100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com