Robert L. Briggs, President and CEO of American Bible Society

PHILADELPHIA, June 23, 2020 — American Bible Society, one of the nation’s most enduring nonprofit organizations, announced today that Robert L. Briggs has been appointed as president and CEO of the 204-year-old Bible ministry. Briggs, who served most recently as interim president and CEO following the retirement of Roy L. Peterson, has served at and led American Bible Society through various leadership roles for nearly 20 years.

“Robert’s time at American Bible Society has been marked by a deep love of Scripture and a passionate commitment to global Bible ministry,” said American Bible Society Chairman of the Board Jeff Brown. “Not only does he bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of the organization to the role of president, but he also has the ardor, hard-earned wisdom and grace to truly make a difference in the lives of thousands of people as he leads American Bible Society’s ministries in trauma healing, Bible translation, and Bible engagement.”

Briggs steps into his role as president with a rich history in the transformative ministry of Bible access. Briggs has served American Bible Society in a variety of leadership roles, including senior vice president of U.S. Ministry and vice president of advancement. Prior to that, he led the Global Ministry team and served internationally as a member of the Global Council of United Bible Societies, chairing the nominations committee. He is a founding member of the steering committee for Every Tribe Every Nation, an alliance which brings together the largest Bible agencies in the world that are working to ensure that 100 percent of the world’s population have access to Scripture.

“I am deeply humbled that the Board of Directors of American Bible Society has trusted me to step into this role. My commitment runs deep to serve those who hunger for the truth and healing that God delivers through the words of Scripture,” says Briggs. “Particularly in this moment in our history, a moment of anguish and pain for so many, the authentic message from the God of the Bible offers the hope and healing we all yearn to experience. May God help us in these days.”

American Bible Society is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded by many of the same leaders who founded the United States, including Elias Boudinot, president of the Continental Congress, and John Jay, first chief justice of the United States. Today, the organization is living out its mission to see all people experience the life-changing message of God’s Word through a variety of programs, including global Bible translation and distribution, Scripture provision to armed service members, Bible-based Trauma Healing and the launch of the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center.

Drawing on decades of experience, Briggs steps into the role of CEO at a time when the message of the Gospel has never been more urgent, but Bible engagement is on the decline. American Bible Society believes in the transformative power of the Scriptures to heal oppression and discouragement and bring justice and restoration. At this critical moment in our nation’s history, the need for the Bible is paramount. American Bible Society seeks to continue its legacy of innovation and ensure all have access to the Bible in a format they can understand and afford so that all people can experience its life changing message.

Briggs and his wife Susan live in Philadelphia. They have five adult children and six grandchildren. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and prior to joining American Bible Society, he held leadership roles with the American Diabetes Association and co-founded Cityhill, a Christian publishing company.

About American Bible Society

Since 1816, American Bible Society has worked to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message. One of the nation’s first and most enduring ministries, today’s American Bible Society provides resources across a variety of platforms, enabling first-time readers and seasoned theologians alike to engage with the best-selling book of all time. For more information, visit AmericanBible.org.

Grand, Rapids, Mich. (June 23, 2020)—The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby has landed on the New York Times Best Sellers list for June 28, 2020, at #13 in the Paperback Nonfiction category.

“Naturally we are pleased with the renewed interest in The Color of Compromise. But it’s not just the number of units sold. More importantly, we are proud to be Jemar’s publisher and thankful that his message is resonating with readers at this pivotal moment in American history. It is our hope that his words will change the hearts and minds of everyone they touch,” said Stan Gundry, senior vice president and publisher of Zondervan Academic and Reflective.

“I’m feeling a mix of emotions right now,” says Tisby, who is co-founder and  president of  The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, and a Ph.D candidate in history at the University of Mississippi. “It’s great news that my book has made the New York Times Best Sellers list. But at the same time, knowing what it took to get there and what sparked this renewed interest in the topic of racial justice—the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and on and on—is sobering.”

In the aftermath of those tragedies, people also seem to be turning to books: The Color of Compromise is one of 13 out of 15 books on the list that address racial justice.

In The Color of Compromise, Tisby surveys America’s racial past, from early colonial days through slavery and the Civil War, Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights era, to the Black Lives Matter movement, uncovering the roots of sustained injustice. He exposes the concrete and chilling ways people of faith have actively worked against racial justice, and the deafening silence or overt opposition of the white evangelical majority. Historically, the majority of the American church has failed to speak out against this evil.

“Paradoxically, although this is a book about the past,” Tisby writes, “it is really about the future of the American church.” He charts a path forward with intriguing ideas that challenge us to reverse these patterns and systems of complicity with bold, courageous, and immediate action.

Tisby’s next book, How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice, will be released on January 21, 2021.

The paperback edition of The Color of Compromise was released on January 7, 2020 from Zondervan Reflective, an imprint of HarperCollins; the hardcover debuted on January 22, 2019. The publisher has made The Color of Compromise video study available for free streaming on Amazon Prime Video; it has over 500,000 minutes streamed since May 28.

About the Author:
Jemar Tisby (BA, University of Notre Dame; MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is president of  The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, where he writes about race, religion, politics, and culture and cohosts the Pass The Mic podcast. His writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and CNN. His latest piece for The Atlantic is “The Familial Language of Black Grief.”  Tisby is a PhD candidate in history at the University of Mississippi with a focus on race, religion, and social movements in the twentieth century.

• The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby  Zondervan Reflective.  The Color of Compromise is available in softcover, ebook, and audiobook editions.
• The Color of Compromise Video Study:  DVD, Streaming The publisher has recently activated these on Amazon Prime Videos so people with Prime memberships can stream them for free.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B083ZMNSB2/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r
• The Color of Compromise – Study Guide (Coming 12/20)

Contact: Kelly Hughes, 312-280-8126 kelly@dechanthughes.com

WESTMONT, IL—The Victory of the Cross by James R. Payton Jr. has won the 2020 Word Guild Award in the Academic Non-fiction category. The Word Guild Awards are given out each year to encourage the pursuit of excellence in writing and to help to raise the profile of Canadian writers who are Christian.

David McNutt, associate editor for IVP Academic, said, “We are thrilled that Dr. Payton’s most recent IVP Academic book has been recognized with this award from the Word Guild. It is a tribute to his insights into Eastern Orthodoxy and the doctrine of salvation, which are a gift to the whole body of Christ.”

In The Victory of the Cross: Salvation in Eastern Orthodoxy Payton, a Western Christian with a sympathetic ear for Eastern Orthodoxy, explores the Orthodox doctrine of salvation. John A. McGuckin, Oxford University faculty of theology, said, “James Payton is a theologian skilled in patristic and contemporary thought. He is also a careful and sympathetic reader in all things to do with Eastern Christianity, an area in which he has immersed himself in a deeply insightful manner. In this present study he has surveyed Orthodox thought on salvation in Christ, and the result is an elegant and masterful survey of a major theme at the very heart of the Christian message. His approachable style is unfailingly clear, and this important study will surely be a new standard on the reading lists.”

Payton was recognized by the Word Guild for three previous books: Light from the Christian East, Getting the Reformation Wrong, and A Patristic Treasury.

IVP also had three titles and one book cover selected for 2020 Word Guild Short Lists. They included The Gospel According to Eve: A History of Women’s Interpretation by Amanda W. Benckhuysen (Academic), Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of “And” in an Either-Or World by Jen Pollock Michel (Apologetics/Evangelism and Best Book Cover), and Bloody, Brutal, and Barbaric?: Wrestling with Troubling War Texts by William J. Webb and Gordon K. Oeste (Biblical Studies).

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

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

 

Palm Bay, FL: American Christian Fiction Writers recently announced the finalists for the 2020 Carol Awards, honoring Christian fiction published in the previous calendar year. Congratulations to these authors and their publishing houses and editors.

Contemporary

• The Death of Mungo Blackwell by Lauren H. Brandenburg; Lion Fiction (Monarch Publishing); Editor – Jessica Gladwell
• On a Summer Tide by Suzanne Woods Fisher; Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group; Editors – Barb Barnes and Andrea Doering
• The Printed Letter Bookshop by Katherine Reay; HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan); Editors – Jocelyn Bailey and Jodi Hughes

Historical

• Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson; Tyndale House; Editors – Stephanie Broene and Kathryn Olson
• The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke; Tyndale House; Editors – Stephanie Broene and Sarah Rische
• The Seamstress by Allison Pittman; Tyndale House; Editors – Jan Stob and Karen Watson

Historical Romance

• A Reluctant Bride by Jody Hedlund; Bethany House (Baker) Publishing; Editor: Dave Long
• A Pursuit of Home by Kristi Ann Hunter; Bethany House (Baker) Publishing; Editors: Raela Schoenherr and Jennifer Veilleux
• The Sky Above Us by Sarah Sundin; Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group; Editors: Vicki Crumpton and Kristin Kornoelje

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

• The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal; Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group; Editor – Andrea Doering
• Laynie Portland, Retired Spy by Vikki Kestell; ACFW QIP (Qualified Independently Published); Editors – Cheryl Adkins and Greg McCann
• Midnight on the River Grey by Abigail Wilson; HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan); Editor – Becky Monds

Novella

• Always by Jody Hedlund; ACFW QIP (Qualified Independently Published); Editor: Leslie Peterson
• The Groom She’d Thought She Left Behind (from The Runaway Brides Collection) by Darlene Panzera; Barbour Publishing; Editors: Rebecca Germany and Ellen Tarver
• The Baggage Handler by David Rawlings; HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan); Editors: Jean Bloom and Becky Monds

Romance

• Driftwood Bay by Irene Hannon; Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group; Editors: Kristin Kornoelje and Jennifer Leep
• A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson; Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group; Editor: Vicki Crumpton
• Love You, Truly by Susan L. Tuttle; Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas; Editors: Jessica Nelson and Linda Yezak

Romantic Suspense

• The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey; Bethany House (Baker) Publishing; Editor: Dave Long
• Living Lies by Natalie Walters; Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group; Editors: Amy Ballor and Andrea Doering
• Knox by Susan May Warren; SDG Publishing; Editor: Barbara Curtis

Short Novel

• A Rancher to Trust by Laurel Blount; Love Inspired (Harlequin); Editor: Connolly Bottum
• The Rancher’s Unexpected Baby by Jill Lynn; Love Inspired (Harlequin); Editors: Shana Asaro and Dina Davis
• Lioness: Mahlah’s Journey by Barbara M. Britton; Harbourlight Books (Pelican); Editor: Fay Lamb

Speculative

• Flight of the Raven (Book 2, The Ravenwood Saga) by Morgan L. Busse; Bethany House (Baker) Publishing; Editors: Dave Long and Jennifer Veilleux
• The Story Raider by Lindsay A. Franklin; Enclave Publishing; Editor: Steve Laube
• Brand of Light by Ronie Kendig; Enclave Publishing; Editor: Reagen Reed

Young Adult

• Romanov by Nadine Brandes; HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan); Editor: Becky Monds
• Coral by Sara Ella; HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan); Editors: Jodi Hughes and Becky Monds
• Something I Am Not by Cher Gatto; Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas; Editors: Tessa Emily Hall and Linda Yezak

Debut Author

• A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff; Kregel Publications; Editors: Dori Harrell and Janyre Tromp
• Above the Fold by Rachel Scott McDaniel; Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas; Editors: Pegg Thomas and Denise Weimer
• Shadow Among Sheaves by Naomi Stephens; Shiloh Run Press – An Imprint of Barbour Publishing, Inc.; Editor: Annie Tipton

Also recently announced were ACFW 2020 Editor, Agent, and Mentor of the Year finalists (alphabetically):

• Editor of the Year finalists—Jocelyn Bailey, Kelsey Bowen, and Robin Patchen
• Agent of the Year finalists—Linda Glaz, Tamela Hancock Murray, and Cynthia Ruchti
• Mentor of the Year finalists—Chautona Havig, Lisa Jordan, and KyLee Woodley

The winners of these and other honors will be announced in conjunction with the ACFW Virtual Conference in September.

For more information on the conference: https://www.acfw.com/conference/general_info

For more information on the Carol Awards: https://www.acfw.com/contests

(Carol Stream, Illinois, USA)  Media Associates International (MAI) is pleased to announce LittWorld 2021 will take place near Budapest, Hungary, October 24 to 29, next year.  “This will be the first LittWorld held in continental Europe,” said MAI President John Maust, noting that celebrated author Philip Yancey is confirmed as keynote speaker.

“We feel privileged to host Littworld 2021 in Hungary,” said Kornel Herjeczki, CEO of Harmat Publishers in Budapest.  “You will get a taste of our history—40 years of atheism during communism, followed by 30 years of capitalism—all of which shows there is no other hope for our societies than the message of the resurrected Christ Jesus.”

Held every three years, LittWorld is the only international conference of its kind, providing intensive training on strategic, publishing-related topics.  Men and women from 94 countries have participated in the conference since it began in 1986.

Through LittWorld, MAI has seen publishing houses born, new books, magazines and podcasts conceived, and skills refined for more effective communication. Inevitably, participants take away a new or reinforced commitment to produce content by writers in the local heart language and culture:

“I have rarely been as inspired by anything related to my work as I was by the time with the people who gathered [at LittWorld].” –Jeff Crosby, CEO, InterVarsity Press, U.S.

“I came home from LittWorld 2018 with many new thoughts, insights and knowledge and a deepened experience of God.  The sense of care, unity and servanthood particularly struck me.” –Joan Campbell, author, South Africa

“It was a good opportunity for me to be at LittWorld. We have lots of foreign books and authors translated from foreign languages. We need to raise up our Ukrainian authors. LittWorld has the same vision.” –Sergey Sologub, author, Ukraine

The October 24 to 29, 2021, conference falls right on the heels of the Frankfurt Book Fair, so that those who wish may attend both. It will be held at Hotel Azur on Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe, 60 miles from Budapest.

“Come to LittWorld and share with global colleagues what God has taught us as writers and publishers,” Kornel Herjeczki said.

“If anything, the global pandemic has underlined the urgency of clear, creative communication of the Good News,” John Maust said. “I can’t wait for global Christian communicators to gather at LittWorld for training, networking and fellowship to help us better serve God and our readers.”

Further details and registration will become available at littworld.org. For more information, email mai@littworld.org or call (630) 260-9063.

ABOUT MAI:  Since our founding in 1985, MAI has held on-site trainings in more than 90 countries, benefitting more than 10,000 publishing staff and writers on 5 continents. These trainings have resulted in more locally published Christian content in the heart language and culture of readers. www.littworld.org

 

Moody Publishers has announced the publication of eight new quick-read books that address issues that have surfaced during the COVID 19 pandemic, and issues that will remain long after it has passed.

Be it in the midst of a natural disaster, global unrest, or an unforeseen pandemic, the repercussions of unprecedented change can leave everyone reeling. The following new titles aim to provide wisdom, encouragement, and peace needed to ease anxieties, strengthen relationships, and encounter the almighty God during such trying times.

The first of the eight, releasing June 16, is:

• 5 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage … When You’re Stuck at Home Together by Gary Chapman

The following seven titles will release on July 7:

• Pandemics, Plagues, and Natural Disasters: What is GOD Saying to Us?  by Erwin Lutzer
• Open Your Bible: in 30 Days by Colin S. Smith
• The Church Recovery Guide: How Your Congregation Can Adopt and Thrive After a Crisis by Karl Vaters
• Psalms for the Anxious Heart: A 30-Day Devotional for Uncertain Times by Beck Harling
• What Now?: How to Move Into Your Next Season by Mark Jobe
• How to Pray in a Crisis: A 4-Step Guide to Renewal by Daniel Dean Henderson
• Without a Doubt: How to Know for Certain that You’re Good with God by Dean Inserra

For more information, or to place a single title or bulk order, contact the Moody Publishers customer service team at 800-678-8812 or by email at mpcustomerservice@moody.edu.

Webster Younce to be VP, Publisher and Paul Fisher to be VP, Marketing

(Nashville, Tenn.) June 22, 2020—HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced today it will be relocating the Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive imprints from Grand Rapids, Mich. to be based in its corporate office in Nashville, Tenn.  This will allow for sharing of best practices across the company’s trade book publishing program for both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups. At this time, the company will continue to maintain an office in Grand Rapids, Mich. where other Zondervan brands are based. Those brands include Zondervan Academic, Zondervan Reflective, Zonderkidz, and the Zondervan Bible Group.

“Creating a more cohesive structure for our trade book publishing imprints allows for us to manage our non-fiction brands under Don Jacobson’s leadership,” commented Mark Schoenwald, President and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus. “We believe that having the Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive leadership in Nashville will help the teams better manage author relationships and allow them to collaborate on larger corporate initiatives.”

Leading the publishing strategy for Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive will be newly named VP and publisher Webster Younce.  Younce previously worked as the associate publisher and executive editor of Nelson Books, a Thomas Nelson imprint, for the past seven years with oversight on all editorial processes, and responsibilities acquiring and editing a full list of projects.  Younce also helped manage the imprint’s publishing functions, including market development, sales relations, and financial oversight. Throughout his time in this role he worked with New York Times bestselling authors including Bob Goff, Eric Metaxas, and John Eldredge; thought leaders William J. Bennett, R. Albert Mohler Jr., and Dallas Willard; and public figures Gary Sinise, Randy Travis, and Jessi Colter. Younce began his more than 20- year-publishing-career at Alfred A. Knopf and has held editorial roles for publishing houses at Picador USA, Arcade Publishing, Random House, Houghton Mifflin, Henry Holt and Company, and Simon & Schuster. He also spent two years at Suhrkamp Verlag in Berlin, Germany where was the editorial director for international and English-language literature.

Paul Fisher, previously senior director of marketing for the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan fiction programs will become VP of marketing for Zondervan Books and Zondervan Thrive. With both an extensive financial and product marketing background, Fisher has worked at HarperCollins Christian Publishing for four years where he successfully overhauled the reader, retailer, and industry engagement strategy across multiple channels. Fisher has developed and grown author relationships, working to help educate the importance of author platforms and audience segmentation. Throughout his tenure with the organization, Fisher has worked with New York Times bestselling authors Max Lucado, Charles Martin, Patti Callahan, Terri Blackstock and Lis Wiehl; and Christian fiction icons Colleen Coble, Melanie Dickerson, Beth Wiseman, Rachel Hauck, and Denise Hunter. Fisher’s diverse background includes various senior leadership roles at ConAgra Foods, Inc., Information Resources, Inc., Catapult Marketing, and Unilever. In the interim, Fisher will maintain his leadership role within the fiction team, as they transition to find a new marketing leader.

“As HCCP looks ahead, we are implementing plans throughout the company to strengthen our position in the marketplace as the leading Christian publisher across all genres,” said Don Jacobson, senior VP, publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing Trade Books. “We are thrilled to have Webb and Paul move into these leadership roles and join the Zondervan team. Both have worked alongside their Zondervan colleagues for a number of years and have a deep appreciation for the significance of the Zondervan brand, especially for the authors who have built its stellar reputation in the marketplace.”

Zondervan Books is the flagship non-fiction publishing imprint for the Zondervan publishing group, publishing approximately 50 titles per year. Zondervan Thrive officially launched in late 2019 as an imprint specifically focused on personal development, health and wellness, self-care, marriage and family, abuse/trauma, anxiety, and personality typologies.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: As the world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, Olive Tree Bible Software, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com and ChurchSource.com.  The company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For more information please visit www.harpercollinschristian.com.

Contact: Casey Harrell, Senior Director, Corporate Communications, 615-902-1109 Casey.Harrell@HarperCollins.com

Carol Stream, Ill. (June 18, 2020)—Tyndale House Publishers’ YA imprint, Wander, has partnered with Kingstone Comics to release The Epic Bible, the most complete graphic novel version of the Bible ever created. This one-of-a-kind rendering will release on October 6, 2020.

Art Ayris, founder of Kingstone, and his team of Marvel and DC comic book artists have brought together the energy of the comic book art form and the readability of the NLT translation of the Bible. In its 840 colorful pages, The Epic Bible covers the central narrative arc of Scripture—169 stories in all.

Readers who loved The Action Bible as kids will be excited to graduate to The Epic Bible for this next level of Bible graphic novel adaptation. Whether a reader is new to the Bible or looking for a fresh perspective, The Epic Bible’s cinematic storytelling will make God’s Word come alive. Even the most hesitant readers will be drawn in to the amazing story of Gods’ redemptive plan for mankind.

Regarding this acquisition, associate publisher Linda Howard said, “We are thrilled to be able to publish The Epic Bible. The graphic novel format brings the Bible to life in a truly engaging way and the illustrations are amazing. We pray this Bible will introduce thousands of new readers to God’s Word.”

Kingstone Comics was born out of founder Art Ayris’ desire to explain scriptural truth and provide healthy entertainment to kids. With this goal in mind, Art and a group of DC and Marvel Comics artists have succeeded in creating the most complete graphic adaptation of the Bible to date. See more at: kingstone.co/pages/ourstory.

The Epic Bible by Kingstone Media Group
ISBN 978-1-4143-9667-5
Hardcover $34.99 each
October 2020
Tyndale.com

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 $100 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.

(Colorado Springs, CO) — Times of crisis require innovation, and Christian publishers in less-resourced countries are up to the challenge. Despite the hardships posed by lockdowns and scarcity of resources, Christian publishers are staying relevant and active during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Magazine Training International (MTI) is dedicated to helping Christian leaders navigate the perils of publishing during the pandemic in order to meet the needs of their readers and support their staff. As MTI finds ways to fulfill its mission, magazine publishers around the globe are reporting on what they are doing to grow and serve their readership.

The new ministry outreach experiments for print and digital publications are varied. For Francis Ayieko, publisher of The Shepherd newspaper in Kenya, the pandemic was the push his publication needed to reach a digital audience.

“It became clear that the only way we could continue serving our readers in the midst of the pandemic was to go online,” said Ayieko. By the end of the first month of digital publishing, traffic to their website had increased by 1,700 percent.

“The disruption and damage the pandemic has caused around the world is regrettable,” said Ayieko. “But we thank God for keeping us safe and using the hardships brought about by the virus to open our eyes to see opportunities we had neglected. We plan to continue publishing online even after we resume hard copy production.”

WESTMONT, IL—Revolution of Values by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove was chosen as the 2019 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year in the Political and Social Sciences category.

Al Hsu, senior editor at IVP, said, “In this moment of advocacy and activism, we all need to know that we are building on the work of those who have gone before, and that we are not alone in our hopes. Revolution of Values is a book of encouragement for all those awakened to a vision for a better world. Congrats, Jonathan!”

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year. Finalists represent the best books published in 2019. After more than two thousand individual titles spread across fifty-five genres were submitted for consideration, Foreword’s editorial team determined the list of finalists. Then an expert team of booksellers and librarians—representing Foreword’s readership—from across the country, decided the winners.

In Revolution of Values: Reclaiming Public Faith for the Common Good Wilson-Hartgrove explores how religious culture wars have misrepresented Christianity at the expense of the poor, and how listening to marginalized communities can help us hear God’s call to love and justice in the world. He highlights people on the frontlines of issues ranging from immigration policy and voting rights to women’s rights and environmental stewardship. Through these narratives, we encounter a recovery of values that upholds the dignity of all people.

Wilson-Hartgrove has brought the themes from this book into action in a number of ways, including articles and op-ed pieces in places like The Washington Post, NBCNews.com, Religion News Service, Time, and countless others. He has also been interviewed on the themes within the book for MSNBC’s Am Joy, CBS Religion & Culture Series, Democracy Now, InterFaith Voices, CNN, PBS News Hour, and more.

William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach and cochair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, said, “Jonathan has served as a scribe for the moral movement in America today. In Revolution of Values he tells the truth about how the Bible was hijacked by the religious Right. But more importantly, he highlights the people who are challenging a false moral narrative and shows us how faith can revive the heart and soul of this democracy.”

Wilson-Hartgrove and his wife, Leah, founded the Rutba House, a house of hospitality in Durham, North Carolina. He directs the School for Conversion, a popular education center in Durham committed to “making surprising friendships possible,” and is an associate minister at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson-Hartgrove is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen books, including Reconstructing the Gospel, The Third Reconstruction, Strangers at My Door, Common Prayer, The Awakening of Hope, The Wisdom of Stability, The New Monasticism, and Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers.

Read an excerpt from Revolution of Values at ivpress.com/revolution-of-values.

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