NASHVILLE, Tenn. — In 2017, Ashley Huffstutler, at 29 years old, received news she had terminal brain cancer. Having just given birth to her second child, all she wanted to do was hold her two girls for as long as she could. But Huffstutler sensed God nudging her, telling her there was more to do. She felt God saying, “In this more, others will see my glory.”

This prompting led to the conception of the children’s book “When I Hold You” from B&H Publishing, a division of Lifeway Christian Resources. For Huffstutler, writing this book was a long, arduous process as the growing brain tumor affected her reading and writing. But God held her hand through it all. At first, Huffstutler thought the book would simply be a great keepsake for her girls, but God showed her it was also for others to come to know Him more dearly and deeply.

The 24-page children’s book describes the love of a mother to her child and how that reminds her of the love of God the Father. Each turn of the page also reveals a Bible verse, so readers can reflect on Scripture and God’s love for them. Airin O’Callaghan beautifully illustrated mothers of varying skin tones and hair colors, ending with a depiction of Huffstutler and her two girls with their red hair.

“I had never read a book comparing a mother’s love to God’s nurturing, tender care for us—but after I read this manuscript, I knew immediately this book had to exist in the world,” said Anna Sargeant, acquisitions editor for B&H Publishing. “This reminder of God’s tenderness is important in our day and age.”

Ashley Huffstutler and her husband David update a blog about their journey entitled “Ever Singing for Joy.” It documents their ups and downs through cancer, always pointing to Christ as their strength. David wrote early on in 2017 that Ashley’s heart was always evangelistic. “Ashley’s words to me were, ‘When I can’t proclaim the gospel and can’t preach Jesus for myself, it will all fall to you. Take up that mantle and run with it. Boldly proclaim Jesus for me.’”

Writing and publishing “When I Hold You” is one way Huffstutler is doing that while still here on earth.

“‘When I Hold You’ took on a whole new meaning when I finally got to read it to my baby girl for whom my husband and I waited for several years,” said Amanda Mae Steele, marketing specialist for the book. “When I finally got to hold my child and read the words God gave to Huffstutler, it was as if I was experiencing His overwhelming love for me as His own child, too, for the very first time.”

Huffstutler’s health is still declining even as she continues chemotherapy. The cancer has weakened her memory retention and her ability to do everyday activities. As a family, the Huffstutlers expect difficult days ahead and covet readers’ prayers. Still, as the title of their personal blog suggests, the Huffstutlers remain committed to declaring their joy in the Lord through all seasons of life.

More information about “When I Hold You” can be found at Lifeway.com.

 

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Written by Y Bonesteele, Lifeway Christian Resources

Enclave Publishing authors won six awards at the recent Realm Makers event in St. Louis, the only writing conference for authors of faith who specialize in science fiction, fantasy, and other speculative genres.

Apprentice by Kristen Young was announced the Book of the Year and winner in the Science Fiction category.  Dust by Kara Swanson won the Reader’s Choice Award, the Fantasy category, and Best Cover Design.  The Audio award went to Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin.

• BOOK OF THE YEAR: Apprentice by Kristen Young
• FANTASY: Dust by Kara Swanson
• SCIENCE FICTION: Apprentice by Kristen Young
• AUDIO: Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin (Oasis Audio)
• BEST COVER DESIGN: Dust by Kara Swanson, designed by Kirk DouPonce (DogEared Design)
• READER’S CHOICE AWARD: Dust by Kara Swanson

Enclave Publishing is a leading publisher of Speculative fiction written from a Christian worldview.  www.enclavepublishing.com

Media Contact: trissina@enclavepublishing.com

(Nashville, Tenn.) July 28, 2021—HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) today announced Jennifer Gott as vice president and publisher for its Gift division, which operates Thomas Nelson Gift and Zondervan Gift. In this role, Gott will oversee the Gift division’s product pipeline, which includes acquisition, title development, and overall strategy for beautiful, high-design products in the areas of devotionals, lifestyle, guided journals, poetry, and seasonal books.

Gott has over 20 years of publishing experience developing Christian and inspirational gift books, children’s books, and trade books. Most recently she served as the associate publisher for the HCCP Children’s and Gift division where she worked with bestselling authors including Sarah Young, Emily Ley, Rob Morgan, Sadie Robertson, Kel Mitchell, Ann Voskamp, and Louie Giglio.

“Jen is incredibly talented in creating meaningful and beautiful gift books,” said Laura Minchew, senior vice president, group publisher for HCCP Children’s and Gift division. “She has a great understanding of how to meet consumer needs by offering encouraging, inspiring messages of faith which are perfect as gifts for any occasion. I’m excited to see Jen lead our Gift team forward.”

Gott remarked, “working on the HCCP Gift team has been the joy of my career, and I’m thrilled to be stepping into this new role and working strategically with our talented team to create innovative, market-leading, high-design books that will impact lives for years to come.”

HarperCollins Christian Publishing’s Gift division is the industry’s leading publisher of bestselling gift books featuring meaningful messages for a special person or a special occasion. The award-winning Gift division focuses on strong author relationships, relevant messages, and visually striking design in both the interior and exterior packaging.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing
The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprint, 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 20 million unique visitors each month. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.​

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

JESUS CALLING® BRAND TAKES NEW DIRECTION WITH JESUS LISTENS, FEATURES PRAYERS WRITTEN BY SARAH YOUNG

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 26, 2021) Thomas Nelson announces a first printing of one million units for New York Times bestselling author Sarah Young’s new book, Jesus Listens: Daily Devotional Prayers of Peace, Joy, and Hope (October 5, 2021).

Jesus Listens is the first devotional in the Jesus Calling® product line to feature prayers written by Sarah Young from the reader’s perspective to strengthen their relationship with Jesus. With an emphasis on praying God’s Word, Jesus Listens offers readers a prayer for each day of the year, followed by related scripture. The book features a fresh color palette, padded hardcover binding, two-color interior and a ribbon marker.

“The devotional prayers in Jesus Listens are designed to draw readers into deeper, richer communication with God,” Sarah Young explains. “My hope is that readers will not only read these devotions but make them their own. The prayers in Jesus Listens are meant to be a starting point for other prayers—helping readers bring all their concerns to Jesus and enjoy spending time with Him.”

“A first printing of one million copies for Jesus Listens reflects anticipated reader demand,” says Michael Aulisio, Vice President & Publisher of the Jesus Calling Brand. “It’s our honor and responsibility to find innovative ways to engage established readers even as we introduce new audiences to these daily messages of peace and comfort.”

Jesus Calling was published in 2004 and has become one of the most successful devotionals of all time. Over the past 17 years, the Jesus Calling product line has sold more than 35 million units across more than 30 languages. The Jesus Calling brand has expanded to include children’s devotionals, Bible storybooks, journals, seasonal books as well as licensed products such as calendars and greeting cards.

Readers can also enjoy devotional content via the Jesus Calling Podcast with over 8 million downloads, the “Jesus Calling: Stories of Faith” television program (Circle Network – reaching a monthly audience of nearly 150 million), the Jesus Calling print and digital quarterly magazine, and the Jesus Calling app (for Apple and Android). More at www.jesuscalling.com.

About Sarah Young:  Sarah Young’s devotional writings are personal reflections from her daily quiet time of Bible reading, praying, and writing in prayer journals. With sales of more than 35 million books worldwide, Jesus Calling has appeared on all major bestseller lists. Sarah’s writings include Jesus Calling®, Jesus Listens, Jesus Today®, Jesus Always, Jesus LivesTM, Dear Jesus, Jesus Calling® for Little Ones, Jesus Calling® Bible Storybook, Jesus Calling®: 365 Devotions for Kids, and Peace in His Presence – each encouraging readers in their journey toward intimacy with Christ. Sarah and her husband were missionaries in Japan and Australia for many years. They currently live in the United States.

About Thomas Nelson:  Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson, is headquartered in Nashville, TN. www.thomasnelson.com

Contact: Pamela McClure, 615-294-5073 pamela@mmpublicrelations.com

 

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Jesus Listens: Daily Devotional Prayers of Peace, Joy, and Hope
By Sarah Young
www.JesusCalling.com

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release date: October 5, 2021
Category: Religion / Christian Living
Price: U.S. $19.99
Format: Padded hardcover
Pages: 400

Media inquiries and review copy requests:
Pamela McClure, McClure Muntsinger Public Relations, pamela@mmpublicrelations.com 615-294-5073

(Nashville, Tenn.) — W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, today announced Praying Through Cancer: A 90-Day Devotional for Women, by Susan Sorensen and the late Laura Geist, has sold more than 100,000 copies in print and digital formats. On August 10, the book—which debuted in 2006—will release again, honoring the memory of Geist who passed in 2012, and introducing the time-honored content to a new generation of readers. The renewed edition is beautifully packaged with a foil-embossed cover.

Praying Through Cancer is written specifically for cancer patients by cancer patients with insight, wisdom, and clarity found only through personal trial. Along with the authors’ stories of their own journeys through cancer, the book includes the experiences of women who faced cancer and with triumphant spirits, found comfort and sometimes even joy in the midst of it. Contributors include Kay Warren, Pat Palau, Barbara Johnson, Joyce Wright, and many more.

A mix of Scripture verses and prayers, inspirational stories, and tips of the day, the devotional has become a mainstay for both those who are enduring cancer as well as their loving support systems.

“Through the years, we have been so grateful that God has used His truths throughout the devotionals and prayers in Praying Through Cancer to set hearts free from fear in this difficult journey of cancer,” said Sorensen. “We are delighted to see our little pink book get a new beautiful cover that we hope and pray will encourage even more women in the years to come!”

“Laura would be so gratified to see how this little book has blessed so many lives,” said Gordon Geist, husband of the late Geist. “She felt that she had received a direct message from the Lord and that she should write it with Susan. He seems to have confirmed her vision.”

“When this devotional was originally released, many readers who were newly diagnosed or undergoing cancer treatments expressed their gratefulness to have this tool as a sort of ‘companion’ to strengthen their faith,” said Damon Reiss, v-p and publisher, W Publishing Group. “That this this book continues to provide comfort 15 years later is such a testament to the authors and the brave women who shared their stories in this book. We are honored to present this beautified new edition and pray it continues to uplift those coping with cancer.”

Susan Sorensen journeyed through thyroid cancer at age nineteen and breast cancer at forty-one. A speaker and author of books and Bible studies, she continues to point others on the cancer journey to a God who can set hearts free from fear. Susan serves on the staff of her church overseeing women’s ministry and leading the adult ministry team. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with her husband of thirty-three years. They are the parents of two adult sons.

Laura Geist was diagnosed with breast cancer at forty and courageously battled it for ten years before going to be with the Lord in 2012. With a master’s degree in journalism, she was a freelance writer for many publications including Automotive News, the Chicago Tribune, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Based in Michigan with her husband and two adult children, Laura spoke often to women’s groups about finding hope in Jesus amidst the pain of cancer.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Allison Carter, Director of Publicity, W Publishing, Allison.Carter@harpercollins.com

New Survey Provides Insight into Mental Health of Pastors

Church Tech Experts, Faithlife, Examine How the Past Year Added Stress to an Already Taxing Profession

BELLINGHAM, Wash., July 15, 2021 – More than 1 in 10 pastors admitted to contemplating suicide in the past year according to the 2021 Pastoral Mental Health Report compiled by Faithlife, the makers of Logos Bible Software, and Church Communications, a 29,000-member community and Facebook group.

The survey, which paints a sometimes dire picture of the role of the pastor, highlights the need for more support for those in church leadership.

“In the past year, pastors have faced new and deepening difficulties – from the spread of COVID-19 and having to move online to stop the virus’ spread to increased social and political unrest,” said Faithlife Co-founder and CEO Bob Pritchett. “We knew it took a toll on pastors, but we weren’t sure how it would look. This survey gives us a greater understanding of both the needs of pastors and ways we can help them as they shepherd us.”

With the majority of churches having less than 100 congregants, many pastors find themselves wearing numerous hats ranging anywhere from the role of the pastor and preacher to the administrator and tech team.

Approximately 35% of pastors reported feeling burned out, with 40% of pastors aged 25 to 40 saying they agree or strongly agree to feeling constantly burned out. This is nearly double the rate at which pastors aged 60-plus reported feeling burned out (21%).

While most pastors (55%) are fulfilled by the responsibility of giving spiritual and emotional support to their flock, many survey respondents noted how pastoral care is a mix of highs and lows, with 45% finding it draining.

The survey also highlighted the gaps for pastors in relation to support with 19% noting that their greatest unmet need is dividing responsibilities with elders or staff. Another 17% said friendship is their greatest need.

The good news is that well over half of pastors (62%) affirm that they have a network of pastors they can ask for advice or support, and 82% agree that they have friends they can confide in when times are tough.

Overall, the survey found that an overwhelming majority of pastors feel optimistic about their next year in ministry. However, 29% expressed concerns. Of those, 14% are considering leaving their church, 7% are contemplating leaving ministry altogether and 8% reported general pessimism about the upcoming year.

“While some of the numbers in the report seem dire, God is still working in the Church and the hearts of his people,” said Pritchett. “There are initiatives, such as the Thrive and Cultivate Summit by Church Communications, that are shedding light on how pastors can care for hurting people in their congregations while also paying attention to their own needs.”

The 2021 Pastoral Mental Health Report is available to download for free at https://grow.faithlife.com/pastoral-mental-health-report.

Methodology: Faithlife and Church Communications surveyed 345 pastors in 27 countries (74% US, 9% Canada, 5% Australia and New Zealand, and 12% international) for the report. The pastors represented a wide range of church sizes, denominations and roles within the church.

About Faithlife
Faithlife, based in Bellingham, Washington, with offices in Arizona and Mexico, has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for 30 years. Since 1992, Faithlife has developed a full suite of church management tools, academic study resources, smart digital books, and Logos Bible Software, all part of its integrated ministry platform that automates tasks and simplifies workflows. For more information, visit Faithlife.com.

Media Contact:  Kristin Cole, 615-289-6701, kristin@alarryross.com

Lake Mary, FL (July 1, 2021) – Embolden Media Group is excited to announce that they have added a new member to their team. Author, speaker, and researcher Quantrilla Ard, PhD, has been featured on Proverbs 31 Online Bible Studies, Proverbs 31 OBS Today, The Martha and Mary Show, and At Home with Jackie. Her devotions have been published in Prayer: Approaching the Throne of Grace, and her personal and spiritual insights appear regularly with First5, Patheos, iBelieve.com, Gracefully Truthful, Faith at Home for Forma, and Devotable. Her most recent work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul’s I’m Speaking Now: Black Women Share Their Truth in 101 Stories of Love, Courage and Hope.

“I cannot express enough the joy I have in welcoming Quanny to the team,” says Jevon Bolden, CEO, founder, and principal of Embolden Media Group. “We’ve known each other for several years now. In that time and as her literary agent, I’ve come trust and value her wealth of insight, rich connections, and critical strengths, and see them as necessary elements that will take Embolden Media Group to the next level.”

An author champion and avid cheerleader, Quantrilla has collaborated with authors such as Cara Meredith (The Color of Life, Zondervan, 2019), Traci Rhoades (Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost, Church Pub, 2020), and Chrystal Evans Hurst (Show Up for Your Life, Zondervan, 2019). She will be acquiring new authors who are writing in the following categories: [Nonfiction] Christian living, inspirational, personal and spiritual growth, women’s issues, grief and loss, mental health, faith and wellness, social sciences, Black maternal and infant health and mortality, memoir, devotional, community, and leadership.

“I can’t thank Jevon enough for this opportunity,” Quantrilla says, “I am more than honored to walk this journey with her, and I look forward to seeing how God will move and grow our efforts.”

Helping others is Quantrilla’s passion. She has acted as an advocate for several populations through her experience as a consultant, research assistant, and senior clinical analyst. Currently, she uses her social media platforms to engage, educate, and empower others. A guest on several podcasts and often writing on the topic of Black maternal health and infant mortality, Quantrilla has a PhD in Health Psychology and is a recent transplant to Atlanta, GA, where she lives with her husband, Donny, and three children. Quantrilla can be reached at her new email address: quantrilla.ard@emboldenmediagroup.com.

At Embolden Media Group, Quantrilla joins Elodie Leroy, literary agent assistant; Luverta Reames, editor and community manager; and Autumn Bolden, assistant to the CEO.

After more than fourteen years in book publishing, Jevon Bolden launched Embolden Media Group in 2017. A boutique book publishing consulting firm and literary agency, Embolden Media Group serves and represents a wonderfully rich and diverse group of writers, speakers, activists, faith leaders, and cultural influencers. They represent authors in the categories of Christian living/spiritual growth, memoir, inspirational and contemporary fiction, issues of race and ethnicity, women’s issues, health and wellness, and children’s picture, middle grade, and young adult books. Embolden Media Group represents authors such as Faitth Brooks, John Eckhardt, Sophia Ruffin, Rachael Gilbert, Kia Stephens, Tasha Jun, Mekdes Haddis, Joshua Giles, Sharon Norris Elliott, Josh Buck, and more. To learn more, visit emboldenmediagroup.com.

CONTACT:  Jevon Bolden, Embolden Media Group CEO, founder, and principal, jevon.bolden@emboldenmediagroup.com

Ada, Mich. — Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, has acquired a leadership book from David Green, CEO and Founder of Hobby Lobby. Green’s book will take an inside look at the values and principles used to build Hobby Lobby.

Everything about Green’s life has been nontraditional. In high school, Green opted to leave the classroom and earn his credits working retail in the 1950s. He never attended college. He never read a business book. Yet Green has become one of the most influential Christian leaders today.

“David Green is an unconventional visionary and a true original,” says Brian Vos, Executive Editor at Baker Books. “As the legendary founder of Hobby Lobby and a philanthropist, David’s faith has led him to break the mold of modern business assumptions time and again. His new book will provide a fascinating inside look—mistakes and all—at the counterintuitive yet highly effective principles he’s used to drive incredible results in business and life.”

In his upcoming leadership book, Green shows readers the life-changing benefits of submitting yourself and your work to God. Green puts forth the seldom-discussed notion that a truly successful company requires faith put into action.

Bill High will co-author the book with Green. Green is represented by Tom Dean, founder of A Drop of Ink.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. Learn more at www.BakerBooks.com.

Contact: Holly Maxwell, hmaxwell@bakerpublishinggroup.com

(Nashville, TN) July 23, 2021—Thomas Nelson today announced Jennifer Smith as the v-p of marketing for Nelson Books, a nonfiction imprint of the publishing group.

Smith has nearly 20 years of trade publishing experience in both Nashville and New York City and has launched hundreds of books to the New York Times bestsellers list. She spent nearly 13 years at Simon and Schuster, serving as a v-p and director of publicity and marketing before launching her own literary consulting business in 2017, where she worked with publishers, authors, and agents across the United States and Australia. She has worked with bestselling authors including Dave Ramsey, Phil Robertson, Sadie Robertson, Karen Kingsbury, Stephen King, former President Jimmy Carter, Joan Rivers, and former first lady Laura Bush.

She received a military medal of excellence in 2013 for work she did to bring authors to United States military bases and helped develop the undergraduate publishing degree program at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she served as an adjunct professor for the program.

As v-p of marketing for Nelson Books, Smith will lead the marketing and brand strategies for the imprint, as well as take an active role in acquisitions and author development.

“We’re so pleased to have Jennifer join the Nelson Books team,” said Timothy Paulson, v-p and publisher for Nelson Books. “She brings deep industry experience and proven success with a wide range of books and authors. I look forward to how her leadership will expand our reach into new markets and up-level our work with authors and agents.”

For more information about Nelson Books visit www.thomasnelson.com/nelsonbooks/, or follow @nelsonbooks on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

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

Carol Stream, IL – July 23, 2021 – What does it mean to live out our faith in a digital world? How are Christian leaders and creatives using social media to share the Good News? These are the themes explored in Viral Jesus, a new podcast from Christianity Today about communication and the power of social connections.

In each episode, communications scholar Heather Thompson Day takes her listeners on a deep dive with ministry leaders, content creators, and social media influencers to find out how they’re making their faith go viral.

“There are so many opinions and ideas swirling around social media that it’s easy to think we’ll never have anything worthwhile to say,” says Thompson Day. “But what if we could learn from Christian influencers who are really good at knowing how to connect online? That’s what Viral Jesus is all about.”

For Viral Jesus’s inaugural episodes, Thompson Day has assembled a dynamic array of guests including theologian and Reading While Black author Esau McCaulley; English professor and culture critic Karen Swallow Prior; and comedienne, blogger, and prolific YouTuber Kristina Kuzmič. Topics covered range from building community naturally to using TikTok as a tool for discipleship. The first episode, featuring McCaulley, is called “Tweeting While Black.”

Beyond the Twitter tips and Instagram insights found in the conversations on Viral Jesus, Thompson Day also draws from her expertise as a professor of communication at Colorado Christian University (and soon Andrews University) to show real-life examples of communication theory in practice.

Adds Thompson Day: “The goal of Viral Jesus is for all Christians to hear from people they respect on how you build online community, but more specifically I hope this podcast will also be a resource to church and ministry leaders as they navigate social media engagement.”

Christianity Today’s vice president of strategic partnerships, Ed Gilbreath, says Viral Jesus is the first of several new podcasts in development from CT’s Big Tent Initiative, “which is a focused effort to help CT reach and represent more of the racial, ethnic, and generational diversity of God’s church.”

Viral Jesus’s trailer and first episode with Esau McCaulley are available now, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday. Find it at ChristianityToday.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or wherever listeners get their podcasts.

Listeners also can join the Viral Jesus conversation on social media by following Heather Thompson Day @HeatherTDay and @CTmagazine on Twitter.

Find Viral Jesus and other original podcasts from CT at https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/podcasts/.

Christianity Today is an acclaimed and award-winning media ministry that elevates the storytellers and sages of the global Church. Each month, across a variety of digital and print media, the ministry carries the most important stories and ideas of the kingdom of God to over 4.5 million people all around the planet.

Contact: Ed Gilbreath, 630.384.7288 egilbreath@christianitytoday.com