Christian audiobooks rank as bestsellers in South Korean book market

The global audiobooks market size is expected to reach USD 15.0 billion by 2027, expanding at an estimated CAGR(Compound annual growth rate) of 24.4% from 2020 to 2027, according to a report by Grand View Research, Inc.

The S. Korean audiobook market has been showing signs of growth ever since COVID-19 broke out in last February, which led to an increase in the amount of time people spend indoors.

As South Korea’s market for audiobooks expands, a leading Christian publisher Urim Books, an international member of ECPA, plans to prepare to meet the needs of Christian audiences.

In the middle of March this year, they published two titles in Korean language; “The Message of the Cross” and “Love : Fulfillment of the Law”, and both of them were listed as daily and weekly bestsellers in the Kyobo Bookstore audiobook category. Kyobo Bookstore is one of the largest bookstore chain in South Korea.

This week, Urim also produced the other title “The Measure of Faith” and it is available now in S. Korean audiobook market.

Urim Books is to produce further audio titles in various languages to keep pace with the increasing number of international audiobook audiences.

[Nashville, Tenn., March 22, 2021—] B&H Publishing is proud to announce the forthcoming release of “Being Elisabeth Elliot” by Ellen Vaughn the fall of 2022, the second volume of the authorized biography of one of the most influential Christians of the 20th century, Elisabeth Elliot. The first volume, “Becoming Elisabeth Elliot,” also by Vaughn, released in September 2020.

The late Elliot (1926-2015) was a prolific Christian author and speaker whose first husband, Jim Elliot (1927-1956), was one of five missionaries killed as they sought to make contact with the Waodani Indians (an unreached people in Ecuador known in that time for their violence). Soon after, Elisabeth and her then two-year-old daughter Valerie moved among the same people, spending two years sharing the Gospel with and befriending those who killed her husband. After her return to the U.S., Elisabeth began a speaking and writing ministry, writing over 25 books and eventually becoming the first female bestselling Christian author and one of the most influential Christians of the 20th century.

“New York Times” bestselling author and speaker Vaughn, who has written or co-written 23 books, began working on these volumes over three years ago, doing extensive research to carefully detail Elliot’s life with accuracy. She used Elliot’s private, unpublished journals and conducted candid interviews with her family and friends.

The first volume, “Becoming Elisabeth Elliot” debuted at No. 6 on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s New Release Bestseller list and received hundreds of positive reviews within the first few months of its release from top media outlets, social media reviewers, book clubs and bloggers alike. Vaughn was featured on national programs such as “The Eric Metaxas Show” on TBN, “In the Market with Janet Parshall” on Moody Radio, and others, speaking about the book and her experience writing it.

“I was so grateful for the overwhelming response to ‘Becoming Elisabeth Elliot: The Early Years,’” said Vaughn. “Happily, this second volume of the rest of the story has everything in it—and more—that evidently refreshed and intrigued readers of the first volume. I was surprised by new twists and turns in Elisabeth’s continuing story. I think readers who think they knew the older Elisabeth will be surprised as well.  She was a rebel in the 1960s, for example…but not in the ways that you might think.”

Readers of “Becoming Elisabeth Elliot” last saw the young, widowed Elisabeth poised to return from Ecuador to build a new life in the United States, at the end of Volume I. They watched the transition of a young woman who dealt in “certainties” to the more seasoned woman who dealt, far too often, in the realm of the unknown.

“Now, being Elisabeth Elliot increasingly meant understanding how much she did not understand,” Vaughn said. “She was indeed certain of a very few things—the good and holy character of God, his redeeming love and merciful faithfulness. She sought her reference point beyond her own experiences, always pondering what she called the ‘impenetrable mystery’ of the interplay between God’s will and human choices.”

“Publisher’s Weekly” said in a review of Volume 1, “Even those well-acquainted with Elliot’s works will find fresh perspective and revealing insights here.”

“Thanks to Vaughn’s writing prowess, laborious legwork, and extensive use of Elliot’s personal journals, I felt as if I were shadowing Elliot from her birth to her early 30s (Vaughn is writing a second volume to tell the story of Elliot’s later years),” wrote Colleen Chao, on her review published at ERLC.com.

“We could not be more thrilled to work with Ellen to share the rest of the story of one of the most influential Christian women in the twentieth century,” said Clarissa Dufresne, associate publisher. “In the first volume we got to show readers how Elisabeth became the woman so many revered. Now, once again through research, interviews, and Elisabeth’s unpublished personal journals, Ellen will weave the behind the scenes view of the rest of Elisabeth’s God-sustained path.”

The book is currently slated for publication in September of 2022. For more information, visit bhpublishing.com. 

Ellen Vaughn is a “New York Times” bestselling author and speaker who has written or co-written 23 books. Former vice president of executive communications at Prison Fellowship, she collaborated with the late Chuck Colson on a number of his seminal works. She speaks at conferences, often travels to interview Christ-followers in hostile parts of the world and serves on the board of directors for ICM, the global church developer. With degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Richmond, Ellen lives in northern Virginia with husband Lee, a pastor of congregational care at McLean Bible Church, a daughter and two grandchildren, and two clueless dogs. She enjoys reading, hiking, drinking coffee and staring pensively at the ocean.

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources, is a team of mission minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church and academic markets, titles include “The New York Times” No. 1 bestsellers “The Love Dare” and “The Vow,” No. 1 CBA bestseller “I Am a Church Member,” as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (March 19, 2021) – For more than eighty years, The Navigators has championed knowing Christ, making Him known, and helping others do the same. NavPress is renewing its focus on the ministry’s mission of training and encouraging disciplemakers in all walks of life. David Zimmerman has been appointed as the new publisher to direct NavPress in support of that mission.

“Book publishing is its most energizing when it is done in service to a movement,” Zimmerman said. “When well-crafted books call us into something more and greater and then help us along the way, they are achieving their higher potential for changing the world.”

Zimmerman is in his 28th year in the Christian publishing industry, serving most recently with NavPress as senior acquisitions editor since 2014. He leads the team in acquiring and developing new NavPress resources and building on the strength of a robust backlist catalog, including the bestselling Message Bible.

“Over the past seven years Dave has been instrumental in building not only NavPress’s list of titles focused on helping people as followers of Jesus but also its reputation in the publishing industry and the world of Christian ministry,” said The Navigators U.S. Director Doug Nuenke. “We are excited for this next season with NavPress in our ambitious vision of reasserting the Great Commission as a normal part of the Christian life.”

Disciplemaking is the missional lifeblood and organizing focus for NavPress publications. In its books, Bibles, Bible studies, and ministry resources, NavPress seeks to serve its readers by facilitating growth toward spiritual maturity in the context of relationships.

“The team here at NavPress is nimble and creative, eager and enthusiastic,” says Zimmerman. “Our sense of mission really binds us to our authors, our audience, and our publishing partners. It’s a good time to be engaged in this vital work.”

Leaders of significant recent Christian movements have praised Zimmerman for his congeniality and commitment to excellence. “I have appreciated his unusual blend of professionalism (efficiency and a keen eye for detail) with personable warmth,” shared Pete Greig, cofounder of the 24/7 Prayer movement and author of How to Pray. Debra and Alan Hirsch, cofounders of the Forge International Missions Training Network, called Zimmerman “a clear-headed believer in the medium and the authors who take it seriously. We’ve come to trust his instincts and appreciate his output.”

The NavPress mission is to advance the calling of The Navigators by bringing biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical products to people who want to know and love Christ more deeply. Through The Message Bible and other insightful resources, NavPress seeks to bring positive spiritual movement to peoples’ lives. In January 2014, NavPress entered into an alliance with Tyndale House Publishers to strengthen and better position NavPress and its rich content for the future. NavPress provides books and other content that bring spiritual impact and life transformation and that help lead in the mission of making disciples.

Contact:  Katie Dodillet, Director of Public Relations, katiedodillet@tyndale.com

Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts from IF: Gathering visionary and founder Jennie Allen, has surpassed more than 500,000 copies in sales and received the ECPA Gold Sales Achievement Award for a half-million in sales of all formats including print, digital and audio. Published in January 2020 by WaterBrook, a Random House imprint, Get Out of Your Head was an instant national bestseller and went on to spend 31 weeks on the New York Times Best Sellers List and became the top new title in the religion category for 2020.

Tina Constable, Executive Vice President, Christian Publishing/Forum at Random House, said, “No one could have predicted last year. We are honored that Get Out of Your Head was the right book at the right time and really met a need for readers. We consistently hear from readers about how much Jennie’s book has meant to them. In 2021, it is not slowing down as book clubs, Bible studies and women’s groups are coming together around Jennie’s teaching.”

Get Out of Your Head challenges readers to exercise their God-given power to shift negative thinking patterns and take back control of their thoughts and emotions. Blending biblical teaching with brain science and practical counseling, Allen directs readers to seven thought choices they can make to leave behind anxiety, worry, and doubt, and step into freedom.

“Learning to capture our thoughts matters,” writes Allen. “Because how we think shapes how we live…our thoughts dictate our beliefs, which dictate our actions, which form our habits, which compose the sum of our lives.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

JENNIE ALLEN is the founder and visionary behind IF:Gathering, an organization that equips women with gospel-centered resources, events, and community so they may learn more about who God is and dis­ciple others. Through simulcast and live events, IF has reached more than one million women in nearly 200 countries and has 7,000 women leading in-person gatherings around the world. She is also the host of the new “Made for This” podcast, which has more than 9 million downloads. Allen has a master’s degree in biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. For more information, visit www.jennieallen.com.

IF: Gathering recently hosted its 2021 livestream event on March 5-6 with more than 220,000 unique viewers and a million plays reaching all 50 states and 144 countries.

WaterBrook is an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Colorado Springs, Colo. (March 15, 2021) —The Bindery is pleased to announce they have added a new member to their team in veteran Literary Agent, Andrea Heinecke, formerly of Alive Literary. Andrea has a literary and commercial sensibility honed over years of working as both a book editor and literary agent, and representing an array of influential books and authors.

“We’re delighted to welcome Andrea and her authors to The Bindery,” says Alex Field, Principal & Founder of The Bindery Agency. “She will guide some important new books into the world in the coming years, and I know our entire team and all the authors we represent will benefit from her talent, experience, and good work.”

Andrea brings a broad publishing background to every project she represents, having worked as an editor, publicist, and literary agent with award-winning authors of both fiction and nonfiction, adult, youth, and children’s books. She represents bestselling and critically acclaimed authors—thoughtful and diverse women and men who contribute to the culture and the dialogue in our world. She has worked as a literary agent for over a decade, negotiating hundreds of contracts on behalf of her wonderful clients, including The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust, Eugene Peterson, Valorie Burton, Brian Zahnd, Rebecca St. James, Winn Collier, Alister McGrath, Caleb Wilde, and more.

Her love for the written word began early in life and took her to Seattle Pacific University where she majored in English Literature. She has served within her community and industry as a board member for the Henri Nouwen Society, a Girl Scout Leader and a member of the Coronado Junior Woman’s Club. She lives in California with her husband, Matt a teacher and musician, and their two children, Ella and Luke. Andrea can be reached at her new email address, aheinecke@thebinderyagency.com.

At The Bindery, Andrea joins Managing Director, Ingrid Beck, and Literary Agents Trinity McFadden, John Blase, and Estee Zandee. Field launched The Bindery in 2017 after more than 18 years of work in journalism and book publishing. The Bindery serves a wide variety of content creators, guiding the authors they represent through every step of the publishing process, from inspiration to bookshelf. Currently, they represent authors in the categories of Commercial Fiction, Religion & Spirituality, Biography & Memoir, Parenting, Pop Culture, Personal Growth, Business & Leadership, Christian Living, Science Fiction & Fantasy, and more. The Bindery currently represents authors such as Jerry B. Jenkins, Michael Todd, Ainsley Arment, Sam Acho, Ashley Lemieux, Propaganda, Sean Dietrich (known as “Sean of the South”), Dr. Gregory L. Jantz, Sally Clarkson, Dr. Derwin L. Gray, Rich Villodas, Carlos Whittaker, Mandy Hale, Danielle Strickland and more. To learn more, visit www.TheBinderyAgency.com.

CONTACT: Alexander Field, The Bindery Principal & Founder, afield@thebinderyagency.com 719-351-4897

 

NEW YORK, March 8, 2021 — With the release of SIMPLY CHRISTIAN in 2006, New Testament scholar and Anglican bishop N.T. Wright revived the tradition of books like C.S. Lewis’s seminal work Mere Christianity.  SIMPLY CHRISTIAN articulates the essence of Christianity for a new generation, written with generosity, humanity, and remarkable clarity. It quickly became Wright’s best-known work. Now, fifteen years after its initial publication and as a testament to its enduring legacy, SIMPLY CHRISTIAN: Why Christianity Makes Sense (HarperOne | March 8, 2021) is available in paperback for the first time.

Like Lewis, Wright favors contemporary, conversational language, rendering the loftiest of theological concepts accessible to the modern reader. Drawing on his robust knowledge of Christianity—Newsweek has hailed him “the world’s leading New Testament scholar”—Wright provides guidance to both Christian theory and practice. With insight and candor, Wright illuminates the ideals that form the religion’s foundation, the teachings of the church, and rituals such as worship and prayer that sustain an individual’s relationship to the faith. And with the addition of a discussion guide for groups and individuals, the paperback edition of SIMPLY CHRISTIAN engages the reader even more fully.

Writing with authority, but without any trace of didacticism or condescension, Wright’s narrative is as accessible to agnostics, atheists, and avowed skeptics as it is to seekers and lifelong believers. He recognizes obstacles some face in embracing Christianity, such as the difficulty of reconciling one’s scientific beliefs with the miracle of resurrection, and the off-putting perception that Christian doctrine is punitive and restrictive. SIMPLY CHRISTIAN addresses such barriers with substance and thoughtfulness.

This edition arrives at a moment of historic significance. Religious affiliation and practice are on the decline worldwide. In the United States, the number of self-identified Christians has plummeted, particularly among younger Americans. Poised to reach a new generation of readers who may have been driven away from the church, SIMPLY CHRISTIAN cuts through the noise and reveals truths about the Christian faith that prove its perennial relevance.

Though Wright relies on a pristine, highly readable style, he also writes with bursts of stunning lyricism. SIMPLY CHRISTIAN is dotted with moments of marvel; meditations on beauty and nature; and, throughout, an unmissable sense of wonder that is itself a profound attestation to the work of God. A volume of quiet and unusual power, SIMPLY CHRISTIAN investigates basic inquiries—Why do humans have an inherent passion for justice? Why do we crave relationships with others?—and finds, each time, that the answer lies in the divine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
N.T. Wright is the former bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world’s leading Bible scholars. He serves as Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University as well as being professor emeritus of the New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews. Wright has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and Fresh Air. His award-winning books include the Christian Origins and the Question of God series, Paul: A Biography, Broken Signposts, Surprised by Hope, Simply Jesus, The Case for the Psalms, How God Became King, After You Believe, and Scripture and the Authority of God,. He is also the translator of The Kingdom New Testament.

SIMPLY CHRISTIAN: Why Christianity Makes Sense
By N.T. Wright
Trade Paperback Reprint
HarperOne | March 2021 | $17. 99 | 256 pages
ISBN 978-0060872700

CONTACT: Courtney Nobile, 212-207-7127, Courtney.Nobile@harpercollins.com

Five Zondervan titles selected in the Also Recommended category

Grand Rapids, Mich. (March 9, 2021) – Zondervan congratulates the nine authors recognized by Outreach magazine, four as Resource of the Year and five in the Also Recommended category.

For 18 years, Outreach magazine has highlighted resources that “can help churches better engage in effective outreach to share the gospel and reach their communities for Christ.” This year they received over 150 submissions for resources in 12 categories, with an expert in each category evaluating and choosing the winners.

The four Zondervan resources chosen for Resource of the Year are:

• How to Talk About Jesus (Without Being THAT Guy): Personal Evangelism in a Skeptical World by Sam Chan (Zondervan Reflective) – Evangelism and Apologetics
• The Sacred Overlap: Learning to Live Faithfully in the Space Between by J.R. Briggs (Zondervan Reflective) – Discipleship
• Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction by Michael Bird (Zondervan Academic) – Theology and Biblical Studies
• Tiny Truths Wonder and Wisdom: Everyday Reminders from Psalms and Proverbs by Joanna Rivard and Tim Penner (Zonderkidz) – Kids and Youth

The five Zondervan resources chosen for Also Recommended are:

• Reclaimed: How Jesus Restores Our Humanity in a Dehumanized World by Andy Steiger with Sheri Heibert (Zondervan Reflective) – Evangelism and Apologetics
• Telling a Better Story: How to Talk About God in a Skeptical Age by Josh Chatraw (Zondervan Reflective) – Evangelism and Apologetics
• Leading Small Groups that Thrive: Five Shifts to Take Your Group to the Next Level by Ryan T. Hartwig, Courtney W. Davis and Jason A. Sniff (Zondervan Reflective) – Discipleship
• From Social Media to Social Ministry: A Guide to Digital Discipleship by Nona Jones (Zondervan Reflective) – Discipleship
• Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: 5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move by Andy Stanley (Zondervan Reflective) – Leadership

“Congratulations to the nine authors recognized by Outreach magazine for their excellent work in equipping the church through their writing,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “I am also proud of the publishing teams across Zondervan who work each day to produce excellent content that inspires the world by meeting the needs of people with content that promotes biblical principles and honors Jesus Christ.”

The resources are featured in the March/April 2021 issue of Outreach magazine. Visit the Outreach website for more information.

Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different  genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is based in Grand Rapids, MI.  For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact: Chelsea Taff, Manager, Corporate Communications, 615.902.2137  Chelsea.Taff@HarperCollins.com

After a year of travel restrictions and stay-at-home orders, author Amanda Hope Haley’s latest book offers a much-needed chance to travel vicariously and visit the settings where the Bible’s greatest events took place. Join this Harvard-trained biblical archaeologist as she and her family explore the history that brings the Bible to life. The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel is here to delight and educate anyone longing to experience new places and cultures while gaining a fuller understanding of God’s Word.

Amanda has been fascinated by archaeology since she saw Indiana Jones as a child, but she fell in love with the science in graduate school, when she visited Israel and dug at Ashkelon for the first time. Fifteen years later, she has returned to Israel to record her adventures digging at Tel Shimron while introducing her family to the sites and people she loves in Israel and Palestine.

“We should all be archaeologists, ‘digging’ into history and Scripture and learning about each other’s cultures,” Amanda encourages. Her latest book has given her the opportunity to share both. While the travel adventures she shares—from mishaps with customs agents, to indulgent experiences with international cuisine, to trials-by-fire while driving on the streets of Nazareth—will engage and entertain, The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel also vividly illustrates the histories of the land and its people. Readers will learn to…

• use archaeological findings to better understand Israel’s past
• shed their Western mindsets and engage with the Bible in its cultural context
• make sense of today’s ongoing religious conflicts in the Holy Land from a historical—rather than political—perspective

Amanda’s heart for The Red-Haired Archaeologist Digs Israel is to encourage readers to seek out the history that illuminates the Bible, while also inspiring them to celebrate the people and places of God’s chosen land. “What begins as a quest to better understand the contexts and meanings of Scripture and better know the One who made them just might end with a better understanding of our neighbors and how Jesus would have us love them today,” she says. Even in this homebound time, Christians can continue to grow in their capacity to love and serve all of God’s people—even those on the other side of the globe.

Count It All Joy: The Ridiculous Paradox of Suffering Releases September 2021

Chicago, IL, March 11, 2021: Dr. John M. Perkins is one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement, and is an author and international speaker on issues of reconciliation, leadership, and community development. Moody Publishers is privileged to publish Count It All Joy (September 2021), Dr. Perkins’ legacy message on the profound joy that comes from deep suffering.

“It has been an honor of a lifetime to walk with Dr. Perkins as he talked candidly about the panoply of suffering that has been his almost since birth. Most people think of the horrific beating he suffered at the hands of the sheriff in Brandon, MS. But with the death of his mother when he was seven-months-old, the murder of his sister when he was thirteen, the murder of his brother at the hands of a Sheriff’s deputy when he was sixteen, the death of two of his sons, repeated bouts with cancer, coming to the brink of suicide, the illness of his beloved wife, and so much more – he is a worthy guide through suffering’s valley. And somehow — by the end of the journey — he has helped your eyes to shift heavenward. And there it is….Joy!” says Karen Waddles, Contributing Writer at Moody Publishers.

In Count It All Joy Dr. Perkins shares more intimately than ever about his own personal sufferings. He sees endurance in suffering as a virtue that makes people more like Christ and that ultimately produces uncommon joy in the heart of the sufferer who trusts in Him. Dr. Perkins helps people see that suffering is good, and is sometimes God’s way of getting our attention and preparing us for His purposes.

In many ways Dr. Perkins’ response to suffering at the hands of a white sheriff in the Brandon, Mississippi jail became the platform that God used to put him in front of US Presidents, international leaders, and church leaders. God alone is able to take that which the enemy means for evil and transform it into a powerful witness for His glory.

“Count It All Joy completes Dr. Perkins’ three book “manifesto” as he likes to call them with Moody Publishers. Beyond being the last trade book he intends to publish, it’s also a work conceived in suffering as he battled cancer in his 90th year along with other formidable challenges he is facing,” says Duane Sherman, Acquisitions Editor at Moody Publishers. “Working with Dr. Perkins has shown us deep joy can be found right alongside deep suffering as we learn to more fully rest in our Savior’s care.”

CONTACT:
Kathryn Eastham, Kathryn.eastham@moody.edu  312-329-2140

Ada, Mich. (March 10, 2021)—Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to welcome Stephanie Duncan Smith and Patnacia Goodman to their editorial team. Stephanie will serve as senior acquisitions editor and Patnacia will serve as acquisitions editor.

Stephanie brings twelve years of experience in the publishing industry to the Baker Books team. She most recently served as an associate publisher for the Zondervan Books team, where she had the privilege of developing a number of bestselling and award-winning authors. Stephanie is currently working through her master’s in theology at Western Theological Seminary.

Patnacia most recently served as an acquiring editor for Bethany House. She is excited about her new role as an acquisitions editor for the Baker Books team and states, “My excitement about joining Baker Books cannot be overstated. We have a talented group of authors, and I am glad to add my perspective to the amazing work the Baker Books team has been doing for years.”

“We’re delighted to welcome Patnacia and Stephanie to our acquisitions team,” said Rebekah Guzman, editorial director for Baker Books. “They both bring unique publishing experience, successful track records, and exceptional talent to our team and position Baker to continue providing superior service to our authors and readers.”

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Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging.

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