“I was made for more than watching. I have a history-changing, difference-making, life-giving, Spirit-empowered legacy to leave. Jesus, I ask you to work deeply in me and clearly through me as I pray, give, and go in your love. I am a difference maker. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
– The “Difference Makers Declaration”

[NASHVILLE, TENN. (May 3, 2019)—] When the devastating Hurricane Harvey hit Houston in August 2017, Gregg Matte, senior pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church, and his church were faced with the question, “Can we make a difference?”

As the church members sought to serve and provide relief to their neighbors who lost nearly everything in the storm, Matte guided his church to understand that they were called to rise to the occasion, and everyone could make a little difference somewhere, which would compound to make a huge difference in providing relief to their city.

In his new book, “Difference Makers: How to Live a Life of Influence and Purpose,” Matte shows readers that they are made for more than watching; they have a history-changing, differencemaking, life-giving, Spirit-empowered legacy to leave, and as Jesus works deeply in and clearly through them, they will be difference makers. Matte said he hopes readers will see stories from the Bible of all kinds of difference makers, that they’ll realize that they’ve been called to do the same and begin to live into this calling.

“Deep in every heart is a desire to make a difference. We want to live a life of impact and purpose not just pass the time. But how do we make turn that from dream to reality?” Matte said. “My desire is ‘Difference Makers’ would inspire and equip each reader for making a true difference in the lives of those they intersect every day at home, school or the office. Join me on an exciting journey of releasing your heart’s desire to become a Difference Maker!”

Matte is the founder of Breakaway Ministries at Texas A&M University, one of the largest college Bible studies in the nation and is the author of numerous books, including “Unstoppable Gospel.”

LifeWay is also releasing a six-session Bible study, as well as an album of songs written and performed by the music ministry at Houston’s First Baptist Church, both entitled “Difference Makers” and available June 1 on LifeWay.com/DifferenceMakers.

“Our churches don’t need more spectators; we need difference makers,” said Devin Maddox, B&H Trade Book Publisher. “I am so grateful for Gregg’s voice and am excited to see how this resource serves as a catalyst for Christians to become difference makers.”

For more information, visit bhpublishing.com.

Gregg Matte is the senior pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church and the founder of Breakaway Ministries at Texas A&M University, one of the largest college Bible studies in the nation. Gregg holds a marketing degree from Texas A&M and a master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of numerous books, including “Unstoppable Gospel.” Gregg has been married to his wife, Kelly, since 1997, and they have a son and daughter, Greyson and Valerie.

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.

Media Contact:  Jenaye White, Jenaye.White@BHPublishing.com 615.251.2964 bhpublishing.com

[NASHVILLE, TENN., May 3, 2019—] B&H Publishing Group is proud to announce that “The Storm-Tossed Family” by Russell Moore was awarded the Christian Book Award® in the Faith & Culture category by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

ECPA announced the winners of the 2019 Christian Book Awards® in 12 categories at the ECPA Awards Celebration held April 30 at the Rosemont Hilton in Chicago, during the ECPA Leadership Summit. The Christian Book Award® program has “recognized the highest quality in Christian books since 1978,” according to ECPA.

Published in September 2018, “The Storm-Tossed Family” addresses questions such as, “Why do our families have so much power over us?” and explores how family makes us who we are and how understanding this can liberate us to live without fear.

A longtime pastor, a former professor and provost of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and the current president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Moore brings theological insight and pastoral approach to this most sensitive of topics.

“Dr. Moore is an incomparable writer, thinker and leader. Working alongside him on books that are culture-shaping and life-changing is an honor,” said Jennifer Lyell, V.P. of Book Publishing and Merchandising for B&H. “Watching his efforts be so consistently recognized by readers and the publishing industry is exactly as it should be. We are very proud of ‘The Storm-Tossed Family’ and the recognition it received by ECPA.”

For more information about the ECPA Christian Book Award® program, visit ChristianBookAwards.com. For more information about the book, visit StormTossedFamily.com.

Russell Moore is president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, the moral and public policy agency of the nation’s largest Protestant denomination. He is a frequent cultural commentator, an ethicist and theologian by background and an ordained Southern Baptist minister. Moore is the author of several books, including “Onward: Engaging the Culture without Losing the Gospel.” A native Mississippian, he and his wife Maria are the parents of five sons. For more information, visit russellmoore.com.

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.

Eugene, Oregon—May 3, 2018—Harvest House Publishers is pleased to announce that Seeing Green by Tilly Dillehay and Bible Infographics for Kids by Harvest House are recipients of the 2019 Christian Book Awards® in the New Author and Young People’s Literature categories.

Seeing Green is more than a book about envy—it’s about changing the way we think of God’s glory. In doing so, readers learn to rejoice with others, experience greater contentment, and discover how to truly love others.

“As a new author who feels blessed to have words in print in the first place, it means so much to me for ECPA to honor this project. Like every writer, I regard my first book almost as a first child,” said Dillehay.

Dillehay, is the host of The Green Workshop, an event for women about envy. A graduate of Lipscomb University, she has been the editor of a weekly newspaper and a lifestyle magazine and is currently a contributor to The Gospel Coalition. Tilly’s husband, Justin, is a pastor in the greater Nashville area where they are raising two daughters.

Bible Infographics for Kids is a collection of visually compelling and winsome graphics combined with interesting and often humorous content to make the Bible come alive for readers ages 8 to 12. The colorful pages depict key concepts, important people, and unusual facts from the Bible in an exciting a way, helping to instill a lifelong love of God and His Word in children.

“It is exciting to receive this award for one of our children’s books,” says Barb Sherrill, publisher and EVP, “particularly one developed by our own team. They are passionate about creating great products for kids, and this is validation of their hard work and commitment to excellence. It is rewarding to be able to provide fun and meaningful resources for kids.”

The Christian Book Award® program has recognized the highest quality in Christian books since 1978. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and impact, the Christian Book Award® program is the oldest and among the most prestigious awards in the religious publishing industry.

Harvest House, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes more than 135 books per year and carries a strong backlist of more than 1,200 titles. More than 140 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in more than 75 different languages.  www.harvesthousepublishers.com

Contact: Christianne Debysingh, Harvest House Publishers, 888-468-4108, cdebysingh@harvesthousepublishers.com

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Print quality images to accompany this press release are available in digital format. Available images are: cover art, author photo, Harvest House logo.

Eugene, Oregon—May 3, 2018—Ben Courson author of Optimisfits recently appeared on national television to promote his new book from Harvest House.

On April 29, Courson was interviewed on Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family on being a nonconformist, an adventurer, and living with wild abandon and unapologetic optimism. Then on May 1 he was interviewed on several CBN platforms, including the 700 Club, 700 Club Interactive, and the CBN podcast to discuss his message on being contagiously optimistic even while embracing failure and heartbreak.

Ben Courson is the founder of Hope Generation, has a global TV and radio program, and is a gifted and nationally renowned speaker. Hope Generation TV show airs in 180 countries around the world. Ben’s humorous, uplifting, and high-energy style couples with a gift to communicate God’s heart in an impactful way. His ultimate mission is to generate hope in God to build a generation of hope in others. For more information visit www.BenCourson.com and www.harvesthousepublishers.com.

Harvest House is among the top ten Christian publishing companies, publishing more than 135 books each year and carrying a strong backlist of more than 1,200 titles. More than 140 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels and additional millions have sold in more than 75 different languages.

Contact: Christianne Debysingh, Harvest House Publishers, 888-468-4108, cdebysingh@harvesthousepublishers.com

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Print quality images to accompany this press release are available in digital format. Available images are: cover art, author photo, Harvest House logo.

Evangelical Christian Publishers Association names Lysa TerKeurst’s Embraced devotional as Christian Book of the Year®

(Nashville, TN) May 3, 2019—HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) is honored to have both its publishing groups, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, recognized by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) at the 2019 Christian Book Awards.

During its annual Leadership Summit in Chicago, IL, ECPA announced the 2019 recipients of their Christian Book Awards. Lysa TerKeurst was awarded the night’s top honor when Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God is Holding You Close (Thomas Nelson) was named the 2019 Christian Book of the Year. Nabeel Qureshi was posthumously honored when his book Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: Third Edition with Bonus Content, New Reflections (Zondervan) won in the Audio category.

HCCP was also recognized with three Platinum Sales Awards, which are awarded to titles that surpassed one million copies sold. Recipients for 2019 included Mark Batterson’s Circle Maker (Zondervan), Sarah Young’s Jesus Calling: 365 Devotions for Kids (Thomas Nelson), and Bob Goff’s Love Does (Thomas Nelson).

“It’s an honor to have our authors and publishing teams recognized by the ECPA for their efforts to reach readers around with world with meaningful content,” says Mark Schoenwald, CEO and president of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “We are proud to partner with authors like Lysa who help further our mission to inspire the world with content that honors Jesus Christ.”

“To have Nabeel’s work honored by the ECPA is a testament to the legacy he left by sharing the powerful story of his conversion from Islam to Christianity,” says Stanley N. Gundry, senior v-p and publisher for Zondervan Reflective. “It’s a privilege to continue to steward his message and allow his witness for God to live on through his writing.”

Additionally, David Moberg, senior v-p and group publisher for HCCP, was honored with the ECPA Chair Award for the outstanding contributions he has made to the industry throughout his career. Moberg plans to retire this year, effective at the end of June.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises both Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups in addition to Olive Tree Bible Software.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.  Also home to BibleGateway.com, the world’s largest Christian website, and FaithGateway.com, an online community dedicated to helping people grow in their faith. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

The Agustin Agency and Author Bárbara Palacios—Miss Universe Titleholder—Partner with Art College to Provide Rare Publishing Opportunity for Young Artists

Nashville, Tenn.—The Agustin Agency, a global literary agency that connects authors with audiences around the world, along with author and Miss Universe titleholder Bárbara Palacios presented a $1,000 scholarship to Nossi College of Art alumnus Mikal Barker on Friday, April 26.

Barker received the scholarship as the winner of an illustration contest initiated by The Agustin Agency to find an illustrator for Palacios’ upcoming children’s book series. In addition to the scholarship, Barker’s art will be included in Palacios’ book proposal, providing him a unique opportunity to have his work in front of major publishers.

“I’m a firm believer in supporting young people with these types of programs,” said Lluvia Agustin, who founded The Agustin Agency in July last year and represents Palacios as her literary agent. “When you win something, big or small,” she continued, “it boosts your self-esteem.” Agustin, who spent twenty years in the publishing industry before launching her own agency, said she is passionate about helping young people advance in their field. “It’s a way of giving back,” she said.

Nossi All Access, a program at Nossi College of Art that connects students with professional opportunities, worked with Agustin and Palacios to facilitate the contest. All illustration majors and alumni were invited to submit sketches and fully executed illustrations to exhibit how they would portray the characters and themes in Palacios’ children’s series that focuses on how to overcome obstacles and embrace who you truly are.

“This is a great opportunity for our students and recent graduates to work on a project of this size and importance,” said Cyrus Vatandoost, executive vice president of the college. “Through our Nossi All Access program, Nossi College gives students a glimpse into real-world timelines and deadlines, so they can compete in the professional world.”

The quality of Barker’s work stood out to Palacios, who said she was drawn to Barker’s use of color and his portrayal of the characters.

“When I saw Mikal Barker’s art, it brought tears to my eyes,” said Palacios. “I thought, ‘Yes, that’s it. They will fit my stories.’”

Agustin hopes to be able to carry out more contests like this, giving young artists a chance to illustrate for books or book proposals.

“More than the scholarship money, simply winning a contest like this can have a huge impact on a young artist” Agustin said. “The agency and I represent some of the best authors we know, and we are committed to empowering the artists and writers of the future.”

The Agustin Agency is a literary agency that utilizes a comprehensive set of services that gets authors the results they deserve. They work with publishers all over the world to get their books translated and distributed internationally. The Agustin Agency focuses on the quality of the content first and because of that approach, they are able to prepare proposals for publishers that are really worth their time and attention. To learn more, visit TheAgustinAgency.com.

Nossi College of Art offers professional, creative associate and bachelor’s degrees in Web & Interactive Design, Graphic Design Media, Photography, Video & Film and Commercial Illustration.

Bárbara Palacios is a speaker, a published author, the host of the podcast El Universo de Inspiración, and the winner of the Miss Universe contest of 1986.

Media inquiries: Lluvia Agustin, Info@TheAgustinAgency.com, 615-562-1036

PHOTO (from left):  Libby Funke Luff, Media Manager Nossi College; Kendall Whiteside, Communications Coordinator; Mikal Barker, Artist and Alumnus; Miss Universe Title Holder Barbara Palacios; Lluvia Agustin, General Director The Agustin Agency;  Cyrus Vatandoost, Executive Vice President of Nossi College

Uhrichsville, OH—New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter has reached another historic milestone in her decades-long writing career. With the help of her bestselling new Prayer Jars series, she has officially exceeded the 11 million mark in copies sold.

Brunstetter is undeniably one of the most prolific authors in both the Christian and mainstream markets with a published book list that exceeds 100 titles. A number of her works have frequented the nation’s most prestigious bestseller lists including the NY Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, ECPA, and more. Most recently, The Hope Jar, book 1 in her Prayer Jars series, has remained on the ECPA fiction bestsellers list 8 months straight since its August 2018 release.

Considered a leading expert on Amish culture, Brunstetter has used her vast research of Amish life and her many friendships with practicing Amish to create true-to-life stories that give her readers a refreshing taste of the simple life. In addition to her writing talents, much of Brunstetter’s success can be attributed to her accurate portrayal of the Amish and her deep connection and dedication to her readers.

June 2019 will mark the simultaneous release of two brand-new Brunstetter books. The Brides of the Big Valley, co-authored with family members Jean and Richelle Brunstetter, is a three-in-one collection that takes place in a real, but virtually unknown Amish community in Pennsylvania called the Big Valley. Also releasing in June is an Amish themed cookbook titled Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook, which includes authentic Amish recipes for events and gatherings.

Please join Barbour Publishing in recognizing this wonderful achievement by posting a note of congratulations on Wanda’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/WandaBrunstetterFans.

To learn more about Wanda E. Brunstetter, visit her website: www.wandabrunstetter.com.

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

[NASHVILLE, TENN., April 29, 2019—] According to the Alzheimer’s Association, an approximate 5.8 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and over 16 million Americans provide unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias¹.

B&H will release “Coffee with Mom: Caring for a Parent with Dementia” from pastor and author Mike Glenn, a book about Glenn’s mother’s fight with dementia and his constant struggle of wanting to help her but not always knowing how (June 1, 2019, B&H Publishing).

During her four-year battle with Alzheimer’s and dementia, Glenn often had morning coffee with his mother in the nursing home. He published quotes from their sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking conversations on Twitter and found that his stories deeply resonated with others going through similar journeys with their loved ones.

Glenn says writing “Coffee with Mom” was one of the ways he dealt with his own grief, but he also wrote it in hopes that readers walking a similar journey will find a few laughs, realize they’re not alone and find the courage to do the best they can.

“I wrote ‘Coffee with Mom’ because my mom is funny and tough. Growing up with her made me the man I am; taking care of her was the most difficult and joyful experience of my life,” Glenn said. “She continued to fashion me into the man she wanted me to be, even when she was too sick to make sense of it all. Come on the journey with my mom, and you’ll find your own journey there as well.”

Glenn is the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tenn., which has grown to a church with eight campuses and more than 11,000 members under Glenn’s leadership since 1991. He is the author of two books, “In Real Time” and “The Gospel of Yes.”

B&H is supporting “Coffee with Mom” with a targeted media campaign, trailer video and digital content offerings. For more information, visit bhpublishing.com.

“Caring for an aging parent, and their caregivers as well, is an issue we don’t discuss with one another nearly often enough,” said Devin Maddox, Trade Book Publisher for B&H. “Mike’s journey has been an encouragement to so many, letting us know we are not alone.”

Mike Glenn is the senior pastor of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tenn.. Under his leadership since 1991, the church has grown to a church with eight campuses and a membership of over 11,000. He graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. Glenn has written two books, “In Real Time” and “The Gospel of Yes,” and writes frequently on his blog, MikeGlennOnline.com, and for Patheos.com. He is married to Jeannie, his wife and best friend of 37 years. They have twin sons, Chris (Deb) and Craig (Nan), and three granddaughters, Mackenzie, Rowen and Brooklyn.

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.

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1. Source: https://www.alz.org/alzheimers-dementia/facts-figures

Peabody, Massachusetts, April 23, 2019:  Christianbook.com is honored to have been awarded the 2018 Bizrate Insights Circle of Excellence Platinum Award, which recognizes excellence in customer service and satisfaction among the nation’s online retailers.

Bizrate Insights, a Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; Meredith.com) company and one of the largest sources of consumer-generated reviews of online retailers in the United States, announced the winners of its 19th annual Bizrate Circle of Excellence Award on March 12, 2019. The distinction recognizes retailers that received outstanding online customer satisfaction scores across a one-year period, determined by millions of verified online buyers. Christianbook.com earned the highest distinction, the Platinum Award. The Platinum Award designation is awarded to retailers that achieved the highest scores among members of the Circle of Excellence across all eight key performance indicators – Overall Satisfaction, Product Selection, Check-out, Ease of Finding, Repurchase Intent, Product Met Expectations, Customer Support and Satisfaction, and On-Time Delivery. Christianbook.com is among an elite group of online retailers who have achieved Platinum status multiple times, this being the 18^th Platinum Award for the company.

“We’re thrilled to receive this award, and we’re extremely grateful for our customers and for their continued feedback and support. The comments we receive from Bizrate Insights are a valuable resource for improving our overall customer experience,” said Ray Hendrickson, President/CEO of Christianbook. “This Circle of Excellence Award demonstrates our commitment to delivering the highest level of customer service, and the fact that we’ve been able to achieve Platinum level for 18 of the 19 years that this award has been presented is a tribute to our great staff and the exceptional service they provide to our customers on a daily basis.”

In 1978, two teenage brothers started Christian Book Distributors, Inc., which would become the world’s largest distributor of Christian products. Through its online presence, Christianbook.com, and 65 unique catalogs, the company offers the lowest possible prices and maintains an inventory exceeding 500,000 items. The wide selection includes books, Bibles, DVDs, music, homeschool resources, toys and games, gifts, academic resources, and church supplies. Christianbook.com provides additional information on its website, including author profiles and interviews, detailed product descriptions and excerpts, music clips, articles, reviews, specialized search engines, and video content. The company provides not only great value but also exceptional customer service and support. In addition to receiving the Bizrate Circle of Excellence Platinum Award for 18 years, Christianbook is also an eight-time recipient of the Boston Globe’s Top Places to Work award. Employing over 500 people from the surrounding communities, Christianbook is a proud supporter of the City of Peabody and many local charities.

For more information, please contact Bridget Timmins at (978) 573-2201 or btimmins@christianbook.com