June  2022 | WESTMONT, IL— IVP author Juanita Rasmus has been named one of SUCCESS magazine’s Women of Influence 2022. This inaugural list honors Juanita as a woman who is positively pioneering change, impacting her community, and shaping the personal and professional lives of others. A total of 50 accomplished women across a number of different industries received this honor after a panel of judges reviewed nominations from over 120 different candidates.

In winning this award Juanita is in the company of the likes of poet laureate Joy Harjo, award-winning TV writer Shonda Rhimes, tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams, space traveler Wally Funk, and several other CEOs, cofounders, vice presidents, speakers, and authors.

“I am both awed and humbled by this honor. Who could ever have guessed that a magazine I grew up with, under editor W. Clement Stone, would years later acknowledge my work in our world? It really is surreal. I have always believed that each of us has incarnated here to be of service to the other. I have believed that success was the result of finding a need and filling it,” said Juanita Rasmus

“SUCCESS launched the Women of Influence awards to spotlight the extraordinary females who are shaping our world today. We believe in the saying, ‘What you focus on increases,’ so we chose to be the channel that empowers our readers to have a positive impact through the inspirational stories of others who are doing the same,” said Cecilia Meis, Editor-in- Chief of SUCCESS magazine.

Juanita is one of only four women in the country leading a large membership congregation as a senior pastor at St. John’s United Methodist Church in downtown Houston, a church that started with nine members in 1992 and now serves thousands as one of the most culturally diverse congregations in the country. She is also a transformational coach and speaker, and the author of Learning to Be and Forty Days on Being a One. Her life’s work is in providing essential resources for every person seeking to navigate life in contemporary culture: whether that’s a diagnosis, disaster, divorce, disease, life disruption, or the great “resignation.” Juanita travels, speaking on spirituality and the transformational lessons she’s learned.

Cindy Bunch, IVP Vice President, Editorial, celebrates Juanita’s work in saying, “IVP has been delighted to publish Juanita Rasmus. Her book Learning to Be explores the dark side of life for a high-achieving woman. That is, what happens when all that good work you are doing leads to burnout? In her book Juanita explores her own journey into a more balanced way of living and shares the spiritual practices that she learned along the way. Juanita is the kind of spiritual mentor that the world is longing for. I am so pleased that SUCCESS magazine has taken notice of her important work.”

Juanita’s influence extends beyond her writing and teaching through a variety of leadership positions held at both the local and national level. She founded the nonprofit Bread of Life, Inc., helping to eradicate food insecurity, improve health outcomes, and provide resources to the greater Houston community. She cofounded Temenos CDC, which has developed an excess of sixty million dollars of supportive housing in downtown Houston.

She has served on the board of directors and ministry team of Renovaré, founded by author Richard Foster. She has served on the boards of her alma mater Houston Graduate School of Theology and Rice University’s Religion and Public Life Program. Juanita is also a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum, Class XXIII, and serves as faculty and adviser for the Jung Center’s Mind, Body, Spirit Institute. Juanita is a recent recipient of the Rothko Chapel’s Illumination award, and has been named a Social Book “Houston Treasure.” In February of 2022 she was honored to be named one of Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2020–2021.

For a full list of SUCCESS magazine’s Women of Influence 2022, visit https://woi.success.com. For more information about Juanita’s upcoming speaking engagements, visit her website at www.juanitarasmus.com.

Contact: Tara Burns | 630.734.4059 |tburns@ivpress.com  

(GRAND RAPIDS, MI) June 10, 2022—Baker Book House Company announced today that Dwight Baker will retire on May 1, 2023, after serving 43 years at the company, 25 of those as president and CEO. Speaking on behalf of the board of directors, board chair Dr. Kathryn Scanland said, “Dwight’s tenure has been punctuated with serving both the local Grand Rapids community and the global Christian community with steady commitment and a generous heart. Under Dwight’s leadership Baker Publishing expanded its footprint to reach a larger and more diverse audience. It’s a privilege to convey our heartfelt gratitude to Dwight for his years of unwavering dedication to further the mission of Baker Book House Company.”

During middle school Dwight worked in the original family bookstore on Wealthy Street, stacking books, sweeping the parking lot, and dangling outside the second-story windows with a bottle of Windex. He arrived at the publishing division in 1980 while in college, serving as art director until his appointment as president and CEO in 1997. In this role he followed his grandfather and company founder Herman Baker and father Richard Baker.

Under Dwight’s leadership Baker Publishing Group expanded its trade divisions through the launch of Brazos Press (1999) and the acquisition of Bethany House Publishing (2002) and Regal Books (2014). Following a major renovation in 2012, Baker Book House retail store in Grand Rapids has become the largest Christian bookstore in North America. For 11 years Dwight served on the board of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association, including two terms as board chair.

Throughout his tenure as president and CEO, Dwight has maintained a steadfast commitment to Baker’s mission and fostered an environment of professional excellence and integrity.

“I am grateful for the privilege of serving the church through the Christian book business and eager for our company’s future under new leadership,” said Dwight. “Our board, executive team, and staff are positioned for great accomplishments, and I am confident of an effective transition.”

The board of directors will initiate a process to seek and discern the appointment of its next leader, with intentions to announce Baker’s fourth president and CEO by spring 2023.

About Baker Book House Company
Founded in 1939, Baker Book House Company is composed of six publishing divisions and one retail division. Each reflects a unique segment of Christian publishing. These divisions are Bethany House Publishers, Revell, Baker Books, Baker Academic, Chosen Books, Brazos Press, and Baker Book House. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Baker Publishing Group is one of the world’s largest independent publishers of Christian books. For more information, visit www.bakerpublishinggroup.com and www.bakerbookhouse.com.

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

 

Comic Book Creation Studio Brings New Talent to the Table 

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., June 13, 2022—David C Cook has announced the acquisition of comic book creation studio Corvus Comics as a part of its ongoing effort to reach the next generation with innovative storytelling methods.

“Throughout its history, David C Cook has recognized the importance of using high-quality, illustrated graphics to engage students and teach biblical truths. We are thrilled to build upon that heritage through this acquisition,” said John Aden, CEO for David C Cook.

Corvus Comics’ team of artists join David C Cook with more than two decades of experience in the graphic design, gaming, animation and graphic novel industries, enabling David C Cook to create art in-house that speaks to today’s generations at a scale not yet seen within the ministry.

Corvus Comics was founded by Big Chris and Q Wood in 2019. The studio has worked on the critically acclaimed Tuttle Twins TV show and numerous faith-based projects, including graphic novels for the crowdfunded TV/movie project The Chosen.

“When Q and I set Corvus Comics in motion in 2019, our crystal-clear conviction was to put the ministry first and be obedient to simply draw until God told us to stop. We are honored that this path has led us to David C Cook—into a creative effort with a 147-year history of developing illustrated media to bring the Bible to life. Our conviction remains the same: There’s no stopping us now.” said Chris, who will serve as Creative Director at David C Cook.

About David C Cook

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

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

MEDIA NOTE:  For more information or to arrange an interview about Corvus Comics, contact Katherine Epp or call 678.360.9894.

June 2022 | As a continuation of its initiatives to learn from and amplify voices of color, InterVarsity Press hosted an African American Publishing Consultation June 8–10 at IVP’s main office in Westmont, Illinois. The gathering was led by IVP president and publisher Terumi Echols and Ed Gilbreath, vice president of strategic partnerships at Christianity Today. The press welcomed activists, professors, pastors, entrepreneurs, theologians, podcasters, and authors to gain insights on how to further elevate voices of color for the benefit of the church.

“These publishing events have been highlights of my time at IVP,” said Cindy Bunch, IVP Vice President, Editorial. “They are an opportunity for IVP staff to get to know a group of authors and potential authors in order to encourage them to publish—these voices are needed. These gatherings are also an opportunity for us as a publisher to learn from the consultants about the needs of their audiences and gain insights about how to reach a specific audience. The consultants in turn can learn more about publishing from us and from each other.”

From classic titles such as Free at Last? (1995), More Than Equals (1993), and The Heart of Racial Justice (2004) that are now part of the IVP Signature Collection to more recent award-winning titles such as Reading While Black (2020), Healing Racial Trauma (2020), and The Beautiful Community (2020), IVP has intentionally published and pursued authors of colors and topics surrounding race and racial healing for decades.

Since 1970, IVP has published well over two hundred titles on topics of multiethnic interest or by authors of color. With well over 60 percent of these still in print, IVP has remained dedicated to addressing the issues of the day, changing culture and speaking into and about the experience of people of color in America.

Terumi Echols, president and publisher at IVP, said the ministry is committed to continuing its legacy of giving voice to topics that impact the church and culture. She added that IVP set a priority on listening and learning from the consultants about how to authentically speak into and with the church, as a press and in collaboration with the important work these consultants are already doing. “We want and need to make greater inroads into reaching the whole church. We want to serve Black denominations, churches, and pastors. We want to serve Black communities in all its diversity. How do we do this well? We need to hear from each other in a gathering like this so that we can build on what we’ve started and move toward unity and understanding within the church.”

Throughout the three-day event, the gathering of consultants and IVP staff talked about the history of IVP and its multiethnic publishing vision, considered future writing opportunities, and explored many of the publishing and marketing challenges for African American writers and how IVP might address these challenges. There were also discussions about the legacy of the Black church and its place in their lives. Workshops were offered on developing book concepts and creating book proposals, and on academic publishing. Andrea Palpant Dilley, contributing editor for Christianity Today, also led a workshop on writing articles.

Participants of the African American Publishing Consultation included

• Natasha Sistrunk Robinson, author of A Sojourner’s Truth, president of T3 Leadership Solutions Inc. and visionary founder of Leadership LINKS Inc.
• Dr. Vince Bantu, author of A Multitude of All Peoples and assistant professor of church history at Fuller Seminary in Houston, Texas
• Dr. Heather Thompson Day, author of It’s Not Your Turn, and associate professor of communications at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan
• Dr. Christina Edmondson, coauthor (with Chad Brennan) of Faithful Antiracism and coauthor (with Ekemini Uwan) of Truth’s Table, cohost of Truth’s Table and Get in the Word with Truth’s Table 
• Brad Everett, InterVarsity/USA regional director for the Southeast region and associate national director of Black Campus Ministries (BCM)
• Paula Fuller, InterVarsity/USA executive vice president of People and Culture
• Dr. Theon Hill, associate professor of communications at Wheaton College
• Dr. Esau McCaulley, author of Reading While Black and Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, and assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College
• Jacqueline Horbrook, CEO of Black Christian Influencers (BCI)
• L. Brian Jenkins, founder and president of Entrenuity in Chicago, and author of Know More Non-Profits
• Oneya Okuwobi, Rice University academic junior fellow with Religion and Public Life
• Ed Ollie Jr., campus pastor/teaching team member at Willow Creek Community Church
• Sheila Wise Rowe, author of Healing Racial Trauma and Young, Gifted, and Black, and cofounder of The Cyrene Movement.
• Dr. Nicholas Rowe, historian, author, and peace-building consultant
• Ekemini Uwan, coauthor (with Christina Edmondson) of Truth’s Table, cohost of the Truth’s Table and Get in the Word with Truth’s Table.

Bunch said, “Working with authors of color at IVP has been one of my greatest joys. I have had an opportunity to learn from authors such as Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, Paul Tokunaga, Alex Gee, Manuel Ortiz, Ed Gilbreath, Juanita Rasmus, Marlena Graves, Sheila Wise Rowe, and many others through multiple writing projects. I have also learned from our publishing consultations with people of color as we’ve brought in current and potential authors for a two-way conversation about serving communities of color. In these contexts it has been an extraordinary gift just to be able to listen in to the needs and struggles of writers of color. The journey is ongoing and I am eager to continue to grow our publishing program to serve BIPOC authors and readers.” 

In October of 2020, IVP launched the Every Voice Now (EVN) initiative, which was set up to contribute to IVP’s commitment to authors of color. EVN features a sizable fund underwritten jointly by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and IVP for the purpose of supporting the development, marketing, and sales of books by authors of color as well as aiding in the recruitment of diverse staff and the deepening of the organization’s cultural competency.

In addition to the fund, the initiative launched or underwrote several podcasts featuring voices of color: The Every Voice Now Podcast, hosted by IVP’s Maila Kim and Helen Lee and IVP author Ed Gilbreath (Reconciliation Blues, Birmingham Revolution); The Disrupters, hosted by IVP authors Esau McCaulley and Nancy Wang Yuen; and Get in The Word with Truth’s Table, featuring IVP author Christina Barland Edmondson and Ekemini Uwan as hosts.

“At IVP, we’ve established a legacy of supporting voices of color and creating pathways to showcase Black experiences, education, and excellence,” said Helen Lee, IVP’s director of product innovation. “The Every Voice Now initiative and our recent podcasts are complementing our core business of book publishing as ways to help us meet the needs of a changing population both demographically and with regard to reading habits. In these ways, we hope to connect with audiences that want to not just read Black authors but also hear Black voices each and every day.”

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

CAROL STREAM, Ill.—May 27, 2022—Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) is pleased to announce that Dr. Lynn Cohick and Dr. Nijay Gupta have been appointed to the Bible Translation Committee (BTC) for the Holy Bible, New Living Translation.

The New Living Translation (NLT) was first published in 1996, and since then more than 50 million copies have been sold. It is consistently among the top English translations in terms of copies sold each year. The NLT was created by a team of 90 top Hebrew and Greek scholars working with texts in the original languages. Tyndale’s commitment is to make the Bible understandable and accessible to all readers. Accordingly, the translators’ goal was to create a modern English translation that was true to the meaning of the original texts and was as readable and dynamic as The Living Bible, a paraphrase by Kenneth N. Taylor that was first published by Tyndale House in 1971.

The central committee of twelve scholars and English-language stylists reviewed and approved every word of the New Living Translation. After the first edition was published in 1996, the BTC decided to go through the entire text of the NLT again to work at refining the translation’s precision even further. The second edition was published in 2004.

The NLT was created under the auspices of Tyndale House Publishers, and Tyndale is the primary publisher of the NLT. The Bible Translation Committee is a semi-independent body that is responsible for ongoing review of the text of the NLT.

The NLT Bible Translation Committee has seen significant changes with the passing of Dr. Grant Osborne, general translator for the Gospels, and Dr. Norm Ericson, general translator for the Epistles. Recent committee discussions have focused on the need to include younger scholars who represent the next generation of translators. They will offer fresh insights as they participate in overseeing the NLT text into the future.

Lynn Cohick, PhD, is the Provost of Northern Seminary and Professor of New Testament. She has written The Letter to the Ephesians (New International Commentary on the New Testament) and co-authored with Amy Brown Hughes Christian Women in the Patristic World. In addition to her administrative responsibilities at Northern, she teaches in the MA in Women and Theology program. She also directs the Women, Theology, and Leadership track within Northern Seminary’s DMin program. She serves as President of the Institute of Biblical Research. As a member of the BTC, she will be specifically responsible to oversee ongoing review of the Gospels and Acts in the NLT.

Nijay K. Gupta, PhD, is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. His recent books include Paul and the Language of Faith and A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Studies. He has published commentaries on Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, Philippians, and Galatians (forthcoming), and has served as chief editor of Bulletin for Biblical Research and Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters. He is co-editor of two important forthcoming works: Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (2nd ed.) and The State of Pauline Studies. As a member of the BTC, he will be specifically responsible to oversee ongoing review of the Epistles and Revelation in the NLT.

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.

For media inquiries, please contact Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com.

The Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference has announced the finalists for the 2022 Directors’ Choice Awards. The award recognizes the best books published in 2021 from prior conference attendees. Iron Stream Media is happy to announce three finalists in the Fiction category.

The finalists are:

• Fresh Scars, Donna Mumma
  ISBN: 978-1645262855
• Midnight, Christmas Eve, Andy Clapp
  ISBN: 978-1645262978
• The Endling, Deborah Maxey
  ISBN: 978-1645262640

Book these authors as guest speakers or for book signings by contacting Kim McCulla at kim.mcculla@ironstreammedia.com. Limited supply of giveaway copies available for special events and interviews. Books can also be ordered through your distributor or visit www.newhopepublishers.com.

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 Steam Fiction, Iron Stream Harambee Press, Iron Stream Kids, Life Bible Study, 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.

She Reads Truth Partners with IllumiNations to Help Eliminate Bible Poverty

Giveaways at SheReadsTruthBible.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Tuesday, May 31, 2022) – She Reads Truth™ will mark 10 years on June 1, 2022. What began with a simple tweet and the #shereadstruth hashtag has now grown into a worldwide movement and community of “women in the Word of God every day.”

Ten years later, She Reads Truth^™ now serves a global community of more than a million women, men and children with daily Bible reading plans and resources, including digital resources like the She Reads Truth^™ app, web site, and podcast, and printed resources like the She Reads Truth^™ Subscription Box and Study Books.

Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams, the founders of She Reads Truth^™ and co-editors of the She Reads Truth Bible, are humbled and awed by the last decade: “This community of ‘Women in the Word of God every day’ represents a long list of cities and countries, a variety of backgrounds and traditions, and countless real-life stories. But there is a commonality that binds us: we believe God’s Word is Truth. So we read. We engage with God’s Word and with each other. And we keep coming back, on the hard days and the good days, because God and His Word never change, regardless of our circumstances.”

Over the past ten years, the She Reads Truth^™ community has read 143 Bible reading plans together, including 63 full books of the Bible (with the last three books scheduled to be completed in 2024). The company has self-published 223 study books, three children’s books, and numerous other products designed to promote biblical literacy. Myers and Williams are also the general editors of the award-winning She Reads Truth Bible and the He Reads Truth Bible. She Reads Truth Bible has topped 500,000 units sold, making it Holman’s highest-selling CSB Bible to date. In addition, the She Reads Truth Bible, one of the first Bibles published in the Christian Standard Bible^® (CSB) translation, was awarded an ECPA Gold Milestone Sales Award in 2021.

The She Reads Truth^™, He Reads Truth^™, and Kids Read Truth^™ brands are based out of Nashville, TN. The team of 30 is led by co-founders Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams and COO Ryan Myers. To celebrate ten years of opening their Bibles, She Reads Truth^™ is inviting their community to partner with illumiNations (illuminations.bible) to help eliminate Bible poverty around the world. IllumiNations is a collective impact alliance of Bible translation partners and resource partners working together to make God’s Word accessible to all people in their languages by 2033. For more, https://www.12vc.com/shereadstruth.

Holman Bibles, publisher of both She Reads Truth Bible and He Reads Truth Bible, is celebrating the 10^th Birthday of She Reads Truth with a giveaway at its website (https://csbible.com/celebrating-10-years-of-she-reads-truth/). Ten winners will receive the She Reads Truth “Party Pack” including a She Reads Truth Bible, summer study sets, a keychain and a mug.

“We love the spirit and vision of She Reads Truth™ community,” says Andy McLean, Publisher, Holman Bible and Reference. “The team at She Reads Truth is literally helping hundreds of thousands of women engage meaningfully with Scripture, changing lives, homes, and neighborhoods worldwide.”

She Reads Truth^™ is a worldwide community of women who read God’s Word together every day. Founded in 2012, She Reads Truth invites women of all ages to engage Scripture through daily reading plans, online conversation led by a vibrant community of contributors, and offline resources created at the intersection of beauty, goodness, and truth. Learn more at SheReadsTruth.com or on socials at @shereadstruth.

Raechel Myers is the founder and CEO of She Reads Truth, He Reads Truth, and Kids Read Truth. A reluctant writer but lover of story, she delights in the evidence of God’s beauty, goodness, and truth in everyday life. Raechel and her husband live in Nashville, Tennessee, with their two children.

Amanda Bible Williams is co-founder and chief content officer of She Reads Truth, He Reads Truth, and Kids Read Truth. A lover of words and the Word, Amanda spends her days reading and leading, writing and editing, and explaining that her maiden name really is Bible. She lives with her husband and their four children in a lively farmhouse just south of Nashville, Tennessee.

The Christian Standard Bible (CSB) is a highly trustworthy, faithful translation that is proven to be an optimal blend of accuracy and readability. It’s as literal to the original as possible without sacrificing clarity. The CSB is poised to become the translation that pastors rely on and Bible readers turn to again and again to read and to share with others.

Holman Bibles is the oldest Bible publisher in North America, publishing high quality Bibles and reference resources that are trustworthy, accessible, and useful for the pursuit of lifelong discipleship. Print and digital releases include the She Reads Truth™ Bible, the CSB Tony Evans Study Bible, the Tony Evans Bible Commentary, and the Rainbow Study Bible. Holman Bibles is a subsidiary of B&H Publishing Group.

Media Contact: Diana Wurster, diana@mmpublicrelations.com, 281-793-7929

Stephen Smith has been promoted to VP, Digital Products for HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP). In his new role, Stephen will be responsible for the roadmap, development, and performance of HCCP’s digital offerings. His team will be responsible for all product management and development of our Direct sites, operations of those sites as well as analytics, conversion rate optimization, and SEO, with a focus on improving user experience and customer churn across all of them.

Stephen joined HarperCollins Christian Publishing in 2008 as an information services architect related to Zondervan’s acquisition of Bible Gateway. Throughout his tenure he has held additional team leadership roles that have grown our digital properties, including managing the Bible Gateway tech team and, most recently, overseeing the technology of HCCP’s eCommerce stores.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In the summer of 2012, Bryant Wright sensed God was telling him to prepare for his next season of ministry. Wright, the founding pastor of Atlanta’s Johnson Ferry Baptist, had just completed 30 years of ministry leading the church and was preparing for his fourth decade at Johnson Ferry.

His new book, “Succession: Preparing Your Ministry for the Next Leader,” shares not only the personal lessons Wright learned, but practical advice for churches and church leaders as they plan leadership transitions. “Succession” released June

“When I turned 60, I realized there were limited days left in my ministry,” Wright said. “And a number of people in the church began to ask, ‘how long are you going to stay?’ ‘Are you going to hang it up soon?’ Those two factors caused me to start thinking about retirement and next steps. I knew we needed to develop a succession plan.”

Wright’s book tells the story of how he and the leadership team at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church walked through an intentional, leadership succession process and provides suggestions for churches and church leaders nearing the next phase of ministry leadership. “Succession” discusses this journey in a way that shows the leadership of an experienced pastor, the wisdom of a knowledgeable shepherd, and the humility of an obedient servant. This book not only displays the heart of a man who loved and led his church well, but also serves as a model for those preparing for a similar journey.

“There is a tidal wave of Boomer pastors who are about to retire in the next five to 10 years, and there aren’t many younger pastors identified to take their place,” Wright said. “In addition, most churches don’t have a succession plan in place for when the time comes. I’m hoping this book will help pastors—both those leaving and their successors—as well as the lay leaders in our churches to help prepare for this very significant transition.”

Wright said he doesn’t expect all churches to follow the same timeline and game plan as Johnson Ferry. But churches of all sizes and contexts will find insight from the book they can adapt for their own situation.

“Every church is unique and will need to develop a plan that fits their context,” he said. “No pastor is going to stay forever; having a succession plan in place contributes to the overall health of the church. The health of the church is the priority.”

About Bryant Wright
Wright has served in Southern Baptist life as both a pastor and SBC president before becoming the first president of Send Relief in 2020. He retired as the founding senior pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church on December 15, 2019, where he pastored for 38 years. In addition to his role at Send Relief, Wright serves as founder and chairman of Right From the Heart Ministries, a media ministry with an international presence, and continues to mentor younger pastors through this platform. He and his wife, Anne, live in Marietta and have three grown sons, three daughters-in-law and seven grandchildren.  

About B&H Publishing Group
B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources, is a team that believes Every Word Matters. We seek to provide intentional, biblical content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, cultivating lifelong relationships with Jesus Christ. We publish (print and digital) in the trade, church and academic markets, as well as the CSB translation.

About Lifeway Christian Resources
In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School, and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit.

MEDIA CONTACT: Carol Pipes, 615-251-2516, carol.pipes@lifeway.com 

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — Kregel Publications is pleased to announce that six Kregel titles have been named winners at the 2022 Selah Awards.

Discipled Leader: Inspiration from a Fortune 500 Executive for Transforming Your Workplace by Pursuing Christ, by Preston Poore, was named Book of the Year and also won first place in the General Nonfiction category. Angie Ward, assistant director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Denver Seminary, praises Discipled Leader: “Preston provides the rationale and tools to help leaders develop a strong, Christ-centered foundation for unimpeachable character and lasting influence.” Read more about the book here.

Also in the General Nonfiction category, Spouse in the House: Rearranging Our Attitudes to Make Room for Each Other, by Cynthia Ruchti and Becky Melby, was awarded third place. Spouse in the House is a hilarious and heartfelt guidebook for married partners to learn to co-exist in the same house without co-exhausting each other. Read more about the book here.

With Fresh Eyes:60 Insights into the Miraculously Ordinary from a Woman Born Blind, by Karen Wingate, won first place in the Devotionals category. With Fresh Eyes invites readers to reawaken to the wonders of creation—great and small—and to how God is working in everyday moments. Read more about the book here.

Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse, written by Karen DeArmond Gardner, won second place in General Nonfiction for the Director’s Choice award. National speaker Cindi McMenamin praises Hope for Healing from Domestic Abuse: “With compassion, wisdom, and a proper understanding of Scripture, Karen will convince you that God loves you more than he hates divorce.” Read more about the book here.

Sharon Mondragón’s debut novel The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady placed second in the First Novel Category. The narrative shares a “charming tale of knitting, faith, and change” (Publishers Weekly) that beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ. Read more about the book here.

Buck Storm’s The Sound the Sun Makes won third place in the General Fiction category. Storm writes literary Americana with humor, heart, and a whole lot of twists to keep readers guessing—not to mention a healthy dose of faith. Read more about the book here.

Winners were announced at the 2022 Awards Night celebration of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Find the entire list of winners on their Facebook page.

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.