PRH Christian Publishing Group is celebrating its expanded partnership with New York Times and #1 ECPA bestselling author of Practicing the Way and Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer, who has signed with WaterBrook for four new trade titles on topics relating to spiritual formation, discipleship, and contemplative spirituality.

The first book in this exciting new deal is scheduled for publication in early 2028. World rights were acquired on exclusive by Tina Constable, EVP, Business Development, PRH Christian Publishing Group and Campbell Wharton, SVP and Publisher PRH Christian, from Mike Salisbury, Curtis Yates, and Matt Yates at Yates & Yates, who represent Comer.

“It is an amazing gift to be in partnership with John Mark Comer, who is one of today’s most influential writers. His words have transformed lives across generations and multiple denominations. He and the team at Practicing the Way are impacting the Church on a global scale, and we couldn’t be more thrilled about stewarding the next books from John Mark into the next decade,” says Campbell Wharton, SVP & Publisher.

“My heart is full of gratitude to God for the chance to do what I so love – write books about life with Jesus,” comments Comer. “And I remain deeply honored to work with the team at Waterbrook: their wisdom, experience, and vision inspire me to bring my best to the table. I look forward to our coming projects with great joy.”

WaterBrook is the proud publisher of Comer’s three most recent trade books, which have collectively sold 1.6 million units in all formats across the US and Canada. WaterBrook also acts as the publisher for the Practicing the Way ministry, releasing each of the nine Practices outlined in Comer’s book, Practicing the Way, along with the Companion Course Guide to the Practicing the Way video curriculum. An untitled trade book from Comer’s current contract with WaterBrook is set to release in Fall 2026.

Comer’s Practicing the Way recently won ECPA’s Christian Book of the Year® Award and is also a finalist for the Dallas Willard Research Book Award. It has made 23 appearances on the New York Times Best Sellers List, four of those weeks in 2025, and continues to appear monthly since its release on ECPA’s Top 50 Bestseller List. It was the #1 book on the ECPA Christian bestseller list for February 2025.

WaterBrook is an imprint of the Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Contact:  Beverly Rykerd, brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com

 

Editorial Vida and Grupo Nelson, the Spanish publishing divisions of HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP), as well as CLIE, the Academic and Reference imprint distributed by Editorial Vida, were recognized and honored with a record-setting 17 awards, including Bible of the Year, at the 2025 Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association (SEPA) ceremony on May 1, 2025.

The winning titles were:

LIBROS DE MAYOR VENTA (BESTSELLING BOOKS)

Devocional (Devotional)

• Lo vas a lograr (You’re Going to Make It) by Lysa TerKeurst | Grupo Nelson

Liderazgo (Leadership)

• El poder de cambiar (The Power to Change) by Craig Groeschel | Editorial Vida

Libros de niños (Children’s)

• Biblia fácil de leer bilingüe (Easy to Read Bilingual Bible) by Jacob Vlum-Olesen | Editorial Vida

Libro Jóvenes (Young Adult)

• Las crónicas de Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C. S. Lewis | Grupo Nelson

Estudio bíblico (Bible Study)

• Apocalipsis (Revelation) by Jahaziel Rodríguez | Editorial Vida

Ficción (Fiction)

• Las crónicas de Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C. S. Lewis | Grupo Nelson

Libro de Referencia o Consulta (Reference or Study)

• Diccionario de Profecía y escatología (Dictionary of Prophecy and Eschatology) | Editorial CLIE

Biblia de Texto (Text Bible)

• Reina Valera 1960, Santa Biblia, edición económica (RVR60 Holy Bible Economy Edition) | Editorial Vida

Biblia de Estudio con anotaciones (Study Bible with Notes)

• Biblia de estudio Patrística (Patristic Study Bible) | Editorial CLIE

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CATEGORÍAS GENERALES (GENERAL CATEGORIES)

Mejor Portada de Libro Académico o Referencia (Best Academic or Reference Book Cover)

• Teología POP (Pop Theology) by Lucas Magnin | Editorial CLIE

Mejor Video (Best Promotional Video)

• ¿De quién soy? (Whose Am I?) by Jackie Darby & Aixa de López | Grupo Nelson

Biblia del Año (Bible of the Year)

• Biblia de estudio Patrística (Patristic Study Bible) | Editorial CLIE

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GALERÍA DE HONOR (GALLERY OF HONOR)

Premio plata (Silver Award – Over 100,000 Copies Sold)

• Incendiario (Incendiary) by Itiel Arroyo | Editorial Vida
• El lado positivo del fracazo (Failing Foward) by John C. Maxwell | Grupo Nelson
• Amor y respeto (Love and Respect) by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs | Grupo Nelson
• NVI Santa Biblia, revisión 2022, edición económica, tapa rústica (NVI, Holy Bible, Revised Text 2022, Economy Edition, Softcover) | Editorial Vida
• NBLA Santa Biblia, edición misionera, letra grande, tapa rústica (NBLA Holy Bible, Outreach Edition, Large Print) | Editorial Vida

“This has been the most awarded year in our history, even surpassing the record set last year. It is nothing less than God’s favor upon our work,” said Cristopher Garrido, Vice President and Publisher for HCCP’s Spanish publishing program. “This is a direct reflection of the excellence of the authors who entrusted us with their work, and the tireless commitment of our editorial, marketing, and sales teams, as well as the distributors and bookstores who make it possible for our resources to reach hundreds of thousands of readers. Today, we gratefully celebrate 56 nominations that resulted in 17 awards across 13 categories: a collective victory that reaffirms our mission and passion for seeing lives transformed.”

For more information on the 2025 SEPA awards, please visit its website.

Abilene, TX — Surrendering Certainty challenges a common misconception about hearing God’s voice, urging believers to embrace his guidance without the need for constant reassurance or knowledge of the future. Since the fall in the garden of Eden, humanity has carried the same deception that misled Eve. We think more information will give us more freedom. But if we look at Jesus’s teachings, we know that his direction was never intended to give us a roadmap. Rather than relying on God’s voice to provide a roadmap for tomorrow, the book emphasizes that his words offer peace for today.

 Surrendering Certainty explores how to:

• Grow confidence that we can hear from God without second-guessing ourselves.
• Embrace our ability to make decisions as one of the biggest means for growing our faith.
• Release our false sense of security in tomorrow and equip ourselves with promises that are guaranteed.

We can trade the yoke of certainty we carry for a better one: Jesus’s yoke. By focusing on three promises Jesus gave us in John 10, Surrendering Certainty shows a better way to live, empowered by God’s Word. We will be free from a weight we were never intended to carry: the burden of being “like God.”

“Reading Surrendering Certainty helped dispel all my fearful thoughts about taking the wrong next step and ruining my life. Abby invites her reader to ask the right questions and rest in our heavenly Father’s certain faithfulness. Every chapter is grounded in biblical wisdom and provides practical guidance so that even indecisive people like me can make well-informed choices and move forward with confident faith.”
—Lyli Dunbar, Biblical Life Coach, Host of The Wildfire Faith podcast, and Writer for Love God Greatly and Proverbs 31 Ministries’ First 5 app

Abby McDonald is a writing coach, speaker, and the author of Shift: Changing Our Focus to See the Presence of God. Her mission is to empower women to hear God’s voice in their lives and act on it in faith. Abby writes regularly for Proverb 31 Ministries’ daily devotions team, and her work has been featured in numerous publications. Abby lives with her husband, three children, and black lab in the mountains of western Maryland. Connect with her at abbymcdonald.org.

Surrendering Certainty
By Abby McDonald
May 2025, Softcover
208 Pages, $17.99
ISBN: 9781684261833

Media Contact:  Kaylin Graves, publicity@leafwoodpublishers.com

Nashville, Tenn. (May 8, 2025) – HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) today announced two promotions to its Executive Leadership Team. Melinda Bouma has been promoted to Vice President, Associate Group Publisher, Zondervan Bibles, Academic, and Reflective, while Philip Nation has been promoted to Vice President, Associate Group Publisher, Thomas Nelson Bibles and Spanish Publishing. Both will report to Mark Schoenwald, President and Chief Executive Officer of HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

“Melinda and Philip are proven leaders,” said Schoenwald. “They have grown their businesses in an extraordinary manner. I’m excited for them to increase their impact in their new roles and as part of our Executive Leadership Team.”

In her new position, Bouma will lead the publishing group comprising Zondervan Bibles, Zondervan Academic, and Zondervan Reflective. Zondervan Bibles publishes an expansive list of award-winning Bibles in the New International Version (NIV), New International Reader’s Version (NIrV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (NRSVue), and Amplified Bible (AMP). Zondervan Academic is recognized as the leading publisher of academic and scholarly works for Christian scholars, pastors, and students, while Zondervan Reflective publishes books on Christian leadership, ministry, and the intersection of faith and culture.

Bouma joined Zondervan in 2003, working first in various Bible marketing positions before shifting to editorial. In 2013, she became Editorial Director for Zondervan Bibles. She was later promoted to Associate Publisher in 2015 and Vice President, Publisher, in 2019. She holds a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Calvin University and a master of business administration from the Seidman College of Business at Grand Valley State University.

“My time at Zondervan Bibles has been incredibly rewarding,” said Bouma. “For over two decades, I have been privileged to work with trusted authors and scholars to make the Bible clearer and more accessible to readers globally. For many years, I have witnessed the remarkable strength of the Zondervan Academic and Reflective teams. I am honored to now join their mission and contribute to their efforts. The potential for collaborating and expanding synergies among these publishing areas is vast. I am delighted to serve alongside these exceptional teams and equip the global church through the meaningful work we are blessed to do.”

In his new role, Nation will lead the publishing group comprising Thomas Nelson Bibles, Catholic Bible Press, and Spanish Publishing (books, Bibles, and reference materials). Thomas Nelson Bibles publishes an expansive list of award-winning Bibles in the New King James Version (NKJV), King James Version (KJV), and New English Translation (NET), along with translations for Catholic Bibles and the Orthodox Church. Spanish Publishing includes Editorial Vida, Group Nelson, Editorial Católica, and HarperEnfoque, and publishes books, Bibles, academic, and reference materials.

Nation joined HCCP in 2019 as Vice President and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Bibles. Before that, he served as a church planter and pastor, Director of Content Development for Lifeway Christian Resources, Director of Advancement and Global Impact Churches with the Baptist World Alliance, and as a university professor. He has a master of divinity from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and a doctor of ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“I am blessed for this opportunity to expand my work in the great kingdom endeavor of publishing Bibles and Christian books,” said Nation. “I look forward to the continued work with the exceptional teams at HCCP as we do all we can to introduce the message of Jesus Christ to people across the globe.”

These promotions come after John Kramp, Senior Vice President, Group Publisher, shared his plans to retire at the end of 2025. Kramp has spent ten years with HCCP, leading Bibles, Spanish, Academic, and Reflective throughout his time.

“From the time John joined our team, his focus was growing the business while preparing our next generation of leaders,” said Schoenwald. “He has accomplished both and will continue to lead our work in leadership development through the end of the year on a part-time basis.”

“Being part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing has been the highlight of my professional life,” said Kramp. “Melinda and Philip will do an outstanding job in their new roles. I could not be prouder of them or more excited about the future of these publishing groups.”

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing
The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprints, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com, and ChurchSource.com. The company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio, and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 29 million unique visitors each month.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit harpercollinschristian.com.

 

(COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-May 9, 2025) As PRH Christian celebrates its six-month anniversary as a new division of Penguin Random House, it introduces a new divisional logo and mission statement honoring its roots and emphasizing the division’s commitment to expanding opportunities for Christian authors in the marketplace.

Mission Statement: “PRH Christian is a home for Christian authors writing distinctive, inspirational, and culturally relevant works, bringing them to the broadest possible readership.”

“The mission statement speaks to the direction this division is headed and that we are looking to take Christian authors to the next level, helping more readers than ever discover their books and messages,” said Campbell Wharton, SVP and Publisher. “Our entire team had a role speaking into the logo and mission. We are excited to move forward together in executing our mission.”

Designed by Creative Director Kristopher Orr and Art Director Jeff Weber, the logo features 22 circles in various sizes and colors united together in the shape of a cross.

“These circles symbolize the unique messages of our books traveling out into the world, celebrating their complimentary themes, and authors’ voices,” says Orr. “The Cross shape clearly suggests Christ is central to our publishing program. This visual language also calls to the legacy of stained glass and the orthodox Christian faith in which our program is rooted.”

The 22 circles in the form of a cross hold deeper meaning as they were inspired by Psalm 22, considered a prophetic psalm about Jesus’ suffering on the cross. Psalm 22: 22 sings: “I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you.” Orr added, “Our books point readers to Christ, declaring him in various ways. In the marketplace, we praise God through our books.”

Basing the logo on a Psalm honors the division’s roots with its flagship imprint WaterBrook, which took its name and logo inspiration from Psalm 42:1 “as the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.”

PRH Christian is made up of five imprints WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image, Forum, and Ink & Willow, publishing adult non-fiction, children’s, and gift product with such leading authors as John Mark Comer, Mark Batterson, Michael Todd, Andrew Peterson, Elisabeth Hasselbeck, and Madison Prewett Troutt.

PRH Christian Publishing Group is a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Contact: Beverly Rykerd, VP/Publicity Director brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com

‘Luke in the Land,’ ‘CSB Oswald Chambers Bible’ win in Bible Study, Bible categories

NASHVILLE, Tenn.—“Luke in the Land” and the “CSB Oswald Chambers Bible” received the 2025 Christian Book Award in their respective categories during the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Celebration Dinner on April 29 in Nashville.

The Christian Book Award program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards programs in the religious publishing industry.

“Luke in the Land: Walking with Jesus in His First-Century World,” written by Kristi McClelland, was honored in the Bible study category. The study, released last year by Lifeway Women, includes teaching videos from locations throughout Israel.

“I am not surprised that ‘Luke in the Land’ was honored with a Christian Book Award,” said Becky Loyd, vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources. “In this study, Kristi walks through key passages in the Gospel of Luke, teaching the cultural and historical context of the text. Even if you have never been to Israel, Kristi’s knowledge and passion transport readers to the land where this history unfolded and help us to understand Jesus’ ministry in new and deeper ways.”

The “CSB Oswald Chambers Bible,” released by Holman Bibles, took the top honor in the Bible category, combining the devotionals of Oswald Chambers with the Christian Standard Bible translation.

“We are deeply honored by this award and recognition for the ‘CSB Oswald Chambers Bible’ by the highly respected ECPA. In many respects, it is a shared honor with our friends at Our Daily Bread who maintain the licensing rights to the collected works of Oswald Chambers,” said Andy McClean, publisher for Bibles and reference at Lifeway.

“They have been great partners from the very beginning, catching the vision behind this devotional Bible and sharing a mutual desire to help readers engage meaningfully with the message of Scripture alongside the timeless wisdom from Oswald Chambers. Our continued hope is that readers will find immense encouragement and insight into the biblical storyline as they journey through the pages of Scripture while being challenged by Oswald to live our ‘utmost for his Highest.’”

Five other titles published by Lifeway Christian Resources and its imprints, B&H Publishing Group and Holman Bibles, were honored as finalists.

• “Ephesians: A Study of Faith and Practice” by Jackie Hill Perry, Jasmine Holmes and Melissa Kruger was also a finalist in the Bible study category.
• The “CSB Men’s Daily Bible” by general editor Robert Wolgemuth was an additional finalist in the Bible category.
• “Habakkuk: The Christian Standard Commentary” by Susan Maxwell Booth was recognized in the Bible Reference Works category.
• “When God Makes Scribbles Beautiful” by Kate Rietema and illustrated by Jennie Poh was a finalist in the Children’s category.
• “Advent for Exiles” by Caroline Cobb was recognized in the New Author category.

In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, 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 Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.

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. For more information, visit BHPublishingGroup.com.

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 award-winning CSB Explorer Bible for Kids and The She Reads Truth Bible and the Rainbow Study Bible with over 3 million copies sold. Holman Bibles is a division of B&H Publishing Group.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Aaron Earls, aaron.earls@lifeway.com

By Jill Waggoner, a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources

MAY 1, 2025, WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that Mark Vroegop’s Waiting isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life has won the 2025 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Christian Book award in the Christian Living category.

“This has been a significant year for Mark Vroegop. He was appointed as the third president of The Gospel Coalition, and now, out of nearly 400 entries, his book Waiting Isn’t a Waste was chosen as the ECPA’s book of the year in the category of Christian Living,” says Justin Taylor, Crossway’s Executive Vice President of Book Publishing. “We are deeply honored to be the publisher of this beautiful and important book, and we pray that the Lord will continue to use it in the lives of his people as they learn to wait on him.”

Waiting Isn’t a Waste calls believers to resist the human urge for control and lean on Christ for comfort while they wait for the uncertainties of life to unfold. Vroegop explores what it means to wait on God through six important characteristics:

• Honestly: Waiting Is Hard
• Frequently: Waiting Is Common
• Thoughtfully: Waiting Is Biblical
• Patiently: Waiting Is Slow
• Intentionally: Waiting Is Commanded
• Collectively: Waiting Is Relational

This is Vroegop’s second book to win an ECPA award. His first book, Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy (Crossway, 2020), was named the ECPA’s 2020 Christian Book of the Year®.

Mark Vroegop (MDiv, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary) is the president of The Gospel Coalition and the author of the ECPA 2020 Christian Book of the Year Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament. He’s married to Sarah, and they have four children and three daughters-in-law.
X: @MarkVroegop Instagram: @vroegopmark

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

Contact:  Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.orgcrossway.org

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 2025 – Zondervan Books, a leading publisher of Christian literature, celebrates a 2025 Christian Book Award for its title, Ghosted: An American Story by Nancy French. The winner in the Biography and Memoir category, Ghosted tells the compelling, thought-provoking and tumultuous journey of Nancy French from her family’s mountain roots to successful ghostwriter who was eventually rejected by her party, church and community.

“We are delighted by the news of this award,” said Webster Younce, Zondervan Books’ Vice President and Executive Editor. “Ghosted is a beautifully written, clear-eyed account of a remarkable life, and we hope this honor from the ECPA brings new readers to this exceptional book.”

Released in April 2024 to critical acclaim, Ghosted is not just a memoir; it’s a poignant American narrative of transformation, resilience, and the enduring pursuit of love. The book blends humor and personal insights into an engrossing tale of change and loss. Publishers Weekly noted the book “balances her [French’s] frank, up-close political analysis with an uplifting message about the faith that sustained her.”

The Christian Book Award^® program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design and impact, the Christian Book Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious awards in religious publishing.

For information about Ghosted visit https://www.zondervan.com/9780310367468/ghosted/.

Zondervan is a HarperCollins Company and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian communications. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — One Kregel Academic title was among the 2025 Christian Book Award® winners announced on April 29 during the ECPA Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN.

40 Questions About Pentecostalism, written by Jonathan Black, edited by series editor Benjamin L Merkle, received the award in  the Bible Reference Works category.

In the characteristic question-and-answer style of the 40 Questions series, Jonathan Black provides an accessible overview of the historical, theological, biblical, and experiential factors that make Pentecostalism a vibrant and worldwide Christian movement. Accompanied by several endorsements, author and scholar Fred Sanders shares his thoughts on the title:

“This is a remarkable resource for understanding Pentecostalism…Black serves up a properly theological account, posing all the right questions and giving clear answers documented from Scripture and from a dazzling survey of international Pentecostal primary texts…I cannot imagine a better book to equip Christians for constructive conversations about these issues, under the guidance of the one Spirit (Eph 4:4).”
—Fred Sanders, Torrey Honors College at Biola University

The 2025 Christian Book Awards® were presented at the ECPA Leadership Summit in Nashville, TN. A complete list of winners can be found here.

The Christian Book Award program recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards program in the religious publishing industry. Presented annually to the finest in Christian publishing since 1978, the Christian Book Award program honors the “best of the year” in twelve categories.

Kregel Academic, an imprint of 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.

Jesus, Our True Friend will release October 7, 2025

Grand Rapids, MI – May 1, 2025 – Zonderkidz, in collaboration with the bestselling, critically-acclaimed duo, Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago, is thrilled to announce the release of Jesus, Our True Friend, a beautifully-illustrated picture book with seven brand-new stories. Perfect for children and adults alike, this new collection of stories from when Jesus was on earth are  designed to fill your heart with joy and remind you of God’s great love for you.

Building on the global success of The Jesus Storybook Bible, which has inspired families around the world, and has sold over six million copies and been translated into 70 languages to date, Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago have once again created a timeless treasure. The collection ranges from stories of Jesus’ miracles like the Wedding at Cana and the Miraculous Catch of Fish, to the beloved parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, showcasing God’s unwavering love for us and helping to paint a beautiful portrait of Jesus—our Rescuer and Friend.

“My hope is that this book will fill the reader’s heart with joy as they read about Jesus—the True Friend who just can’t stop loving them, who won’t ever leave them, who came to rescue them, who wants them to join in with his Forever Happiness, and who loves them with a Wonderful, Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.” – SLJ

Ideal for anyone reading Bible stories for the first time or for Christians building on their faith, Jesus, Our True Friend will fill the reader’s heart with hope as they hear these stories of the God who loves us and came to rescue us, and who sent his own Son to live with us—to bring us back home to God, to mend his broken world – Jesus, our True Friend.  The book will release simultaneously, in audio, as well as in Anglicized and Spanish print translations on October 7, 2025.

Jesus, Our True Friend joins The Jesus Storybook Bible, Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, Song of the Stars, and other beloved titles by Sally Lloyd-Jones as part of the recently announced brand, The Story of God’s Great Love. “We are thrilled to have Jesus, Our True Friend as the first all-new book in the recently announced The Story of God’s Great Love brand,” says Megan Dobson, Vice President and Publisher of Zonderkidz. “This is the first new collection of Bible stories told by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago since their collaboration on The Jesus Storybook Bible nearly 18 years ago, and this collection of stories will resonate with children and adults alike and bring them hope and joy as they enjoy the artistry, thoughtfulness, and care that Sally and Jago have woven into every story on every page of this new book.”

About Jesus, Our True Friend
Learn more about Jesus, Our True Friend here: https://www.sallylloyd-jones.com/books/jesus-our-true-friend/

Jesus, Our True Friend
Published by Zonderkidz
9780310160885
Hardcover
Pages: 96
On Sale Date: 10/7/2025
Suggested Retail Price $21.99

Jesus, Our True Friend, Anglicised Edition
Published by Zonderkidz
9780310173878
Hardcover
Pages: 96
On Sale Date: 10/7/2025
Suggested Retail Price $21.99

Jesús, Nuestro amigo fiel
Published by Vida
9780829774030
Hardcover
Pages: 96
On Sale Date: 10/7/2025
Suggested Retail Price $21.99  

About Sally Lloyd-Jones
Sally Lloyd-Jones is a New York Times bestselling writer of over 40 books for children. Her work has been critically acclaimed by the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal and includes: The Jesus Storybook Bible, an ALA Notable and Platinum Book Award winner, which has been translated into 70 languages and has sold six million copies, How To Be A Baby By Me The Big Sister, a New York Times Notable Book and the Christopher Medal winner, Baby Wren and the Great Gift. Sally was born Uganda, raised in East and West Africa and at a boarding school in the New Forest, England, studied at the Sorbonne, and now lives in New York City. She can be found at sallylloyd-jones.com.

About Jago
Jago is an accomplished illustrator with several prestigious awards to his credit. He is best known for his collaboration with New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones on The Jesus Storybook Bible, which has been translated into over 70 languages and sold more than six million copies and Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing. He has illustrated over 60 books in his 20-year career. Jago lives in Cornwall, England, with his wife, daughter, and son.

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imaginative, innovative and educational resources that represent a Christian worldview and build up God’s children and teens. For additional information, please visit www.zonderkidz.com.

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan’s offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Media Contact:  Ruthie Spaans, Director of Marketing, Zonderkidz, Ruthie.Spaans@harpercollins.com