Orlando, Fla. (September 8, 2020): Ligonier Ministries’ biennial State of Theology survey provides insights on how Americans view a wide range of Christian beliefs. This comprehensive report provides key findings on beliefs about God, truth, the Bible, worship, and ethical issues. Conducted with LifeWay Research, this survey polled a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The full results for the 2020 survey are now available online at TheStateofTheology.com.

Today, many U.S. adults assume that all truth is relative. Nearly half of the respondents (48 percent) to the State of Theology survey reject the literal truth of the Bible. Even more respondents (54 percent) say that religious belief is a matter of personal opinion, not objective reality. The latter response is slightly better than in 2018. Although we do not know why that is, it may be that our chaotic cultural moment has prompted more people to turn to religion for objective truth.

While evangelicals have historically affirmed the authority of the Bible and salvation by Jesus Christ, trends in the State of Theology survey reveal that many American evangelicals express erroneous views that mirror the broader U.S. population. Now, 30 percent of evangelicals deny the deity of Jesus Christ (compared to 52 percent of the general U.S. population), believing instead that He was merely a good teacher. In addition, 65 percent of evangelicals agree with the heretical statement, “Jesus is the first and greatest being created by God.” The confusion illustrated in these results suggests a dire need for Christians to be taught Christology, the doctrine of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The 2020 survey also shows a decline in the number of professing evangelicals who have an accurate understanding of salvation. Only 57 percent of American evangelicals hold to the Bible’s teaching that the Holy Spirit gives a spiritual new birth before a person has faith in Jesus Christ, compared with 63 percent in 2018. While the Bible teaches that God decided who would be saved before He created the world, only 38 percent of evangelicals agree with this doctrine (compared to 26 percent of U.S. adults).

With the rising acceptance of relative truth in every sphere of life in the United States, the ethical issues at the forefront of public debate continue to be clouded. In 2020, a large majority (73 percent) of U.S. evangelicals reject the arguments of “gender fluidity.” Yet it remains concerning that one in five evangelicals (22 percent) still appears to reject the Bible’s teaching that our gender as male and female is given by God our Creator.

Chris Larson, president and CEO of Ligonier Ministries, said:

“The 2020 State of Theology survey uncovers widespread confusion in the United States about the Bible’s teaching and the reality of who God is. Many have observed the drift among Americans toward relativism, and this survey helps to quantify how this nation is abandoning objective truth altogether. Sadly, just when the church needs to be clear and bold about our triune God, the Scriptures, sin, and salvation, many evangelicals are evidently being influenced more by this cultural drift than by the Word of God. Christians have an opportunity to bring light and comfort to our troubled times by pointing to Jesus Christ and the authority and sufficiency of the Bible. These survey results reveal that there is much work to do. Let us pray for an awakening to our holy God and to what He has revealed about Himself and how we are to live in this world.”

This year, anyone can take the survey for themselves at TheStateofTheology.com, and the website also features the new option to create private group surveys for use by churches, Bible studies, groups of friends, and more. All are encouraged to participate in these secure, anonymous surveys in order to help them facilitate discussion and better understand the beliefs of people in their communities.

LifeWay Research surveyed a nationally representative sample of 3,002 adults in the United States, including 630 professing evangelicals. The survey was carried out from March 10 to 18, 2020. More information can be found at TheStateofTheology.com.

Evangelicals were defined by LifeWay Research as people who strongly agreed with the following four statements:

• The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
• It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
• Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
• Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.

About Ligonier Ministries:  Ligonier Ministries exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. To that end, Ligonier’s outreach today is manifold and worldwide. Founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971, Ligonier’s teaching fellowship consists of theologians, pastors, and scholars. Ligonier publishes Renewing Your Mind broadcasts, the Reformation Study Bible, Tabletalk magazine, books through Reformation Trust, and hundreds of teaching series. The ministry also offers an undergraduate degree program through Reformation Bible College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional conferences, provides an online learning community through Ligonier Connect, streams 24-hour Christian Internet radio through RefNet, answers biblical and theological questions with Ask Ligonier, pursues numerous translation efforts in other countries, and makes available thousands of unique educational resources online at Ligonier.org.

Contact: Deborah Finnamore | Publicity Manager | 407-333-4244 x1158 | definnamore@ligonier.org

 

CAROL STREAM, Illinois—September 4, 2020—DaySpring Cards, Inc., a Siloam Springs–based company specializing in Christian book publishing, greeting cards, digital resources, and specialty gift products, announced a new agreement with Tyndale House Publishers to publish five new Bibles, with the first edition launching in 2021.

“We look forward to expanding our partnership with Tyndale House Publishers,” said James Barnett, president of DaySpring. “Tyndale has been a longtime licensing partner for DaySpring on our core formats of greeting cards and gifts. We feel strongly that our alignment with Tyndale gives us a powerful voice in the Bible publishing world. We have an exciting opportunity to amplify our brand and message. DaySpring has been a trusted Christian brand for nearly 50 years, and now thanks to our partnership with Tyndale, consumers will be able to see our commitment to helping people experience the life-changing message of God’s love.”

“It is so satisfying to enter into a professional relationship with a company that shares your beliefs, values, passion, and fundamental mission,” said Jeff Johnson, president of Tyndale House Publishers. “At Tyndale, we are looking forward to working with the DaySpring team on a series of Bibles that align with our common calling to help people discover the joy of knowing God and learning the depth of his love through the understanding of his Word. This agreement is a culmination of a search for a partner with the skills and heart that make DaySpring extraordinary.”

The first Bible ships to stores in September 2021.

About Tyndale:  Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, it is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale has proved a faithful guide—helping readers discover the life-giving truths of the Bible. Its mission is to open God’s Word to as many as possible in language they can relate to and understand. Tyndale’s independent and non-profit status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a majority of net income to charitable missions—more than $100 million throughout its history. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

About DaySpring:  DaySpring®, the world’s largest Christian-message product provider, was founded in 1971 with a single Christmas card. Today DaySpring offers more than 6,000 products—from books to greeting cards, home décor to specialty gifts. In 1999, DaySpring was acquired by Hallmark Cards, Inc. DaySpring products are sold in Christian retail outlets, mass retail stores, card and gift shops, online, and through home parties in the United States and 60 foreign countries. DaySpring is based in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and employs a staff of more than 200 people. Visit www.dayspring.com for more information about the company, to find a local retailer, and to send a free e-card.

Contact: Katie Dodillet katiedodillet@tyndale.com 630-784-5275

LARGO, Fla.—During these difficult days, CPE Fall 2020 was a time for the Christian retail industry to come together and build each other up.

Like CPE Winter 2020, CPE Fall 2020 (August 23-25) was held at the Chase Center in Wilmington, DE. However, this show looked a little different with face masks, provided by Kerusso for all attendees, and social distancing at all the events and on the show floor. Since some vendors were unable to attend due to company travel bans, they utilized Zoom to give product presentations and take orders at the show.

Each morning, retailers enjoyed a time of spiritual refreshment with devotionals via a pre-recorded video from Paula Faris (Baker Publishing Group) and a live presentation of the new Epic Bible from Tyndale House Publishers.

The show officially kicked off on Sunday, August 23, with live praise and worship from Cheri Keaggy, who reminded attendees that God’s love endures forever, along with a message on prayer from Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) founder Linda Evans Shepherd.

On Sunday afternoon, retailers enjoyed an in-person social media training with industry experts and a meet-and-greet Personality Party with 19 authors. One generous author, Sandra Boyd, even gave away a COACH purse.

Sunday evening concluded with a compelling testimony from Operation Christmas Child shoebox recipient Jakeline Hernandez and an interactive Zoom performance from illusionist Harris III, author of The Wonder Switch, compliments of CPE’s gold sponsor HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

When the show floor opened Monday morning, retailers were ready to stock up and the vendors were ready to assist. There were over 40 stores and over 40 exhibitors at CPE Fall 2020. Most vendors came expecting simply to show support to the retailers. Collecting orders at the show was a bonus. On average, there were 22 orders written per store.

“VOM BOOKS was thrilled and honored to be part of the CPE event in Wilmington, DE,” said Chris Robinette, Executive Director of Voice of the Martyrs Books. “We went there with the mindset to pray for, encourage and bless those stores who attended the event, knowing they might be discouraged. Instead, we were blessed by all the encouraging words and optimism expressed by the retailers. . . . Many expressed how their business was starting to turn around as they were able to recently reopen and were very optimistic about the fourth quarter.”

On Tuesday, the show floor closed early at 2:00 PM with three cash prize drawings. The grand prize of $1500 went to Rachel Savage of Watermark Christian Store in Melbourne, FL. Second place went to Body Builders Bookstore in Rahway, NJ and third place went to Truth that Rocks in Northfield, NJ.

CPE is FREE to attend and offers retailers a generous reimbursement program, based on the number of orders written and presentations received at the show. For this show only, CPE decreased the required number of orders for reimbursement as well as added a $50 travel allowance to the lowest tier to help offset retailers’ travel costs.

Retailers and exhibitors have already signed up for the Winter 2021 show which will be on February 14-16 at the Embassy Suites & Concord Convention Center in Charlotte, NC.

To learn more about CPE show updates, visit cpeshow.com.

The Munce Group was founded in October 1991 and currently serves nearly 200 member retailers across the US. The mission of the Munce Group is to provide member retailers with the highest quality Christian materials and services to equip independent Christian retailers for the work of their ministry and business. Munce Group also hosts Christian Product Expo (CPE). CPE is the only industry trade show that is free to attend and provides a generous reimbursement program. Visit www.cpeshow.com.

Uhrichsville, OH— Barbour Publishing is pleased to announce the launch of a one-of-a-kind new fiction series where history and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance. Each book in the Doors to the Past series will feature a dual-time period romantic suspense story set against a historic American landmark.

The 12-book series will kick off in February 2021 with The Lady in Residence by veteran Christian fiction author Allison Pittman. This book, which includes stories from both 1915 and 2017, is set in the Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, and gives a nod to the building’s real-life ghost story of Sallie White. It also features the fictional character, Hedda Krause, who checked into the historic hotel, but never checked out—and 100 years later, her presence is still felt.

Releasing approximately every other month by a team of well-known authors, Doors to the Past will satisfy voracious readers of both inspirational and historical fiction. The books are written in such a way that they can be read in succession or as standalones, making them perfect for readers interested in specific time periods or landmarks from American history.

Release Schedule for First Four Books:

• February 2021: The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman
  Setting: The Menger Hotel in San Antonio, Texas
• April 2021: Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham
  Setting: Vanderbilt’s Estate in North Carolina
• June 2021: Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse
  Setting: The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California
• September 2021: Undercurrent of Secrets by Rachel Scott McDaniel
  Setting: The Belle of Louisville steamboat in Louisville, Kentucky

To learn more about the Doors to the Past series, visit www.barbourbooks.com or view our latest catalog on Edelweiss.

Media Contact: Shalyn Sattler ssattler@barbourbooks.com 740.922.6045 X 109

Miami, FL (August 17th, 2020) — Spanish House Ministries appoints Lorraine Blancovitch as Publisher. After five years of serving within the organization, Lorraine becomes one of the youngest female publishers in the history of Spanish Evangelical publishing.

Lorraine joined Unilit as an executive assistant followed by her promotion to Marketing Director. This current appointment is part of the strategic actions within Spanish House Ministries to constantly improve and strive for excellence in every aspect of publishing. Timothy Ecklebarger, President and CEO of SHM, said:

“As I continue to ponder the challenges we face in the midst of a global pandemic and the impact it is having on our industry I remain optimistic about the future. Specifically, I find myself thinking about the upcoming generation that will continue the work God has given us within our various ministries. First and foremost, my hope comes from my trust in the Lord and in those He will choose to serve him for many years to come. With that hope, and the sense of responsibility to mentor the next generation, it is my privilege and honor to announce a well-deserved and hard-earned promotion within our company.  It is especially pleasing and rewarding to me to have the opportunity daily to witness this person’s growth in faith and love for Jesus Christ. In the past five years I have personally worked with Lorraine Blancovitch and have been inspired by her personal, professional and spiritual growth, as well as her passion for the industry and our ministry. I am very pleased to appoint Lorraine as Publisher, and I hope you will join me in congratulating her on this incredible achievement. Furthermore, let’s get excited about the next generation and thank God for the opportunity to play a part in developing their talents.”

Lorraine completed her bachelor’s degrees in Business Administration with a major in Communications, and her master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications, graduating with honors from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico.  She explains:

“Three years ago, I had a conversation with God and I told him that I thought it was time for a new professional challenge, because even though I had learned a lot and loved what I did, but I wanted to be more challenged. The next day, Tim called me into a meeting and asked me a very interesting and challenging question: ‘Are you willing to take on more pressure, to be corrected, and for me to hold you to a higher standard than I hold others? This is your place, and if you trust me, you will have room to grow at Unilit. God brought you here for a purpose, and my job is to help you find it and grow in it.’ By nature, I find it very difficult to walk away from challenges, so I said yes. That day we talked and cried for about two hours. Without a doubt, I got to know my boss’ heart better, and from that moment on he became my mentor.

I firmly believe that God becomes truly visible and real in us by challenging us and meeting us in those places in which fears act as giants before us. Recently I read something that reaffirmed my confidence and my faith. It went something like this: “We want a hopeful future with a dose of prosperity, but we don’t want exile. We want to be faithful like Jesus, but we don’t want to carry a cross. We want love without sacrifice, holiness without pain, and refinement without fire.” (Taken from Meant for Good by Megan Fate Marshman)

I was not planning on fully taking on this role now, as it is very intimidating, so I asked Tim to only make this appointment known within the company. As a good mentor, every week he took it upon himself to remind me that it was time for me to take full responsibility. In the end, I understood that it was time for me to stop running away and hiding behind my fears, and accept this new challenge. I am certain that it is not because of my strength, because of what I can contribute or because of what I know, but because the One who invited me to this challenge knows what He is doing and why He is doing it. His plans will always be better than any plan I may have.”

In her new position, Lorraine will oversee the planning and execution of every project that is to be published, approve new project acquisitions, establish the editorial calendar, monitor and manage budget allocation for all departments, and oversee the operations of the company.

The marketing department will now be under the direction of Adriana Cerón. She is a Social Communication graduate and a life long lover of books. For the past three years, Adriana has been an essential part of Spanish House Ministries’ marketing, communication and creative strategy development. These words reflect what this new challenge means to Adriana:

“My dream has always been to work in a publishing house. One day I found myself sitting in SHM’s offices holding a temporary position doing projects for Expolit, which later allowed for the opportunity to become part of the Unilit marketing team. Today I thank God because He knows our dreams, and the day we least expect and, in the way, we least imagine, He makes them come true. I enjoy growing while I work, and I am passionate about finding the best strategies to share the Message that changes lives.”

Unilit is the leading independent Spanish evangelical publisher in the world. Based in Medley, Florida, for 46 years they have concentrated their efforts toward  providing high-quality products, theologically sound and life-changing content, and delivering exceptional customer service.

For more information, or to connect with our Marketing Department, contact:  Adriana Cerón, Director of Marketing, +1 (305) 592.6136, adriana@editorialunilit.com

 

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept. 1, 2020 — Ligonier Ministries, the teaching fellowship founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul, is pleased to announce the release of the Reformation Study Bible in Spanish, published in partnership with Poiema Publicaciones. This long-anticipated resource, La Biblia de Estudio de La Reforma, is now available in a variety of cover styles on Ligonier’s website and Amazon.

Today, more than 400 million people around the world speak Spanish, and access to trustworthy biblical teaching is a relative rarity. Much of the Spanish-speaking world is steeped in Roman Catholicism, and the charismatic movement has made significant inroads over the last generation. The fruit of the Reformation has never taken root in many of these regions–until recently.

J.D. Bridges, Ligonier’s vice president of global outreach, said:

“As I’ve traveled throughout Latin America with Ligonier’s Spanish Outreach team, I’ve been encouraged to see a growing interest in Reformed theology. When local ministers share the key influences that have led them and their churches to embrace Reformed theology, oftentimes there’s a reference to R.C. Sproul. The teaching of Dr. Sproul has left an incalculable impact on the Spanish-speaking church, and the Spanish Reformation Study Bible now provides a trustworthy theological library to help growing Christians become even more thoroughly settled in the biblical theology of the Reformation.”

Dr. Burk Parsons, chief publishing officer of Ligonier Ministries, told of a visit he made to Colombia several years ago:

“When I was in Bogotá, I spoke with a pastor who had very few Bible commentaries and nothing in the way of discipleship materials. He and three other pastors shared one study Bible between them to prepare all of their sermons. We have carefully translated the Reformation Study Bible so that the Spanish-speaking church may no longer suffer from a dearth of theological resources, but may rather have a wealth of trusted, faithful commentary that is accessible to every reader. We at Ligonier are praying that the Lord will use this study Bible to fan the flames of reformation throughout the Spanish-speaking world.”

In addition to 1.1 million words of verse-by-verse and topical explanations in Spanish, translated commentary from 75 distinguished theologians, and 70 translated theological notes from Dr. Sproul, the Spanish edition of the Reformation Study Bible also includes historical creeds, confessions, and catechisms that have been newly translated into Spanish from the original languages. The Scripture text utilized in the study Bible is La Biblia de las Américas (LBLA), a translation from the Lockman Foundation, the publisher of the New American Standard Bible.

Pike Lambeth, Lockman’s executive vice president, said:

“The pairing of La Biblia de las Américas with its accuracy to the original languages and the superior scholarship of the Reformation Study Bible creates an exciting Spanish language study tool that will quickly become a trusted and faithful resource for Bible reading and study. I’m certain that the LBLA Reformation Study Bible will enrich the lives of countless eager readers who desire to clearly understand the Word of God.”

Chris Larson, president and CEO of Ligonier Ministries, expressed the significance of this completed resource:

“As Dr. Sproul explains in the introduction, the light of the Reformation was the light of the Bible. People need God’s Word clearly taught to them if they are to know who God is, their need of a Savior and the redemption found in Christ alone. Praise God that millions of people in the Americas, Europe, and around the globe can now access an indispensable study tool to help them rightly divide the Word of truth in their own language, growing in the knowledge of God so they can bring His truth to bear on all of life. Yes, we call this book the Reformation Study Bible, but what we really want to see is a Bible study reformation. By God’s grace, this landmark resource was developed through the support of many donors and we pray it will help ignite awakening throughout the Spanish-speaking world to His holiness and grace.”

The Spanish edition of the Reformation Study Bible is available for purchase at Ligonier.org and Amazon.com. Ligonier’s publishing partner Poiema Publicaciones is now fulfilling orders in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Spain, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

For more information about the Spanish edition of the Reformation Study Bible, contact info@es.ligonier.org or call 800-435-4343. Bookstores and resellers, please contact sales@ligonier.org.

About Ligonier Ministries
Ligonier Ministries exists to proclaim, teach, and defend the holiness of God in all its fullness to as many people as possible. To that end, Ligonier’s outreach today is manifold and worldwide. Founded by Dr. R.C. Sproul in 1971, Ligonier’s teaching fellowship consists of theologians, pastors, and scholars. Ligonier publishes Renewing Your Mind broadcasts, the Reformation Study Bible, Tabletalk magazine, books through Reformation Trust, and hundreds of teaching series. The ministry also offers an undergraduate degree program through Reformation Bible College. In addition, Ligonier hosts national and regional conferences, provides an online learning community through Ligonier Connect, streams 24-hour Christian Internet radio through RefNet, answers biblical and theological questions with Ask Ligonier, pursues numerous translation efforts in other countries, and makes available thousands of unique educational resources online at Ligonier.org.

CONTACT: Deborah Finnamore, Publicity Manager, 407-333-4244 ext. 1158, definnamore@ligonier.org

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. (August 31, 2020)—NavPress is pleased to announce that Renovaré Book Club has chosen How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig as one of four soul-shaping, Christ-centered books for its nine-month book club, which starts September 2020.

How to Pray is written to evoke a passion for prayer in everyone—the committed follower of Jesus as well as the skeptic and the scared. The enormous blessing of How to Pray is that it is accessible, full of surprising stories of answered prayer, and tremendously engaging. The basic idea is that prayer is a conversation between you and God. Pete Greig, one of the founders of the 24-7 prayer movement, demystifies and re-enchants prayer, helping readers to find prayer achievable and enjoyable and, ultimately, life-giving and life-changing.

“Last year, almost 2,000 people from 27 countries participated in a reading journey together as fellow pilgrims in the Renovaré Book Club. This year, we’re excited to see how the Lord will meet us in the pages of these books, particularly in the midst of such a disorienting time. We can’t think of a better—or more needed—book to begin with than Pete Greig’s How to Pray.”

Other books selected for the Renovaré Book Club are Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren, and A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law.

“Renovaré has long held a tradition of encouraging Christ-followers in spiritual formation. Richard Foster greatly helped me in the concept of prayer journaling. And so it is quite delightful that we at NavPress have been given this opportunity to partner with them, with Pete Grieg and countless people the world over in discovering How to Pray!” –Don Pape, Publisher, NavPress

The book club runs September 2020—May 2021 and is open to everyone. https://renovare.org/bookclub. For media information on How to Pray, visit https://mediacenter.tyndale.com/p/how-to-pray/9781641581882.

The mission of NavPress 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, life transformation, and help lead in the mission of making disciples.

[NASHVILLE, TENN., August 31, 2020—] Pursuing the “American Dream,” for many, means making a decent living at a comfortable job and saving for an early retirement, so you can spend your senior years checking exciting activities off your “bucket list” before you die. J.D. Greear, pastor, author and president of the Southern Baptist Convention, calls for a rejection of this typical notion in his new book, “What Are You Going to Do With Your Life?” (B&H Publishing, Oct. 13, 2020). Instead, Greear encourages readers to evaluate their lives in light of eternity and make them count.

In the book, Greear considers Jesus’ radical call to give one’s life away to the greatest cause of all. He shows readers the great value of viewing life from the perspective of eternity and following the Great Commission.

Instead of biding time through the “typical” comfortable existence that characterizes much of American Christians’ lives today, a more meaningful life is possible; Greear writes that “your days have the potential to echo through eternity.”

The book issues a practical challenge to readers who may ask, “Where exactly do I go from here?” Greear presents a number of ideas, but highlights an option to go with the North American and International Missions Boards’ Go2 initiative (go2years.net), which challenges every college student to spend the first two years after graduation living on mission as a part of a church planting team in North America or around the globe.

“We challenge our college graduates to let the mission of God be the most significant factor in determining where and how they pursue their careers,” Greear said. “Give us two years and we’ll change the world.”

Greear’s book is not just for students, however. He urges every member of this generation of Christians to take responsibility for this generation of souls, all over the world, and calls for each follower of Jesus to discover his or her purpose in that task. In the words of Count Zinzendorf, founder of one of the largest mission movements in history, he urges this generation of Christian to make their life’s goal to “Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten.”

“To trade the cause of Christ for material comforts is to sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the temporary,” Greear said. “When the inevitable moment of your transition into eternity comes, are you going to enter rich toward God, or completely impoverished because you were so focused on checking off your bucket list? The bottom line? Kick your bucket list.”

Greear emphasizes the need to submit every area of life to God’s purpose, including maintaining a solid work ethic in a secular profession, and considering whether one’s career can be pursued in a locale where unreached people groups live. He teaches that all Christians do have a “calling,” a purpose in the world as part of the Great Commission, not just those going into vocational Christian ministry. “The call to leverage your life for mission was included in the call to follow Jesus,” Greear says. “When you accepted Jesus, you accepted the call to mission.”

The theme of “What Are You Going to Do With Your Life?” is inspired by John Piper’s May 2000 sermon to college students when he stated, “don’t waste your life.” Greear was a student, and with many points to it a life-changing event.

“I had just returned from serving for two years as a missionary in Southeast Asia and had entered graduate school” Greear writes. “I was trying to figure out what God wanted with the rest of my life. I could feel the allures of comfort, stability, and the American Dream calling my name. Piper’s message hit my heart like a lightning bolt. … The idea is simple: Eternity is real. The gospel is true. People’s souls matter. Your life counts. Don’t waste it.”

Currently serving as the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention and as pastor of Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, N. C., Greear is author of numerous books, including  “Above All: The Gospel Is the Source of the Church’s Renewal” (2019) and “Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved” (2013), both published by B&H.

The congregation at Summit Church has grown from 400 to more than 12,000 in weekly attendance since Greear became pastor. Because of his belief in the power of the gospel, Greear has led the Summit to set a goal of planting more than 1,000 gospel-centered churches in the next 40 years.

Find out more online at www.whatareyougoingtodobook.com.

J.D. Greear is currently serving as the 62nd president of the Southern Baptist Convention and is pastor of one of the fastest-growing churches in North America, Summit Church, which is located in Raleigh-Durham, N. C. The congregation has grown from 400 to more than 12,000 in weekly attendance since Greear became pastor. Because of his belief in the power of the gospel, Greear has led the Summit to set a goal of planting more than 1,000 gospel-centered churches in the next 40 years.

Greear holds a PhD in systematic theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also lived and worked among Muslims in Southeast Asia for two years and wrote “Breaking the Islam Code.” He is the author of several other books, including “Above All: The Gospel Is the Source of the Church’s Renewal” (2019); “Not God Enough: Why Your Small God Leads to Big Problems” (2018); “Gaining by Losing: Why the Future Belongs to Churches That Send” (2015); “Gospel: Recovering the Power that Made Christianity Revolutionary” (2011); “Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart: How to Know for Sure You Are Saved” (2013); and “Jesus, Continued … Why the Spirit Inside You Is Better Than Jesus Beside You” (2014).

Greear lives with his wife, Veronica, and four children in Raleigh, N.C.

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

Santa Rosa, CA – Janet Kobobel Grant, founder and president of Books & Such Literary Management, announced on August 31, 2020 that Barb Roose, national speaker and author, will join the agency as a literary agent.

Janet Grant says, “I’ve had my eye on Barb as a potential agent for more than a year. I knew that her ability to relate easily to others and her warmth and approachability would serve her well. Her breadth of friendships with other authors, her previous success as a sales rep for a major industry, and her personal knowledge of the ups and downs of being an author added fuel to my enthusiasm for her in this new role. Our conversations about being an agent with Books & Such have left me impressed with her perceptivity and astute questions.”

With experience as an award-winning pharmaceutical sales representative and executive leader in the megachurch environment, Barb embraces the challenges and opportunities that agenting in Christian publishing offers. “Not only do I have the chance to join one of the most respected agencies in the Christian publishing industry, but I also look forward to increasing the representation and opportunities for people of color in publishing.”

Books & Such Literary Management was founded in 1996. From the onset, Books & Such broke new ground, being among the first agencies to serve the Christian market—and the first for that market headed by a woman. The agency’s tagline—Distinguishing Literature—conveys the spirit of the group of six agents. Books & Such’s focus remains on high-quality writing and manuscripts that make important contributions to society’s ongoing conversations.

“My heartbeat in life is to help others achieve their goals,” Barb says. “I know what it’s like to wonder if someone like me could publish a book. I’m ready to partner with publishers and authors to offer marketable, well-crafted books that inspire others.”

Barb will represent both adult fiction and nonfiction with an emphasis on nonfiction.

Books & Such Literary Management

(Nashville, Tenn.) Aug. 25, 2020—The Jesus Calling Podcast has officially surpassed five million downloads, Thomas Nelson announced today. Lauren Akins, philanthropist, author, mother and wife of multi-platinum entertainer Thomas Rhett, will appear as the special guest to commemorate the milestone. Her episode will air Sept. 17.

Akins is the author of the recently released book, Live in Love: Growing Together Through Life’s Changes. In it, she shows readers what it takes to live in love, stay in love, and grow together. Akins has been reading Jesus Calling for many years and has used it to navigate the busy moments of her life to strengthen her faith and prayer life.

“ I love Jesus Calling,” Akins said. “It has been something that I have been reading for at least 10 years. I got my first Jesus Calling, just like a little pocket book, and I carried it with me everywhere I went. And if I was having a busy day or just needed to have a quick moment with the Lord…having that nearby would always jump start whatever conversation I was wanting to have, or just to have a little God wink in my day and just a conversation starter with Him.”

The Jesus Calling Podcast, which originally debuted in 2016, has seen continuous growth in downloads since it launched. Originally launched as an audio-only podcast, it has since expanded to include video podcasts and special series on social media, including Jesus Calling: Peace for Everyday Life, featuring high-caliber guests from various backgrounds. From WWE wrestlers and Olympic gymnasts, to pastors, musicians, and everyday readers, recent guests have included Rev Run, ABC News’ Linsey Davis, Evander Holyfield, Cyntoia Brown-Long, Colton Underwood, Kristin Chenoweth, and many others.

“We are thrilled to celebrate this milestone,” said Michael Aulisio, Vice President of Marketing for the Children’s & Gift Books Group at HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “As the Jesus Calling team finds new ways to communicate with our audience, especially during our unpredictable times, we strive to deliver inspirational content to new and established readers. People need faith and hope more than ever, and we are glad that the podcast can help bring some peace and encouragement to listeners.”

The Jesus Calling podcast was created as a result of the success of the bestselling daily devotional, Jesus Calling, which has sold more than 30 million units since it was published in 2004. The podcast, available on iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, and other podcasting platforms, features stories from readers of Jesus Calling and illustrates how spending time with the devotional has made a difference in their lives.

Nik Wallenda, acrobat, aerialist, skydiver, and the man who crossed Times Square and the Grand Canyon on a tightrope without a safety net, is also featured on the episode. In the interview, he talks about his new book, Facing Fear: Step Out in Faith and Rise Above What’s Holding You Back (Thomas Nelson, Sept. 15, 2020). Facing Fear centers on Wallenda’s experiences as a member of his family’s circus act, The Flying Wallendas, and touches on how everyone can face and overcome the fears and anxieties that hold us back.

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 multiples formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Stefanie Schroeder, Publicity Director, Gift Books, 615.902.1722  Stefanie.schroeder@harpercollins.com