Leading Marketing Agency serves as Gateway to the Christian Audience

Orange County, CA – In an era where many companies are struggling in the wake of the pandemic, the seismic shift of brick and mortar to digital, and tectonic cultural and generational changes, FrontGate Media is continuing to expand their client-base and is proud to be celebrating 20 years as a marketing services firm.

Scott A. Shuford founded FrontGate Media in 2001 after a successful 10+ years in music and film with Frontline Music Group, Diamante Distribution, and the sale of one of the first Christian music web sites, Gofishnet.com to Crosswalk.com. Initially begun as an offshoot of FrontGate Creative, his full-service ad agency known for its work for IHOP, World Vision, Del Taco, OCTFCU and others, FrontGate Media’s mission was born to impact culture by creatively connecting companies with the Christian audiences they sought to influence.

When asked what it means to reach this 20-year milestone, Scott shared, “It has been my honor to see the results of our efforts deeply impact people in both large and small ways working hand-in-hand with world-changing organizations and individuals.”

When asked about favorite projects over the years, Shuford responded, “It’s tough to choose. We strive to move every client forward in their lifecycle, from the leading organizations in their fields to the startup entrepreneur, author, or ministry. I’ve learned that almost every endeavor we work on has value and makes a significant difference in people’s lives.

“There are three that make me smile whenever they cross my mind.  First, when the tsunami hit at Christmas in 2004, as I watched the news with family, I knew I’d get a call from World Vision. Two hours later I did. Within 48 hours, during everyone’s Christmas vacation, our team coordinated and sent millions of tsunami relief emails. Being able to help immediately for such a catastrophic world event at that specific time of year is one of my greatest joys. Second, in our work for El Rey Jesus, we transformed a school backpack giveaway from a humble church-based pick-up day helping 750 families to a Miami media event reaching 12,000 families and engaging 10,000 church members through neighborhood-based small groups. Finally, as part of our work for Pope Francis’ “Wake Up!” spoken word album, we created one of the most culturally, ethnically, and denominationally diverse companion devotionals ever published. Featuring 7 amazing Faith leaders, the devotional helped people engage with the Pope’s messages. It was provided free to everyone, direct and through YouVersion’s The Bible App where it is still engaging readers today, 7 years later.”

Born at a time when banner advertising and email newsletters began to grow in popularity, FrontGate was the first independent digital media group and remains the largest. It is the only group to be founded by a marketer for the purpose of promoting Christian products, services and causes, rather than by a publisher for the purpose of publishing content. An early differentiator was the firm’s preference for sites and events with high engagement, not merely large traffic volume.

The group found early success in bringing together several hugely popular web sites, events, and magazines starting with iTickets.com, Women of Faith’s conferences, and Christian Musician, then expanding to include Youth Specialties, K-LOVE’s Christian Music Planet, Gospel Music Channel, Winter Jam, several of the largest Summer music festivals and tours and more.  Today, FrontGate’s network reaches over 10 million unique visitors monthly and 20+ million email subscribers through market leaders including Israel365, GOD TV, The Washington Times, NewReleaseToday, iTickets, Blue Letter Bible, Worship Musician, and more.

The firm continued to evolve.  Early on, clients began to request Public Relations services after seeing the releases and coverage FrontGate was achieving for itself through announcements about client campaigns and media outlet milestones. In 2007, just one year after the founding of Twitter and 3 years after “The Facebook”, marketing and technology collided again and the firm found the opportunity to become first Christian agency to provide Social Media services.  As success with client ad campaigns in the media group continued, Media Buying requests began to come in to deliver the entire Christian market audience. After years of work across advertising, public relations, event marketing, and social, the firm came full circle to Founder Scott A. Shuford’s history as a full-service agency offering Brand Strategy Development, but now specialized to reach Christians.  More recently, as influencer marketing continues to have an incredible impact on the market, the proprietary FrontGate Women’s Blogger Network was founded then followed by the firm’s exclusive Christian Influencer Group integrating influencers over a variety of platforms to create brand engagement activities, more recently Facebook Street Team development, and last but not least, award-winning video production from FrontGate Moving Pictures (Emmy®, REMI, ICVM, ICFF, & CIFF awards.)

With the firm’s unique focus on engaging the Christian audience, rather than serving one or two industry verticals, FrontGate’s client base spans multiple categories including working with ad agencies, start-ups, non-profits and causes, pastors and churches, movie studios and indie filmmakers; publishers and authors; travel; music labels, artists and managers; retailers; education from elementary to continuing ed, and more.

Serving from 20-40 clients each month ranging from complex brand development campaigns to single ad runs, FrontGate has worked on more than 5,000 campaigns. They have served a diverse clientele including such notable Agencies as Carat, Tocquigny, Media Storm, DigitasLBi, Redbird, and others.  Non-profits include National Day of Prayer, Focus on the Family, AARP’s LifeReimagined, Open Doors, Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs, Gospel for Asia, Pre-Born, PureHOPE, and World Vision which honored the firm as their #1 emedia partner for 6 six years in a row. Publishing clients include Tyndale, HarperCollins’ Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, W Publishing and Harlequin; B&H (Lifeway,) Moody, Barbour, Baker, Deep River, and others, as well as hundreds of independent authors.  Movie campaigns include: The Passion of the Christ, The Chronicles of Narnia franchise, Heaven Is For Real, God’s Not Dead, Son of God, Soul Surfer, The Young Messiah, The Nativity Story, Roe V. Wade, the Word Films roster, PureFlix, Cinedigm’s The Dove Channel, and many more. Church-related work spans coast to coast from Pastor Rick Warren‘s Saddleback Church team in Orange County, CA to Apostle Guillermo Maldonado’s El Rey Jesus in Miami, FL. Leaders in Christian education include Liberty University, Dallas Theological Seminary, Fuller Seminary, Biola University, Bridgeway Academy and more. Some of the most exciting recent projects include brand development and growth for Advancing Native Missions, PraiseWorld3D, the women’s ministry Redeemed Restored, internationally renowned recording artist Steph Carse’s My Shining Hour TV special, album, and devotional; Israel relief charity World Emunah, and Christian Journals Direct with current clients based around the world in the U.S., Israel, the U.K.’s England and Ireland, Australia, and more.

FrontGate’s unique focus and mission have resulted in many accolades including numerous features and interviews in highly respected business publications such as ADWEEK, The Daily Beast, Direct Marketing News, Orange County Business Journal, and more. In 2014, FrontGate Media was awarded the Internet Advertising Competition’s (IAC) highest honors for Best Marketing Website overall and Best Faith-Based Website. The firm has been recognized multiple times in both the IAC and the WebAwards.

In the end, FrontGate Media’s ultimate driving force will continue to be moving the needle for both their clients and the faith-based audience.  For more information about FrontGate Media, please visit www.FrontGateMedia.com.

About FrontGate Media:  Award-winning FrontGate Media is the leading marketing agency and media group specializing in the faith and family audience.  With a 20-year track record of success, the firm serves as “Your Gateway to the Christian Audience.” FrontGate’s full-service agency and media group has been trusted with over 5,000 campaigns, providing Faith-based market Strategy Development, Public Relations, Social Media & Marketing, and Media Buying. FrontGate’s own Digital Network also provides reach to 10 Million UMV, 20 Million Email Subscribers, and Millions more Social Followers each month.  Founded in 2001, FrontGate has repeatedly been honored in the Internet Advertising Competition and the WebAwards. The company plays a key role in the success of for-profit and non-profit organizations seeking faith-based and family-friendly audiences. http://FrontGateMedia.com

FrontGate Testimonials: http://www.frontgatemedia.com/portfolio/testimonials

Media Contact:  Lori Heiselman, 714-553-5181 press@frontgatemedia.com

Ada, Mich. (March 24, 2021)—Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that Lisa Bevere’s book Adamant: Finding Truth in a Universe of Opinions has reached a significant sales milestone of over one hundred thousand copies sold.

In Adamant, Bevere’s passion and biblical insight call readers to stand firm in Christ in a world of constantly shifting values. More ancient than time and more present than this moment, truth is not a river that changes with the cultural currents but a rock—immovable, invincible, unshakable—and the cornerstone of all we are and ever dream to be. Adamant has appeared on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association bestsellers list.

Bevere is a New York Times bestselling author and internationally known speaker. She has spent nearly three decades empowering women of all ages to find their identity and purpose. Bevere’s most recent book, Godmothers: Why You Need One. How to Be One., released in August 2020. Learn more at LisaBevere.com.

Andrea Doering, executive editor for Revell, stated, “Adamant is a strong, bold call to women, and its message is more important than ever. We’re thrilled to see Lisa Bevere’s impact among leaders and readers continue.”

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth books, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Contact: Holly Maxwell, hmaxwell@bakerpublishinggroup.com

NASHVILLE, March 24, 2021 — Educational Media Foundation (EMF) – parent company to K-LOVE and Air1 radio networks, AccessMore podcasts and WTA Media – will establish over the next three years a new global headquarters in the Nashville region, the heart of the contemporary Christian entertainment industry.

“After much prayer, extensive discussion and research, the EMF Board and leadership team are in unanimous agreement that relocating our headquarters to the Nashville area will position us to fulfill our mission of creating compelling media that inspires and encourages audiences to have a meaningful relationship with Christ,” said EMF CEO Bill Reeves. “This move will enable us to better serve our audiences and deepen our relationships with faith-focused artists, content creators and the recording, film and publishing industries as we continue to broaden our media offerings through radio, film, streaming, live events, books and more.”

EMF has been growing its Tennessee presence over the last several years. It recently expanded its studio, from which the K-LOVE morning show and Air1 programs now broadcast, and its promotions, AccessMore podcasting, live events and WTA Media teams have offices in the area already. Members of EMF’s content division will begin moving into the existing offices and temporary space this summer.

Currently based in Rocklin, California, with additional offices in major markets throughout the U.S, EMF’s global headquarters staff will grow in multiple phases over the next three years, both from relocating employees and local hiring. A new permanent campus is to be constructed; the exact location is yet to be finalized.

“We are proud to welcome EMF headquarters to Tennessee,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “Our state is home to some of the top music, media and entertainment companies, and EMF will be a respected addition to this important sector. We thank EMF for its investment in Middle Tennessee, which will strengthen our reputation as a leader in the music industry.”

Progress and change are nothing new for EMF as it implements its strategy of becoming a diversified, multi-platform content creator and distributor in the faith space. In just the past two years, the ministry:

• Acquired WTA Media to expand into film financing/marketing and book publishing
• Financed multiple films (partially or in full)
• Launched the AccessMore podcast network with nearly 7 million downloads in less than a year
• Launched a new video platform, K-LOVE On Demand
• Expanded live events capability
• Established EMF Publishing and signed multiple authors to K-LOVE Books
• Surpassed 1,000 radio signals, adding 76 net new signals
• Continued to minister to its audiences by praying for more than a million prayer requests

“The State of Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and the Tennessee Valley Authority have been outstanding partners as we considered, and now pursue, this exciting new chapter in the life of EMF,” Reeves said. “The Nashville area is the right place for us to be.”

“TVA and Middle Tennessee Electric congratulate Educational Media Foundation’s decision to locate in Middle Tennessee,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “Helping to foster high quality jobs in the Valley is central to TVA’s mission of service, and we celebrate EMF’s business success in the Valley.”

EMF is in the final stages of selecting land locations, architects and building developers.

About Educational Media Foundation
Educational Media Foundation (EMF) began as a single, non-profit radio station in Northern California in 1982 and is now the parent company to K-LOVE and Air1—the nation’s largest contemporary Christian radio networks. With nearly 500 employees and broadcasting on more than 1,000 signals across all 50 states, EMF is also among the top 10 U.S.-based audio streaming companies.

EMF acquired the assets of WTA to create WTA Media, LLC (a leader in faith-based films and publishing) in 2019 and launched AccessMore (a faith-focused podcast network) in 2020. The ministry continues to expand and to create compelling media that inspires and encourages audiences to have a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ. For more information, please visit EMFbroadcasting.com.

CONTACT: Monique Sondag, 214-536-4319, Monique@130a.com

Dave and Kim Butts, co-founders of Harvest Prayer Ministries, and authors of 14 books on prayer published with PrayerShop Publishing, have recently launched PrayerU.com, an online learning site.

At PrayerU, through an affordable annual membership cost, individuals, small groups, and churches have unlimited access to an expanding catalog of courses and material. The on-demand video lessons insightfully and practically cover a wide variety of prayer topics. With the user-friendly, online platform, churches can offer different PrayerU courses to multiple study groups at any time. Many of the courses are based on the Butts’s books.

Harvest Prayer Ministries was founded by the Buttses in 1993 to train local churches in prayer. Distance learning has proven indispensable in these unusual times—not only for schools but also for faith communities. While development of PrayerU began before the coronavirus pandemic, its release is timely. The Butts’s affirm, “Our deepest prayer is that PrayerU will be a consistent training ground for Christians of all backgrounds and all generations to grow deep, loving attachments to God in and through prayer for the glory of God and His Kingdom.”

“We at PrayerShop Publishing are delighted to assist Dave and Kim in the development and launch of PrayerU.com,” said PSP publisher Jonathan Graf. “They have been our most prolific authors and are among the very best leaders I know in the area of prayer knowledge and practice. Having the content of their books available in digital courses will expand both our and their reach to a new audience of believers.”

Harvest Prayer Ministries is well-connected nationally and internationally, including cooperation and partnership with America’s National Prayer Committee, the National Day of Prayer, OneCry, and the International Prayer Council. The Buttses write prolifically on all aspects of prayer and prayer ministry, publishing books, magazine articles, and longstanding blogs. The distilled decades of experience teaching prayer in local churches constitutes PrayerU’s courses and materials. Through PrayerU, churches can now provide unlimited, quality training in prayer to people of all ages, building an intergenerational, creative, and rich expression of corporate prayer.

For more information on PrayerU.com, contact info@harvestprayer.com.

WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press has announced that it is now an exclusive publishing partner with Christian Audio, a brand of RBmedia, the largest audiobook producer in the world.

IVP and Christian Audio have worked together for more than a decade with over two hundred IVP titles sold in audiobook format through Christian Audio. With this dedicated partnership, Christian Audio will continue to grow IVP’s audiobook publishing program by expanding the depth and breadth of content. Among IVP’s notable titles included in the Christian Audio catalog are The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, The Good and Beautiful God by James Bryan Smith and Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren.

“We’re excited to partner even more closely with Christian Audio and Recorded Books,” said Ellen Hsu, senior rights and contracts manager at IVP. “I’m continually impressed by the quality of their production and the care they put into their relationship with IVP and with IVP authors. We look forward to the ways this partnership will benefit listeners and authors.”

With more than fifty thousand exclusive titles, RBmedia is the largest audiobook producer in the world. Their titles are available on leading audio platforms, including Audible, iTunes, Google Play, Audiobooks.com, OverDrive, Hoopla, and many more. RBmedia is owned by KKR, a leading global investment firm.

A brand of RBmedia, Christian Audio has been around for more than ten years and provides top-quality Christian audiobooks. The site offers a diverse variety of digital audio products for immediate download.

Mark Warner recently joined Christian Audio as the publisher and leader of the Christianaudio.com digital direct business. Warner led the effort to sign this new publishing agreement. In his new role, Mark will acquire all content for Christian Audio; manage relationships with partner publishers, agents, and authors in the Christian market; advance the vision of christianaudio.com; and oversee ways to grow this important RBmedia brand. “Christian Audio is grateful to partner with these publishers to help them participate profitably in this growing audio segment and pursue their publishing mission in the audio format,” said Warner. “Our scale and unique ability to monetize audio allows our partners to serve their authors. We look forward to helping them develop the audio audience for their content.”

Justin Paul Lawrence, IVP’s senior director of sales and marketing, said, “IVP has long seen audio books as an interesting frontier in publishing. We’re seeing a golden age of audio in a variety of formats, and we’re happy to be able to be a small part of it with this new venture.”

Lucado’s books have sold 130 million, and are distributed in 80 countries and translated into 45 languages worldwide

March 29, 2021 – Tempe, Ariz. –  The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announces today that they will present bestselling author MAX LUCADO with the industry’s PINNACLE AWARD for the outstanding contribution of his writing, both to the industry and to society at large.  The award will be presented at the ECPA Awards Celebration on May 6 at 1:00 pm (Central time), via webinar at the conclusion of the ECPA Leadership Summit.

Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and bestselling author who, in his own words, “writes books for people who don’t read books.” He serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, and his message is for the hurting, the guilty, the lonely, and the discouraged: God loves you; let him.  He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, and “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest.

Lucado’s products have exceeded sales of more than 145 million, with book sales exceeding 130 million.  His books are printed in 45 languages and distributed throughout 80 countries worldwide (including the United States). He published On the Anvil, his first trade book, in 1985. His latest title, Begin Again, was released in January 2021. Lucado’s books regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times. His writing has also been featured in Bible studies, Bible commentaries, songs, greeting cards, and even plush toys.  Twenty-three of his titles have sold more than 1 million copies.

In March 2020, Lucado started daily video “check-ins” to pastor people during the pandemic. These videos have been viewed more than 45 million times and were the catalyst for launching “The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast” with more than 1.2 million downloads in the first eight months.

ECPA has presented a total of 46 industry awards to Max Lucado titles: 19 Christian Book Awards® (includes Gold Medallion), nine Platinum Sales Awards (for over one million sold), and 18 Gold Sales Awards (for over 500,000 sold).  ECPA named three of his books as Book of the Year — When God Whispers Your Name, In the Grip of Grace, and Just Like Jesus — in 1995, 1997 and 1999 respectively.

“It is such an honor for ECPA to present the Pinnacle Award to Max Lucado,” said ECPA president Stan Jantz. “I was a bookseller in 1985, and I clearly remember when our store received On the Anvil for the first time. The accessibility of the writing, and the clear expression of the heart of someone who loved Jesus more than anything, were clear indicators that this was a special author.”

Max is only the fourth recipient of this high honor from ECPA, that recognizes the outstanding contribution by an author or book, to the industry or society at large.  The Pinnacle Award was presented to Stormie Omartian last year for her Power of a Praying® series.  Other recipients include Dr. Gary Chapman (The 5 Love Languages® series), and Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye (Left Behind® series).

For more information about this special award presentation at the ECPA Awards Celebration webcast on May 6, visit the ECPA Leadership Summit event site.

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Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and best-selling author more than 145 million products in print that have been translated in 45 languages and distributed in 80 countries worldwide.  As a writer, Max is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. Max’s love for everyday people began during his childhood in the small town of Andrews, Texas. His father was an oilfield mechanic, his mother was a nurse. Max grew rebellious in his teenage years, and after one specific drunken night, he began to wonder if there was more to life than parties and chasing girls. He now believes that if Jesus hadn’t found him and changed his heart, alcoholism would have been in his future. After high school, Max attended Abilene Christian University and graduated with two degrees and a heart for following Jesus and helping others learn about him, too. He moved to Miami, Florida, and took a position as an associate pastor at a small church, where Max started writing about Jesus for the first time in the church’s monthly newsletter. Florida was also where Max met his wife, Denalyn. Together, they lived first in Miami and then spent several years in Rio de Janeiro, helping plant churches. The newsletters Max wrote to family and friends while in Rio, along with the newsletters he wrote at his church in Miami, eventually formed the manuscript of his first book, On the Anvil.  Max and Denalyn now live in San Antonio, Texas. They have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

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 and translated into more than 65 different languages. Thomas Nelson is committed to one central mission: inspiring the world by meeting the needs of people with content that promotes biblical principles and honors Jesus Christ. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

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

Media contact:  Stan Jantz, President, ECPA, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998

 

Carol Stream, Ill. (March 29, 2021) NavPress, in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, will release Topical Memory System for Kids on July 6, 2021. The tried-and-true Scripture memorization methods of the popular Topical Memory System are now available in this fun, interactive resource for kids.

Offering colorful verse cards, games, and a devotional guide for making Scripture memory fun, this is a practical tool that engages the entire family. Topical Memory System for Kids also includes an 18-week schedule, which families can follow at their own pace, and instructions for games for both beginners and the more advanced.

“The Topical Memory System has been changing lives for nearly a century as people have committed the words of Scripture to memory,” says David Zimmerman, acquisitions editor for NavPress. “Scripture memory is rightly described as a spiritual discipline, but especially for young people discipline can be a discouraging word, which is a shame, because memorizing Scripture can be great fun, as this ‘gamified’ and ‘kiddified’ version of the TMS demonstrates. Kids are natural memorizers, and the games in TMS for Kids channel that natural ability into something that will strengthen their faith in a good God for a lifetime.”

For more information or for media inquiries, please contact Mariah León, mariahleon@tyndale.com.

Topical Memory System for Kids
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-64158-334-3 | $12.99 | July 2021 | NavPress.com

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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.

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 people’s 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:  Mariah León, mariahleon@tyndale.com 630.784.5182

Grand Rapids, Mich, March 2021—Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, today announced that the one hundredth video course is now available on its streaming video platform, MasterLectures. MasterLectures offers subscribers unlimited streaming access to thousands of video lectures on the Bible, theology, apologetics, biblical languages, and leadership.

“Reaching this milestone indicates the demand for high-quality, trustworthy video learning materials has never been greater,” said Stan Gundry, senior vice president and publisher of Zondervan Academic and Zondervan Reflective. “MasterLectures is meeting the needs of Christians around the world who desire to learn more about the Bible and theology, and it has also become an innovative platform for introducing our authors to a wider audience.”

Since its launch in March 2019, the number of available courses on MaserLectures has doubled, with the audience growing to include subscribers from 130 countries. Video courses feature authors published primarily by the Zondervan Academic and Zondervan Reflective imprints and are released in conjunction with their books, notable releases include:

• The Color of Compromise, taught by New York Times bestselling author Jemar Tisby;
• Encountering the Holy Land: A Video Introduction to the History and Geography of the Bible, taught by Carl Rasmussen and filmed on location in Israel;
• Basics of Biblical Greek, taught by William D. Mounce and based on the widely-used Greek grammar by the same name;
• Philippians, taught by Lynn H. Cohick; and
• Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, taught by Aimee Byrd

Zondervan has ambitious plans for growing MasterLectures in the coming year. Upcoming video courses include The New Testament in Its World, taught by N.T. Wright and Michael F. Bird; A Theology of Paul and His Letters, taught by Douglas Moo; and Subversive Witness: Scripture’s Call to Leverage Privilege, taught by Dominique DuBois Gilliard; among others.

MasterLectures is part of the company’s digital learning initiative, which also includes Zondervan Academic Online courses, a robust, seminary-level online learning experience, developed in partnership with Biblemesh, that includes videos, digital textbooks, adaptive learning tools, and assessments. This initiative also includes Enhanced Editions, a unique digital format combining book text, video lectures, and interactive learning content with customization options that allow instructors to tailor each textbook to the unique needs of their classes.

To celebrate the release of the one hundredth video course, Zondervan is offering free access for 30 days to new MasterLectures subscribers who use the code HUNDRED. This code allows new subscribers to get unlimited streaming access to all videos at MasterLectures.ZondervanAcademic.com, as well as on mobile devices and smart TVs, including Apple TV, Android TV, Roku, and Fire TV.

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.

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

Ada, Mich. (March 16, 2021)—Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, announces the passing of bestselling author Dr. David Stoop on March 10, 2021, at the age of 83.

Dr. Stoop was the founder and director of the Center for Family Therapy and served as a psychologist and family counselor for more than thirty-five years. His passion for helping families was clearly demonstrated in his practice; on the nationally syndicated radio and TV program, New Life Live; on his blog, Marriage and Family Matters; and within the pages of his numerous books. His counseling efforts focused primarily on marriage, parenting, grandparenting, and addiction. He loved seeing lives miraculously changed. Dr. Stoop said, “When I see that miracle, I feel blessed and incredibly thankful and celebrate God’s provision for He is my source.”

Dr. Stoop is the author of more than thirty books, including Forgiving What You’ll Never Forget and Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life. His most recent title, Living Strong, Finishing Well: How to Keep Growing and Learning for the Rest of Your Life, will release September 2021. He has also coauthored several books with his wife, Jan, and led seminars and retreats.

“Dave Stoop was a treasure,” said Vicki Crumpton, executive editor for Revell. “His books have sold millions of copies. Although Dave was in his early eighties and had Parkinson’s, he still saw counseling clients and cohosted the radio and TV show New Life Live. He was a longtime board member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. With all that, he was kind, gracious, and compassionate. Last fall, we began working together on his upcoming book, Living Strong, Finishing Well. Dave did just that. And he showed us all how to finish well.”

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth books, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

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

WESTMONT, IL— InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that five IVP titles have been recognized as finalists in the 2020 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine, Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year. More than two thousand entries spread across fifty-five genres were submitted for consideration. The finalists were determined by Foreword’s editorial team. Winners are now being decided by teams of librarian and bookseller judges from across the country. Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s Independent Publisher of the Year—will be announced June 17, 2021.

IVP books were chosen as finalists in the following categories:

Multicultural

Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe

As a child, Sheila Wise Rowe was bused across town to a majority-white school, where she experienced the racist lie that one group is superior to all others. This lie continues to be perpetuated today by the action or inaction of the government, media, viral videos, churches, and within families of origin. In contrast, Scripture declares that we are all fearfully and wonderfully made.

Rowe, a professional counselor, exposes the symptoms of racial trauma to lead readers to a place of freedom from the past and a new life for the future. In each chapter she includes an interview with a person of color to explore how we experience and resolve racial trauma.

Foreword reviewer Meredith Grahl Counts wrote, “Sensitive and powerful, Healing Racial Trauma recognizes many facets of racism in the United States and offers views of different paths to solace.”

Healing Racial Trauma was also honored with the 2021 Christianity Today Book Award in the Christian Living/Discipleship category.

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Grief/Grieving

A Chronicle of Grief: Finding Life After Traumatic Loss by Mel Lawrenz

In this narrative of grief, Pastor Mel Lawrenz chronicles how his family struggled to survive the sudden death of their beloved daughter. In raw, vivid episodes, he describes the immediacy of the pain and the uncertainty of what comes next. In the agony of traumatic loss, Lawrenz apprehends the realities of love and life and offers insights on how to navigate our life priorities before or after tragedy hits.

Scott Arbeiter, president of World Relief, said, “Here we witness a father’s crushed heart desperately reaching for grace and truth. It is a story told with searing honesty, genuine doubt, and sustaining faith. Mel is the guide we need for the journey we do not want.”

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History

Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity by Robert Chao Romero

Robert Chao Romero, the son of a Mexican father and a Chinese immigrant mother, explores the history and theology of what he terms the “Brown Church.” Romero considers how this movement has responded to these and other injustices throughout its history by appealing to the belief that God’s vision for redemption includes not only heavenly promises but also the transformation of every aspect of our lives and the world.

“This is a book that redefines the social identity of the Brown Church, breaking away from religious stereotypes of the Latina/o community and uncovering a rich legacy and discussion of Latina/o faith and identity,” said Elizabeth Conde-Frazier, coordinator of relations for theological entities at the Association of Hispanic Theological Education. “Chao Romero tells the bold, proud history of advocacy and the work of social justice across the centuries of the Brown Church, including scriptural and theological foundations, so that the children of the Brown Church and those seeking to understand her may clearly see her spiritual light and the costly marks of faithful, creative courage and sacrifice.”

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Religion

Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley

This book is a personal and scholarly testament to the power and hope of Black biblical interpretation. At a time in which some within the African American community are questioning the place of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice, New Testament scholar Esau McCaulley argues that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition is invaluable for connecting with a rich faith history and addressing the urgent issues of our times.

“In Reading While Black, Rev. Dr. Esau McCaulley puts in bold relief before us the historic and present concerns of the African American community,” said Irwyn L. Ince Jr., director of the GraceDC Institute for Cross-Cultural Mission and author of The Beautiful Community. “Does God have a word for us about policing? Is there any guidance from on high about Black identity, justice, righteous anger, slavery, and oppression? With sound exegetical method, deep cultural insight, and skillful application he brings us into the heart of God on these issues. Know, however, that this is not just a book for Black people. Far from it. Anyone who desires to engage these questions with gospel hope should take up and read.”

Reading While Black also received Christianity Today’s 2021 Beautiful Orthodoxy Award and the 2021 Outreach Resource of the Year Award—Christian Living.

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Science and Technology

Enhancing Christian Life: How Extended Cognition Augments Religious Community by Brad D. Strawn and Warren S. Brown

“In case you were under the impression that being a Christian is a solo achievement, Brad Strawn and Warren Brown are here to disabuse you of that misunderstanding,” said Michael Frost, author of Incarnate and To Alter Your World. “They say it’s a mistake to assume that spirituality is ever an individual, internal, and private matter. For them, it is always an embodied, collective, and spatial enterprise. Written in a lively, down-to-earth fashion, this book has monumental implications for our understanding of both spirituality and ecclesiology.”

Using insights from neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy, Strawn and Brown argue in Enhancing Christian Life that persons must be understood as not only embodied and embedded within particular contexts, but also extended beyond the body to encompass aspects of the physical and social world. Embracing a vision of the Christian life as extended into interactions with a local network of believers, they help us discover a fuller, more effective way to be Christian.

After exploring the psychological dynamics of extended cognition, including how the mind is “supersized” by the incorporation of physical tools and social networks, Strawn and Brown consider implications for spiritual practices, congregational life, and religious language and traditions, which they describe as mental “wikis.” The formation of robust Christian life, they show, is a process that takes place within a larger mesh of embodiment and mind—broader, deeper, and richer than we could ever be on our own.

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

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