[NASHVILLE, TENN., October 9, 2020—] The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) recognized LifeWay’s B&H Publishing for a pair of Top Shelf Book Cover Awards on October 1 via a webcast with author Ruth Chou Simons.
The two B&H honors went to “For All Who Wander” by Robin Dance and “A Holy Pursuit” by Dianne Jago. Art direction for each title was overseen respectively by Jade Novak and Susan Browne.
“I’m thrilled to see Jade and Susan recognized in this way,” said Bill Craig, senior vice president of publishing for LifeWay. “They use their God-given gifts and talent to design covers that beautifully reflect the content of the message and draw in readers. Susan’s and Jade’s work are vibrant expressions of LifeWay’s mission statement: “Designing trustworthy experiences that fuel ministry.”
“For All Who Wander: Why Knowing God is Better Than Knowing It All” was published by B&H this January. The book helps readers wrestle with Mark 9:24—“Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief”—as it describes how to exercise faith during seasons when heartbreak and challenges stir doubt.
The ethereal design conveys the idea of wandering, said the designer, as dandelion seeds float aimlessly on the wind on a dreamlike/hazy background.
“I made a very good call, selecting Lindy Martin from FaceOut Studio to design this cover for us,” said Novak. “She did a great job of interpreting the concept and tone of the book and went the extra mile by designing a two-part cover incorporating the first interior page.”
“A Holy Pursuit: How the Gospel Frees Us to Follow and Lay Down Our Dreams” was published by B&H in March. It examines opposing messages Christians face—one being to follow one’s heart and dreams no matter the cost, and the other to lay down one’s dreams and passions, avoiding all self-interest.
Instead of looking inward, the book argues, Christians should look upward as they determine their God-given purpose as the foundation for their hopes and dreams.
“The idea of laying down your dreams doesn’t lend itself to beautiful imagery,” said the designer. “However, that was the challenge we wanted to explore—can we make a concept that sounds restrictive and sad feel alive and hopeful?”
To achieve this, the designer used painterly leaves and a calm background to create a harmony that mimics the peace one finds when looking outside of oneself.
“Our goal was to create a clean design with an artistic look that was beautiful, feminine, neutral in tone, and preferably achieved without the use of photography,” said Browne. “Once we married the perfect botanical touch to the font-forward design solution, a sculptor brought to life the dimensional quality of art with embossing of the printed cover.”
The Top Shelf Award program is managed by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association in order to recognize design excellence in the Christian publishing industry.
“These covers not only showcase the creative skill of the talented book cover designers in our industry, but they also tell the story of the valuable content contained inside, providing a graphic glimpse of the author’s intent in writing the book,” stated Stan Jantz, CEO and president of the ECPA.
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.
Written by Aaron Wilson, LifeWay Corporate Communications editor
[NASHVILLE, TENN., October 6, 2020—] Fear, anxiety, panic and paranoia could be used to describe most people’s experience of 2020. A global pandemic—and all the ways it has turned “normal life” upside down—has taken its toll on our mental health and our sense of safety and belonging.
Russell Moore is president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. “The Wall Street Journal” called him “vigorous, cheerful, and fiercely articulate.” He is the author of several books, including “The Storm-Tossed Family,” “Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches,” and the bestselling “Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel.” He and his wife Maria are the parents of five sons.
ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 7, 2020 — Ligonier Ministries will release the first episode of a new podcast, Luther: In Real Time, on October 10. As its title suggests, the dramatic podcast enables listeners to walk in Martin Luther’s footsteps five hundred years to the day, from his heresy charges on October 10, 1520, to his famous stand for God’s Word at the Diet of Worms in April 1521. Listeners should subscribe to the podcast soon in order to receive each episode exactly five centuries after every twist and turn. More information is available at
About Ligonier Ministries
Adoptive parents often discover that opening their hearts to adoption was the easy part. It’s the emotional journey after the surrender to the idea of adoption that leads to the hard seasons of testing. In Hope When It’s Hard, author Jennifer Phillips beautifully weaves together elements of her personal adoption journey with Scripture and encouraging words that will feed the soul of an adoptive parent. Jennifer’s authenticity will lead parents to finally feel understood, with the ability to finally see the beauty of God’s adoptive heart.
Grand Rapids, Mich., Oct. 2020 — Racism is pervasive in today’s world, and many are complicit in the failure to confront its evils. Jemar Tisby, author of the award-winning The Color of Compromise, believes we need to move beyond mere discussions about racism and begin equipping people with the practical tools to fight against it.
WESTMONT, IL—IVP author Terence Lester has received the
WESTMONT, IL—Mark Lanier, author of Christianity on Trial and one of the top civil trial lawyers in America, has signed a contract with InterVarsity Press to release his next book, tentatively titled World Religions on Trial, in Spring 2022.
CAROL STREAM, Ill.—October 9, 2020—Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to announce that three Tyndale fiction titles and authors have been named 2020 Christy Award finalists (ChristyAwards.com). The Christy Award celebrates excellence in the art of Christian fiction and honors the power of faith in story.
Historical:
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 12, 2020) – One may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks but the four-legged, senior residents at the Old Friends Senior Dog Sanctuary can teach their own lessons of character building, friendship and how love never grows old. Published by Tommy Nelson Books,
Make Us One: A 31-Day Prayer Journey Toward Racial Healing was released October 1 by PrayerShop Publishing. Based on Jesus’ prayer in John 17 for the Father to make us one, Make Us One is a biblical, Christian response to racism in America.




