WESTMONT, IL—Starting this month IVP kicks off its seventy-fifth anniversary by starting a yearlong celebration of books and authors that have shaped culture, affected the church, and changed lives.

Linda Doll, who coauthored (with Andrew T. Le Peau) Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.: An Anecdotal History of InterVarsity Press, 1947–2007, wrote, “One of the helpful emphases of the postmodern age is the reminder that if we are to look forward, we first have to look back. If we are going to know where we are going, we have to know where we have been.”

The history of twentieth-century evangelicalism cannot be understood apart from the authors and books that shaped it. Leading figures and IVP authors such as evangelist Rebecca Manley Pippert, apologist Francis Schaeffer, theologian J. I. Packer, and pastor-scholar John Stott helped a generation of church leaders to think more biblically. Landmark books such as Ron Sider’s Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, James W. Sire’s The Universe Next Door, and Your God Is Too White by Columbus Salley and Ronald Behm challenged Christians to engage the world around them.

Throughout the coming yearlong celebration IVP will look at where the press has been by sharing monthly stories about how individual books and authors have started and led historical discussions concerning missions, apologetics, spiritual formation, science, social justice, theology, politics, women in ministry, and more.

“InterVarsity Press occupies a unique place in the Christian world—one that I believe is essential in a time when we are more divided than ever. IVP books offer diverse and sometimes intentionally contradictory positions,” said Cindy Bunch, associate publisher and director of editorial for IVP. “Sometimes we joke that our books make everyone mad at one time or another—but we are actually quite serious about our role in maintaining a broad publishing program. We welcome a variety of readers rather than drawing hard lines that keep people inside and outside the boundaries. IVP authors encourage readers to dive deeper into Scripture, culture, science, theology, justice, and more, while always keeping our eyes on Christ. We value the life of the mind and at the same time we call readers to an ever-deepening spiritual journey. The qualities named in the tagline ‘Heart. Soul. Mind. Strength.’ capture our desire to reach readers in a holistic way.”

In celebration of the seventy-fifth anniversary, IVP is releasing special editions of select iconic and bestselling books from our history. Between fall of 2019 and fall of 2023, IVP is releasing Signature Collection editions of twenty-seven books and thirteen Bible studies that represent a wide range of authors, topics, and genres.

Stan Jantz, president and CEO of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA), said, “For seventy-five years InterVarsity Press has published compelling books that bring honor to Christ by cultivating the mind while simultaneously stirring the heart. My first encounter with InterVarsity came while I was in college through brilliant authors such as Os Guinness and Becky Pippert, who are still writing great books for—you guessed it—InterVarsity Press. Not content to rest on past success, this innovative publisher continues to discover and publish first-rate authors for new generations. That’s the mark of a great publisher. That’s the mark of InterVarsity Press.”

Since 1947, IVP has been publishing thoughtful Christian books that shape both the lives of readers and the cultures they inhabit. Times may have changed in those seventy-five years, but nothing has changed about how IVP books and authors speak boldly into the urgent issues of the day and provide timeless tools for spiritual growth and thoughtful engagement with academia.

Jon Boyd, editorial director for IVP Academic, said, “IVP has always known that a crucial part of our mission is to speak the language of academia—in its own terms, asking its pressing questions, and then bringing to bear fresh light from Scripture and Christian thought. Many of our trade books do that too, of course, but serving the university world is the central raison d’être of the IVP Academic imprint. These days we’re publishing more academic books than ever, spanning more fields than ever, by authors from more institutions and traditions than ever, serving more needs of readers than ever (from historical fiction to encyclopedias, literary essays to specialized monographs)—all for the sake of being part of a renewal of Christian life and thought in and through the world’s universities, seminaries, and colleges.”

Speaking into important cultural moments throughout the decades—from the halls of academia to the church pulpit to the public forum—IVP has served as a conversation partner for Christians wishing to deepen their personal faith, understand a biblical view of the world around them, and engage with that world faithfully. IVP and its books have not only addressed a particular moment in history, they’ve also spoken timeless truths across generations.

“In the course of its seventy-five years of publishing, InterVarsity Press has grown from an original focus on making Bible study, discipleship, and worldview resources available to a student ministry to becoming one of the most trusted sources of Christian thought and practice for people in the church, the academy, and the world,” Jeff Crosby, IVP publisher, said. “As the people who compose IVP enter the next chapter of its history, I am confident that the organization will continue to not only fulfill its unique and strategic mission in the world but will expand and refine it. The world desperately needs the kind of publishing that InterVarsity Press has been committed to curating since its inception. I’ve been privileged to be associated with IVP throughout my career as a longtime bookseller and, since 1998, as an employee. No other publisher has shaped my understanding of Christian faith and practice as much.”

Watch for more information about IVP’s seventy-fifth anniversary on ivpress.com and facebook.

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

CPH Board of Directors made the announcement at quarterly meeting

Saint Louis, MO—The Concordia Publishing House (CPH) Board of Directors met June 10-11, 2021, for their annual strategic planning meeting. During the meeting, the Board announced that they have unanimously appointed Jonathan D. Schultz Interim President & CEO of Concordia Publishing House, following the retirement of Bruce G. Kintz.

“Jonathan’s long tenure of creditable service as Vice President/Corporate Counsel at CPH has equipped him for this new area of responsibility and leadership,” said Dr. Mark Bender, Chair of the CPH Board of Directors.  “We pray God’s continued blessings upon Jonathan and all who serve at CPH.”

Schultz has served CPH as Vice President and Corporate Counsel of Concordia Publishing House since 1998. In this role, he worked closely with the Board of Directors, coordinating all legal activities of the corporation, and directing the Human Resources and Contracts/Rights/Permissions departments. Prior to arriving at CPH in 1998, he and his wife, Sue, served as long-term volunteer missionaries in Guatemala for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

“I’m honored to be entrusted with the leadership of CPH at this moment in our history,” said Schultz. “CPH has a rich heritage of equipping the Lutheran church with scripturally sound resources. As we look to the future, CPH will continue to have a relentless focus on our mission. I look forward to the opportunities we have to collaborate with our LCMS partners for the sake of the Gospel.”

Lutheran education is a priority for Schultz, who comes from a family with a rich tradition of service to The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod through pastoral ministry and Lutheran education. He currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Lutheran High School Association of St. Louis. From 2003-2014, he held various leadership positions on the Board of Directors of Christ Community Lutheran School, a Presidential Blue Ribbon School serving more than 600 students and their families. Schultz also currently serves as Chair of the Board of the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, a $100- million foundation that is committed in the name of Jesus Christ to seeing the improved care of hurting people in the greater St. Louis region. In addition, from 2007-2018, Schultz served in various leadership positions on national nonprofit boards. Schultz is a graduate of Concordia University Chicago and Loyola University School of Law.

The Lord has blessed Schultz and his wife, Sue, an LCMS elementary school teacher, with three children: Thomas (and wife, Allison), Mollie, and Abigail. They currently reside in St. Louis, Missouri.

The CPH Board of Directors has begun the process of identifying the next President & CEO of Concordia Publishing House.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Jonathan Schultz, please contact Elizabeth Pittman, Sr. Manager, Public Relations, at Elizabeth.pittman@cph.org.

About Concordia Publishing House
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For more than 150 years, CPH has been providing individuals, churches, and schools with products that are faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. From books and Bibles to church supplies, curriculum, and software, CPH offers more than 10,000 products to support the proclamation of the Gospel worldwide. Visit CPH online at cph.org.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Pittman, Public Relations, 314-268-1303, Elizabeth.Pittman@cph.org

Bloomington, Minn. (June 15, 2021)—Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce the signing of a new contract with Ashlee Gadd, author of The Magic of Motherhood. 

Gadd’s new book will help mothers joyfully pursue creativity in the margins of motherhood. It’s an uplifting reminder that art and motherhood can—and should!—coexist.

“We can mother and create,” Gadd says. “These roles are not in competition with one another, but actually complement each other. Pursuing both simply requires a little bit of … well, creativity.”

The book is scheduled to release in Spring 2023, in time for Mother’s Day. With a beautiful, giftable format, the book will feature photos, journaling prompts, creative exercises, as well as Gadd’s thoughtful writing.

“We are delighted to partner with Ashlee and showcase not only her wisdom but her creativity,” said Jennifer Dukes Lee, nonfiction acquisitions editor at Bethany. “So many moms are wanting to create, but can’t figure out how to fit creative pursuits into their busy lifestyles. As a creative myself, this is the book I wish I’d had ten years ago. Now, it’s our pleasure at Bethany to partner with Ashlee in serving this generation of creative moms.”

Gadd added: “So many mothers buy into the narrative that pursuing creativity is selfish, or a luxury, rather than viewing it as a vital part of who God designed us to be. When we make space for our creative gifts to shine, we allow ourselves, our families, and the culture at large to benefit from that flourishing. My hope and prayer for this book is that God will use it to ignite sparks in weary mothers who are sitting on their God-ordained creative gifts, simply waiting for a nudge to use them.”

Jenni Burke at Illuminate Literary Agency brokered world rights.

Ashlee Gadd is the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, launched in 2014. She and her team published their first book, The Magic of Motherhood, in 2017. Ashlee lives in Sacramento, California, with her husband and three children. When she’s not writing or vacuuming Cheerios out of the carpet, she loves making friends on the Internet, eating cereal for dinner, and rearranging bookshelves.

Bethany House is a division of Baker Publishing Group, the largest independent Christian trade book publisher. At Bethany House we seek to uplift readers’ families, faith, and free time with our library of industry-leading fiction and bestselling, Christ-centered nonfiction.

Contact: Rebecca Schriner, 952-829-2512, RSchriner@BakerPublishingGroup.com

Featuring online courses in Design, Editorial, Marketing, Production & Operations,
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – plus the debut of the PubU Children’s Book Summit

Industry leaders known as the “Brain Trust” will develop the program

TEMPE, ARIZ., JUNE 21, 2021 – ECPA’s annual Fall training program – ECPA PubU – will continue as an online event in 2021, delivering expert training and networking for the industry this November.  The ECPA PubU Online program will present over 25 webinars in several training tracks:  Design, Editorial, Marketing, Production & Operations, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion the week of November 8-12.

With the overwhelming success of PubU as a robust virtual event in 2020, combined with the continued uncertainty of travel for frontline publishing professionals throughout 2021, we decided to present PubU as a virtual experience again this year,” said ECPA president Stan Jantz. “We’re excited because we will reach more people in our industry with a wider variety of creative and practical sessions than ever before.”

The program will also include a day-long Children’s Book Summit on November 3^rd led by Tyndale House associate publisher for Children and Youth, Linda Howard; and developed by children’s literature consultant and author, Dr. Mary Manz Simon.

ECPA PubU will continue its Emerging Leader mentorship program, offering scholarships to up-and-coming industry leaders, with an emphasis on under-represented voices in the industry.  Helen Lee, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives for InterVarsity Press, will direct that program.  PubU will also continue its emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with a track led by Jevon Bolden (EMG) and Maila Kim (IVP).

Associate publisher of Moody Publishers Randall Payleitner and Jerri Helms, VP of digital marketing and analytics at HCCP, will lead the “Brain Trust” of industry leaders who are charged with developing the content and recruiting the speakers for this program.  Serving with Randall and Jerri on the 2021 PubU Online Brain Trust are:

DESIGN TRACK:
David Fassett, Art Director, InterVarsity Press | Design

DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION TRACK:
Jevon Bolden, CEO, Embolden Media Group
Maila Kim, Marketing Manager, InterVarsity Press

EDITORIAL TRACK:
Amanda Cleary Eastep, Senior Developmental Editor, Moody Publishers
Connor Sterchi, Managing Editor, Moody Publishers

MARKETING TRACK:
Jenaye (White) Merida, Marketing and Publicity Specialist, B&H Publishing Group
Jamie Lapeyrolerie, Senior Marketing Manager, WaterBrook and Multnomah

OPERATIONS & PRODUCTION TRACK:
Kathy Krenzien, Director of Operations, Gateway Publishing
Bradley Isbell, Chief Operating Officer, Iron Stream Media

CHILDREN’S BOOK SUMMIT:
Linda Howard, Associate Publisher for Children and Youth, Tyndale House Publishers
Dr. Mary Manz Simon, Children’s market analyst and author

EMERGING LEADERS CONSULTANT:
Helen Lee, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives, InterVarsity Press

“I’m so delighted to be working with this group,” expressed Randall Payleitner.  “The expertise, years of experience, and strategic thinking going into this program will make it worth the investment—10x! It’s never been more important for us to learn with and from each other as we all consider what our new “normal” looks like in 2021 and beyond. This event is an awesome step for anyone in Christian publishing, but especially anyone newer in their career or their individual role.”

Each track’s sessions will occur on one full day, during the week of November 8-12.  For one registration price, attendees will have access to all content, recordings, and networking opportunities through the Whova online conference platform.  The Top Shelf Book Award winners webcast will be the closing event on November 12.

For more information about the program, Brain Trust, and to receive program updates when they’re made available, visit ECPAPubU.org.

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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

ECPA PubU has delivered training, connection, networking and inspiration to the industry’s frontline practitioners since 2004.  Industry leaders develop the program to invest in the expertise of their colleagues, and train up the next generation of leaders.  For more information, visit ECPAPubU.org.

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

(Grand Rapids, MI, June 2021) – Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is proud to announce the release of the first installation of The Maclaren Series: Large Print Verse-by-Verse Reference Bible in the New King James Version (NKJV) and the King James Version (KJV).

“The Maclaren Series Bible is inspired by Alexander Maclaren, one of history’s great expository preachers. We’ve created a Bible that is both beautiful and extremely functional. I think Mr. Maclaren would be proud,” said Philip Nation, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Thomas Nelson. “It is my hope that the Maclaren Series will spark joy in readers and create an ease of engagement with God’s Word for years to come.”

The Maclaren Series Large Print Reference Bibles, in either the KJV or NKJV, provide the tools needed to dive deeply into God’s Word with vital study resources while showcasing the beauty of the text in a classic verse-by-verse, line-matched format. Combined with a generous 10.5 size type in Thomas Nelson’s Comfort Print® font, the Maclaren Series creates an enjoyable and treasured experience in God’s truth. Features include:

• Thomas Nelson’s complete cross reference system with over 72,000 verse references
• Verse-by-verse layout for easy navigation
• Premium high-contrast Bible paper
• Classic two-color typesetting, line-matched for optimal readability
• Beautiful 10.5 point type size in Thomas Nelson’s Comfort Print®
• Wide double-faced satin ribbons
• Ultra-flexible lay-flat sewn binding

The Maclaren Series Large Print Reference Bibles are available now in a range of cover choices:

NKJV

• 9780785242147  NKJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Leathersoft, Brown, $54.99
• 9780785241997  NKJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Leathersoft, Black, $49.99
• 9780785242185  NKJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Genuine Leather, Brown, $99.99
• 9780785242741  NKJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Genuine Leather, Thumb Indexed, Brown, $109.99
• 9780785242833  NKJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Goatskin Leather, Black, $189.99

KJV

• 9780785241942  KJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Leathersoft, Brown, $54.99
• 9780785241935  KJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Leathersoft, Black, $49.99
• 9780785241959  KJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Genuine Leather, Brown, $99.99
• 9780785241966  KJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Genuine Leather, Thumb Index, Brown, $109.99
• 9780785241973  KJV, Large Print Reference Bible, Goatskin Leather, Black, $189.99

About Comfort Print®:
Thomas Nelson Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost 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. HarperCollins 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.

About Thomas Nelson:
Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational products 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:  Amy Bigler, Senior Public Relations Manager, amy.bigler@harpercollins.com 

Inspiring readers to step into the fullness God designed for them, Natalie and Charlotte challenge readers to embrace moments when the security of safety must be traded for the bravery of vulnerability

“We often want to know the behind-the-scenes to some of our favorite events and the lives of some of our favorite people. That is exactly what Dare to Be offers, but it also gives more. After reading this book, you will walk away inspired, challenged, and ready to do the thing you’ve been wanting to do. It’s a page-after-page reminder that God is faithful.”
––Annie F. Downs, New York Times bestselling author of That Sounds Fun

“This book is such a beautiful overflow of what God has done in Charlotte’s and Natalie’s lives. I have no doubt it’s going to encourage you as it’s encouraged me and challenge you to step out in faith, no matter how crazy it seems.”
––Kari Jobe, Grammy-nominated worship artist

“Dare to Be rekindles that fire dwelling inside you, reminding you that no matter what life throws at you, if you don’t “dare to be,” you’ll never know what could have been.”
––Sadie Robertson Huff, author, speaker, and founder of Live Original

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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) June 8, 2021—“I dare you,” writes acclaimed Christian music artist Natalie Grant and renowned author and speaker Charlotte Gambill in their forthcoming book, Dare to Be: God Is Able. Are You Willing?  (September 7, 2021, Harvest House Publishers). “The challenge that I dare you presents is one we all respond to differently. Some see it as an opportunity to prove themselves, others hear it as a challenge to their competence. Yet it’s often the I dare you moments that push us beyond where comfort could keep us and the familiar would fence us in.”

Inspiring readers to step into the fullness God designed for them, Natalie and Charlotte challenge readers to re-embrace those I dare you moments, which were so prevalent in childhood, and dare yet again to unlock their full potential with childlike excitement and biblical courage.

Dare to Be unveils the very honest account of two girls who embarked on a journey that began with a dare. Natalie and Charlotte share with readers their highs and lows, the lessons and the moments that became pivotal.

In 2012, Natalie and Charlotte founded Dare To Be and hosted their very first Dare To Be Live Event (designed to give women the experience of a large conference packed into a single evening). These nights include storytelling, worship, and inspiring moments of recognition and honor. At each event, Natalie and Charlotte take an offering to help lift the burdens of a woman they’re planning to honor in the next event city. Over the years, cars have been purchased, mortgages paid, and tuitions covered. The hope for each of these evenings is to open up space in women’s hearts, daring them to embrace all they’re created to be in Christ.

Since 2012, Dare To Be has become so much more than an annual event. It’s become a community for daily connection for women around the world offering:

• A weekly podcast with Natalie and Charlotte
• Devotional content
• Virtual prayer meetings
• Quarterly virtual “Home Parties” that allow women to connect and gather together from their own homes.

Now, a series of Dare to Be books are being added to that brand. The premier book shares the core of this message, empowering readers to break away from the mundane and start living to magnify God in order to find and fulfill their divine destiny.

Readers can look forward to:

• a devotion at the end of each chapter including questions for discussion and reflection
• intimate stories and life lessons from Natalie and Charlotte
• learning to recognize God’s voice and say “Yes!” to all of God’s promptings
• encouragement and guidance to embark on new adventures
• learning to embrace moments when the security of safety must be traded for the bravery of vulnerability

“We are believing and praying the pages will bring an impartation of God’s spirit—and that’s why we want you to not just read each chapter but also start to write your own story. We invite you to take the same dares we took, to dare to believe, to begin, to build. . . We are praying that as you open every chapter, the Holy Spirit will guide and nudge you where you need to pause, reflect, and maybe step into the unknown with your all-knowing God,” share Natalie and Charlotte.

Natalie and Charlotte invite readers to read, to journal, to worship, to pray, and to embrace not just the words on the page but the adventure that awaits. Readers will ask themselves, “What if the best chapter of my life is yet to be written?”

Dare to Be will challenge readers to break away from the mundane and start living to magnify the One who wants to ignite them to fulfill their divine destiny. This book was written for fellow dreamers who know that they’re called into the fullness that God has predestined for them. Dare to Be is here to cheer them on—to strengthen their soul and encourage them to venture beyond life as they know it.

More information on the book can be found at https://daretobebook.com/.

Natalie Grant is an eight-time GRAMMY® nominee and five-time GMA Dove Awards Female Vocalist of the Year. She has garnered more than 500 million streams and multiple number #1 albums and singles on the Billboard charts. A respected author and philanthropist, she is the cofounder of Hope for Justice, a nonprofit organization fighting human trafficking with 32 offices across 10 countries and 5 continents that has helped more than 100,000 children in the past year.

Charlotte Gambill has an infectious love for life, a deep love for people, and a zealous love for God’s house. Her passion is to build the local church across the earth, to see people reach their full potential, and to develop and strengthen leadership. Known for her practical, humorous, and passionate application of God’s Word, she is an author, speaker, and mother. Charlotte, who leads LIFE Church, UK in England with her husband, Steve, has authored more than ten books.

Harvest House Publishers, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes more than 100 books per year and carries a strong backlist offering more than 1,500 titles. Over 145 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in more than 75 languages.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Morgan Canclini-Mitchell, morgan@twopr.com, 615-933-8570
Lisa Bergmanis, lisa@twopr.com, 573-692-5641

 

Ada, MI (June 9, 2021)—On June 2, 2021, Eva Marie Everson, contest director for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, announced the 2021 Selah Award winners in a presentation that took place at the Ridgecrest Conference Center in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. Baker Publishing Group titles received twelve awards, including the 2021 Fiction Book of the Year, which was awarded to Sarah Loudin Thomas for her novel The Right Kind of Fool (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764234019; ebook ISBN 9781493428144; $15.99). Thomas’s book also received the first place award in the Historical/Biblical fiction category.

James R. Hannibal’s novel Chasing the White Lion (Revell; ISBN 9780800735784; ebook ISBN 9781493421145; $15.99) received the  Directors’ Choice award in the Fiction category and also took first place in the Mystery/Suspense Fiction category.

365 Ways to Love Your Child (Revell; ISBN 9780800738846; ebook ISBN 9781493427932; $9.99) by Julie Lavender received the first place Directors’ Choice award in the Devotional category.

Additional winners included:

Contemporary Women’s Fiction (First Place):  On a Coastal Breeze by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell; ISBN 9780800734992; ebook ISBN 9781493423149; $15.99)

Contemporary Romance Fiction (First Place):  Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish by Bethany Turner (Revell; ISBN 9780800735234; ebook ISBN 9781493423156; $15.99)

Contemporary Romance Fiction (Second Place tie):  Two Steps Forward by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell; ISBN 9780800727536; ebook ISBN 9781493421121; $15.99)

Historical Romance Fiction (Second Place):  Forever Hidden by Tracie Peterson and Kimberley Woodhouse (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764232480; ebook ISBN 9781493422814; $15.99)

Historical/Biblical Fiction (Third Place tie):  Veiled in Smoke by Jocelyn Green (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764233302; ebook ISBN 9781493422753; $15.99)

Historical/Biblical Fiction (Third Place tie):  Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner (Revell; ISBN 9780800735708; ebook ISBN 9781493423187; $15.99)

General Fiction (Third Place):  The Promised Land by Elizabeth Musser (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764234453; ebook ISBN 9781493428250; $15.99)

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The Selah Awards were established in 2011 on behalf of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and was designed to honor the best books in Christian publishing. For a complete list of winners, please visit https://www.facebook.com/TheSelahAwards/posts/1729556497239301.

Bethany House is part of the largest independent Christian book publisher and seeks to uplift readers’ families, faith, and free time with our library of industry-leading fiction and bestselling, Christ-centered nonfiction.

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

 

 

Faithlife’s Kerusso Collective has partnered with Dr. Ralph Douglas West, senior pastor of The Church Without Walls, to release its first official feature in its to ensure the inclusivity of African American content and tools in Logos Bible Software so that all ethnic groups can appreciate, grow, and learn from the rich history and scholarship of the Black voice. I wanted to let you know the Kerusso Collective.

The Dr. Ralph West Preaching Workflow gives clear, step-by-step instructions to help pastors with sermon prep or Bible study. The workflow is free for Logos users and is adapted from “Weaving the Textual Web” by Dr. West, which is included in the book Power in the Pulpit: How America’s Most Effective Black Preachers Prepare Their Sermons, edited by Cleophus J. LaRue (Westminster John Knox, 2002).

“I have been preaching for 45-plus years. During my thousands of hours of sermon prep, I have developed a homiletic process called ‘Weaving the Textual Web’ that has served me well in the pulpit. What a blessing it is to work with the Kerusso Collective to make my exegetical method for studying and preaching part of the tools in Logos Bible Software. Download the workflow, type the text you’re preaching, follow the steps I’ve developed, and preach with confidence!” said Dr. West.

The Kerusso Collective was announced in November 2020 and includes a select group of respected Black faith leaders and scholars who will lead the intentional integration and assimilation of Black voices and representation into Logos.

More details about the Kerusso Collective and the Dr. Ralph West Preaching Workflow can be found at https://www.logos.com/kerusso-collective.

About Logos:  Logos Bible Software is Faithlife’s premier product and the preferred Bible study tool among pastors, scholars, students and lifelong learners worldwide who want to dive deeper into the intricacies of God’s Word, including Dr. Tony Evans, Dr. Eric Mason, H.B. Charles Jr. and Dr. Charlie Dates, to name a few. The latest version, Logos 9, is designed to help ministry leaders spend more time serving the Church and includes multiple new features, many of which are specifically focused on helping pastors bring order to the chaos of busy modern ministry life. To learn more about Logos, visit https://www.logos.com/.

From adopting two children from South Korea to fighting for their newborn son’s life to pastoring a small congregation through adversity to joining Team Blake in 2020, the Tilghmans share how their focus on joy has helped them conquer numerous challenges in their new book

“In this uplifting debut, Tilghman, a Mississippi pastor and past winner of The Voice, and his wife, Brooke, emphasize the importance of celebrating small steps along the way to achieving one’s goals. [. . .] In their transparency about choosing optimism, the Tilghmans will inspire Christians to focus on the small things.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Todd Tilghman is that special artist that is not only immensely talented but also someone you buy into as a person. It was an honor to coach and win Season 18 of The Voice with him. On the show, fans got a small glimpse into his remarkable story. In Every Little Win, Todd and his wife, Brooke, tell the whole story of their lives. A story of faith, struggle, and championing the battles they’ve faced over the years.”
––Blake Shelton, The Voice Coach and Country Music Artist

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(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) April 27, 2021—When Todd Tilghman, pastor of two decades and father of eight from Meridian, Mississippi, auditioned for The Voice, he counted it as a win simply to sing in front of an audience outside of his family and church members. Despite no music or vocal training, he not only made it through the blind audition––with all four celebrity judges vying to coach him––but he also won the show’s entire eighteenth season. Fans were drawn to Todd’s tremendous joy onstage, which gave them much-needed inspiration during the hard challenges of a global pandemic.

In their new book, Every Little Win: How Celebrating Small Victories Can Lead to Big Joy (Thomas Nelson, June 22, 2021), Todd Tilghman and his wife, Brooke, share how decades of unrelenting challenges have taught them a joyful mindset. A mindset that helped him embrace winning NBC’s The Voice, and that has guided them as a couple to celebrate “every little win” among numerous challenges during their twenty-plus years of marriage.

In Every Little Win, Todd and Brooke share how their focus on joy and celebrating small, everyday moments has helped them to overcome numerous challenges over their twenty-plus-year marriage. Whether adopting two South Korean children, or fighting for their newborn son’s life, or pastoring a small congregation through periods of adversity, Todd and Brooke have discovered the enormous value of life’s little things. They know it’s not a common approach. People are often told to focus on “the big picture” and “just keep your eye on the prize!” to reach success and contentment––as if they were end goals. But the Tilghmans have discovered a different way––an approach that anyone can integrate into their own walk through life, being not just content, but joyously celebrating the everyday successes.

As Todd and Brooke detail their life story in alternating sections, they chronicle their journey from fear to faith to ever-present joy, emphasizing strategies and mindsets they’ve learned along the way for living a life unbound by fear. Todd shares the difference this has made in the book’s prelude:

On paper, our lives look very full but hardly remarkable—unless you look for the small wins. Huge achievements get noticed. But if Brooke and I had waited around to find joy until we got a big win, we would have missed out on the amazing life we’ve lived. Instead, we’ve found triumph in the mundane. Even in the middle of our hardships we’ve sought—and clung to—God’s goodness. This has brought happiness in our everyday lives and also allowed us to dare to try for bigger wins. Each step of fighting the fear, and looking for the win, brought us to where we are today. Not only did seeking small joys pave the way to every bigger step, these joys also built up hope within us until it was hard to contain.

Divulging a different part of their story in each chapter—and hiding no messes—Todd and Brooke share about being at the brink of divorce as a couple and how they reconciled, adopting two girls on a pastor’s salary (which is practically impossible), bouts with anxiety and depression, navigating social media as parents and as a couple, and of course, what it was like for Todd to win a singing competition on a national stage. For each step, they conclude with takeaway “wins.”

Among the wins readers can look forward to are:

• When we’re willing to put in the work in our marriages.
• When we use our strengths and trust God to bring others to help where we are weak.
• When we treat love as a verb. People need to feel our love before they understand God’s love.
• When we trust God. (He always has more in store for us than we think.)
• When we understand God’s sacrifice to adopt us as part of his family.

The authors also reveal gems like these:

• We win as we allow our kids to be comfortable with who they are.
• We win when we understand that sometimes God chooses us to bring hope to others.
• We win when we discover the goodness of God where we least expect it.
• We win as we discover that, in God’s economy, brokenness leads to beauty and scarcity to abundance.
• We win when we discover that on the other side of fear is freedom, and with freedom comes joy.

Through every page and every experience, the authors count their blessings. This book isn’t sugar-coated. It’s real. It’s honest. It’s intimate. And it’s hopeful. Just like Todd and Brooke Tilghman.

Every Little Win: How Celebrating Small Victories Can Lead to Big Joy is available June 22, 2021 everywhere books are sold. Learn more here.

About Todd and Brooke Tilghman:  Parents of eight, Todd and Brooke Tilghman currently live in Tennessee, having recently moved closer to Nashville for Todd’s leap-of-faith to pursue music full time. From 2011 to 2020, Todd was the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Meridian, Mississippi. He has the distinction of being the oldest winner, at age forty-two, in The Voice’s history. Todd has been singing in church since he was eight years old, and he is currently writing and recording songs for his first album, to be released in 2021. Brooke continues to cheer him on. Keep up with Todd’s latest music releases on all streaming platforms.  Learn more about Todd and Brooke’s new book, Every Little Win: How Celebrating Small Victories Can Lead to Big Joy, at www.everylittlewinbook.com and follow their journey on Facebook @toddtilghmanmusic, Instagram @todd_tilghman @brooketilghman, and Twitter @todd_tilghman.

About Tricia Goyer:  Writer Tricia Goyer is a USA Today bestselling author and has published 75 books to date, written more than 500 articles appearing in national publications, and is on the blogging team at TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites. She is a two-time Carol Award winner and a Christy and ECPA Award Finalist and regularly receives starred reviews in the Romantic Times and Publishers Weekly.

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.

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