(June 15, 2022) — On May 19, the Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association, (SEPA) announced the winners of the 2022 SEPA Awards at the ceremony held in Miami within the Expolit 2022 convention, where publishers, distributors, and colleagues in the industry met.

This year the “Bible of the Year” Award was dedicated to Jim Cook, who spent 25 years at Lifeway Global as “VP of International Sales” leading Lifeway’s international reach in distributing English, Spanish, and multilingual content licensing around the world. He was responsible for launching various resources and Study Bibles over the years, being a pillar of the Christian literature industry as well as a mentor to many. The winner in this category was the Biblia Centrada en Cristo, by Broadman & Holman.

This publisher was also awarded the “Harold Kregel Award – Book of the Year” for Apóstol para las naciones, written by César Vidal, and the Award for “Best Original Book in Spanish” to Ética cristiana, written by Miguel Núñez. This is the fourth time Pastor Núñez won in this category.

The Award for Distributor of the Year was presented to CLC in Chile. Editorial Portavoz was selected for the fourth time as Publisher of the Year, for the seventh consecutive time as Best Web Site, and for the second time as Best Presence on Social Media.

In the Best Cover and Best Bible Design and Best Cover of Book categories, the winner was Broadman & Holman with the Biblia Centrada en Cristo and Sus testimonios, mi porción by Kristie Anyabwil, respectively.  

This year, Pastor Miguel Núñez was the leading speaker. Authors Samuel Pagán, Nancy Guthrie, Itiel Arroyo and Aixa de López were also among the participants.

The complete list of winners is published on the SEPA web site at www.sepaweb.org, under the Awards section. The video of the Awards ceremony can be viewed on the SEPA channel on Youtube, SepaWeb, and on Instagram and Facebook under SepaSocial.

Iron Stream Media is honored to have Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven by Shonda Whitworth to be the latest book included in Freedom in Jesus Prison Ministries’ “One Million Books to Prisoners by 2025” project. On May 12, 2022, her book for prisoners and their families was mailed in boxes of thirty-six books each to the chaplains of 1,220 correctional facilities across the United States.

Author Shonda Whitworth says “When the Lord asked me to write Appeal to the Courtroom of Heaven, I had to surrender fear and shame. I had to choose to be vulnerable and transparent. Now I see how my testimony, which is actually the testimony of Jesus, is impacting many lives. It is giving families hope for their future! My desire has always been that our incarcerated loved ones pray for their families on the outside and the families on the outside pray for their incarcerated loved ones. That’s why inside this book I included over thirty Scripture-based prayers. My dream has become a reality thanks to Iron Stream Media and Freedom in Jesus Prison Ministries who made it possible to distribute 43,920 copies of this book to 1,220 prisons across the US.”

So far, since the beginning of 2021, five new releases have been included in the project resulting in over 280,000 books being supplied to the incarcerated in the United States. For more information on the Freedom in Jesus Prison Ministries, visit www.fijm.org.

Book Shonda Whitworth as a guest speaker or for a book signing by contacting Kim McCulla at kim.mcculla@ironstreammedia.com. A limited supply of giveaway copies are available for special events and interviews. Books can also be ordered through your distributor or www.ironstreammedia.com.

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

(Grand Rapids, Mich) May 2022 – Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is proud to announce the release of Zondervan’s Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible in the New International Version (NIV). This is the first updated and revised edition of a Thompson Chain Reference Bible since Zondervan acquired the line from Kirkbride Bible Company in 2020.

“We are honored to continue the legacy of the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible through the publication of this edition – the first Thompson available in Comfort Print®,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “We are beyond excited to introduce this timeless resource to a brand-new audience of Bible readers through its publication in the bestselling NIV. It is our hope that it will become a beloved resource to all who engage with it.”

With an acclaimed patented reference system, the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is a well-recognized topical study Bible that has been in publication for more than 100 years. First published in 1908, it now contains more than 100,000 references, covering over 8,000 topics, making the chain-reference system an ideal tool for comprehensive topical study. The Thompson Chain-Reference Bible also offers a library of additional study resources that allows readers to interpret the Bible using related scripture passages rather than consulting a commentary.

The NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is printed in Zondervan’s exclusive NIV Comfort Print typeface for easy reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the NIV text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the most widely read modern-English Bible translation. This edition has also been updated with a two-color page design. Features include:

• Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear NIV
• Easy-to-understand Chain-Reference System with over 100,000 references
• Alphabetical and numerical indexes highlight study materials for over 8,000 topics, each with its own topic number, for exhaustive topical study
• An extensive study resource section includes biographical sketches, illustrated studies of the Bible, a concordance, Bible harmonies, and many other helpful study tools
• Fresh, two-color page design
• 66 book introductions
• 16-page full-color map section with map index
• Words of Jesus in red
• Two double-sided 3/8-inch-wide satin ribbon markers
• Exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print typeface
• 9.5-point print size

HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced the acquisition of the Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible from Kirkbride Bible Company in December 2020 and released the Zondervan Thompson® Chain-Reference Bible in the King James Version (KJV); New King James Version (NKJV); New American Study Bible (NASB), 1977 text; and the English Standard Version (ESV) in June 2021.

The NIV Thompson Chain-Reference Bible is available now.

Learn more about Zondervan’s Thompson Chain-Reference Bibles.

About Zondervan:  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 located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

About Comfort Print:  Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print Bible fonts. Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles.

Contact:  Amy Bigler, Senior Public Relations Manager, amy.bigler@harpercollins.com 

(Manhattan Beach, CA & Newburyport, MA – June 9, 2022) – The Firebrand Group (firebrandtech.com), the book industry’s leading technology company for cutting edge software and services that enable publisher success, announced today that Angela Bole, current CEO at the Independent Book Publishers Association (ibpa-online.org), will succeed Firebrand CEO Fran Toolan on February 1, 2023. Toolan, who founded Firebrand as Quality Solutions, Inc. in 1987, passes the reins to Bole after 35 years as the company’s sole CEO. He will remain on the Firebrand Group Board of Directors post transition.

Upon launching Firebrand Technologies, Toolan understood that the publishing industry was a unique and creative business that needed efficient tools and workflow processes to thrive and be profitable. “These tools must accentuate the creativity in publishing,” he said at the time, “not hinder it.”

Today, the Firebrand Group includes Firebrand Technologies, NetGalley, and Supadu.  Firebrand Technologies Title Management Enterprise Software and Eloquence on Demand service headline a group of technologies that help publishers track and manage titles from pre-acquisition through their long tail of sales. NetGalley helps provide excitement about titles by connecting eBook and audio content with reviewers. And the newest addition to the Firebrand family of services, Supadu, is the leading provider of publisher e-commerce solutions in the US and UK.

In February 2021, Firebrand was acquired by Media Do International (MD-i), the US-based subsidiary of Japan’s Media Do Co., Ltd, one of the largest ebook distribution companies in the world retaining the largest share of Japan’s $4.5 billion eBook market.

“With the support of MD-i, the Firebrand Group is growing and innovating at an unparalleled rate of speed,” said Toolan. “The opportunities in front of us are very exciting, and I’m equally excited that Angela will be here to guide us going forward.”

Said Daihei Shiohama, CEO of MD-i: “Both here and in Japan, we are so excited to have Angela succeed Fran. We are determined to provide utmost support to Firebrand Group with Angela as new CEO. With the annual growth rate of close to 20% in Japan’s digital publishing market where NFT, XR, and other diversified elements stimulate the publishing industry, we are convinced that Angela will lead the group to uplift the global publishing industry’s expansion.”

Bole, a 2019 Publishers Weekly notable person of the year, began her career at an independent bookstore in Jackson, WY before moving to NYC in 2005 to pursue a Masters in book publishing from New York University. While in NYC, she held various positions with the Book Industry Study Group (BISG)–including a stint as interim executive director–where she spearheaded research into consumer attitudes toward ebook reading, oversaw initiatives supporting the industry’s transition to ISBN-13, and developed best practices and other documentation for use of the ONIX and EPUB standards. Bole served as treasurer of the International Digital Publishers Forum (IDPF) from 2011 to 2014, before moving to Manhattan Beach, CA to become ED and later CEO of IBPA, where she has stabilized and grown operations for the past nine years.

“During her years leading IBPA, Angela has transformed the organization into the leading association for advocating and supporting the growing community of independent publishers,” said current IBPA Board Chair Karla Olson (Director, Patagonia Books). “During the last two challenging years in particular, Angela made certain IBPA provided innovative and essential member support and increased efforts to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion within all aspects of the association. IBPA will be forever grateful to Angela for her leadership, her vision, and her passion for publishing.”

Bole officially assumes the position of Firebrand Group CEO on February 1, 2023. When asked what she hopes to achieve, she said, “Firebrand has been powering the publishing industry for over 30 years through quality software solutions and a dedicated and committed staff. Given all we’ve learned over the past few years, I hope to build upon what’s already working to enable even more efficiencies for the companies Firebrand serves. I know this will be a team effort; I couldn’t be more excited to join and lead the team.”

About the Firebrand Group
The Firebrand Group, consisting of Firebrand Technologies, NetGalley, and Supadu, provides leading software and services to help publishers achieve success. The Firebrand Group is owned by Media Do International (MD-i), the US-based subsidiary of Japan’s Media Do Co., Ltd, one of the largest ebook distribution companies in the world retaining the largest share of Japan’s ebook market. For more information, visit firebrandtech.com. For more information on Media Do’s services and corporate divisions, visit mediado.jp/english. The Firebrand Group’s bi-annual Community Conference shall be held in September this year in Baltimore, MD. For more information, please visit firebrandtech.com/conference. 

About the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)
Founded in 1983 to support independent publishers nationwide, the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) leads and serves the independent publishing community through advocacy, education, and tools for success. With over 4,000 members, IBPA is the largest publishing association in the U.S. Its vision is a world where every independent publisher has the access, knowledge, and tools needed to professionally engage in all aspects of an inclusive publishing industry. For more information, visit ibpa-online.org.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Comic Book Creation Studio Brings New Talent to the Table 

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

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

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

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

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

About David C Cook

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Participants of the African American Publishing Consultation included

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT) and also offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh, new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, contributing a majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million dollars throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

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

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

The finalists are:

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

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

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