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

Jennifer Harvey’s book debuts at #9 on the New York Times paperback bestseller list 

(Nashville, Tenn.)—The murder of George Floyd and the outrage and protests it ignited worldwide initiated a long overdue awakening to systemic racism. The nation is recognizing it is not enough to not be racist. We must be anti-racist. A call for education and action created strong interest in books on race which are now dominating bestseller lists.

“Most white Americans didn’t get from our own families the concrete teaching and modeling we needed to be active in the work of racial justice ourselves, let alone to feel equipped now to talk about race with and teach anti-racism to our children. There is so much we need to learn and it’s urgent that we do so. But the good news is: we can,” says Jennifer Harvey.

With this increased interest and high-profile media appearances by author Jennifer Harvey, Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America (9781501878077, Abingdon Press), will debut at #9 on the New York Times paperback bestseller list the week of June 21, 2020.

“The murder of George Floyd is a vivid example of entrenched white privilege and anti-black bias in the United States,” said Rev. Brian Milford, Publisher, Abingdon Press. “All Christians are called to resist evil and injustice. Reshaping views on race requires holy boldness. Raising all kids to embrace love with justice demands that we raise white kids differently. Jennifer Harvey shows us how.”

“I’m an African-American pastor serving a predominately white church. When congregants at my church ask for a resource to help with conversations around race with their children, Jennifer Harvey’s Raising White Kids is #1 on my list,” said Rev. Justin Coleman, Senior Pastor, University United Methodist Church. “Harvey helps adults to name difficult realities around race in a way that is gritty, age-appropriate, and restorative. I wish every white parent or guardian could have this book in their hands.”

About the Book

Parents and educators question what they can do to raise able and active anti-racist allies. Raising White Kids answers those questions and many more, offering age-appropriate insights for teaching children how to address racism when they encounter it. Harvey tackles tough questions about how to help white kids be mindful of racial relations while understanding their own identity and the role they can play for justice.

Living in a racially unjust and deeply segregated nation creates unique conundrums for white children that begin early in life and impact development in powerful ways. Raising White Kids is ideal for parents, educators, and communities who want a better future for all children.

Jennifer Harvey in the media

• Jennifer Harvey with Beverly Daniel Tatum Ph.D. on the CNN Sesame Street town hall addressing racism, June 6, 2020.
• Jennifer Harvey with Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, on Good Morning America, June 4, 2020.
• Jennifer Harvey interview on NPR’s All Things Considered with Michel Martin May 31, 2020.
• Jennifer Harvey on CNN.com May 2020 – How do I make sure I’m not raising the next Amy Cooper?  

Dr. Jennifer Harvey is a writer, speaker, and professor at Drake University. Her work focuses on racial justice and white anti-racism. Her most recent book, Raising White Kids: Bringing Up Children in a Racially Unjust America, is published by Abingdon Press. Dr. Harvey also contributes to The New York Times and Huffington Post and is ordained in the American Baptist Churches (U.S.A.). She lives in Des Moines, Iowa. Visit RaisingWhiteKids.com.

Read the Introduction to Raising White Kids

Abingdon Press is the primary publishing imprint for The United Methodist Publishing House and has a tradition of crossing denominational boundaries with thought-provoking and inspirational books. Abingdon Press titles include a wide array of quality Bibles, Bible studies, small group studies, Christian living, devotional, academic, professional, and reference titles published each year to enrich church communities across the globe. Visit AbingdonPress.com.

Contact: Elizabeth Pruitt, Abingdon Press, EPruitt@AbingdonPress.com

Prolific speaker, columnist, podcaster and author Daniel Darling offers a biblical vision for online communication in his new book, “A Way With Words”  

NASHVILLE, TENN., June 22, 2020— The Internet can be a space for positive connection or it can be a very dark place.  In his new book, “A Way With Words: Using Our Online Conversation for Good” (B&H Publishing, August 2020), Daniel Darling urges Christians to bring light to the digital world with gracious speech.

Darling’s book is more timely now than ever, as the events of 2020 seem to have brought out the worst in us—especially in the ways we interact online. A worldwide pandemic, a presidential election and natural disasters compel many to choose a side and defend it vigorously, even if we are vicious in the process. Instead of perpetuating incivility, offense and hatred on social media, Christians, Darling urges, should speak with a distinctly, Christlike tone.

“In this book, I ask questions about the way we conduct ourselves in this digital age, the way we behave online,” said Darling. “The internet is not going away anytime soon. Platforms may change, but the call for Christians to steward their words well is the same now as it always has been.”

“Publishers Weekly” called Darling’s writing style “substantive and punchy,” and his articles have appeared in leading national publications such as “USA Today,” CNN, “Washington Times,” “TIME Magazine,” Huffington Post, “National Review,” “Washington Post,” “Christianity Today” and many others. He is regularly interviewed as an expert commentator on television and radio, has appeared as a commentator on CNN and on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and is the host of a weekly podcast, “The Way Home with Dan Darling.”

Darling believes Christians need an approach that applies biblical wisdom to engagement with social media, an approach that neither retreats from modern technology nor ignores the harmful ways in which Christians often engage publicly.

“A Way With Words” examines all ways we express ourselves online, including:

• the temptation to constantly check our devices for FOMO (fear of missing out);
• the effects of confirmation bias and our tendency to “believe what we want to believe” before gathering all the facts;
• adopting authentic biblical discernment;
• Scripture’s view of the teacher’s responsibility and how that relates to “platform”;
• The temptation to craft and curate a projected view of ourselves;
• advocating for and spreading truth, not falsehood; and
• embracing civility and kindness in all our interactions online.

“My prayer is that ‘A Way With Words’ would encourage readers to commit to becoming a part of what’s true and beautiful online,” said Darling. “So rather than writing off social media and other platforms as irredeemable, let’s be intentional about creating and communicating truth and beauty with the tiny corner of the Internet we control.

Darling is the Senior VP for Communications at National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and served for six years as VP of Communications for Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (ERLC). He has written nine books, including the bestselling “The Characters of Christmas” (October 2019, Moody Publishers) published most recently.

B&H is supporting “A Way With Words” with a special presale offer, launch team and national marketing and publicity. All who preorder the book will receive a PDF download of Darling’s “Social Media Survival Guide.” For more information, visit awaywithwordsbook.com. 

Daniel Darling is the Senior VP for Communications at National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) and served for six years as VP of Communications for ERLC. Dan is the author of several books, including “Teen People of the Bible,” “Crash Course,” “iFaith,” “Real,” “Activist Faith,” “The Original Jesus,” “The Dignity Revolution” and his most recent book, “The Characters of Christmas.” He is a contributing editor to “Christianity Today’s CT Pastors,” a columnist for “HomeLife Magazine,” and a regular contributor to “In Touch Magazine.” He also writes regularly for several leading publications, including “Christianity Today” and The Gospel Coalition. Darling’s op-eds have appeared in “USA Today,” CNN, “Washington Times,” “Time,” Huffington Post, “National Review,” “Washington Post” and “First Things.” He has appeared on CNN and on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” Dan is also a contributor to “The CSB Worldview Study Bible.”

“Publisher’s Weekly” called his writing style “substantive and punchy.” Darling speaks and preaches around the country and is regularly interviewed on television and radio, including MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and CNN. He is the host of a weekly podcast, “The Way Home.”

He holds a bachelor’s degree in pastoral ministry from Dayspring Bible College, has studied at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves on the board of Let My People Go Ministries, an organization devoted to helping churches fight human trafficking.

Darling has served churches in Ill. and Tenn. He and his wife Angela have four children and reside in the Nashville area. They attend Green Hill Church in Mt. Juliet, Tenn., where Dan serves as Pastor of Teaching and Discipleship.

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.