CAROL STREAM, Ill.—September 10, 2020—Tyndale House Ministries (@tyndalehouse) has announced that Mark Taylor, Chairman and CEO, will retire at the end of the current fiscal year (March 2021) after serving 47 years at the company.  Mark will retain his position as Chairman of the Board. Speaking on behalf of the Board of Directors of Tyndale House Ministries (THM), Vice Chairman Doug McConnell said, “Mark Taylor has been an exceptional leader not only for Tyndale House but for the greater Christian publishing industry. His influence has also touched ministries throughout the world through Tyndale House Foundation. As the Board searches for the next CEO, we are confident in the leadership team to carry forward the mission of THM.”

Mark began working at Tyndale House when he was in sixth grade, sending out copies of Living Letters, a paraphrase of the New Testament epistles created by his father, Kenneth Taylor. Mark shared, “I started working in the company after school each day, packing and shipping books to bookstores.” Eventually, Mark’s father would paraphrase the entire Bible, which would become known as The Living Bible. Mark continued to be involved in the operations of the company, and as a senior in high school, he worked alongside his father, providing editorial support for products being published at the time.

While attending Duke University, Mark became involved with the work of Tyndale House Foundation, a charitable organization started in 1963 by Ken and Margaret Taylor using the royalties from the sales of Living Letters and The Living Bible. After graduation from college, Mark became Executive Director of Tyndale House Foundation, helping guide the distribution of grants that support Christian ministry and mission work around the world. In 1984, Mark became President and CEO of Tyndale House Publishers.

In addition to the many responsibilities of managing a successful publishing company, Mark led the development of the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), serving as chief stylist and chairman of the Translation Committee. Regarding his work at Tyndale House, Mark shared, “Although there have been many highlights, the single most rewarding project of my career was my participation with the Bible Translation Committee for the NLT. It was a long, multiyear project, and I had the joy of guiding the committee through every step of creating this wonderfully dynamic translation. More recently, I orchestrated the merger of Tyndale House Publishers and Tyndale House Foundation to form the not-for-profit Tyndale House Ministries.”

Throughout his tenure as CEO, Mark has maintained a steadfast commitment to Tyndale’s mission and fostered an environment of professional excellence and integrity. He championed the publication of many successful and life-changing works such as the McGee and Me video series, the Left Behind series, and the Life Application Study Bible. The success of these and other products resulted in Tyndale’s growth to become one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world.

The Taylor family’s legacy of generosity continues to guide the work of Tyndale House Publishers and Tyndale House Foundation. Revenue from the publishing enterprise helps support ministries involved with Bible translation, Christian publishing, leadership development, theological education, and humanitarian aid.

A celebration to express appreciation for Mark’s dedication to his work and the legacy of the Taylor family will take place in March 2021. The theme of the event will be, “Celebrate the Legacy, Embrace the Future.”

The executive search firm CarterBaldwin, which specializes in assisting Christian ministries, will work alongside the Search Committee of the THM Board to identify the next CEO of Tyndale House Ministries as they consider both internal and external candidates.

“As I look to the future,” Mark says, “I am excited about what lies ahead for Tyndale House. I believe the world needs Tyndale now more than ever, and Tyndale is ready to respond. We have a strong Board, an excellent executive team, and a wonderfully dedicated staff. Together we will continue to joyfully pursue our mission: ‘To minister to the spiritual needs of people, primarily through publication of literature consistent with biblical principles and through grants to other charitable entities.’”

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. 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 also 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, contributing a majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million dollars throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Contact:  Katie Dodillet, Director of Public Relations, katiedodillet@tyndale.com

 

Expanded Hardcover Edition Arrives September 2020
New Edition of The Action Bible Includes 25 New Stories & 23 Expanded Stories
Illustrated by Marvel & DC Comics Artist Sergio Cariello

Colorado Springs, Colo. — Publisher David C Cook will celebrate ten years of The Action Bible with the release of an expanded hardcover edition. Arriving this September, The Action Bible will feature 25 new Bible stories and 23 expanded stories – all illustrated by Marvel and DC Comics artist Sergio Cariello.

The Action Bible family of products has more than 85 million units in print worldwide since it launched in 2010. The original The Action Bible has sold more than 2.3 million copies and has spent more than 515 weeks on the ECPA Top 50 bestseller list. It is available in 27 languages globally, with 10-15 additional language translations to be completed in 2020.

Sergio Cariello studied at the Word of Life Bible Institute (in Brazil and New York) as well as the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning (New York). He drew superheroes for Marvel and DC Comics and served as an instructor at the Kubert School. Sergio has spent more than a decade bringing the Bible to life for children and adults around the world.

“It’s been the privilege of my life to combine my faith and art in The Action Bible. I loved to study the Bible before I began drawing The Action Bible, so these illustrations are the result of a continuous walk with Christ,” explains Sergio Cariello. “Drawing Captain America or Batman is fantastic, but drawing Jesus is different because I know the Holy Spirit is touching readers’ hearts through my drawings.”

“At David C Cook, the global impact of The Action Bible reflects a key portion of our mission ‘to make and teach disciples,’” says Cris Doornbos, CEO of David C Cook Publishing. “Churches, parents and children around the world are using The Action Bible family of products to share the big God story and the love of Jesus Christ, for a more effective accomplishment of our mission.”

The Action Bible
www.TheActionBible.com
Available September 2020 from David C Cook
Price: U.S. $29.99  Format: Hardcover Pages: 832  ISBN: 978-0-8307-7744-0

Sergio Cariello is a Brazilian-born DC and Marvel Comics artist and the illustrator of The Action Bible product line, which has sold more than 2.3 units in North America. www.sergiocariello.com

David C Cook is a nonprofit organization dedicated to publishing and distributing leadership and discipleship resources to help Christians all over the world grow in their faith and pass it on to the next generation.

Gospel Technologies today announced the acquisition of Olive Tree Bible Software, Inc. from HarperCollins Christian Publishing for an undisclosed amount. President and owner of Gospel Technologies, Steven Cummings, is the previous vice president of operations for Olive Tree under HarperCollins Christian Publishing (“HCCP”).

Based in Spokane, Washington, Olive Tree is an industry leading online and mobile Christian Bible technology and e-commerce company that was acquired by HarperCollins Christian Publishing in 2014. Its software is accessible on desktop, tablets, and mobile devices across all major platforms. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Olive Tree expanded its catalog offerings to surpass 25,000 titles and developed best-in-class integration for audio Bibles and books. Cummings, who started at Olive Tree as an e-book formatter more than eleven years ago, approached leadership at HarperCollins Christian Publishing and expressed his interest in owning Olive Tree’s brand, technology, and future growth strategy.

“Acquiring Olive Tree and returning it to its tech-innovation roots has been a goal of mine for the past few years,” said Steven Cummings. “When I approached the leadership at HCCP with my proposal, they were extremely helpful and supportive. I am grateful to HCCP for supporting Olive Tree for the past six years, nurturing it into a healthy and sustainable business, and I look forward to building upon the successes we achieved. I have been a part of Olive Tree since its early days, when we were working out of the founder’s basement, and I am deeply passionate about its mission to use technology to help people read and study God’s Word. I think that God has gifted and prepared me to lead this company to delight its users and help bring them closer to God’s Word through the use of its apps.”

Cummings continued, “I expect the transition to be smooth for all involved with little to no disruption to Olive Tree’s business. We will continue to serve all of our licensors as we always have and deliver excellent customer service. I look forward to working with all of our partners on new and innovative ways to promote their published works.”

Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing said, “Steven has been Olive Tree’s absolute advocate throughout his tenure, and I am happy that he will be fulfilling one of his lifelong goals of owning and operating his own business. Steven knows the company and its full potential better than anyone and I look forward to our continued partnership as HCCP content and study resources will continue to be offered throughout Olive Tree’s platforms, just as they always were.”

Cummings has a background in IT, content formatting and operations with a Masters of Theology in New Testament Studies from the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. He founded Gospel Technologies, LLC in 2019 out of a desire to form a business that utilizes technology to glorify God by aiding people in the reading and study of Scripture – intended to be realized through the acquisition of Olive Tree. Olive Tree’s office will remain in Spokane, Washington.

Gospel Technologies strives to inspire people to connect with God and study the Bible through technology. Since 2019, Gospel Technologies has worked to produce industry-leading technology and service to a worldwide audience from its Spokane, Washington headquarters. For more information, contact PressRoom@OliveTree.com.

WESTMONT, IL—Tina Knowles Lawson, mother of Beyoncé, will feature an interview with longtime friend and IVP author Juanita Campbell Rasmus on Thursday, September 17, on her Instagram Live Talks with Mama Tina. This interview, with special guest Michelle Williams, will kick off the launch week for Juanita’s highly anticipated book Learning to Be: Finding Your Center After the Bottom Falls Out. 

Tina Knowles Lawson and her family were some of the first members of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Houston, which Juanita and husband, Rudy, started in 1992. St. John’s is also where Beyoncé grew up singing in the choir. Thousands have joined the St. John’s family over the past twenty-eight years, making it one of the most culturally diverse congregations in the country. 

Tina penned the foreword for Learning to Be and wrote, “I’ve experienced this light in my faith walk and with powerful, resilient people like Juanita Campbell Rasmus, a woman I met in 1986 when I opened my first salon, and she became a faithful client. She set an example for the power of prayer and worship, and I later became one of the first members of St. John’s Church. Over the years, I’ve witnessed Juanita navigate the highs and lows of marriage, motherhood, ministry, and womanhood. I’ve seen her journey from the self-professed ‘good girl’ to a leader who wholeheartedly seeks God with a level of authenticity, transparency, and grace that is unmatched. And in this book, she inspires us to do the same.”

After the official launching of Learning to Be on Tuesday, September 15, Juanita will be featured on Black Authors Matter TV that evening at 8:30 p.m. CDT. Juanita also has a TED Talk on the topic of her book titled Learning to Be: Why Is It So Difficult?

In Learning to Be Juanita describes what she called “the crash” and what her counselor labeled “a major depressive episode.” This experience landed Juanita, a busy pastor, mother, and community leader, in bed. In addition to exhaustion and depression, she experienced a spiritual dark night of the soul. When everything in her life finally came to a stop, she found that she had to learn to be—with herself and with God—all over again.

Juanita wrote, “I chose to share my story because all too often in Western culture, and especially in the church, we are reticent to discuss mental health along with the related spiritual implications. It is my hope that telling my story will shed light on the resources available to someone in the aftermath of a mental health diagnosis . . . and provide courage to wait in the darkness, because often that’s where the real treasures are stored.”

In addition to copastoring St. John’s, Juanita cofounded Bread of Life Inc., a nonprofit corporation, with Rudy in 1992. They began serving meals to the homeless in the sanctuary at St. John’s. Juanita most recently teamed up with Tina and Beyoncé to help forty thousand flood victims recover in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. In addition to addressing issues of health and disaster relief, Juanita launched the Temenos Community Development Corporation in 2006, which recently completed over thirty million dollars in housing development projects for the previously homeless in downtown Houston. She also founded The Art Project, Houston to empower the city’s homeless to become hope-filled painters and artisans who craft their own livelihood and create lives filled with new possibilities.

For more about Juanita visit JuanitaRasmus.com. Also tune into her Instagram Live interview with Tina Knowles Lawson, which will be posted on Tina’s Instagram profile page on Thursday, September 17, at noon eastern standard time.

Grand, Rapids, Mich. (Sept. 14, 2020)— Zondervan Reflective, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, today announced The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby has sold more than 100,000 copies in print, audio and digital formats.

“We are so pleased that The Color of Compromise has reached this milestone. We are proud to be Jemar’s publisher and thankful that his message is resonating with readers at this crucial moment in American history,” said Stan Gundry, senior vice president and publisher of Zondervan Academic and Reflective. “It is our hope that Jemar’s words will change the hearts and minds of everyone they touch.”

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. Tisby also charts a path forward with intriguing ideas that challenge readers to reverse these patterns and systems of complicity with bold, courageous, and immediate action.

“I’m feeling a mix of emotions,” said 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. “Hitting this milestone is great news. But at the same time, knowing what it took to get here and what sparked this renewed interest in the topic of racial justice is sobering.”

Nearly 18 months after its release, The Color of Compromise landed on the New York Times Best Seller list in June 2020, in the Paperback Nonfiction category where it remained for three weeks. It also appeared on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists and is a Library Journal’s Best Books and The Englewood Review Book of the Year 2019 winner.

In his next book, How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice, Tisby enables readers to become proactive initiators of racial justice by offering an array of actionable items to confront racism in everyday life. Far more than a simple list of items to do, it also provides a simple framework to help readers consistently interrogate their own actions and maintain a posture of anti-racist action. How to Fight Racism releases in January 2021.

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.

About Zondervan:  Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich.  For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Amy Bigler, Senior Manager of Publicity, amy.bigler@harpercollins.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

The first Bible ships to stores in September 2021.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Release Schedule for First Four Books:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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