IN THESE TURBULANT TIMES, JOEL OSTEEN TEACHES HOW TO EMPTY OUT THE NEGATIVE, AND CREATE A LIFE FILLED WITH JOY AND PEACE!

#1 New York Times bestselling author and the Senior Pastor of America’s largest church, Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, invites readers to let go of the negative and focus on the positive to make room for JOY in his new book, Empty Out the Negative: Make Room for More Joy, Greater Confidence, and New Levels of Influence (FaithWords/Hachette Book Group, November 10, 2020).  More than 10 million viewers watch his weekly inspirational messages through television, and over 60 million people connect with Joel through his digital platforms worldwide

We often go through life without even realizing all of the negative thoughts we have that are weighing us down until we feel paralyzed by Guilt…Resentment…Doubt…Worry. All can take their toll, mentally and physically. Once we allow these things in, they begin taking up all of the space for the good things that should belong there. Imagine your life is like a container. You were created to be filled with joy, peace, confidence, creativity. But if you allow worry, shame, and other negativity in, it pushes out good thoughts.

“The reason some people are not young and strong—I don’t mean just young physically, but young in spirit, vibrant and passionate about life—is because they’re filled with the negative. Worry will make you weak. Living stressed out will make you old, give you

Empty Out the Negative wrinkles, and take your passion. Being bitter, angry, and resentful will shorten your life..” —Joel Osteen, Empty Out the Negative

You control what you think about, what you choose to allow in. Every morning when you wake up, you need to empty out anything negative from the day before. Empty Out the Negative will help you disregard the ridiculing voices in your head and fill your spirit with positivity.

Santa Rosa, CA – Books & Such Literary Management authors were well represented among the select novelists who received Christy Awards during the November 12, 2020 virtual awards event. Of the nine category winners, three were Books & Such authors. Kristy Cambron’s novel, The Painted Castle (represented by agent Rachelle Gardner), received a Christy Award in the Historical Romance category. Robin W. Pearson (represented by agent Cynthia Ruchti) took top honors in the First Novel category for A Long Time Comin’. The evening was capped by the announcement that Books & Such author Amanda Dykes’ Whose Waves These Are (represented by agent Wendy Lawton), was not only a Christy winner in the General Fiction category, but was also named Book of the Year for 2020.

In total, Books & Such Literary Management authors occupied 9 of the 29 finalist positions, which included these winners of Christy Awards.

Book of the Year author Amanda Dykes says, “If I told you the story behind the months leading up to the writing of this book. . . if I told you I was ready to lay down my pen for good, that words would not come. . . that my heart felt too broken to offer anything, and yet God somehow allowed me to be a part of this story by letting that brokenness give way to a story of hope. . . you’d see that ‘impossible is where the miracles happen’ was my anthem. I am grateful beyond words to the ECPA and the Christy Award program for this very deep honor, and pray that it might help this story of healing and redemption—Whose Waves These Are—bolster hearts this year.”

The Christy Award®, named for the celebrated and beloved novel Christy, written by Catherine Marshall, honors excellence in Christian fiction.

Books & Such Literary Management was founded in 1996. 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.  Books & Such Literary Management

Ada, Mich. (November 13, 2020)—On Thursday, November 12, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the 2020 Christy Award winners in a virtual webcast. Three Baker Publishing Group authors were recipients of this prestigious award including Amanda Dykes, whose debut novel Whose Waves These Are (Bethany House; ISBN 9780764232664; E-book ISBN 9781493418787; $14.99) received the 2020 Christy Book of the Year Award. Whose Waves These Are also won a Christy Award in the General Fiction category.

The powerhouse father-daughter writing team of Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker also received a Christy Award in the Mystery/Suspense/Thriller category for their book The Girl behind the Red Rope (Revell; ISBN 9780800739034; E-book ISBN 9781493419562; $14.99).

The Christy Award® was established in 1999 as a way to honor excellence, imagination, and creativity for works of fiction written from a Christian worldview. ECPA assumed administration and ownership of The Christy Awards in 2017 and continues to work toward growing the unique opportunity of fiction in the Christian publishing industry. For the complete list of winners, please visit https://www.christyawards.com/finalists-winners.html.

Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 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

CAROL STREAM, Ill.—November 13, 2020—Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to announce that two Tyndale fiction titles and authors have won 2020 Christy Awards (ChristyAwards.com). The Christy Award celebrates excellence in the art of Christian fiction and honors the power of faith in story.

On November 12, 2020, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced the winners of the 2020 Christy Award in an online gala, hosted by award-winning novelist Chris Fabry.

Tyndale House Publishers’ authors and titles were awarded as follows:

• First Novel:  A Long Time Comin’, Robin W. Pearson
• Historical:  The Medallion, Cathy Gohlke

Jan Stob, senior director of Tyndale fiction, shared, “We are thrilled that Cathy Gohlke and Robin W. Pearson have been recognized with a Christy Award in their respective categories. We are honored to publish these talented women, who are skilled at telling poignant stories that reflect God’s light and love.”

For more information on Tyndale fiction titles, please visit tyndalefiction.com.

The Christy Award® is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999, and is named for Catherine Marshall’s novel Christy, which has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 1967. ECPA assumed ownership and administration of the award in 2017 to focus and grow the unique opportunity of fiction in Christian publishing. ChristyAwards.com

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international nonprofit 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. ECPA.org

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Ada, Mich. (October 27, 2020)—Lisa Sharon Harper has signed a new contract with Brazos Press to publish Fortune. Brazos has exclusive world rights and the project was agented with Howard Yoon of the Ross Yoon Agency. The book is slated to release in the fall of 2021.

Thanks to DNA testing and archives, Lisa Sharon Harper has spent three decades learning about her family history, discovering the hopes and dreams of ancestors whose legacies would otherwise be lost to history. In Fortune, Harper introduces readers to various family members who spanned 10 generations of U.S. history to highlight how their lives and futures were shaped by various oppressive public policies. Their stories become a window into ways that American ideas, customs, and laws oppressed millions of people of African and indigenous descent; spanning the Northeast, the South and the Caribbean islands. Harper connects their stories to the biblical concept of reparation, which is fundamentally about repair. Harper argues that reparation is not only about a dollar amount or figuring out which individuals to blame, but about an entire community or nation repenting of the “fundamental decision to order society according to racial human hierarchy.” Beyond naming the problem, Harper uses the final section of the book to cast a vision of truth-telling, repentance, and peace-building. In this way, Fortune is both memoir and prophetic teaching, deeply personal but also accessible to anyone interested in addressing the legacy of racism in the U.S.

Lisa Sharon Harper is a leading Christian speaker and activist. With a master’s in human rights from Columbia University, she served as chief church engagement officer for Sojourners, where she led campaigns on immigration reform and racial justice. She is founder of Freedom Road, LLC, a consulting group dedicated to helping groups do justice more justly. Harper organizes the annual Ruby Woo Pilgrimage for Christian women. Her work has been featured in the New Yorker, Relevant magazine, the Huffington Post, and on Rick Warren’s website, PurposeDriven.com. Her leadership has been honored by the Center for American Progress, La Raza, and the National Black Women’s Roundtable.

“Fortune feels like the book that Lisa Sharon Harper was born to write,” said Katelyn Beaty, acquisitions editor for Brazos Press. “Our team is honored to partner with Harper to deliver this urgent call to remember our nation’s sins rightly so that we can collectively work for repair. We anticipate that this book will bear much fruit in the church, nation, and world.”

Brazos Press publishes books that creatively draw upon the riches of the Christian story to deepen our understanding of God’s world and inspire faithful reflection and engagement.

Contact: Shelly MacNaughton, (616)450-5560 smacnaughton@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Dr. Ralph West, Dr. Charlie Dates, Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, Dr. Cynthia Hale Among Founding Members 

BELLINGHAM, Wash., November 9, 2020 – Logos Bible Software, the best-selling digital Bible study tool preferred by the world’s leading scholars and created by Faithlife, today announced the formation of the Kerusso Collective, 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.

“The Kerusso Collective has been a vision Faithlife has been working toward for over a year,” said Chauncey Allmond, Kerusso Collective spokesperson and Logos Bible Software national presenter. “There is a large population of Black church leaders using Logos yet we realized their voices are not fully represented in the digital Bible software. The formation of the Kerusso Collective is the first step in ensuring the diversity of our users is representative of the scholars and resources available in the software.”

The Kerusso Collective will include up to 15 scholars. Current members include:

• Dr. Ralph West, pastor of Church Without Walls in Houston, Texas, and author of “Uplook for a New Outlook,” “Living in the In-Between Times” and “Left Alone;”
• Dr. Charlie Dates, pastor of Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois, author of “Say It” and contributor to “Letters to a Birmingham Jail;”
• Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, pastor of Faithlife Central Bible Church in Inglewood, California, and author of “Walls Can Fall;”
• Dr. Cynthia Hale, senior pastor of Ray Hope Christian Church in Decatur, Georgia, author and award-winning women’s leader;
• Esau McCaulley, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and author of “Reading While Black”;
• Bishop Joseph Walker, senior leader of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and International Presiding Bishop in the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship; and
• Chauncey Allmond, national presenter of Logos Bible Software.

Logos Bible Software is the best-selling digital Bible study library that provides seminary-level resources and education without the cost of seminary tuition. Logos is the preferred study tool of numerous faith leaders, including Tim Keller, Matt Chandler, Kay Arthur, Beth Moore and John Piper, to name a few. Providing in-depth Greek and Hebrew dictionaries, thousands of Scripture commentaries and integrative study tools, Logos has equipped thousands of users to understand the Bible better.

“There is perhaps no better time in history than now for the launch of this outstanding board of faith leaders and the upcoming Logos library,” said Bob Pritchett, founder and president of Faithlife. “Better representation is something Faithlife has been improving for years, and we believe it is no coincidence that our country is coming to a head against racism during this historic release.”

The Kerusso Collective will meet throughout 2020 in order to provide input for an anticipated release of a new Logos library of Black resources in the first quarter of 2021.

“It is an honor and privilege to collaborate and gain direction from these outstanding leaders as we move forward with the launch of our new, and I believe, greatest library yet,” said Scott Lindsey, executive director at Faithlife. “I know that these individuals will lead Faithlife and all of our users toward greater understanding of God and a life walked with Him as we hear from a diverse array of voices with astute hearts for the Lord and racial reconciliation.”

To learn more about the Kerusso Collective, visit www.logos.com/kerusso-collective.

About Logos
Logos Bible Software is Faithlife’s premier product and the preferred Bible study tool for pastors, scholars, students and lifelong learners worldwide who want to dive deeper into the intricacies of God’s Word. 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/.

About Faithlife
Faithlife, based in Bellingham, Washington, with offices in Arizona and Mexico, has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for more than 25 years. Since 1992, Faithlife has developed a full suite of church management tools, academic study resources, smart digital books, and Logos Bible Software, all part of its integrated ministry platform that automates tasks and simplifies workflows. For more information, visit Faithlife.com.

Bible League International’s Executive Vice President of Scripture Engagement, Lee Carter, is pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Wright as its PUBLISHER. Steven comes with 35 years’ experience in a broad range of publishing, training, and marketing roles in ministries dedicated to Scripture engagement, both here in the US as well as Canada. He has worked with Christian Bookstores, Scripture Press, David C Cook, Alpha International and has been an integral help in Bible League for the past 5 years serving in Production and Logistics. Steven will lead our publishing efforts to provide excellent Scripture engagement materials and training curriculum in different types of media to serve churches worldwide. We feel honored to have him and his experience helping us to achieve the ministry God has set before us as we move into our 83^rd year.

Bible League International’s mission is to find creative ways of engaging everyone in God’s Word. We provide training, Bibles and Bible studies so that believers around the world are equipped and ready for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting in their contexts. Bible League International’s vision: “Our desire  is to see thriving local churches around the world offering salvation, life change, and hope through biblically based training and resources that meet the spiritual, moral and social needs of their communities.” We accomplish this through global training, church planting, scripture engagement tools and biblical literacy.

Nashville, October 2020 – Marking over thirty-five years of stellar service with The United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH), Tammy Gaines will retire on December 31, 2020.

Named Chief Financial Officer in August 2014, Ms. Gaines has held leadership positions that touched every aspect of the UMPH operation, starting in May 1985 as the internal auditor and advancing steadily to assume ever greater responsibilities. She held numerous positions that included heading up the Abingdon Press division, overseeing Cokesbury direct sales, and directing all business operations.

Concurrent with serving as a senior leader of UMPH, Ms. Gaines has held key volunteer leadership positions at First United Methodist Church in Franklin, TN and with the Tennessee Annual Conference. Her professional involvements include membership on the Board of Directors of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and previously serving as its treasurer.

Ms. Gaines played instrumental roles as UMPH adapted to dramatic changes in the church and in the religious publishing industry, urging the embrace of new technologies; incorporating state of the art business practices; assuring compliance with evolving accounting requirements; driving innovations in how UMPH interacts with and serves customers; helping to guide planning for the move from UMPH’s headquarters of over fifty years to new offices; and most recently developing processes and solutions as hundreds of staff transitioned to working remotely.

“Through rapid and sweeping cultural and business changes over more than three decades,

Tammy has been a model leader, acting with integrity, foresight, imagination, utmost professionalism, and compassion. Her influence and contributions have been priceless,” said Brian K. Milford, President & Publisher.

Tammy Gaines’ strong commitments to the mission of The United Methodist Church, her passion for excellence in customer service, and the high standards of professionalism she has exhibited have inspired and set the pace for scores of staff members over her long and storied career.

Ms. Gaines and her husband Mike plan to continue to reside in the Nashville area.

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Nov. 3, 2020 — Faithlife, makers of integrated church technology products including Logos Bible Software, and Servant Keeper, creator of the church management software Servant Keeper, announced today a new, exciting partnership that will see Servant Keeper join the Faithlife suite of church tools, becoming part of a revolutionary, integrated ministry platform.

“We are thrilled to have Servant Keeper join the Faithlife family and provide our customers with more tools and resources to help their ministry efforts,” said Bill Newman, former owner of Servant Keeper. “Faithlife shares our vision to be partners in ministry with church leaders and make their day-to-day work more efficient. This change comes at a critical time when the world needs more quality ministry tools than ever before that are simple, effective and convenient.”

Since 1994, Servant Keeper has provided its church customers with simple, user-friendly software that streamlines many tedious church administration tasks including attendance tracking, emailing and small group organization. The Servant Keeper software helps users easily engage in church management and delegate it to appropriate church leaders.

By joining Faithlife, Servant Keeper becomes part of Faithlife’s extensive suite of quality technology tools to assist church leaders in managing day-to-day operations as well as create deeper connection and discipleship among their congregation. As part of the Faithlife family, Servant Keeper users will have access to add on any of Faithlife’s offerings, which include Faithlife Proclaim church presentation software, Faithlife Sites, Faithlife Media, Faithlife Sermons, Faithlife TV, Logos Bible Software, and more.

“It’s an honor to bring Servant Keeper and its users into the Faithlife family, and welcome the team that built it to Faithlife,” said Bob Pritchett, Faithlife founder and CEO. “Their decades of experience working with church leaders will be an invaluable asset to us as we continue to produce tools to help people spend less time tinkering with technology and more time in the ministry they were called to do. The expertise of the Servant Keeper team will accelerate this mission.”

For more information, visit Faithlife.com/servant-keeper.

About Faithlife
Faithlife, based in Bellingham, Washington, with offices in Arizona and Mexico, has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for more than 25 years. Since 1992, Faithlife has developed a full suite of church management tools, academic study resources, smart digital books, and Logos Bible Software, all part of its integrated ministry platform that automates tasks and simplifies workflows. For more information, visit faithlife.com/servant-keeper.

CONTACT: Kristin Cole, 972-267-1111 ext 217

Published by Hendrickson Publishers, the P45, P46, and P47 facsimiles will be available for purchase on December 1, 2020 at $399 retail

This New Testament Papyri facsimile collection brings three of the oldest manuscripts of the Bible to a modern audience.

In a historic collaboration, Hendrickson Publishers—in partnership with the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts—has published a deluxe facsimile edition of New Testament papyrus codices written in the third century.

The partially preserved papyrus codices P45, P46, and P47 are dated from the third century and contain passages from all four Gospels, the book of Acts, the Pauline Epistles, the book of Hebrews, and the book of Revelation, making them some of the most significant witnesses to early Christian Scripture that exist today.

The culmination of the project is the production of a museum-quality print facsimile that allows the Scriptures to come alive like never before. It captures the ancient beauty of the text: its scars and handwritten scripts; its age and timeless significance.

Printed in duplicate against white and black backgrounds, the high-resolution images in this facsimile edition reproduce the fragmented papyri in stunning clarity at their actual size, offering scholars and students of New Testament manuscripts an unparalleled encounter with these crucial witnesses to the Bible’s textual history.

It will be available for purchase on December 1, 2020, and customers may purchase the facsimiles, the corresponding art prints, or the P47 transcription companion directly at www.hendricksonrose.com.