Ada, Mich. (May 11, 2021)—On Thursday, May 6, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the winners of the 2021 Christian Book Awards. Baker Books author Sheila Walsh was named the winner in the Young People’s Literature category for her book Praying Girls Devotional (Baker Books; ISBN 9781540900678; Ebook ISBN 9781493426850; $16.99).

The Praying Girls Devotional, which was created after the success of Sheila’s book Praying Women, invites young girls to experience the incredible power of prayer through a 60-day devotional that will help shape their hearts and grow their faith.

Sheila Walsh is a powerful communicator, Bible teacher, and bestselling author with more than 5 million books sold. She is the author of It’s Okay Not to Be Okay, Praying Women, and the award-winning Gigi, God’s Little Princess. She is cohost of LIFE Today with James and Betty Robison, with more than 100 million potential viewers each day. Walsh is a popular speaker and Bible teacher around the world. She lives in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, Barry, and their two pups, Tink and Maggie. They have one son, Christian, who is in graduate school. You can find her at www.SheilaWalsh.com.

Editorial director of Baker Books, Rebekah Guzman, stated, “We are thrilled to be partnered with Sheila and to see her work recognized in this significant way.”

In addition to the Christian Book Awards, ECPA also featured industry honors and sales milestones. The 40-Day Sugar Fast (Baker Books; ISBN 9780801094576; Ebook ISBN 9781493419272; $14.99) by Wendy Speake and The Manual to Manhood (Revell; ISBN 9780800722296; Ebook ISBN 9781441234575; $15.99) by Jonathan Catherman were recipients of the Bronze Award, with over 100,000 copies sold.

Since 1978, the Christian Book Award program has recognized the highest quality of Christian books and is the oldest and most prestigious award in the religious publishing industry. This year, ECPA announced the winners in twelve categories based on their excellence in content, literary quality, design, and impact. ECPA president, Stan Jantz, said, “Congratulations to all the winning authors and their publishers for producing these outstanding titles. In a year of uncertainty and turmoil, readers turned in record numbers to Christian books.” For a complete list of winners, please visit https://rushtopress.org/edition/for-immediate-release-may-6-2021/.

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. We publish titles for lay Christians on topics such as discipleship, apologetics, spirituality, relationships, marriage, parenting, and the intersection of Christianity and culture. We also publish books and ministry resources for pastors and church leaders, concentrating on topics such as preaching, worship, pastoral ministries, counseling, biblical reference, and leadership.

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

Ten titles honored as finalists

Nashville, Tenn. (May 10, 2021) – HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) today congratulates its five 2021 Christian Book Award winners. These awards have been presented annually since 1978 by the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA). In lieu of an in-person event, this year marked the second virtual awards ceremony, which took place on May 6, 2021, to recognize the best Christian products of the year in 12 categories.

The winning titles from HCCP are:

• Audio – Suffer Strong written and narrated by Katherine and Jay Wolf produced by Gabe Wicks/HarperCollins Christian Publishing – (Zondervan)
• Bibles – NIV Study Bible Fully Revised Edition – (Zondervan)
• Bible Reference Works – The New Testament in its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature and Theology of the First Christians written by N.T. Wright and Michael Bird – (Zondervan Academic)
• Devotion and Gift – How Great Is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions About God and Science written by Louie Giglio – (Tommy Nelson)
• New Author – Laughing Through the Ugly Cry…and Finding Unstoppable Joy written by Dawn Barton – (Thomas Nelson)

In addition to the five award winners, HCCP had 10 additional titles that were finalists in nine out of 12 categories.

These finalists are:

• Bibles – NET Full Notes Edition Bible – (Thomas Nelson)
• Biography and Memoir – I Am Restored written by Lecrae – (Zondervan)
• Biography and Memoir – The History of Apologetics: A Biographical and Methodological Introduction written by Benjamin K. Forrest, Josh D. Chatraw, Alister E. McGrath – (Zondervan Academic)
• Christian Living – Dangerous Prayers written by Craig Groeschel – (Zondervan)
• Devotion and Gift – More Power to You: Declarations to Break Free from Fear and Take Back Your Life written by Margaret Feinberg – (Zondervan)
• Faith and Culture – The House that Love Built written by Sarah Jackson with Scott Sawyer – (Zondervan)
• Faith and Culture – White Lies written by Daniel Hill – (Zondervan)
• New Author – The Fight to Flourish written by Jennie Lusko – (Thomas Nelson)
• Young People’s Literature – Goliath Must Fall for Young Readers: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants written by Louie Giglio with Laura Fortner – (Tommy Nelson)
• Young People’s Literature – Loved and Cherished: 100 Devotions for Girls written by Lynn Cowell with Michelle Nietert, M.A., LPC-S CSC – (Zonderkidz)

“We are honored to have 15 titles recognized by the 2021 Christian Book Awards,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HCCP. “Since March of last year, our readers have been experiencing the unprecedented challenges facing the world while in lock down – away from churches and community. I believe these books were published for such a time as this – to bring light and hope into a dark year. It is a privilege to have published them.”

In addition to the 2021 Christian Book Award recipients, HCCP also celebrates its longtime international bestselling author, Max Lucado, who was honored with the ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding writing contributions, both to the publishing industry and to society at large. He is only the fourth recipient of this prestigious award.  HCCP has represented Lucado for 31 of his 35-years as an author. He has impacted more than 145 million lives with his books, which are printed in 45 different languages and distributed throughout 80 countries.

For more information on this year’s winners and finalists please click here.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing
The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprint, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com and ChurchSource.com. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 20 million unique visitors each month. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

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

Bringing Together Leading Voices on What Can Be Done to Address Serious Cultural Issues Now

Adelphia, NJ – May 18, 2021 – 2020 put a spotlight on the inequities, systems of oppression, and deep division in our society. Much has been written that acknowledges and describes racial, political, religious, and other divides, but there is little practical information on what can be done about them. How to Heal Our Divides is a project that builds awareness and highlights organizations that are taking real action to address these issues and heal divides in effective and practical ways.

How to Heal Our Divides: A Practical Guide is an anthology with over thirty contributors who highlight organizations working to address racial, political, religious, and other forms of serious division. The book includes essays written by thought leaders Brian McLaren, Diana Butler Bass, Frank A. Thomas, Michael W. Waters, Shane Claiborne, Alexis Salvatierra, Parker J. Palmer, and many more! . Compiled and edited by Brian Allain and Adam Thomas, the book releases on Tuesday May 18, 2021.

Contributor Dr. Catherine Meeks, Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, said: “We appreciate the opportunity to participate in How to Heal Our Divides to help spread the word about the work of the many outstanding organizations featured in the book.” She describes the work of her organization as “providing tools and experiences that allow faith communities – and the larger community of individuals – to engage in dismantling racism through education, prayer, dialogue, pilgrimage, and spiritual formation.”

Parker J. Palmer, who also contributed to the book, is the Founder and Senior Partner Emeritus of the Center for Courage & Renewal. “I am happy to participate in How to Heal Our Divides to come alongside other organizations working with similar goals,” Palmer said. “For twenty-five years, the Center for Courage & Renewal has helped people reclaim the wholeness that is everyone’s birthright gift, so they can bring their identity and integrity more fully into their personal, vocational, and public lives.”

Seth Henderson, Program Manager at the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship and American Identity Program, offers “The Better Arguments Project is a national civic initiative created to help bridge divides – not by papering over those divides but by helping Americans have better arguments.   We appreciate the opportunity to participate in ‘How to Heal Our Divides’ to illuminate the many ways in which organizations are effectively working to improve our country’s civil discourse.”

“Jesus’ final prayer with his disciples (John 17) asked for one thing: that we his followers demonstrate a profound unity that will both convict and attract the watching world.  In this time of deep division, this book shows how to do exactly that,” said Philip Yancey, author of “What’s So Amazing About Grace.”

The book’s ISBN number is 9798745784286.

Additional organizations featured in the book include: Arrabon, Red Letter Christians, The Julian Way, Matthew 25 / Mateo 25, Peace Catalyst International, Telos, The Center for Native American Youth, and Vote Common Good.

In addition to the book, the “How to Heal Our Divides” project includes a website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube), podcast, and virtual bookstore.

Sponsors of the project include Writing for Your Life, Publishing in Color, and Compassionate Christianity.

You can learn more about the project at: https://howtohealourdivides.com/

For additional information contact Brian Allain at brian@howtohealourdivides.com. 

Hope Carpenter nearly destroyed her family, her church, and her ministry by living a double life, but then God did something miraculous. Out of her brokenness, He made something beautiful.

In THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DISASTER (FaithWords, May 4, 2021, ISBN: 9781546017486), Hope helps readers understand the lasting impact of childhood trauma and gives readers practical steps to uncovering the root of pain in their own lives. She shows how small decisions can lead to big changes, and helps readers find healing and wholeness in Scripture and prayer. Ultimately, readers will be led to hope, reconciliation, and true freedom.

As co-pastor of one of the nation’s largest megachurches, Hope Carpenter had perfected the roles of supportive wife, good mother, devoted worship leader, and dutiful homemaker. But inside, she was secretly ashamed, sad, and afraid. She didn’t know who she was, and she didn’t know how to ask for help without bringing down the whole façade. A series of bad choices led to multiple affairs; her husband kicked her out and announced from the pulpit of their church that their marriage was over.

“This book is raw and honest. It might make you flinch, and it might make you think less of me. That’s okay, because I’m no longer concerned with living for the accolades of others. This book will challenge you. You’re going to have to stop trying so hard to convince people that everything is great and take a good, hard look at the places deep inside you that maybe aren’t actually all that great. You’re going to make yourself vulnerable, and I know that can be scary. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.”

–THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DISASTER

Hope was sure her life was done. But in her lowest moments, something beautiful happened. God met her there, and, with a lot of hard work, time, and mountains of therapy, she started to understand the pain that had caused her to act out. She and her family faced their brokenness together, and in powerful acts of forgiveness only God could have arranged, they all found real breakthrough and healing. Ron and Hope rebuilt their marriage and their family, and their ministry thrives today.

Hope Carpenter is the cofounder of Redemption Church, a megachurch that started in Greenville, South Carolina. The church has satellite locations in San Jose, California; Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Dominican Republic. Redemption Greenville has weekly attendance in excess of 20,000 and the San Jose campus has approximately 6,000. Hope and her husband, Ron, live in San Jose, California and Greenville, SC.

FAITHWORDS

On Sale Date: MAY 04 2021

US/Can: $26.00 (T) / $33.00 (T)

Format/Sub: HARDCOVER BOOK

ISBN-13: 9781546017486

(Ada, Michigan) April 30, 2021 – Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that Jonathan Catherman’ s The Manual to Manhood has sold more than 380, 000 copies since its release in April 2014.

The Manual to Manhood: How to Cook the Perfect Steak, Change a Tire, Impress a Girl & 97 Other Skills You Need to Survive is the go-to resource for young men learning to be men – not only with skills, but with strong moral character. With great illustrations and step-by-step instructions for almost everything a guy needs to know; this book shows readers how to do everything they need to be a confident and capable man.

“The way Jonathan encourages, inspires, and provides tools for upcoming generations to thrive is admirable, and his passion is palpable,” said Kelsey Bowen, acquisitions editor for Revell. “We’re honored to be the publisher of this incredible resource for young men, and to continue partnering with Jonathan and his wife, Erica, in their good work on more books for young men and women—and their parents and mentors. The impact of this work will be felt for decades to come.”

Jonathan Catherman is also the coauthor of the bestseller The Manual to Middle School with his sons, Reed and Cole, and The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Life and The Girls’ Guide to Conquering Middle School with his wife, Erica. He most recently authored Becoming the Next Great Generation and Guiding the Next Great Generation in 2020. An award-winning cultural strategist and leading education trainer specializing in the character and leadership development of youth, Jonathan speaks worldwide about the principles and strengths that empower greatness in children, teens, and young adults. Jonathan and his family live in North Carolina where they founded and direct the 1M Mentoring Foundation. Learn more at www.TheCathermans.com.

Contact: Kelli B. Smith, (616) 676-9185 x394  ksmith@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Iron Stream Media is pleased to announce personnel changes as the company grows and to enable us to better serve our authors.

Suzanne Kuhn became Associate Publisher of Iron Stream Media effective April 19, 2021. Suzanne will continue working with the Brookstone Creative Group and Brookstone Publishing Group teams. She is passionate as ever about helping creatives hone their message, create great content, publish books they can be proud of, and one-on-one coaching. Suzanne brings more than thirty years of industry experience including publishing, marketing and retail. For twenty-two years, Suzanne worked closely with her husband in his co-owned independent bookstores. Before launching SuzyQ and subsequently Brookstone Creative Group and Brookstone Publishing, Suzanne worked with New York Times best-selling author Karen Kingsbury. She lives with her family in Virginia.

Susan Cornell is being promoted to Senior Editor of Iron Stream Media effective immediately. Susan has twenty years of experience in publishing, serving many of those years as chief production editor for Abingdon Press. Her work covers numerous genres including adult fiction and nonfiction and academic book series such as The Bicentennial Edition of the Works of John Wesley and The Abingdon Old Testament Commentary. She lives with her family in Nashville, TN.

With these changes, Ramona Richards will be stepping back into an editorial role as she begins her transition into retirement. She offers this note: “One of the great joys of working in Christian publishing is the frequency of being able to support friends. Suzanne Kuhn and I have known each other for many years, and I am thrilled that she is joining the ISM team as associate publisher. It’s been a role I’ve loved, and I cannot think of anyone more capable or knowledgeable to carry it forward. Likewise, my friendship with Susan Cornell started when we worked together at Abingdon Press, and I have always been impressed and encouraged by her depth of knowledge and dedication to each project she tackles. Our friendship has grown beyond that of work colleagues, and I am honored that she took my advice about joining ISM. To have both of these women involved in my transition into retirement from Christian publishing is a true honor. I am grateful for the time I have had at Iron Stream Media—it is literally one of the best teams I’ve worked with in more than 40 years in this business—and I appreciate their support of me in the past, now, and in the days to come.” – Ramona Richards

[NASHVILLE, TENN., May 5, 2021—] B&H Publishing is proud to announce the forthcoming release of “Holier Than Thou: How God’s Holiness Helps Us Trust Him” (August 2021, B&H), the much-anticipated second trade book from bestselling author, Bible teacher and speaker Jackie Hill Perry.

In the book, Perry aims to help readers discover the reason many Christians don’t trust God: they misunderstand his holiness. Perry walks readers through various Scripture passages, attempting to “shake the dust off of holy” as many Christians have come to know it and reveal holy for what it really is. With a foreword penned by popular pastor and author Charlie Dates, Perry’s goal is to show readers that God’s being “holier than thou” is actually the best news in the world, and it’s the key to trusting him.

“As common as the term ‘holy’ is for most Christians, there is still a need for more contemporary resources around the topic,” Perry said. “I’m grateful that B&H has given me the time and opportunity to dig deep into God’s nature as clearly envisioned in his Word so that I can transfer what I’ve seen to other Christians like me, Christians that want to love the holy, holy, holy God and become more like him too.”

Perry’s first book, “Gay Girl, Good God” was No. 98 on the Evangelical Christian Publishers’ Association (ECPA)’s Top Selling Books of 2018 list, received the First-Time Author award from The Gospel Coalition’s Book Awards for 2018 and was featured in international media outlets such as “The 700 Club,” Refinery29, “Christianity Today,” FamilyLife Radio, “RELEVANT Magazine” and many others.

Perry and her husband Preston co-host the top-charting podcast “Thirty Minutes with the Perrys” and have their own YouTube show “With the Perrys,” with over 85K subscribers after the first season.

Perry also is an internationally-sought after speaker, headlining top conferences and gatherings such as The Gospel Coalition’s National Conference, Lifeway Women Live, IF: Gathering, Propel Women’s Activate and at Harvard University and other universities. Her work has been featured in “The Washington Times,” “The 700 Club,” Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition, and her poems and teachings have reached nearly 2.5 million hits on YouTube. She is signed to Humble Beast Records and her most recent album, “Crescendo,” released in May 2018.

“B&H could not be more excited to steward this book alongside Jackie Hill Perry,” said Mary Wiley, vice president of marketing at B&H. “Jackie’s writing is unmatched in its artistry, putting the character of God

on display in every sentence. We look forward to hearing how engaging this conversation about God’s holiness moves readers to deeper commitment to him.”

“Holier Than Thou” is now available for pre-order anywhere books are sold. For more information, visit holierthanthoubook.net.

Jackie Hill Perry is an author, poet, Bible teacher and artist. Since becoming a Christian, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can. At home she is a wife to Preston and mommy to Eden, Autumn and Sage.

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.

Honoring 35 Years Of Publishing With More Than 145 Million Products In Print

Lucado’s books are distributed in 80 countries and translated into 45 languages worldwide

(Nashville, TN) May 6, 2021—Bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado was awarded the 2021 Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Pinnacle Award today for the outstanding contribution of his writing, both to the publishing industry and to society at large.

Lucado is only the fourth recipient of this honor from ECPA, that recognizes the outstanding contribution by an author or book. It was presented at the ECPA Awards Celebration on May 6 at 1:00 pm CST, via webinar at the conclusion of the ECPA Leadership Summit.

Max Lucado‘s career highlights are unprecedented in Christian publishing. Lucado’s products have exceeded sales of more than 145 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 forthcoming title, You Were Made for This Moment, will release in September 2021 from Thomas Nelson. Lucado’s books regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today. His writing has also been featured in Bible studies, Bible commentaries, songs, greeting cards, feature films, and even plush toys. Twenty-three of his titles have sold more than 1 million copies.

“It is an honor for HarperCollins Christian Publishing to represent Max and his collection of life-changing, God-centered works for the past 31 years,” says Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO. “God’s grace, mercy, and unconditional love has been discovered by millions of people because of Max’s devotion and love for his Lord and Savior. I join my colleagues at HCCP and the publishing industry in offering our sincerest thanks for his many contributions and congratulations on this amazing recognition.”

As both an author with more than 35 years of published material and a pastor who has been in full-time ministry since 1977, Max decided to turn his years of content into an encouraging ministry during the COVID-19 crisis. 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 1.6 million downloads in the first ten months.

ECPA has presented a total of 43 additional industry awards to Max Lucado titles — including 16 Christian Book Awards® (including Gold Medallion), 9 Platinum Sales Awards (for over 1 million sold), and 18 Gold Sales Awards (for over 500,000 sold).  He has won the ECPA Christian Book of the Year® three times.

“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 early indicators that this was a special author.”

Past recipients of the ECPA Pinnacle Award include in 2020 Stormie Omartian (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).

Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and bestselling author with more than 145 million products in print that have been translated in 45 languages and distributed in 80 countries worldwide. Max entered the ministry in 1978. 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. He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, and “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest. Max currently serves as Teaching Minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. Max and Denalyn live nearby in Central Texas. They have three grown daughters, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren. Visit his website at www.MaxLucado.com.

SOCIALS:
Facebook.com/MaxLucado
Instagram.com/MaxLucado
Twitter.com/MaxLucado
YouTube.com/MaxLucadoOfficial

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

HarperCollins Christian Publishing
The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprint, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com and ChurchSource.com. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 20 million unique visitors each month. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

Contact: Erica Smith, Marketing Manager, 615.902.2176  erica.smith@harpercollins.com

WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New was recognized as a Young People’s Literature finalist in the 2021 Christian Book Award® program. Winners were announced on May 6 during a special online broadcast of the ECPA Awards Celebration.

The Christian Book Award® program has recognized the absolute highest quality in Christian books since 1978. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and impact, the Christian Book Award® program is the oldest and among the most prestigious awards in the religious publishing industry.

WonderFull by best-selling author Marty Machowski, teaches young readers to use the whole book of the Psalms to pray, worship, and find help through the challenges life is certain to bring. Machowski doesn’t simply help kids become familiar with the Psalms; he helps them apply what they are learning to their own lives, which is a gift that will continue to deepen their walk with Christ as they mature.

“WonderFull is designed to help children grow in knowing and loving God through reading the Psalms and learning to use them to guide worship and prayer,” Machowski writes. “It is my hope that in this journey of learning to apply the Psalms to life through prayer you will be amazed at how they connect together. While each psalm carries its own message, its connection with the psalms around it add to the story.”

To help relate the Psalms to their lives, Machowski weaves a fictional story through the book as an introduction to each of the five books of Psalms. Readers will meet Oliver and his grandfather, who spend time each day sitting in front of an old oak tree, reading through the book of Psalms together. As Oliver’s curiosity about God evolves into a deep and abiding faith, his grandfather continues to read to him and pray with him, discovering together the beauty of the Psalms.

Even when Oliver’s grandpa is no longer able to read with him, Oliver continues to cherish the Psalms—especially in times of trial—and he imagines what it will be like to see God face to face and his grandfather again in heaven.

“The Psalms are a guide for how to talk to God about hopes, fears, troubles, frustrations, disappointments, and gratitude,” shares Machowski. “As you share this book with your child, you will be starting them on a lifelong journey of learning to talk to God about everything and receiving his comfort, conviction, forgiveness, help, and hope in return. The steadfast love of the Lord never fails!”

With prompts for prayer and discussion, short, gospel-focused devotions, and “A Closer Look” challenges, children will be guided to find Jesus in every psalm—a skill that will continue to develop throughout their lives. A “Going Deeper” appendix at the end of the book leads readers through a more in depth study of twenty-five selected Psalms.

WonderFull: Ancient Psalms Ever New
By Marty Machowski
September 28, 2020 / Retail Price: $29.99
Print ISBN 978-1-948130-74-5
Religion / Christian Education / Children & Youth

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for thirty years. Machowski leads Promise Kingdom, the gospel-centered children’s ministry of Covenant Fellowship. He is also the Executive Editor for Children’s Resources at New Growth Press.

He is the author of a number of family devotionals, curriculums (including the Gospel Story for Kids), children’s books and parenting titles. His latest releases include WonderFull, Brave and Bold, and God Made Me for Heaven. 

Machowski and his wife, Lois, have six children and several grandchildren. They reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Learn more at www.martymachowski.com. He can also be found on Twitter (@MartyMachowski).

WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church by Paul David Tripp has won the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s (ECPA) 2021 Christian Book Award® in the Ministry Resource category.

In Lead (Crossway, September 2020), Tripp offers twelve gospel-centered leadership principles for both aspiring leaders and weathered pastors as they navigate the challenging waters of pastoral ministry. This resource shows the vital role that the leadership community plays in molding leaders.

“The church is in desperate need of a leadership community whose function is not just structured to achieve with efficiency but is more deeply shaped by the comforts and calls of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” writes Tripp. “As in every other relationship of human life, if you look at your leadership community through the lens of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it will transform your expectations, your commitments, your behavior, and the way you respond to difficulty. It is not just nebulous biblical talk to say that the gospel must be our model for the formation and function of the leadership community that is to guide the church. The focus of this book is the specific call of the gospel on the way we think about leadership.”

“What a joy to see Paul Tripp’s book, Lead, recognized in this way,” notes Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing. “I cannot count the number of people who have told me how refreshing and recalibrating this book was for their own ministry. We live in a day of profound challenges for leading well within the church, and we pray that God would continue to use this book to establish healthy leadership communities for the good of God’s people and for the fame of God’s name.”

The ECPA Christian Book Award® program awards winners in twelve categories, including Bibles, Biographies & Memoirs, Faith & Culture, and Ministry Resources. The program “recognizes the highest quality in Christian books and Bibles and is among the oldest and most prestigious awards programs in the religious publishing industry.”1

Paul David Tripp (DMin, Westminster Theological Seminary) is a pastor, award-winning author, and international conference speaker. He has written numerous books, including the best seller New Morning Mercies. His nonprofit ministry exists to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. Tripp lives in Philadelphia with his wife, Luella, and they have four grown children.  paultripp.com @PaulTripp  facebook.com/pdtripp

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

Contact: Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.org, crossway.org

 

1. “About,” Christian Book Award, ECPA, 2021, accessed May 6, 2021, https://christianbookawards.dcom/about.html.