Emerging Leader scholars will participate in ECPA PubU held November 16-17 in Nashville, and be matched with industry mentor for year-long mentorship

TEMPE, ARIZ., OCTOBER 10, 2022 – ECPA has announced the recipients of the Emerging Leader scholarship and mentorship program for ECPA PubU – the industry’s training and networking event for Christian publishing professionals, taking place November 16-17 at Lipscomb University in Nashville.

Nominations were made by companies in Christian publishing with a goal to invest in the emerging leaders in their organizations. Since 2016, 83 emerging leaders have gone through the program, adding now an additional 16 professionals from 10 companies.

Paloma Lee, Assistant Producer and Project Specialist at InterVarsity Press – and former Emerging Leader scholar – serves on the ECPA PubU Brain Trust as the coordinator of this year’s Emerging Leader program. She will be coordinating the matching of each mentee with an industry mentor.

“This year’s superb class of Emerging Leaders abounds with a broad range of expertise—their influence spans across the Christian publishing industry through areas of operations, marketing, editorial, design, and more,” Lee said. “It’s profoundly encouraging to see the valuable perspectives and the excellence these professionals are already bringing to the Church and the world through their work. As they develop partnerships with industry mentors over the next year, I’m eager to see Emerging Leaders empowered further within their roles as they experience deeper thriving in their publishing journeys.”

Paloma has developed two special sessions for these scholars, presented by industry leaders the morning before PubU opens:

Four Keys for Flourishing in Your Christian Publishing Career with Trillia Newbell (acquisitions director at Moody Publishers, PubU editorial track leader, and bestselling author); Linda Howard (associate publisher of children & youth at Tyndale House and PubU Children’s Book Summit coordinator); and Bob Gaudet (VP of marketing at Zondervan Bibles, co-leading the PubU marketing track)

Making the Most of Your Mentor Relationship with Dr. Christina Edmondson, author, speaker, educator, and co-host of the Truth’s Table podcast

“At our recent C-Suite Symposium in Savannah, Georgia, I clearly heard from industry executives just how much they value ECPA’s contribution to leadership development and mentoring,” ECPA President Jeff Crosby said. “The Emerging Leaders program embedded within PubU is a cornerstone of that work. I’m grateful to Paloma for her coordination of this year’s program, and congratulate each of the Emerging Leader scholars.”

ECPA is pleased to present the 2022 PubU class of Emerging Leader scholars:

Andrea Calles-Tamayo is a Project Manager at Apricot Services. She was born in Queretaro, Mexico, and has lived in three different countries before moving to Grand Rapids seven years ago. Andrea graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University with a major in Marketing. She was an intern at Baker Publishing Group before starting her current job at Apricot Services. Andrea has a small YouTube channel where she enjoys posting about her trips, recipes, or anything she has time to edit.

Avrie Roberts is a writer and editor. She holds a BA in English and has worked on postgraduate studies in English literature and world religions. She has a wide range of editorial experience working with Christian publishers and ministries, cultivating a love for creating resources that both equip the church and engage the culture. She works at Moody Publishers as their copy editor, where she gets to read books and study theology for a living.

Brandon Bellanti entered the publishing world in 2021 after working in church ministry, music, and libraries. He earned a B.A. in Music from Cedarville University, then served as Minister of Music at Grace Church in White Lake, MI. After moving to Boston in 2017, Brandon completed a M.S. in Library and Information Science at Simmons University and worked as a technical librarian for Akamai Technologies. He joined The Good Book Company as a data analyst in September 2021.

Bunmi Ishola is a Nigerian American, raised in both countries. She has a bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University, and holds a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. After working for World Literature Today, The Norman Transcript, The Dallas Morning News, and CURE magazine, Bunmi taught middle school social studies and English. In 2018, she decided to pursue a career focused on one of her biggest passions: books.  She now works as a children’s book editor for Penguin Random House’s Christian publishing group.

Jessica Ludeña Adams joined Tyndale in March 2021 as Associate Marketing Manager. Jessica worked with Tyndale previously as a freelance editor. Prior to joining Tyndale full-time, Jessica was an SEO specialist at a digital marketing company. Jessica is an avid reader and self-proclaimed nerd. Born in the U.S. to a family of Cuban refugees, Jessica is passionate about helping her community, living out her faith, and serving God in her giftedness. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her best friend/husband Joe.

Jonathan Higdon, an editor at the United Methodist Publishing House, is from Nashville, Tennessee. He began working with Cokesbury Kids in 2019 after several years in local church ministry in Tennessee and Texas. He received his B.A. in Communication from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and his M.Div. from Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary. Jonathan loves a good em dash—but not as much as he loves traveling with his wife, Sonia, and dog, Reese.

Joyce Perez joined the Bethany House marketing department as an assistant marketing manager in 2022. She graduated with a degree in Communications and Advertising in Brazil and moved to Minnesota shortly after, where she began her family and has lived for the past 15 years. With a background in customer service and freelance marketing, design, and social media consulting, she has enjoyed merging her love of creativity and books with her marketing skills as a part of the Bethany House fiction team.

Karen Savella Stallard is a multimedia copywriter at InterVarsity Press. She has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and a J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Before entering the publishing industry, Karen worked as an immigration lawyer for immigrant survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. She lives in Chicago, IL with her husband, Zach, and her cat, Levin.

Kate Irwin-Lillard is a graphic designer at InterVarsity Press. In 2019, she graduated from Grand Valley State University with a bachelor’s degree in studio arts. As a member of the design team at IVP, Kate works in collaboration with other departments to implement and uphold the visual identity and brand of IVP. Kate lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband, Jeffrey. In the wild you can find Kate sporting a snazzy groutfit. She enjoys spicy food, eating a good chocolate chip cookie, and taking pictures of her friends on her (many) disposable cameras.

Linnae Conkel is an editorial assistant for Our Daily Bread Publishing. She contributes to the production of ODBP books by proofreading projects, checking covers, and preparing manuscripts for typesetting. She also has assisted VOICES by translating Spanish content to English, managing contracts, and helping with the editing process of content written for Black and Hispanic audiences. When she’s not working, Linnae is either playing piano or drafting a fantasy novel.

Megan Teegarden, with 15 years of experience in education and ministry, is excited to be working with the Cokesbury Kids publishing team, focusing on both the history and strength of the Cokesbury brand, while also reimagining products and resources that meet the current needs of church leaders and Christian educators. Megan’s work began as a Kindergarten teacher in Birmingham, AL, with faith and ministry always playing an important role in her professional endeavors.

Olivia Eldredge has been with NavPress for four years, serving as the Operations Manager and Bible Products Specialist. Olivia has a BA in Communications with minors in Music and Theology from Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington. She moved to Colorado with her husband, Luke, in 2017 from Spokane, where she was a worship pastor. Olivia and Luke have been married for six years and love spending time with family; with their dog, Rainier; and in Colorado’s sunny, beautiful wilderness.

Rachel B. Hagewood is the Amplify Engagement Manager at the United Methodist Publishing House. She collaborates with partners in the United Methodist Church to provide resources and support to local congregations, specifically via UMPH’s streaming service, Amplify Media. She also edits various curriculum resources for all ages. A life-long United Methodist, Rachel has a passion for equipping leaders within the church to guide others to a deeper faith through studying scripture and theology.

Sarah Traill is an assistant marketing manager on the Baker Books and Revell nonfiction team at Baker Publishing Group. A West Michigan native, Sarah got her start in the bookselling industry in the hands-on world of retail through customer service and marketing work at the Baker Book House store in Grand Rapids, before moving over to the publishing side to join the trade books marketing team. She is now an assistant marketing manager and contributor to company DEI initiatives.

Selena Cunningham serves as a Cokesbury Kids Team Lead at The United Methodist Publishing House, working with both curriculum and vacation Bible school. For more than ten years, Selena has served the publishing house in a variety of editorial roles, including work with Cokesbury’s Celebrate Wonder, Deep Blue, and Rotation Stations curriculum lines. She has also done editorial work for Discovery on Adventure Island VBS, Food Truck Party VBS, and the upcoming Hero Hotline VBS.

Zach Savella Stallard is an Operations Coordinator with InterVarsity Press. After developing a love for IVP’s books during Wheaton College theology studies, campus ministry, and church planting, he followed his wife Karen to work with IVP in 2021. He loves solving problems and developing systems, and he works with IVP’s print production, hiring, onboarding, and this year’s Urbana conference bookstore. He is proud to work in Christian publishing and with IVP to contribute toward the equipping of the church.

ECPA PubU returns to Lipscomb University in Nashville on November 16-17, after two years of conducting the event online. This year’s program will include more than 30 sessions, 50+ speakers in several training tracks based on publishing discipline: Marketing Track, Editorial Track, Design Track, Production & Operations Track – and a post-event afternoon Children’s Book Summit. 

REGISTRATION AND PROGRAM IS AT ECPAPubU.ORG.

 

---

About ECPA PubU
ECPA PubU has delivered training, connection, networking and inspiration to the industry’s frontline practitioners since 2004.  Industry leaders develop the program to invest in the expertise of their colleagues, and train up the next generation of leaders.  For more information, visit ECPAPubU.org.

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

Media Contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President & CEO, jcrosby@ecpa.org or 480-966-3998 ext. 101
Sheri Toomb, Marketing Manager, stoomb@ecpa.org or 480-966-3998 ext. 104

WaterBrook & Multnomah is pleased to announce Johanna Inwood has been promoted to Assistant Director, Marketing.

Ginia Hairston Croker, VP, Director of Marketing at WaterBrook and Multnomah shared, “Since joining the team 17 years ago, Johanna has consistently delivered innovative, creative, and effective marketing plans for many of the imprint’s high-profile authors and titles. During her tenure, she has been the marketing expert behind New York Times bestsellers including Get Out of Your Head and Find Your People by Jennie Allen, The Lazy Genius Way and The Lazy Genius Kitchen by Kendra Adachi, Different—A Great Thing to Be! by Heather Avis, One Month to Live by Kerry and Chris Shook, and the New York Times #1 Bestseller, To Heaven and Back by Mary Neil.

Johanna has held a critical role as the marketing lead for national bestselling authors such as Elisabeth Hasselbeck, Becky Thompson, Nick Vujicic, Melissa d’Arabian, Liz Curtis Higgs, and many others. She’ll bring her marketing expertise and singular talent to take our Christian books into the mainstream as lead marketer for titles by Tim Tebow and Katie Davis Majors along with her continued work with Jennie Allen and Heather Avis. Johanna’s caring, kindness, and boundless positive energy along with her strategic marketing mind are highly valued by her colleagues, authors, and agents and has earned her respect throughout the industry.”

---

WaterBrook and Multnomah are imprints of Penguin Random House.

Just Released ‘Goodness of God’ Music Video Showcases Winans Over The Years

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 20, 2022 — What better way to add to a legacy other than passing the torch to those coming behind you?  The ministry and music heritage of CeCe Winans has somehow managed to get stronger with time. To know CeCe, is to love her, and no one knows that better than her devoted supporters who have watched her career sky-rocket over the years.  It is CeCe’s consistent display of living that is proclaimed in such classic songs as: “Alabaster Box, “More Than What I Wanted” and current classic, “Believe For It.”

Winans opens the treasure chest to her childhood and early memories of being surrounded by a community of faith in her sixth book, Believe For It: Passing On Faith To The Next Generation (K-Love Books).  The 223 page book assembles a series of events and experiences in the singer’s life that clearly explains why she is so firmly anchored in her spiritual beliefs.  The common thread throughout the narrative is that everyone has responsibility in passing on their faith and promoting healthy intergenerational relationships within family and close circles of friends.  On Tuesday, September 20th the pre-order campaign for the book kicks off, offering a free audiobook for all advanced purchases before the November 15th release date.  All customers who pre-order the book and redeem their order will be able to hear the voice of Winans narrating her journey of faith and later receive the printed copy of the book for their reading pleasure. CeCe’s latest literary offering is available everywhere books are sold, but to pre-order go to www.cecewinans.com.

“We all have been influenced by those who came before us,” says Winans. “You don’t have to be related by blood to have a spiritual influence on someone’s life.”

In keeping with the book’s theme, the third single from the Believe For It live recording, “Goodness of God” has turned into an anthem of sorts and is being sung in churches throughout the U.S. and abroad. Due to its overwhelming popularity a new music video was released on September 14. Directed by Calvin Nowell of Cmon Creative, the video celebrates the legacy of Winans’ career and the importance of healthy generational connections.  Video: https://youtu.be/9sE5kEnitqE .

With everything that’s already on CeCe’s full plate, the multi-award winning singer is about to embark upon a 21 city tour that is continuing to sell out at each stop.  The highly anticipated “Believe For It Tour” produced  by Transparent Productions and sponsored by Compassion International will, officially, kick off September 21. Ticket holders who sponsor a child will receive an advanced paper back copy of Winans’ new book. This live experience doesn’t end until November 4 so those planning to attend should not wait to purchase their tickets. Get them now! For ticket information visit www.cecewinans.com.

Stay connected:
IG @cecewinans
FB @official.cece.winans
Twitter @cecewinans
Website: www.cecewinans.com

CONTACT: Erma Byrd, 213-382-3656, erma@ebyrdcom.com

Karen Kingsbury Productions Reveals Slate of Inspirational Films Coming Soon

NASHVILLE, Sept. 20, 2022 — #1 New York Times Bestselling author Karen Kingsbury announces the formation of Karen Kingsbury Productions. With almost 70 novels to draw inspiration from, Karen Kingsbury Productions will introduce fans and newcomers alike to Kingsbury’s characters on the big screen. The company is in preproduction on its first project which will be filmed this fall.

“Karen Kingsbury Productions will create beautiful, redemptive, unforgettable love stories,” Kingsbury said. “My audience will laugh and cry and walk away with a deeper sense of hope. I think these movies will make a tremendous impact on the market for such a time as this.”

With 30 million copies sold and 59 bestselling novels, Karen Kingsbury is a household name for inspirational fiction. Kingsbury’s works previously adapted include Maggie’s Christmas Miracle, A Time to Dance and The Bridge, debuting on the Hallmark Channel, and the theatrical release of LIKE DANDELION DUST in 2009. Kingsbury’s A Thousand Tomorrows will debut on Pure Flix in late December and an announcement about the highly anticipated Baxter Family series is coming later this year.

With her eponymous production company, Kingsbury has shifted control from outsourced production companies to her own internal team. She also envisions creating a similar relationship with fans of her films as she has with the millions of fans of her novels.

“Kingsbury brings great content and a passionate fan base,” said an industry insider. “Her track record of knowing what her fans will respond to is second to none. If she can duplicate that in the film space, Kingsbury will revolutionize the inspirational content market.”

“Some authors would choose to continue writing two blockbuster books a year and call it good,” said Rick Christian, Kingsbury’s literary agent. “Instead, Karen is just getting started. Her novels have often been called life-changing fiction™, and I believe that life-changing will apply to her productions as well.”

To find out more information about Karen Kingsbury Productions, visit https://www.karenkingsburyproductions.com/.

About Karen Kingsbury
Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with thirty million copies of her award-winning books in print. Dubbed the “Queen of Christian Fiction” by Time Magazine, Kingsbury’s last dozen titles have topped national bestseller lists and many of her novels have been developed into movies and TV shows. An announcement is pending as to when and where the soon-to-be-hit show, “The Baxters” will debut. “The Baxters” is based on more than twenty popular Kingsbury novels about the Baxter Family. Three seasons are filmed and awaiting release. Kingsbury is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University and a public speaker, appearing before groups of 10,000 or more throughout the year. In August, 2022, Kingsbury opened Karen Kingsbury Productions, to begin creating theatrical features based on her much-loved stories. She and her husband live in Tennessee near their adult children and grandchildren.

CONTACTS:
Nicole Crumbley, EPIC, 770-286-1144, nicole@epic.inc
Jennifer Willingham, EPIC, 615-483-4729, jennifer@epic.inc  

ECPA members who have UK sales invited to encourage authors who’d like to help the UK Christian Booktrade to get involved with Christian Bookshops week, taking place next month.

UK Christian bookshops are joining the Booksellers Association @BooksAreMyBag social media campaign around Christian Bookshop Week. This runs from Saturday 22^nd October 2022 through to Christian Bookshop Day on Saturday 29^th October. We would be so grateful for the support of authors and publishers in this campaign! We are hoping that authors and publishers will help to champion local Christian bookshops on social media and in any other way they can during the vital trading period up to Christmas.

How can you help?

• We are looking for a number of authors to create brief ‘Choose Christian Bookshops’ videos.
• The key message we are looking to get over is #ChooseBookshops #ChooseChristianBookshops. If you can also ‘tag’ @booksaremybag as well, this will be amplified as part of the BA social media campaign.
• Remember your video may go to a wide audience so try to promote Christian bookshops in general, rather than just one particular one, but feel free to mention a local Christian bookshop that you visit, or you have benefitted from, or worked in, or where they have particularly nice scones & coffee…
• If you’re an author, talk about your book(s)! Maybe your latest? Have it in your hand and wave it about! Mention that it will be available from their local Christian bookshop or can be ordered from them.
• If you talk about the price, please mention the recommended retail price- then the bookseller can show a special price if they wish as they tag or share your post.
• And please, please try to avoid mentioning the dreaded words, ‘also available from Amazon’…..
• Keep the videos short- 2 minutes maximum, 1 minute is much better!
• Landscape format is generally best.
• These should be posted onto your own social media page, with a short accompanying text, and also the tag/hashtags @BooksAreMyBag #ChooseBookshops #ChooseChristianBookshops.
• There has also been an ‘open’ Facebook page created where you can upload your video. This ‘open’ page acts as a library of promotional material for Christian bookshops to share and use on their own social media pages. You are welcome to apply to join and upload your video there, with the same hashtags – https://www.facebook.com/groups/choosechristianbookshops

Other ideas-

• Please add the tags @booksaremybag and use the hashtags #ChooseBookshops #ChooseChristianBookshop in your general social media posts- the Booksellers Association are amplifying these posts on behalf of bookshops.
• Use the hashtag #ChristianBookshopWeek #ChristianBookshopDay if posting from Saturday 22^nd to Saturday 29^th October.
• Write a blog post, or add a social media post, championing your local Christian bookshop (or Christian bookshops in general).
• You might be able to call into your local Christian bookshop to say ‘Hello’- great photo opportunity!
• Be open to taking part in a local Bookshop author event over the crucial October/November trading period, either in person or remotely.

If you have any further questions you would like to ask about this campaign on behalf of The Christian Booksellers Group of the Booksellers Association (BA-CBG), please contact Andrew Lacey e- alacey@glo-europe.org t – 01698 275343.

WESTMONT, IL | September 2022—Sandra Morgan, coauthor of IVP Academic’s Ending Human Trafficking: A Handbook of Strategies for the Church Today, was awarded the esteemed Wilberforce Award by Atlas Free at its eleventh annual Freedom Gala on Saturday, September 24. Atlas Free is nonprofit organization that is fighting human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the United States and over twenty countries around the world.

The award is named after William Wilberforce, the British parliamentarian who led the charge to abolish slavery across the British Empire. Wilberforce dedicated forty-five years to the abolitionist cause, and in 1833 he helped to pass the Slavery Abolition Act. Wilberforce passed away three days later knowing he had accomplished what many said was impossible. This award is presented to an extraordinary leader and modern-day abolitionist who has used his or her voice and passion to influence policy, government, and the anti-trafficking movement at large.

An educator and nurse, Morgan is recognized globally for her expertise in combatting human trafficking and working to end violence against women and children. She currently serves as director of the Global Center for Women and Justice at Vanguard University where she builds capacity for research, education, and advocacy directly related to the exploitation of women and children.

Morgan served two years as co-chair of the Public-Private Partnership Advisory Council to End Human Trafficking by presidential appointment. She was nominated by John Richmond, ambassador at large of the US State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.

Morgan’s experience serving exploited women, men, and children includes direct care as a pediatric nurse, a volunteer with Doctors of the World (Athens, Greece), and a past administrator of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF). She has been a tireless advocate for victims of exploitation, slavery, and trafficking across the world, including South America, Russia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Morgan also serves on the Orange County Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) Steering Committee, partnering with Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice. Her Ending Human Trafficking podcast has listeners in one hundred forty-eight countries and is now housed in the Library of Congress as a resource to practitioners and the public.

Morgan said, “My favorite justice verse is Proverbs 31:8: ‘Speak up for those for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed’ (NLT). There are two things to notice. First, this is a mandate and does not say, ‘If you are called.’ It just says, ‘Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.’ Second, there’s a semicolon here, so we don’t get to stop with talking about it. The second half calls us to find ways to make things right, to ‘ensure justice for those being crushed.’ This is not criminal justice; we are talking about justice, making things right, making things fair for someone vulnerable and for those being crushed. We are called to be God’s witnesses to the ends of the earth. We are given an Old Testament mandate (Prov 31:38), and in the New Testament, the standard for measuring our true religion is how we care for widows and orphans—marginalized women and children.”

In April 2022 Morgan released Ending Human Trafficking: A Handbook of Strategies for the Church Today with coauthors Kimberly McOwen Yim and Shayne Moore. Published in collaboration with The Global Center for Women and Justice, Ending Human Trafficking is an accessible and compelling resource for Christian leaders, written by three seasoned leaders in the struggle against modern slavery. Grounded in a theological response to the issue and filled with stories, up-to-date data, and practical tools and tips, it promises to be an invaluable resource for years to come.

“I very much appreciated Sandie Morgan’s eye-opening presentation on human trafficking at our Crisis Publishing Initiative conference in Hungary in 2017, so I was delighted to hear that she had cowritten a book on this often-misunderstood topic,” said Sharon Mumper, president of Magazine Training International. “This practical book delineates the sensible ways the church can most effectively engage in the fight against human trafficking. The compelling overview of human trafficking through the centuries and in all its sometimes-surprising permeations today is well-documented, liberally illustrated with case studies, and theologically grounded. It will be immensely valuable to anyone who is concerned about human trafficking and looking for a way to make an impact in the battle against this evil practice.”

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

WESTMONT, IL—IVP is pleased to announce that My Vertical Neighborhood: How Strangers Became a Community by Lynda MacGibbon was named the best nonfiction book of the year as part of the 2022 Word Guild Awards. In addition, IVP Academic’s Welcome, Holy Spirit: A Theological and Experiential Introduction by Gordon T. Smith received the 2022 Word Guild Award in the Christian Living – Spiritual Formation category. And the late Donald M. Lewis received the top honor in the academic category for his book A Short History of Christian Zionism: From the Reformation to the Twenty-First Century.

The Word Guild’s thirty-fourth annual awards event was held on Saturday, September 17, in honor of talented Canadian writers who are Christian. The event, which took place online for the third consecutive year, recognized unpublished work by new writers as well as work published in 2021 for both Christian and mainstream audiences. During MacGibbon’s acceptance speech, she said, “Thank you to the Word Guild for championing writers in Canada, particularly writers who come from a Christian perspective in thought and writing.”

After encouragement from friends and family to write down her experiences of moving from a small city in eastern Canada to a high-rise apartment in Toronto, MacGibbon spent five years writing My Vertical Neighborhood. She tells the story of the community that took shape as neighbors said yes to weekly dinners and a writing group, Christmas morning brunch and even a Bible study. It’s a story of the simple, everyday risk of reaching out with love to those around us, and of the beauty and messiness of real human relationships. ”Thank you to the team at InterVarsity Press who believed in this project,” MacGibbon said.

MacGibbon currently serves as vice president of People and Culture for InterVarsity Canada. Before working for InterVarsity, she was a journalist for over twenty years.

Karen Stiller, author of The Minister’s Wife: A Memoir of Faith, Doubt, Friendship, Loneliness, Forgiveness, and More, said, “Whether you live in a tall apartment building or a tiny house on a quiet street, My Vertical Neighborhood will make you want to throw your doors open wide and invite the neighbors in. This beautifully written chronicle of risk taking, hospitality, success, and even the sadness and struggles of building community for the sake of loving neighbors well over the long run, is inspiring and also practical. There are good ideas in these pages. After reading it, I want to shop for salty olives and some really good bread, and throw a dinner party for my neighbors.”

The recipient of the Word Guild Award in the Christian Living – Spiritual Formation category, Welcome, Holy Spirit by Gordon T. Smith, helps readers cultivate an understanding of the Holy Spirit that helps them experience the presence of the Spirit in worship, in witness, in joy and sorrow, in seasons of blessing and times of difficulty alike, all the while honoring the fullness of the Trinity.

Domenic Ruso, founding planter of the180 Church in Québec and faculty member at diverse theological schools across Canada, said, “In an age bubbling with numerous spiritualities, Dr. Smith, in this book, has given us a gift: a biblical, pastoral, and practical guide for what it means to discern and obey God the Holy Spirit so that God the Son and God the Father are magnified in our time.”

Smith (PhD, Loyola School of Theology, Ateneo de Manila University) is the president of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as professor of systematic and spiritual theology. He is an ordained minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and a teaching fellow at Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of many books, including Institutional Intelligence, Courage and Calling, Your Calling Here and Now, and Evangelical, Sacramental, and Pentecostal.

The late Donald M. Lewis, a beloved Regent College professor who passed away unexpectedly in 2021, was honored by the Word Guild for his book in the academic nonfiction category. In the early 2000s Lewis became fascinated with the Christian Zionist movement. In 2009 he published The Origins of Christian Zionism: Lord Shaftesbury and the Evangelical Support for a Jewish Homeland. This was followed by this, his last book, A Short History of Christian Zionism: From the Reformation to the Twenty-First Century.

Lewis was a prolific author who wrote eleven books, including the two-volume Blackwell Dictionary of Evangelical Biography, 1730–1860. His first book with IVP was titled Global Evangelicalism: Theology, History and Culture in Regional Perspective, which he edited with Richard V. Pierard.

Jon Boyd, academic editorial director for IVP, said, “Working with Don on his history of Christian Zionism gave me insight into what the fruits of a life well spent in scholarship can be. The long hours with archival and primary sources shone through, of course, but that’s just a baseline for any historian. What Don added was patience with and even an appetite for feedback to develop the manuscript further, a sincerely charitable attitude toward critics, and a vision for the good he hoped his work might do. What a privilege to watch someone like that at work!”

The Word Awards were established by The Word Guild to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the art, craft, practice, and ministry of writing and help raise the profile of Canadian writers who are Christian. For more information about The Word Guild, please visit thewordguild.com. You can see the complete list of winners for the 2022 Word Awards below and at thewordguild.com/media.

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

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

Dangerous Jesus Releasing in March 2023

Carol Stream, Ill. (September 23, 2022) — Tyndale Momentum (@tyndalehouse) will release Dangerous Jesus in March 2023, the debut book from Dove Award–winning rapper, speaker, and podcaster Kevin “KB” Burgess (@kb_hga). The book is about the most dangerous man KB has ever met . . . Jesus Christ.

In Dangerous Jesus, KB reintroduces readers to the true Jesus, “the one who poses a living threat to the status quo, our division and our rebellion.” KB refers to Jesus as “the kind of dangerous that is so infused with power from on high that nothing stays the same when He walks into the room.” He considers the love of Jesus to be “so strong, it’s intoxicating,” and his truth “so good, it sets people free.” In his book he implores readers to reconnect with this Jesus to become a threat to the threats—to be dangerous.  

Tackling some of the hardest issues of today (race, nationalism, division, sanctity of life, sexuality), KB draws a hard line between the “Christianity of the Land” (which worships power and comfort) and the “Christianity of Christ,” which challenges us to worship, follow, and reflect the Savior. And he does it all with his eyes laser-focused on Jesus.

KB has become a No. 1 hitmaker and has received critical acclaim for his studio releases with placement on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and top 5 on Billboard’s Top Rap Album Chart. KB is cohost of the popular podcast Southside Rabbi. His Glory Alone (HGA)—a movement he spearheaded, made up of multiethnic urban men and women from all walks of life—has amassed a loyal following around the globe.

“They say the pen is mightier than the sword. Never has that been more true than in Dangerous Jesus. KB’s writing is powerful, lyrical, and razor-sharp. I couldn’t be more proud to be KB’s publisher, and I can’t wait for readers to encounter the Jesus he’s writing about,” said Sarah Atkinson, Vice President and Publisher, Tyndale Books.

Author, poet, Bible teacher, and hip-hop artist Jackie Hill Perry says in her foreword, “To pick up this book, after reading its title and still deciding to engage with its content, you have to have some level of bravery in you. Some propensity for danger. I’ve come to see that KB is good at that. At making swords approachable. If you haven’t noticed this already, it’s all through his music. Every song cuts and never coddles, but because it moved you to dance, or sing, or jump, or shadow box with nothing or someone, you sang a dangerous song out loud without flinching. This work is the same, but beware: there’s no music underneath the cutting to make it more palatable. No bass to move you, but trust me, this will move you still. Towards Jesus first. Towards people second. Away from yourself and into a better version that is ready to die to the easy Christianity that’s popular. This book is a land mine, a double-edged sword, a cultural critique and theological commentary. KB has the pen of a writer and the heart of a shepherd.”

In addition to Perry, endorsers of Dangerous Jesus include bestselling author and Bible teacher Priscilla Shirer, author of Reading While Black Esau McCaulley, and Grammy-winning recording artist and New York Times bestselling author Lecrae, who said, “KB is one of the most poignant and unique voices of our time. He finds a way to weave unapologetic truth into relatable stories that shine a light on the goodness of God.”

To complement this release, Tyndale plans to release a Dangerous Jesus streaming video curriculum and participant’s guide in the summer of 2024.

Kevin “KB” Burgess is a Dove Award–winning rapper, speaker, and podcaster. With four full-length albums to his name—including 2020’s His Glory Alone, for which he won the Dove Award for Rap/Hip-Hop Album of the Year—the multi-hyphenate artist is an inimitable force on today’s scene. He has become a No. 1 hitmaker and has received critical acclaim for his studio releases with placement on Billboard’s Top 200 Album Chart and top 5 on Billboard’s Top Rap Album Chart. KB is cohost of the popular podcast Southside Rabbi. Furthermore, HGA—a movement he spearheaded made up of multiethnic urban men and women from all walks of life—has amassed a loyal following around the globe. Although KB wears many hats, his greatest joy is being a husband to Michelle and a father to their three children. Visit him online at whoiskb.com.

KB is represented by Esther Fedorkevich of The Fedd Agency.

For more information or an advance reader copy of Dangerous Jesus, contact Amanda Woods, amandawoods@tyndale.com, 630-784-5125.

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a substantial portion of annual revenue—millions of dollars per year—through corporate donations and the work of Tyndale House Foundation. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Contact: Amanda Woods, amandawoods@tyndale.com, 630.784.5125

 

 

The guidebooks are the first in an ongoing series intended to equip and encourage parents to engage in meaningful conversations with teens.

Carol Stream, Ill. (September 23, 2022) — Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) and Axis have partnered together to publish a series of guidebooks designed to help parents bridge generational gaps in conversation with their teens. Each guide will translate teen culture in ways parents can easily understand, equipping them with the vocabulary to navigate difficult conversations with both biblical wisdom and cultural savvy. The first five guides in the Axis series are scheduled to release for individual purchase November 22, 2022.

These guides will also be available for purchase as a bundle titled Parent Guides to Social Media, scheduled to release on February 7, 2023. Each booklet focuses on a culturally relevant topic: teen FOMO (“fear of missing out”), social media influencers, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Future guides in the Axis series will address identity, mental and sexual health, and other complex topics.

The Axis organization aims to equip parents to confidently have productiveconversations about the core issues facing today’s teens, in light of the gospel. Axis educates parents on how to begin a lifelong conversation that builds trust and transparency with their teens, making it less intimidating to discuss difficult subjects.

“Tyndale is thrilled to be partnering with Axis to strengthen families and build strong, lasting lines of communication between parents and their teens,” says Linda Howard, associate publisher, Tyndale House Publishers. “We are grateful to help bring these resources to families at this time when they are so needed.”

For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Keilah Jude, keilahjude@tyndale.com

Parent Guides to Social Media:

• Teen FOMO, Influencers, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube by Axis
• ISBN: 978-1-4964-7406-3 | November 22, 2022 | Tyndale.com

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a substantial portion of annual revenue—millions of dollars per year—through corporate donations and the work of Tyndale House Foundation. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Media Contact: Keilah Jude, keilahjude@tyndale.com, 630.784.5088