Free Event for Church Leaders presented by NavPress, Humanitarian Disaster Institute, Food for the Hungry, and Outreach

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (April 21, 2020)—NavPress (@NavPress) will join forces with Food for the Hungry (@food4thehungry), Humanitarian Disaster Institute (@WheatonHDI), and Outreach (@Outreach) to present the Spiritual First Aid Summit. The free online event for church leaders is a one-day event that will be available on-demand on Thursday, April 30. Additional information and registration for the event is available at www.spiritualfirstaidsummit.com. Fifteen prominent speakers include N.T. Wright, one of the word’s leading Bible scholars.

“It really is an honor and privilege to align ourselves with HDI, Outreach, and Food for the Hungry to provide this support to churches across the country and, indeed, around the globe,” said Don Pape, Publisher, NavPress. “Never before has the big ‘C’ Church had the opportunity to be so engaged in first aid at this level, caring not only for the health and well-being of individuals but also for their souls.”

Because of COVID-19, we are living through unprecedented times marked by physical distancing and weeks of isolation. There is a deep need for help, hope, and care.

How can the church respond to COVID-19 as the hands and feet of Jesus?

By attending the Spiritual First Aid Summit, participants will learn to address people’s most critical disaster needs based on 15 years of research conducted by Humanitarian Disaster Institute scholars.

Specifically, forum attendees will find practical, intuitive, and evidence-based ways to help others.

Join the confirmed speakers for uplifting messages of hope and practical resources that will fill you up so you can faithfully respond, lead your church through the pandemic and its aftermath, and care for your community:

• Kent Annan
• Dr. Jamie Aten
• Jason Daye
• Mike Frost
• Jordan Gustafson
• Dennis Mahoney
• Dr. Kara Powell
• Dino Rizzo
• Rick Rusaw
• Peter Scazzero
• Dr. Laura Shannonhouse
• Dr. Efrem Smith
• Craig Springer
• Danielle Strickland
• N.T. Wright

Upon registering, summit-goers will receive access to a password-protected website with videos that can be viewed at their convenience. Those who register will also receive a free copy of the newly-released Spiritual First Aid Manual, a one-year subscription to Outreach Magazine, a free prayer course from N.T. Wright, and a promo code for a “Get One, Give One” initiative that is sending The Message of Hope to ministries on the frontline of disaster relief.

The NavPress mission is to advance the calling of The Navigators by bringing biblically rooted, culturally relevant, and highly practical products to people who want to know and love Christ more deeply. Through The Message Bible and other insightful resources, NavPress seeks to bring positive spiritual movement to people’s lives. In January 2014, NavPress entered into an alliance with Tyndale House Publishers to strengthen and better position NavPress and its rich content for the future. NavPress provides books and other content that bring spiritual impact, life transformation, and help lead in the mission of making disciples.

Publishers Receive Highly Personalized Service and Industry Expertise

ASHLAND, Ohio, April 23, 2020 – Baker & Taylor Publisher Services (BTPS), a leading provider of sales and fulfillment services, is pleased to announce two new publisher partner agreements.

BTPS has signed full sales representation and distribution agreements with the following clients:

• Messianic Jewish Publishers & Resources, effective May 1, 2020 — Worldwide
• Starfish Bay Publishing, effective July 1, 2020 – U.S. & Canada

About BTPS’s new client publishers:

Messianic Jewish Publishers & Resources (http://www.messianicjewish.net) is the only full-fledged Messianic Jewish publishing house in North America, providing resources for the Messianic congregational movement worldwide as well as the wider Body of Messiah (the Church). They “are a three-fold ministry, reaching Jewish people with the message of Messiah, teaching our non-Jewish spiritual family (Christians) about their Jewish roots, and strengthening the Messianic congregational movement with excellent resources.” 

Starfish Bay Publishing (http://starfishbaypublishing.com) is an independent publisher of high-quality children’s books. Located in Australia, Starfish Bay specializes in picture books for children ages 3-8 that showcase superb artwork and engaging stories. They have published authors from a variety of international locations, including Iceland, Ireland, the US, the UK, China, and many other countries.

About BTPS:  Baker & Taylor Publisher Services (BTPS) is a leading provider of economical services and solutions to book publishers and content creators, with a robust worldwide reach to all trade and other book markets. BTPS services include sales and distribution, book manufacturing and inventory management, and third-party logistics. A division of Follett, BTPS client publishers also benefit from Follett and Baker & Taylor’s positions as major suppliers of public libraries, K-12 school markets and higher education institutions. For more information, please visit www.btpubservices.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Baker & Taylor Publisher Services, Matt Warner, 419-564-4931, Matthew.Warner@baker-taylor.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill., April 24, 2020 — In its annual publishing awards livestreamed on April 21, the Evangelical Press Association (EPA) honored Christianity Today with 29 publishing awards chosen by journalism peers across the country.

These annual awards honor member publications through two contests: the Awards of Excellence for publications as a whole and the Higher Goals for individual pieces that were produced during the 2019 calendar year.

For the sixth straight year, ChristianityToday.com won the top Award of Excellence for General Publication (Digital). Additionally, Christianity Today magazine won an Award of Merit in the General (Print) category.

Of the 27 Higher Goals awards the ministry received, Christianity Today had six first-place winners, including:

Cause of the Year Article – Biblical Literacy
The Greatest Story Ever Animated – Paul Pastor.

Cause of the Year Illustration/Photo – Biblical Literacy
Your Bible Translation is Imperfect. It’s Also a Miracle. – Casey Fritz, Sarah Gordon.

Editorial
Who Owns a Woman’s Body? Not Who You Think – Andrea Palpant Dilley.

Personality Article
The Forgotten Female Preacher – Grant Wacker.

Reporting
Amazon Sold $240K of ‘Liturgy of the Ordinary’ Fakes, Publisher Says – Kate Shellnutt.

Standing Column
Beginnings of Wisdom – Jen Wilkin.

“We are so proud of the journalistic and artistic excellence recognized by these awards, and the ongoing commitment by our editorial talent,” said CT editor in chief Daniel Harrell. “The passion and conviction exhibited in our work will continually have as its aim informing our readers with thoughtful, engaging and beautiful content to encourage our faith and strengthen the church.”

A full list of EPA 2020 awards, including the other Christianity Today awards, can be found at the association’s website: Awards of Excellence and Higher Goals.

Christianity Today is a nonprofit, global media ministry centered on Beautiful Orthodoxy-strengthening the church by richly communicating the breadth of the true, good, and beautiful gospel. Reaching over 4.5 million people monthly with various digital and print resources, the ministry equips Christians to renew their minds, serve the church, and create culture to the glory of God.

CONTACT: Cory Whitehead, 630-260-6200 ext 4220, cwhitehead@christianitytoday.com

FROM THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC JUSTICE:

The President signed into law today the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, providing extensions and modifications of the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and the EIDL emergency loan and grant program. This action gives nonprofits, including churches, small businesses, and self-employed individuals and independent contractors another opportunity to receive federal support designed to counteract the economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Organizations and individuals needing this help should act quickly. The PPP program is likely to begin again on Monday, April 27.

About the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP)

• This is for small organizations and self-employed individuals and independent contractors.
• Includes a total of $310 billion more for loans.
• $60 billion is set-aside for loans made by mid- and small-sized community banks, credit unions, and institutions that serve underserved or low-income communities.
• Originators of these set-aside loans include minority depository institutions, which are predominantly led by and serve minority communities, and community development financial institutions (CDFIs), which are dedicated to promoting economic development and providing education and other supports to borrowers.
• Action: Applicants not already working with a willing financial institution may consider local community banks, including including minority-led banks; credit unions with whom they have a relationship; or CDFIs serving their community.
• The SBA in a new question added to its general FAQ document has stressed that, to qualify for a loan, applicants “must certify in good faith that their PPP loan request is necessary”; larger companies that have other resources they can tap are warned away from PPP loans.

About the EIDL loans and Emergency Grants

• Apply through the SBA website.
• Additional $50 billion for the Disaster Loans Program Account.
• Additional $10 billion for the EIDL emergency grants.
• Makes small agricultural enterprises eligible for EIDL loans and grants.

If you have any questions, please email inquiries@CPJustice.org.

Recently ECPA president Stan Jantz had a conversation with Don Nori, a second-generation publisher and the CEO of Nori Media Group, which includes Destiny Image, Harrison House and Sound Wisdom. Here are five questions Stan asked Don about what his company is doing in response to the COVID-19 crisis.

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SJ: About six months ago, without knowing what was coming, you initiated some changes in the way you publish books. How did that help you prepare for this moment we are in?

DN: Recently, we decide to take our publishing processes nearly 100% digital using collaboration platforms and Google drive. I became proficient largely from learning Google Drive through my two children who are in middle school and high school.

I teach at a local University where I recently also enrolled in an online teaching certification course. Following that I taught an online marketing course during the first 3 months of 2020.

When the quarantine hit, we had a company sales conference for our staff using Zoom and Google Drive, followed by a conference for our authors/speakers with over 1,000 attendees online! Just last week, we held an 18-person group presentation meeting with our largest business partner. Everyone was in their own homes (with the exception of myself).

I feel like during the months leading up to quarantine, we unknowingly prepared for business on a digital basis. Coincidence or God? I vote God.

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SJ:  Shortly after the COVID-19 crisis began, you started the Emergency Publishing Initiative. Can you describe what that is?

DN:  In short, we hastily contacted authors and asked for content. Contract-to-publication was challenged for quick-turnaround. This is the email directive sent to ALL staff on March 20:

Please execute Emergency Publishing directive to acquire new, strategic content.  

Goal: Go from written & video formats – to market, within DAYS.  What can go LIVE next week?

What do we HAVE?  What can we GET?  What can we RELEASE?

Even facilitating online conferences for authors through our platforms.

Only consider what we can execute in the timeframe of 1 week up to 3 weeks.

“Let’s leverage crisis into innovation and strategy!” – Larry Sparks, Publisher, Destiny Image

Go, Go, Goooooo!

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SJ:  You have been able to publish a dozen titles with special relevance to the coronavirus crisis in two weeks or less, and that includes print. How did you do it?

DN:  We enlisted the help of everyone in the product chain to expedite. And, everyone enthusiastically jumped-in! However, it was our digital sales director that kept things on track, knowing that most sales would occur through online customers.

Contracts were signed digitally. Designers, editorial, and pagination worked through weekends. Sales and marketing quickly shifted focus of campaigns and ad spending. Books began to be released within about a week.

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SJ:  You are referring to people at Nori Media as “Media Engineers.” What does that mean for your company overall?

DN:  It is our philosophy that we are not just publishers of “books” but of “messages.” We strive to convey each message in as many forms of media as possible: ebooks, trade paper, hardcover, large print, audiobooks, video, and other forms of media as identified. This makes us “media engineers.”  This is something my father believed in so much that he printed it on our first business cards in 1983.

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SJ:  In what ways is the COVID-19 crisis an opportunity for Christian publishers?

DN:  Christian publishers were born for moments like this! We provide hope, love, encouragement, and positivity. The messages we share will help bring people closer to Jesus. It also gives us the opportunity to shine as Christian examples to the world.

Looking inward, this crisis forces us to change. It forces us to reevaluate, reset, and innovate. It can be scary. It can be uncomfortable. Hopefully a stronger and better company emerges on the other side of this.

LARGO, Fla.— While funds are being given for all kinds of businesses affected by the coronavirus closures, Christian Retail Association (CRA) is supporting independent Christian bookstores who carry products that are vital in these challenging times.

“The products our stores have to offer are just what people need in times like this. They bring hope and encouragement, reminding us we are not alone, because God promises He will never leave us or forsake us,” said Sue Brewer, Chief Operations Officer of the Munce Group, a working partner of CRA.

“While we know that the government’s $2.2 trillion bailout will help our independent Christian bookstores, they are going to need more help than that,” Brewer adds. “Our goal of $10 million will give 200 independent Christian bookstores $50K each to pay their suppliers, their rent and for other essentials needed to re-open or keep their stores open to spread the gospel to their communities.”

Bob Munce, president of CRA, said that most people will give to a good cause, but only Christians will give to spread the gospel. In a grassroots approach, CRA is sending information about the giving page to all vendor partners, asking them to share this initiative on their personal social media sites in order to reach outside the industry.

Donations can be given by visiting www.christianretailassociation.org and clicking on “Give Now!” Since CRA is a non-profit organization, all donations are tax deductible. Net proceeds will be collected by May 30, 2020 and distributed to approximately 200 CRA member stores. Stores who joined CRA in 2019 will have their annual membership extended through July to benefit from this collection.

Christian Retail Association is a non-profit ministry founded by Munce Group President Bob Munce in an ongoing effort to better serve independent Christian retailers. 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. For more information, visit www.christianretailassociation.org or call 800-868-4388.

Contact: Andrea Stock, andrea.stock@munce.com

Completed well before the COVID-19 pandemic began, Airborne will now release as an e-book on April 28 in response to growing consumer interest, with print editions releasing in September as originally scheduled.

CAROL STREAM, ILL. (April 15, 2020)—When bestselling author DiAnn Mills began writing a novel about the shocking outbreak of an unknown airborne virus, she had no idea just how relevant it would become, coinciding with the real-life spread of the novel coronavirus pandemic. “The story line for Airborne came to me three and a half years ago,” she explains. “All I had was a what-if: a virus unleashed on an international flight.” Airborne was originally scheduled for publication in September 2020. While print editions of Airborne will release in the fall as planned, Tyndale will release the e-book on Tuesday, April 28, 2020.

Airborne follows the story of Houston FBI agent Heather Lawrence as she works under quarantine to find the person responsible for deliberately unleashing a deadly virus on a plane full of people. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field . . . and Heather’s estranged husband. As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time’s running out to track down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected.

Mills, whose romantic suspense novels have won two Christy Awards, asserts that her vision for Airborne is to champion the selfless service of first responders during times of crisis: “My mission is to show a story that weaves together hope, reality, and the sacrificial work of first responders when a deadly virus spreads among innocent people.” As the world faces an unprecedented time of uncertainty and fear, Mills aims to be a source of encouragement. “My prayer is that people will experience God’s presence during our current global crisis.”

DiAnn Mills writes well-researched novels with accuracy and attention to detail, crafting riveting tales of intrigue for romance and crime drama fans alike.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall, the first book in her FBI: Houston series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014. Connect with DiAnn at diannmills.com.

Airborne by DiAnn Mills | Tyndale House Publishers | tyndale.com

e-book release: April 28, 2020
ISBN 978-1-4964-2718-2 | Kindle
ISBN 978-1-4964-2715-1 | ePub
ISBN 978-1-4964-2716-8 | Apple

print release: September 8, 2020
ISBN 978-1-4964-2717-5 | Softcover
ISBN 978-1-4964-2714-4 | Hardcover

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.

PORTLAND, OR–Illuminate Literary Agency hosted a free live workshop, “Crisis-Proof Book Marketing During COVID-19” for clients of the agency on Tuesday, April 14.

“It’s natural for authors to feel isolated, burdened and fearful during an uncertain time like this,” said Jenni Burke, president of Iluminate. “They need to keep selling books, but they don’t want to seem insensitive. Tawny (Johnson) and I wanted to bring our clients together, to encourage and equip them with practical tools and insights so they can feel empowered to share their words and serve their readers.”

The Zoom event was a collaboration with marketing guru Caleb Peavy of Unmutable. Burke began with a welcome and prayer, then the discussion moved into topics including “myths & truths” of book sales during the global pandemic, what authors should be doing now, and specific advice for building a diverse platform to promote one’s backlist, new release, or future campaign. The meeting wrapped up with a Q&A session addressing the authors’ most pressing concerns, such as which retailers are shipping books quickly, publisher acquisition appetite, and digital marketing trends. The event was well attended, with 24 agency clients present, and the recording was sent to those who weren’t able to attend live.

Illuminate Literary Agency is a boutique agency helping authors publish well, succeed faithfully, and thrive. They specialize in adult nonfiction and are on a mission to light up the world with life-giving messages. www.illuminateliterary.com