ECPA PubU to debut “Emerging Leaders track” to develop, connect, and inspire future industry leaders

TEMPE, ARIZ., October 7, 2019 – ECPA has announced the recipients of the Emerging Leader scholarship program for ECPA PubU, the industry’s training and networking event for Christian publishing professionals.  Nominations were made by Christian publishers with a goal to invest in up-and-coming talent in their companies.

The scholarship program is sponsored by NPD Book and ECPA, who worked together to pilot the program four years ago.  So far, 35 emerging leaders have gone through the program, with 14 more now added this year representing 12 publishing houses.

These leaders will also participate in the Emerging Leader track at PubU, led by Randall Payleitner, Associate Publisher at Moody Publishers.  “We have developed six mini-sessions on the first day of PubU, taught by industry leaders, that will orient and inspire those newer to the industry,” states Payleitner.  “This is an excellent opportunity for newer publishing professionals to connect with others in their same stage and see their role within a bigger missional context.”

ECPA President and CEO Stan Jantz adds: “The Emerging Leaders program is critically important, not only to PubU, but also to the entire Christian publishing industry. Through their excellent work and dedication to the craft, these outstanding publishing professionals are helping the publishers they represent to create and innovate at the highest level.  We are grateful to the publishers who nominated these excellent candidates.”

ECPA PubU will be held November 5-6 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, and feature more than 40 workshops to choose among in six publishing topics: Digital Marketing, Design, Editorial, Reader Engagement & Publicity, Data, Delivery, Workflow, along with the track for Emerging Leaders.  The opening plenary session will feature Rabbit Room founder, musician, and author Andrew Peterson, with the closing keynote headlined by NYT bestselling author and Proverbs 31 president, Lysa TerKeurst.

We congratulate the following 2019 recipients of the PubU scholarship for Emerging Leaders:

Michael Belcher is the Marketing Manager for Lion Hudson Limited in the UK.  He is a talented marketer who is eager to learn and discuss new ideas.  His positive attitude and enthusiasm is easily transmitted to his team.  Michael is engaged in the process of reinvigorating our marketing plans and has much to offer Christian publishing throughout his career ahead.  He will greatly benefit from PubU in several ways, which will also benefit his team and our company.

 

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Caroline Clark is a Marketing Specialist for LifeWay.  As a new employee with a successful academic record, Caroline displays a high aptitude to learn, grow, and contribute to the growth of our brand and industry.  Providing experiences and opportunities for growth through PubU will allow her to contribute at a higher level to our organization, and to the mission of the industry.

 

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Karin DeHaven is an Academic Publicist for InterVarsity Press.  She brings a wealth of knowledge about the inner workings of the theological academy to her work.  She holds an MA from Wheaton College and has also worked in accounting and as the assistant to the publisher for IVP.  She is deeply committed to her church and is training (again) for the Chicago Marathon.

 

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Erin Floyd is a children’s development editor for the United Methodist Publishing House. She is a grounded, thoughtful leader who challenges her teammates to think deeply and theologically about everything we create.  Her creativity, drive, and ability to collaborate inspires those around her. Erin’s future in Christian publishing is bright.  She is a budding leader who will benefit from her first PubU.

 

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Pete Ford is the Web Services Coordinator for Apricot Services.  He will graduate from Calvin University this winter and has worked for Apricot Services for five years.  He excels at each project handed to him, including building websites and developing backend technological resources for digital platforms. Pete is also an accomplished writer and he will be a lasting and influential voice in Christian publishing for years to come.

 

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Andrea Garcia is a Marketing Manager for Tyndale House Publishers, serving fiction authors.  She is the marketing champion for our “Crazy for Fiction” channel, plus she manages new book releases each season.  Andrea brings energy, enthusiasm, and a host of marketing experience in social media.  She is a versatile, strategic marketing manager to champion our fiction product line.

 

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Ben Howard is an Editor for the United Methodist Publishing House.  He possesses unique skills in observing and evaluating culture through a finely tuned biblical lens.  He is a lifelong learner, always reading, studying, and engaging with others in meaningful dialogue.  He is respectful of diverse opinions and open to differing viewpoints. He is also an excellent writer, and we are fortunate to utilize his insights and talents as we design and develop Christian products.

 

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Maila Kue is an Events Marketing Coordinator for InterVarsity Press. She is young, talented (started her own podcast!), new to publishing, and eager to learn. Because of her love for books, authors, and spiritual formation, Maila wants to apply her marketing experience and skills to Christian publishing. PubU will give her a wider exposure to publishing and broaden her perspective of the industry.

 

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Chelsea Moore is a customer service representative with Baker Publishing Group and also works as a freelance editor for Our Daily Bread Ministries.  She is a self-starter and has good insights and editorial skills.  She has worked in Christian publishing for two years and the PubU emerging leader program will expand her experience, skills, connections and industry knowledge.

 

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Breonna Rostic is a marketing manager and copywriter for Our Daily Bread Ministries.  She is a hardworking and creative marketer and writer who has contributed to the Our Daily Bread devotional, book compilation, and has collaborated on marketing promotions.  PubU would broaden her publishing experience, which would be a benefit to not only her, but to our company, and industry.

  

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Jackeline Saldaña is the Product Development and Acquisitions Manager for Editorial Portavoz.  Her experience at Portavoz has given her an excellent understanding of the Spanish speaking world in her role of acquiring and developing products for that market. Her exceptional public relations skills have been key for working closely with ministries and other partners in developing specialized products to meet their needs as well as those of the general market. Her most recent projects are: “A Woman After God’s Own Heart Bible,” and the “True Woman Devotional Bible”—both first published in Spanish.

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Abigail Stocker is an editor for Lexham Press.  She has grown substantially in her role with the Lexham team over the past four years and is greatly trusted and respected by our editorial team.  She is a talented wordsmith and copy editor, the go-to person for style and English usage, and an accomplished typesetter.  She is now helping to lead our production editorial team.

 

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Mary Helen Thompson is a production assistant with Moody Publishers.  She started working at Moody after her graduation from Taylor University last year and quickly gained an understanding of our complex processes.  She now manages a segment of our reprints and has a passion for editorial.  PubU will offer her a broader understanding of industry trends, management perspectives, training and networking, to prepare her as a future industry leader.

 

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Sarah Welch is an Assistant Editor for Hendrickson Publishers.  She graduated from Gordon College in 2018 with a B.A. in English Literature and Language. As a recent college graduate, she has exhibited exceptional editorial aptitude in her first year in our company.  She has worked on scholarly Hendrickson titles and a variety of Rose Publishing products. While at Hendrickson Publishers, she has proofread over twenty books, acted as co-project manager on two Hendrickson titles, and written blog posts featuring new titles for the Hendrickson Publishers blog.

 

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About PubU
ECPA PubU is the industry’s “Publishing University” for Christian publishing professionals, taught by experts and industry leaders, and considered the premier training ground for the industry. In-depth sessions are offered in Marketing, Publicity, Reader Engagement, Editorial, Design, Data, Delivery & Workflow, and will debut a track for Emerging Leaders in 2019. PubU will be held November 5-6 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee and will feature 40+ community sessions and a plenary session with Andrew Peterson and keynote by Lysa TerKeurst. Full program details and registration are at ECPAPubU.org.

About ECPA
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

About NPD Book
NPD Book is the market leader in data and insights for the $24B US Publishing Industry. Through our portfolio of products and services including BookScan, PubTrack Digital, and Books & Consumers, along with our analysts’ unique industry expertise, we help our clients understand their performance, their consumers, and their opportunities and grow their businesses in today’s rapidly evolving retail landscape. NPD.com

Media Contacts:  Stan Jantz, ECPA President & CEO, sjantz@ecpa.org or 480-966-3998
Sheri Toomb, Marketing Manager, stoomb@ecpa.org or 480-966-3998

 

CAROL STREAM, Ill.— September 23, 2019— Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) is pleased to announce that four of its authors have been named finalists for the 2019 Christy Award® (www.ChristyAwards.com) by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association.

• Carla Laureano (@carlalaureano) is one of three finalists in the “Contemporary Romance” category for Brunch at Bittersweet Café;
• Tara Johnson’s (@TaraMinistry) Engraved on the Heart is one of three finalists for “First Novel”;
• Allison Pittman (@allisonkpittman) is one of four finalists in “Historical” for The Seamstress; and
• Matt Mikalatos (@mattmikalatos) is one of three finalists in “Young Adult” for The Crescent Stone.

Karen Watson, publisher, shared, “We are delighted to see our Tyndale authors get this important recognition for their work. The Christy Awards is a valuable avenue for well-deserved exposure and encouragement for a wide range of authors and categories in the fiction space.”

Winners will be revealed at the Christy Award Gala on November 6 in the new George Shinn Event Center at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. The Christy Award® celebrates excellence in the art of Christian fiction and honors the power of faith in story.

Linda Howard, associate publisher, said, “We are thrilled to have Matt Mikalatos and his book The Crescent Stone as finalists in the prestigious Christy Awards. We are grateful for the continued recognition and support the Christy Awards provide for authors and publishers.”

For more information on Tyndale titles, please visit www.tyndale.com.

The Christy Award® is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999 and is named for Catherine Marshall’s novel Christy, which has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 1967. ECPA assumed ownership and administration of the award in 2017 to focus and grow the unique opportunity of fiction in Christian publishing. ChristyAwards.com

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international nonprofit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

Tyndale House Publishers, founded in 1962, is the world’s largest privately held Christian publisher of books, Bibles, and digital media. Tyndale has published many New York Times bestsellers. The largest portion of its profit goes to the nonprofit Tyndale House Foundation, which makes grants to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. Tyndale was founded to publish Living Letters, which later comprised part of The Living Bible, a contemporary paraphrase of the Bible that became a global publishing phenomenon. Tyndale now publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), the translation of choice for millions of people.

TYNDALE and Tyndale’s quill logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Book Desperately Needed After a Wave of Pastoral Deaths and a Suicide Spike in Navy and Marine Corps

Re-issued book by Welby O’Brien Gives Practical Information for Those Suffering from PTSD and Depression

Portland, OR – Deep River Books has announced that Welby O’Brien’s celebrated book Love Our Vets: Restoring Hope for Families of Veterans with PTSD is being offered as a free Kindle download on September 27 and 28, the final weekend of Suicide Prevention Month.   

O’Brien says, “Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is rampant, plaguing millions in the US alone, along with all those who care about them. It can affect anyone, not just the military community. For every one person battling PTSD, many others are deeply impacted by secondary PTSD in the wake of the trauma.”

An authority on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and grief, O’Brien’s book is for caregivers, families, loved ones, and veterans themselves who are struggling to survive the daunting challenges of trauma. The book was birthed after she married a veteran who suffers as a result of his combat experience in Vietnam. Love Our Vets draws from O’Brien’s extensive research and her personal understanding of the issues, and seeks to: Reaffirm, by answering more than 60 questions most asked by families struggling with PTSD; Replenish, by helping caregivers understand and meet their own needs; and Reflect, sharing the hope and wisdom of others who have faced these same struggles.

O’Brien explains, “Although there is no simple single prevention for suicide, as trauma survivors get the help and support they need, their symptoms of PTSD become less severe. Suicidal thoughts are more common than we like to think.”  This year, the news has been plagued by a wave of heartbreaking stories of pastors, actors, and other prominent figures taking their own lives. This week, the US Navy tragically reported three unrelated suicides on one aircraft carrier alone. (Read New York Times article here.)

“The urgent need is rapidly rising among both military and civilians, and needs to be addressed.”

Love Our Vets has been endorsed by numerous veteran organizations; the National Alliance on Mental Illness; private counselors; many VA chaplains and mental health leads; and hundreds of families who have been given hope, knowing they are not alone. Love Our Vets’ deeply relevant subject matter has resulted in an online community serving families of those battling posttraumatic stress. This PTSD Family Support network includes a rapidly growing Facebook group made up of over 40,000 individuals, as well as an online resource and support network (www.loveourvets.org). More importantly, it has grown to encourage, educate, and inspire families and friends who are living with relentless challenges in the dark and lonely world of PTSD.

Love Our Vets: Restoring Hope for Families of Veterans with PTSD is published by Deep River Books, and is on Amazon and wherever books are sold. The free Kindle download of the book will be available Sept. 27 and 28^th at https://www.amazon.com/Love-Our-Vets-Restoring-Families/dp/1940269598/

For more about Welby O’Brien and all of her books go to:  https://welbyo.com/

Contact:  For more information, review copies, or to schedule an interview, contact Lori Heiselman, FrontGate Media, 714-553-5181, Lori@FrontGateMedia.com

October 1, 2019 — This month Paraclete Press is pleased to release five recent, bestselling titles into the audiobook market, with plans to release a total of 20 audiobooks during its 2019/2020 publishing season. Paraclete audiobooks will be available on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes, with plans to expand to other digital platforms by the end of October.

The first five releases include two read by the authors:

This Child of Faith: Raising a Spiritual Child in a Secular World — Authors Sophfronia Scott and Tain Gregory tell the story of how the horrific school shooting at Sandyhook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut impacted their family’s faith. “Frankly, this is one of the best books about faith formation I’ve read.” —Christian Century

Glory Happening: Finding the Divine in Everyday Places — Author Kaitlin B. Curtice reads her collection of stories and prayers that remind listeners to take a closer look at their everyday circumstances and find God there. “A stunner…every sentence is a feast for the senses.” —Rachel Held Evans

We Need Each Other by Jean Vanier — In April 2008, Jean Vanier led a simple retreat in Nyahururu, Kenya, a place recently shattered by violence between people, and bloodshed. This book comprises the talks that Vanier gave: What Are You Looking For?; The Cry of the Poor; The Feast Is Ready; To Live in Unity; Be Open; Encountering the Other; The Washing of the Feet. “We Need Each Other is a treasure. Though these lectures were first delivered ten years ago, and halfway around the world, they couldn’t be timelier. They are timely because they are timeless.” —Englewood Review of Books

Bruised and Wounded by Ronald Rolheiser — Recent events have shown again how suicide touches all of us—often when we least expect it. But how to unpack the grief that follows such a painful, and often stigmatized, death? Fr. Rolheiser offers hope and a new way of understanding death by suicide. “This book offers hope and healing to those who have experienced the loss of a loved one or anyone trying to understand the topic.” —Catholic News Service

Domestic Monastery by Ronald Rolheiser — A monastery is a place set apart to learn that powerlessness brings blessings and that time is not ours, but God’s. Rolheiser shows how our domestic life at home and at work can, like life in a monastery, teach us these things.

Contact:  For more information, interviews, or digital review copies contact Rachel McKendree, rachelm@paracletepress.com or 1-800-451-5006 ext 301

Website: www.paracletepress.com

Grand Rapids, MI—Rachael Denhollander, the sexual assault victim who helped bring about the arrest, trial, and conviction of sports doctor Larry Nassar, drew a crowd of about 275 on Tuesday, Sept. 17, to Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Mich. This was the first public event at which she spoke and signed copies of her books.

DenHollander is author of the memoir What Is a Girl Worth? My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics, as well as the children’s picture book How Much Is a Little Girl Worth? Both released on Sept. 17.

The ticketed event was in Q&A format, with Denhollander answering questions posed by a moderator as well as questions texted by the audience.

“We were excited to try this format for Denhollander’s visit, and it worked very well,” said bookstore manager Sue Smith. “The audience was very engaged and Rachael did a great job answering tough questions about how to report sexual abuse, how churches can handle abuse issues, and what it takes to heal from sexual abuse.”

A total of 225 tickets were sold, with an additional 50 special guests and some drop-ins in attendance. Sales for both of her books totaled 250, and she signed books for more than an hour following the Q&A.

“We were delighted with sales numbers and the turn-out for this nationally-publicized author,” said Smith. “Our store is becoming a destination for authors and their publishers looking for a great venue, eager audiences, and excellent sales numbers.”

For more information about Baker Book House, the largest independent Christian bookstore in North America, visit www.bakerbookhouse.com.

About Baker Book House

Baker Book House was founded in 1939, when Herman Baker started the store with 500 books from his personal library. Baker is known world-wide for a deep selection of Christian titles, including new, used, and bargain books. Visit www.bakerbookhouse.com for more information.

Contact: Sue Smith, Bookstore Manager, 616-957-3110, sue.smith@bakerbookhouse.com

Two Current Titles Recognized as Bestsellers

Eugene, Oregon (September 30, 2019)—Harvest House celebrates a successful season with two bestselling books, paving the way for major releases in 2020.

Beholding and Becoming by Ruth Chou Simons hit two bestseller lists, including a #8 position on the Wall Street Journal “Hardcover Nonfiction” list, as well as #7 on the Publishers Weekly “Hardcover Nonfiction” list.

With more than 850 pieces of stunning original artwork, Beholding and Becoming is an intimate exploration of the many ways we can experience God more fully in our ordinary lives. “My desire with this project,” said Simons, “was to surprise and wow the reader by providing an innovative way to become what we behold by fixing our eyes on what Scripture ultimately calls us to—engaging with God’s eternal purposes.”

Ruth Chou Simons continues to be a favorite among readers; her previous title GraceLaced won the 2018 Christian Book Award® in the Devotion & Gift category.

Risen Motherhood by Emily Jensen and Laura Wifler charted on the Publishers Weekly list as the #6 “Hardcover Nonfiction” bestseller for the period ending September 7, 2019.

In their debut book, sisters-in-law Jensen and Wifler—cohosts of the chart-topping Risen Motherhood podcast—share how the gospel transforms every facet of motherhood, from the mundane moments to the big decisions. “As women with a firsthand understanding of the pressures moms face, we desire for Risen Motherhood to bring them hope and freedom in every aspect of motherhood, equipping them to flourish right where they’re at,” said Jensen and Wifler.

“We’re honored to see our authors continue to connect in meaningful ways with their readers,” said Bob Hawkins, president of Harvest House Publishers. “We look forward to bringing more life-changing books to the marketplace.”

New titles coming in 2020 from the publisher include In Unison by CCM artist Jeremy Camp and wife Adrienne Camp, plus new titles from Amir Tsarfati, Tony Evans, James Merritt, Donna VanLiere, Gloria Furman, Naomi Zacharias McNeil, among many others.

For more information about Harvest House, visit www.harvesthousepublishers.com.

About the Publisher

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

“The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional”

[NASHVILLE, TENN., September 30, 2019—] Bestselling author Nik Ripken, the world’s leading expert on Christians in persecution, especially in Muslim contexts, will release his first devotional this fall, “The Insanity of Sacrifice: A 90-Day Devotional” (October 1, B&H Publishing). Ripken, who has been mentored by believers in persecution throughout his 30-year missionary career, offers 90 devotionals to help readers align their hearts with God’s and see the role sacrifice plays in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ.

“It can be argued that the first two books served as windows to the world where the persecution of Christians was found to be normal. ‘The Insanity of God’ graphically illustrates His miraculous activity among believers in persecution,” Ripken said.

“‘The Insanity of Obedience’ dares to suggest that it’s believers in persecution who model for us how to become wise partners with God in the world’s hardest places. Yet, ‘The Insanity of Sacrifice’ is a mirror. The reader is not allowed to remain a spectator but is personally ushered into the presence of God and challenged with the cost of following Jesus. ‘The Insanity of Sacrifice’ is a dangerous book as it demands that we risk everything for the joy of carrying our cross as we follow Jesus.”

Ripken and his wife served primarily in North Africa and the Middle East and conducted extensive research on the persecuted church and on Muslim-background believers in approximately 72 countries. His books, “The Insanity of God” and “The Insanity of Obedience,” have collectively impacted over 200,000 people, and “The Insanity of God Movie” was released to limited theatres in 2016 (LifeWay Films).

Through Ripken’s experience working with the persecuted church, he has seen that the methods God uses to accomplish his purposes are often difficult for us to understand. Though Christians have read about God’s unusual methods in the Bible, they are often startled when they experience these ways firsthand. However, Ripken argues, nowhere do we see the role sacrifice plays more than in the activity of God.

By reading “The Insanity of Sacrifice,” Ripken hopes readers will discover that their sacrifice can lead others, across the street and across the oceans, to discover new resurrection life in Christ.

“Sometimes God makes it very clear that he’s at work, and you’re blessed to simply be a part of it,” said Taylor Combs, Associate Publisher of Christian Living and Leadership. “We’ve seen that in ‘The Insanity of God’ and ‘The Insanity of Obedience,” and we’re humbled to continue to be a part of what he’s doing through ‘The Insanity of Sacrifice.’”

B&H is supporting the launch of “The Insanity of Sacrifice” with a national media campaign, content and advertising campaign, resources to help families understand practical sacrifice, church events and speaking promotion through Ripken’s ministry.

For more information, visit NikRipken.com.

Nik Ripken is the world’s leading expert on the persecuted church in Muslim contexts. He is a missions veteran of 30 years, having served primarily in North Africa and the Middle East. He is the bestselling author of “The Insanity of God” and “The Insanity of Obedience.” He and his wife have conducted extensive research on the persecuted church and on Muslim-background believers in approximately 72 countries.

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.

Contact: Jenaye White, Senior Publicist, jenaye.white@lifeway.com

David C Cook Thrilled with World-Wide Response to Chan’s Call for Church Renewal

Colorado Springs, CO, September 30, 2019 – The best-selling book, Letters to the Church by Francis Chan was awarded the 2019 Christian Life Book of the Year by the UK CRT (Christian Resources Together) Annual Retreat, Conference and Exhibit in the Hayes Conference Centre in Swanwick, Derbyshire on September 16, 2019. This annual award is given to outstanding book in the UK in the Christian Life category.

Ian Matthews, as Director of UK Book Publishing for David C Cook, was there to accept the award. “This is a fantastic recognition of the transforming impact of Letters to the Church and Francis Chan,” says Matthews. “We are honored to partner with him in challenging the church world-wide.”

CRT stand for ‘Christian Resources Together’ and is the annual retreat, conference and exhibition for Christian publishers, retailers, distributors and authors.

Cedar Tree UK is the organizer of CRT Annual Retreat and the visionary behind its annual awards. CRT’s goal is to provide support, fellowship, training and any appropriate business opportunities for those working with in the Christian Retailers and Suppliers trade in the UK. https://www.christianresourcestogether.co.uk/

Francis Chan is the author of Crazy Love, Forgotten God, Erasing Hell, Multiply, and You and Me Forever. He currently plants churches in the San Francisco area. Francis and his wife, Lisa, are raising their seven children in Northern California. www.CrazyLove.org

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. www.DavidCCook.org

Contact: Jana Muntsinger, MMPR, 832.247.9308, jana@mmpublicrelations.com

Kirkbride Bible Co. Inc., CEO and Chairman of the Board, John Marshall Gage, age 82 peacefully departed from his long and full life on July 26, 2019 in Largo, FL and was formerly of Indianapolis, IN. He was born January 11, 1937 in Dallas, Texas to the late John H. Gage and Espicea (Ross) Gage.  His career in business began in 1960 with the B. B. Kirkbride Bible Co., Inc where he became Director of Advertising and Sales Manager, 1970. Treasurer, 1980. Executive Vice President, 1988-2007. President and CEO, 1991-2007. In 2008 he continued as Chairman of the Kirkbride Board of Directors.

During his long and successful career with Kirkbride he served from 1978-1980 as Director and Advisor for the National Association of Credit Managers Book Publishers Division of the National Christian Book Publishers Credit Association. In two terms from 1980-1982 and 1985-1987 he served as Board Member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. In 1983-1986 he served as a Director on the CBA Exhibitor’s Association. In 1965 he founded Ga-Son Enterprises –now Ross-Gage, Inc. indexing Company and continued as part owner and officer until 2004. In 1984 he became part owner, Director and Secretary of Liberty Book & Bible Manufacturers. In 1986 he became a Trustee of the National Bible Association in New York City that Sponsor’s National Bible Week each year at Thanksgiving. He served as Secretary of the NBA until 2015.  During his time at Kirkbride he and his wife Sonja traveled the world over with business friends to Moscow, Beijing China, London, Paris, Florence, Venice and Rome Italy, Frankfort, Germany, Australia, Singapore, and Hong Kong, attending Christian Book Fairs and promoting the Thompson Chain-Reference Bible.

As a devoted family man, he spent many hours and days with his two sons and five grandchildren attending their music and sports activities. He made friends with everyone he met and enjoyed life to its fullest every day. Marshall is survived by his loving wife Sonja of 59 years. His sons David Gage and his wife Diana, and Michael Gage and his wife Trish. His grandchildren Rachael Gage Jones (Lynn) and Ryan Gage, children of David and Diana. John Michael Gage, Jacob Gage and Emma Gage, children of Michael and Trish. Brother-in-Law Ronald Cinnamon and his wife Linda, niece Julie Christian, (Andy) and nephews Greg Cinnamon and Demian Gage, (Julie) and niece Leah Gage. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Ross Gage and Stan Gage.

Obituary