Building Radically Different Relationships

Champ Thornton helps middle schoolers use God’s word to untangle the twists and turns of life 

Greensboro, NC – As adults it’s hard to figure out how to live as Christians in a morally murky and increasingly hostile world, so how do we teach the next generation to develop relationships in the world in which we live? There are so many areas of life to navigate when growing up, but in his new book, Radically Different: A Student’s Guide to Community (New Growth Press/August 5, 2019), best-selling author Champ Thornton provides an insightful guide for middle schoolers and young teens who want to live radically even though life and relationships are complicated.

Radically Different equips middle schoolers to untangle the twists of life by presenting them with in-depth study of good, bad, and new—creation, fall, and redemption. By understanding these three concepts, students can discover their unique identity in Christ. Living through the lenses of good, bad, and new makes them radically human, radically biblical, and radically different.

“To get an accurate picture of life in this world, we must simultaneously view all of life through three lenses. The first lens provides the view that originally God made everything very good (Genesis 1). The next lens reveals this good world is now also bad, broken and tainted by sin (Genesis 3). The third clarifies Jesus came to make new everything that was broken by sin (Romans 8). Creation, Fall, Redemption—good, bad, new. If you leave out any of these lenses, you will neglect some aspect of reality God intends for us and our children to embrace,” Thornton writes.

Radically Different consists of thirteen lessons and is available in both a student’s and teacher’s guide. The teacher’s guide provides the outline and activities for the weekly group discussion of the material. The student’s guide (to be completed before the group discussion) provides three devotionals per week that can be completed in ten minutes each.

Radically Different doesn’t aim to be exhaustive or provide a topical dictionary of issues, but to help middle school students begin to think biblically about life and relationships. Each lesson explores how to navigate a different relationship such as parents, friends, siblings, difficult/annoying people, and individuals within the church.

“People often decry modern politics and say that the real problem is culture. They’ll say that culture lies upstream of politics. Consequently, the need is to change/transform the culture. But my contention is that what lies upstream of both politics and culture is the next generation,” shares Thornton. “This study aims to pass along a biblical worldview regarding relationships and community, in order to help the next generation see the world through Bible lenses, and change the world, one person at a time.”

“It’s not easy for Christian young people today who want to live in a way that’s pleasing to God. However, Champ Thornton has provided an invaluable resource to help middle school students be distinctive. Radically Different is a practical hands-on study offering solid insights and biblical guidance for relating to others,” praises Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family.

Radically Different: A Student’s Guide to Community
(Student/Teacher Guide)
by Champ Thornton
August 5, 2019 / Retail Price: $13.99
Print ISBN (Student Guide) 978-1-948130-17-2
Print ISBN (Teacher Guide) 978-1-64507-032-0
Religion / Christian Education / Children & Youth

Champ Thornton is associate pastor at Ogletown Baptist Church in Newark, Delaware. He has pastored in South Carolina and served as director of SOMA, a ministry training school in Columbus, Ohio.  Before arriving in Newark, Thornton lived most of his life in the Carolinas. After seminary, he pastored at Grace Bible Church near Spartanburg, South Carolina.  He is host of “In the Word, On the Go,” a ten-minute podcast for families and is the author of several books, including The Radical Book for Kids, Why Do We Say Good Night?, Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation, and his latest, Radically Different: A Student’s Guide to Community.  Thornton enjoys hanging out with his family and friends, drinking coffee, listening to music, doing genealogical research, and reading theology, biographies, and fiction. Thornton and his wife, Robben, have three children.  Visit www.champthornton.com to learn more. He can also be found on Twitter (@champthornton) and Instagram (@thorntonchamp).

New Growth Press publishes gospel-centered Christian books, small group, and children’s Bible resources for discipleship, biblical counseling, and missional ministry. For more information about other releases from New Growth Press, visit www.newgrowthpress.com.

For review copy and interview information, contact:  Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com – 903-874-8363

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Suggested interview questions

• How do we teach our kids to live Christianly in this morally murky and increasingly hostile world?
• Who was Radically Different written for, and how is it intended to be used? Can you share more about the format?
• What does it mean to be radically different?
• Don’t middle schoolers want to be a part of the group? How do you convince them they want to be different?
• Walk us through the three lenses that we need to view the world through.
• What are the three questions you encourage readers to ask when they’re trying to figure out a situation in life?
• What are some of the relationships you talk about in the book?
• It’s easy to understand earthly relationships, but it can be difficult to grasp how we build a relationship with God. Is that why the first seven lessons focus on relating to God?
• What is the difference between a difficult and a broken relationship? Do we have to work on those relationships or can we try to eliminate those from our lives?
• Why was it important to have a chapter on relationships within the church?
• What is the most important lesson about relationships you hope students learn?
• This study comes with a companion Teacher Guide, do you have to use one to use the other?

“The Complicated Heart: Loving Even When It Hurts” releases September 17 from B&H Publishing Group

[NASHVILLE, TENN., August 9, 2019—] In the U.S. alone, nearly 14 million adults, or one in 13 adults, abuse alcohol or have an alcoholism problem. Nationally known author, speaker, podcast host and blogger Sarah Mae is often asked, “How did you forgive your alcoholic mother?”

For Sarah Mae, the answer is complicated and prompts additional questions, such as, “How do you forgive someone who carelessly brushed aside your pain, who caused such destruction and who doesn’t show remorse? How do you know when to stay and when to go?”

In her compelling new memoir, “The Complicated Heart: Loving Even When It Hurts”  (September 17, B&H Publishing Group), Sarah Mae tells her story between ages 14-36, beginning with moving in with her mother at the age of 14 and wrestling with those very questions. For readers who have struggled with any dysfunctional relationships in their own lives, Mae’s story reveals that light can always find a way in, and redemption and joy are possible in the midst of trauma and pain.

“‘The Complicated Heart’ is the story of how I learned to love and forgive my alcoholic mother, but really, it’s more than that; it’s about the truth that dysfunction doesn’t have to be your legacy; victory is always on the table,” Sarah Mae said.

“My hope for this book is that people will see themselves in the story, remember they aren’t alone in the ‘crazy’ and believe that miracles still happen and impossible prayers do get answered, even if they look different than we imagined. On a practical level, I want women to learn how to grieve what they should have had, how to set boundaries and how to find joy even in the midst of their unmet needs.”

In addition to Sarah’s side of the story, she also includes her mother’s journals and letters to give readers a glimpse into what goes on in the mind of the person who has hurt you.

Sarah Mae is the co-author with Sally Clarkson of the bestselling book, “Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe,” hosts “The Complicated Heart Podcast” and speaks to women all over the country.

B&H is supporting the launch of “The Complicated Heart” with a presale campaign, national media tour, 300-person launch team, content campaign and webinar. Sarah Mae’s podcast, “The Complicated Heart,” further explores topics in the book, “messy heart topics and the strategies we can use to seek healing in the pain and restoration in the ruins” and includes interviews with trauma experts, counselors and other mentors.

“We are honored to partner with Sarah to bring this life-changing resource to readers and see how God uses her story to impact lives,” said Jennifer Lyell, V.P. of Book Publishing and Merchandising. “We pray this resource shows readers how to, as Sarah Mae so wonderfully puts it, ‘forgive when the wound is still open, heal when circumstances don’t change and become a generational bondage-breaker for God’s glory.’”

For more information, visit thecomplicatedheart.com. 

Sarah Mae is a nationally known speaker, the host of “The Complicated Heart Podcast” and co-author of the bestselling book, “Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe.” She loves traveling all over the country, speaking at conferences and events and encouraging women to walk in freedom. She makes her home in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with her woodworker husband, three spunky kiddos and a naughty yellow lab named Memphis. Learn more at sarahmae.com and follow her on Facebook and Instagram at @sarahmaewrites.

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.

Grand Rapids, MI—Jordan Lee Dooley, author of Own Your Everyday: Overcome the Pressure to Prove and Show Up for What You Were Made to Do, drew a crowd of 250 to Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Mich. Dooley spoke to the large crowd and signed copies of her book on July 23.

“We were delighted with the number of people who registered for the event; it came as a bit of surprise that the 250 tickets sold out almost immediately,” said Sue Smith, manager of Baker Book House. “We sold a total of 250 books, 200 with the tickets and 50 additional books at the event.”

The bookstore, which has hosted celebrity authors such as Candace Cameron Bure and Ann Voskamp, took advantage of its recently-revamped space to offer a selfie booth for fans to snap photos of themselves and Dooley’s book to post on social media, as well as a separate signing space to allow the line of guests to wind easily through the store.

“We’ve worked hard to create a space where authors and customers feel welcome,” said Smith. “We want our store to be a destination for the church; for people who want great Christian books, music, and gifts, and authors who are looking for a place to interact with readers.”

Baker Book House hosts about 220 events a year, ranging from author speaking/signings to concerts, from writing workshops to children’s programming. For more information on upcoming events, visit the website at https://bakerbookhouse.com/events. If interested in scheduling an event, email Becca Niswonger atbecca.niswonger@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

Josh Dennis, new Crossway President (L); Lane and Ebeth Dennis, founders of Crossway.

WHEATON, Ill. (August 9, 2019) — The Crossway Board of Directors is delighted to announce that Josh Dennis has been unanimously elected as the next President of Crossway, effective immediately.

Speaking on behalf of the Crossway Board, Dr. Paul House, Chair of the Nominating Committee, noted, “Over the past seventeen years, Josh Dennis has demonstrated creative excellence, fiscal responsibility, administrative skill, and humble collegiality in his work at Crossway.”

“Most importantly,” House added, “Josh has committed his life, family, and vocation to Jesus Christ. He exhibits Christian character in his conversations, demeanor, marriage, parenting, church life, and friendships. With Josh’s godly character and his in-depth knowledge and extensive experience in Christian publishing, the Crossway Board is confident that Josh is the Lord’s choice to lead Crossway for the next generation.”

Josh Dennis’s election follows twenty months of careful discussion, prayer, and consideration of other alternatives by Crossway’s Board. The twenty-month season of reflection and multiple rounds of interviews led the Board to vote yesterday to install Josh as President at Crossway’s Semi-Annual Meeting on August 8, 2019, in Wheaton, Illinois.

Raised in Wheaton, Josh has been closely associated with Crossway as a family ministry from an early age. Josh earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Taylor University, majoring in art and design, with a minor in business. Upon graduating in 2002, he returned to Wheaton to begin his career as a designer for Crossway. For the last several years, Josh has served as one of Crossway’s four Executive Vice Presidents. As the Executive Vice President of Creative, he has overseen the areas of Design, Marketing, Video, and Digital Media. Josh and his wife, Bethany, have been married for eighteen years, have three young sons, and are active members of College Church in Wheaton.

Over the years, Josh has played a strategic role on a number of major projects at Crossway—including, for example, The Biggest Story, a best-selling children’s book by Kevin DeYoung that was developed in close collaboration with well-known illustrator Don Clark; the highly innovative ESV Reader’s Bible, Six-Volume Set; and the ESV Illuminated Bible, featuring hundreds of original pieces of artwork by noted artist Dana Tanamachi. Under Josh’s leadership, Crossway’s design work has garnered widespread industry recognition and numerous awards—including 26 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA).

In all of his work, Josh remains committed to Crossway’s core mission as a not-for-profit ministry focused on publishing gospel-centered resources—a passion that found particular expression in his leadership over Crossway’s ESV Global Study Bible initiative in 2013, raising the funds needed for free distribution of over 350,000 ESV Global Study Bibles in more than thirty countries in Africa and Asia. Josh has likewise played a major role in the publication and distribution of more than 200 million print copies of the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible, first published in 2001, and in the development of digital Bible tools that have made it possible for people around the world to access more than 1 billion chapters of the ESV Bible annually.

Josh will succeed his father, Dr. Lane Dennis, who served as President of Crossway from 1987 to 2019 and will continue on in the role of CEO, along with Ebeth Dennis as Crossway co-CEO. Commenting on the transition, Lane said, “Over the last five years, we have seen significant growth at Crossway in terms of book and Bible sales and global ministry.” Lane continued, “Josh has quietly and consistently made a key contribution to that growth in his role as Executive VP of Creative—as he has been entrusted with the responsibility of ‘incarnating’ the content that we publish in an aesthetically beautiful way. During his tenure at Crossway, Josh has acquired in-depth knowledge of the full range of publishing functions across the organization—from content acquisition and development, to design and production, to marketing and sales, and to operations and ministry.”

As Lane noted further, “It is a great joy to all of us on the Crossway Board, and to Ebeth and me personally, for Josh be the Lord’s choice to lead Crossway for the next generation. We have a unique sense of unity within the executive leadership team and throughout Crossway concerning this decision. Josh is a man of ‘humble and contrite spirit’ (Isaiah 66:2), who loves God’s Word and the gospel. We look forward to the Lord’s continued leading and ongoing provision for Crossway in the future under Josh’s leadership.”

In addition to selecting Josh as President, the Board also approved the promotion of Dr. Dane Ortlund to the position of Chief Publishing Officer and Bible Publisher, and Anthony Gosling to the position of Chief Operating Officer, with Dr. Justin Taylor continuing to serve as Executive VP and Book Publisher.

Crossway is a not-for-profit publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, which was founded by Josh’s grandparents, Clyde and Muriel Dennis, in 1938. As the founder of Good News, Clyde was a pioneer in providing excellence, beauty, and creativity in the design and publication of Christian literature. Good News published and distributed fifty million gospel tracts a year by the mid-1940s. At the age of forty-eight, after an extended illness—caused by extensive exposure to printing chemicals as a young man—Clyde Dennis was taken home to his Father in heaven in 1962. Upon Clyde’s death, his wife, Muriel, was elected President by the Good News Board, serving in that capacity for the next twenty-five years.

Crossway, as a ministry of Good News, was founded by Lane and Ebeth Dennis—Josh Dennis’s parents—in the fall of 1978, when the Good News Board unanimously approved the new Crossway book publishing program proposed by Lane and Ebeth. The first four Crossway titles, published in early 1979, included a book by Dr. J. I. Packer titled Knowing Man, and a book by Sherwood Wirt, the editor of Decision Magazine, titled Heroes of the Faith. Books by Dr. Francis Schaeffer—including A Christian Manifesto and Schaeffer’s Complete Works—were foundational publications in the early years of Crossway. Today, Crossway publishes over 1,000 book titles, in seventy languages, by more than four hundred authors—all of which exemplify Crossway’s commitment to “Gospel-Centered Publishing.”

Reflecting on the future of the company, Josh said, “By God’s grace, Crossway has remained faithful to my grandparents’ and my parents’ original vision to publish gospel-centered literature over the past eighty-one years—a vision that has expanded in remarkable ways through the publication of hundreds of authors and the ESV Bible. In order to carry that vision forward into the next generation,” Josh continued, “we must remain focused on our ministry calling—in the words of our mission statement, helping people ‘understand the massive implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s Word, for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone.’ Crossway’s continued faithfulness to that calling is my greatest hope and prayer for the future.”

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Crossway is a not-for-profit Christian ministry that exists solely for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing gospel-centered, Bible-centered content. Learn more or donate today at crossway.org/about.

See map at Get It Local Today

(August 12, 2019) – In an effort to provide a comprehensive and current representation of the scope and scale of independent Christian retailing, the Get It Local Today team has launched an interactive map identifying more than 1,800 existing retail locations who sell mostly Christian products. This database represents the largest online directory of verified independent Christian retailers today. Every one of these locations has been included in the Get It Local Today program and are now featured on the customer-facing map on GetItLocalToday.com/Map.

“These 1,800 retailers are important lighthouses—their communities need them, as do their Christian publishers and vendors,” says Greg Squires, President of The Parable Group. “This research demonstrates that there is a substantial group of indies that should not be overlooked or abandoned. As a consortium of industry advocates, we are inviting retailers and vendors to support each other by supporting this program.”

Christian publishers can drive consumers to these 1,800 brick and mortar locations by including Get It Local Today buy-links online and in email marketing. GetItLocalToday.com/Map helps the public find Christian retailers near them and confirm stock at nearby locations. For Christian publishers and vendors, the list may be used to identify new accounts, find regional hotspots for author visits, and prompt indie-first initiatives or offers.

“This is a new day in Christian retailing. Though CBA and LifeWay stores have disappeared, we are working in partnership with many different industry leaders from both the marketing group and service provider areas to carry this important industry initiative forward,” says Chuck Wallington, President of Covenant Group. “To strengthen the industry, retailers need to come together more to offer vendors greater scale; and vendors need touchpoints like this to integrate retailers while serving the shopper.”

Christian retailers are encouraged to view their free listing on the retailer-facing version of the site—GetItLocalToday.com/Store-Map—to confirm their store’s information including providing a key contact to receive and respond to customer “reserve online, pick-up in-store” orders. In addition, retailers can also elect to display their current on-hand quantities to help encourage local customers to choose their store for purchases over online competitors.

The Parable Group is a Christian marketing agency based in San Luis Obispo, CA. Since 1985, they’ve served over 1,000 Christian brands; including publishers, independent retailers, churches, non-profit ministries and more. Today, they pair decades of Christian consumer data with proven business practices and digital technologies to drive measurable results for those they serve. For more information, contact sally.ross@parable.com or visit www.parablegroup.com.

Covenant Group provides a host of retail marketing services and promotional tools for leading independent Christian retailers.  Their offerings currently include both print and digital catalog programs, branded e-commerce websites, in-store merchandising materials and more.  For more information, contact Chuck Wallington at cwallington@covenantgroupstores.com.

Contact: Sally Ross, (805) 329-4020 sally.ross@parable.com

CAROL STREAM, Ill.— July 29, 2019— Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to announce that Carla Laureano won the 2019 RITA® Award (www.rwa.org) in the category of Romance with Religious or Spiritual Elements. Laureano’s winning novel, The Saturday Night Supper Club, is the first installment in her fun and flirty three-book series for foodies.

On July 26, 2019, the Romance Writers of America hosted the 2019 RITA® and Golden Heart® Awards at the 2019 RWA Annual Conference at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City. The RITA® is the highest award of distinction in romance fiction, recognizing excellence in published romance novels and novellas.

Jan Stob, acquisitions director of Tyndale fiction titles, shared, “We are convinced that Carla has a long, successful career ahead. We are thrilled that she has received this prestigious award and trust that this recognition will encourage fiction readers and foodies to savor her Supper Club series.”

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

The RITA®—the highest award of distinction in romance fiction—recognizes excellence in published romance novels and novellas. Up to 2,000 romance novels are entered in the RITA® competition in 13 different categories. After the first round of judging by published romance authors, entries that meet the qualifications to become a finalist then advance to the final round. Once RWA announces the RITA® finalists, judges evaluate and score these novels to determine the RITA® Award winners. The RITA® Award winners are announced at a black-tie awards ceremony at the RWA Annual Conference. www.rwa.org  

Romance Writers of America® (RWA) is a nonprofit trade association whose mission is to advance the professional and common business interests of career-focused romance writers through networking and advocacy and by increasing public awareness of the romance genre. RWA works to support the efforts of its members to earn a living, to make a full-time career out of writing romance—or a part-time one that generously supplements their main income. www.rwa.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.

Contact: Amanda Woods, amandawoods@tyndale.com, 630.784.5125

 

Grand Rapids, MI—Sharon Garlough Brown, author of the bestselling Sensible Shoes series, debuts her much-anticipated new novel Shades of Light at 7 PM Tuesday, Aug. 20, at Baker Book House, 2768 East Paris Ave SE, Grand Rapids.

Brown explores themes of mental illness, treatment, and spiritual formation in this novel that has social worker Wren Crawford overwhelmed by her lifelong struggle with anxiety and depression. She finds help through her art, pastoral care, and traditional therapeutic interventions, but a relationship from her past may undo her progress.

“Issues related to mental illness have often been ignored by the church, leaving those who suffer from depression and anxiety feeling isolated or judged. I wanted to address some of the complexities of mental health in Shades of Light and am thrilled that my publisher, InterVarsity Press, was eager to partner with me in that,” said Brown. “In my new novel, readers are invited to explore spiritual formation themes, and some of the familiar characters from the Sensible Shoes series make cameo appearances.”

Her next book, a sequel novella titled Remember Me, releases in December. Brown’s Sensible Shoes series, with four novels and four study guides, has sold around 200,000 and has been translated into several languages.

“We are delighted to have Sharon Brown back at Baker Book House,” said store manager Sue Smith. “Sharon continues to be our top selling fiction author. It makes perfect sense to debut her new novel here in her hometown store.”

Ticket for the event are $12 each, with a portion of ticket and book sales donated to Surprised by Hope, a ministry that helps provide “sensible shoes” to children in Kenya. 

Brown will speak and sign copies of her new book, which will be for sale at Baker Book House. Call the store at 616-957-3110 or go to https://bakerbookhouse.com/events/sharon-garlough-brown-shades-of-light-2019-08-20  for information and to get tickets.

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: Austin Gonzales, Event and Social Media Coordinator, 616-957-3110, Austin.gonzales@bakerbookhouse.com

WESTMONT, IL—Justin Paul Lawrence, IVP’s recently promoted senior sales and marketing director, has been recognized by Publishers Weekly (PW) in their annual Star Watch program. Lawrence is one of fifty innovative publishing professionals, including editors, booksellers, publicists, marketers, agents, and designers honored in the program, which is in its fifth year.

“Since he assumed the role of director of sales in July of 2016, Justin Paul Lawrence has made significant contributions to the overall growth and momentum that InterVarsity Press has achieved, opening new sales channels and serving legacy markets and customers with excellence,” said Jeff Crosby, publisher of IVP. “I’m grateful for this recognition of his work and am looking forward to his contributions in the recently expanded role of senior director of sales and marketing. I join my colleagues at IVP in extending my hearty congratulations.”

Lawrence started at IVP in 2015 as academic and library markets sales manager, working with colleges, universities, and libraries to make IVP’s books known to a broader market. In the last two years of his leadership of the sales department, IVP has seen over 25 percent growth across both print and digital markets and has seen the rise of bestselling books such as The Road Back to You. Under Lawrence’s direction, IVP has expanded its reach with their Library Select program, expanded their presence at trade shows like BookExpo and ALA Annual and Midwinter, and entered into a distribution partnership with SPCK (UK).

Prior to working at IVP, Lawrence’s publishing career included working as the trade buyer for Calvin College’s campus bookstore, as a publicist and copywriter for Eerdmans, as the shipping department manager for Regent College’s online bookstore, and as a bookseller with Barnes & Noble. He received an undergraduate degree in history, theology, and art from Houghton College, an MCS degree from Regent College, and an MBA from Grand Valley State University.

“I am amazed and honored to be part of PW Star Watch for this year,” said Lawrence. “IVP has a fantastic team that is building on a legacy of nearly seventy-five years of groundbreaking publishing. I am glad that my inclusion can highlight that long development in some small way.”

Lawrence is IVP’s first honoree in PW Star Watch. Their top fifty honorees will be narrowed to a top five to be announced and profiled in the September 2, 2019, issue of Publishers Weekly magazine. One “superstar” will be named at the PW Star Watch celebratory event at the Marquee nightclub in New York City on Wednesday, September 18, 2019.

For more information about PW Star Watch, please visit: www.publishersweekly.com/pw/event/item/65-pw-star-watch-2019.html

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, IVP serves those in the university, the church, and the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. For more information, visit ivpress.com.

Contact: Alisse Wissman | 630.734.4059 | awissman@ivpress.com

Andrew Peterson’s opening plenary and Lysa TerKeurst’s closing keynote will bookend program featuring more than 50 speakers

One month left to register at early bird rates!

JUST ANNOUNCED:   Songwriter, musician, author ANDREW PETERSON will open the program of ECPA PubU, held November 5-6 at Lipscomb University in Nashville, with a plenary session on “The Mystery of Making: Our Call to Creativity as Christian Publishers.” He joins LYSA TERKEURST — who closes the program with her keynote on “Reaching the Heart of Readers” — and more than 50 other presenters leading sessions for Christian publishing professionals in six publishing tracks, developed by a team of industry leaders.  Early bird registration is open for one more month.

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PubU opening plenary: “The Mystery of Making: Our Call to Creativity as Christian Publishers”

Andrew Peterson is an award-winning singer-songwriter and author. The second book in his Wingfeather Saga, North! Or Be Eaten (2009) won The Christy Award™ for Young Adult Fiction, and the fourth, The Warden and the Wolf King (2014) won World Magazine’s Children’s Book of the Year in 2015.  His latest book, Adorning the Dark: Thoughts on Community, Calling, and the Mystery of Making releases in October 2019 by B&H Publishing.

Driven by a desire to cultivate a strong Christian arts community, Andrew founded a ministry called The Rabbit Room, which led to a yearly conference, countless concerts and symposiums, and Rabbit Room Press, which has published thirty books to date.

Peterson will also present a PubU session in the Editorial track on “How Editors and Writers can Leverage Creativity in Words and Storytelling.”

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PubU closing keynote:  “Reaching the Heart of Your Readers”

Lysa TerKeurst is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the #1 New York Times’ best-selling author of Uninvited, It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, The Best Yes, Unglued, Made to Crave, and 17 other books. Lysa was recently awarded the Champions of Faith Author Award and has been published in multiple publications such as Focus on the Family and CNN online. Additionally, she has appeared on The Today Show as one of the leading voices in the Christian community. Connect with her at www.LysaTerKeurst.com or on social media at @LysaTerKeurst.

TerKeurst will also present a combined PubU session for the Digital Marketing and Reader Engagement & Publicity tracks on “Lessons from Building and Engaging a Community.”

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PubU: where the industry gathers to connect, learn, and grow
Publishing professionals in Christian publishing can customize their professional training, by choosing among more than 40 sessions in six publishing tracks, led by more than 50 industry experts.

If you think you might have something to learn from a few of these speakers, then plan to be a part of ECPA PubU 2019!

DATA, DELIVERY, WORKFLOW track speakers

• Matt Baehr, Executive Director, Book Manufacturer’s Institute
• Ken Dillard, Director of Integrated Business Planning and Business Analytics
• Joshua Tallent, Director of Sales and Education, Firebrand Technologies
• Timothy Olson, Digital Assets Manager, Tyndale House Publishers
• Michial Miller, Client Development Manager, The NPD Group, Inc.
• Bradley Metrock, CEO, Score Publishing
• Robin Erwin, Digital Retail Sales Manager, Ingram Content Group
• Kathy Ferguson, Senior Sales Representative, LSC Communications
• Andrea Fleck-Nisbet, Director, Content Acquisition, Ingram
• Tim Taylor, Sales Representative, Worzalla
• Cara Lahey, Director of Sales and Marketing, PubGraphics
• Susan Salley, Associate Publisher, Abingdon Press
• Pete Schmidt, Sales, Lindenmeyr Book Publishing Papers
• Nicole Wilson, Platform Logistics, LSC Communications
• Pete Larson, President/CEO, Bethany Press
• Jacque Schmidt, Production Director, HarperCollins Christian Publishing

DESIGN track speakers

• Jade Novak, Art Director and Designer, B&H Publishing
• Heather Brewer, Art Director, Discovery House and Our Daily Bread; Writer
• Micah Kandros, Designer and Photographer
• Wayne Brezinka, Artist and Illustrator
• Amy Cerra, Creative Director, Our Daily Bread Ministries
• Jeremy Mitchell, Creative Director, She Reads Truth, The Jeremy Mitchell Show podcast host

DIGITAL MARKETING track speakers

• Mark Glesne, Marketing Director, HarperCollins Christian Publishing
• Eric Nevins, Host & Story Curator of Halfway There Podcast and founder of Get Curious Media
• Brian Erickson and Robb Erickson, Co-Founders, King Grizzly
• Nick Lee, Art Director, David C Cook
• Jeffrey Kranz, Co-founder, Overthink Group
• Joan Begitschke, Chief Marketing Strategist, Verve Marketing Group
• Lysa TerKeurst, President, Proverbs 31 Ministries

EDITORIAL track speakers

• Andrew Peterson, musician, song writer, author, founder of The Rabbit Room
• Sarah Rubio, Senior Editor, Tyndale House Publishers
• Linda Howard, Assoc. Publisher, Children & Youth, Tyndale House
• Shaun Tabatt, Host and Producer, The Shaun Tabatt Show
• Cory Verner, President & CEO, One Audio
• Amanda Cleary Eastep, Senior developmental editor, Moody Publishers, ThePerennialGen.com
• Jevon Bolden, literary agent, Embolden

READER ENGAGEMENT & PUBLICITY track speakers

• Mimi Chan, Senior Marketing Manager, Goodreads
• Jennifer Willingham, founding partner of ICON Media Group
• Alli Worthington, Author, co-founder, Blissdom Conference, The Alli Worthington Show podcast
• Dr. Theon E. Hill, Assistant Professor, Wheaton College
• Dave Schroeder, Vice President, Marketing, B&H Publishing Group
• Jamie Ivey, Author of If You Only Knew and host of The Happy Hour Podcast
• Andrew Osenga, A&R Rep, Integrity Music, former member, Caedmon’s Call, The Pivot Podcast
• Heather MacFadyen, Host of the Don’t Mom Alone Podcast 
• Jenaye White, Senior Publicist, B&H Publishing Group
• Morgan Hubbard, Account Manager, Bookbub
• Michele Misiak, Marketing Director, Baker Publishing Group
• Lysa TerKeurst, President, Proverbs 31 Ministries

EMERGING LEADER track — A one-day track for those newer to the industry

• Keith Williams, Bible Editor, Tyndale House Publishers
• Brian Allain, Founding Director, Publishing in Color and Writing for your Life conferences
• Judy Dunagan, Acquisitions Editor, Moody Publishers
• Randall Payleitner, Associate Publisher, Moody Publishers
• Ingrid Beck, Senior Editor for Waterbrook & Multnomah, a division of Penguin Random House

Registration and program at ECPAPubU.org

 

Bible Gateway Interviews Mark E. Moore, Author of “Core 52”

Is there a way to strengthen your spiritual core in a similar manner to exercising your physical core which results in a strong and stable midsection, better balance, improved posture, and reduction in back pain? Can a few minutes a day tactically reading the Bible help you master the core of Scripture? Bible Gateway interviewed Mark E. Moore (@markmoore330) about his book, Core 52: A Fifteen-Minute Daily Guide to Build Your Bible IQ in a Year (WaterBrook, 2019).

Read this interview.

 

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Bible Gateway Interviews Hal Donaldson, Author of “Disruptive Compassion”

Do you observe a need to instigate a change in your immediate environment but are unsure how to move beyond pity, helplessness, and outrage? Do you wonder what one person can really do to enact the profound change the world needs? Bible Gateway interviewed Hal Donaldson (@HalDonaldson), who, along with Kirk Noonan and Lindsay Donaldson, is the author of Disruptive Compassion: Becoming the Revolutionary You Were Born to Be (Zondervan, 2019).

Read this interview.

 

 

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Bible Gateway Interviews Costi W. Hinn, Author of “God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel”

What is the “prosperity gospel” and how did it originate? Why is it considered a dangerous theology? How does its teaching conflict with the concept of God’s sovereignty? How does prosperity theology abuse and exploit people? Bible Gateway interviewed Costi W. Hinn (@costiwhinn) about his book, God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel: How Truth Overwhelms a Life Built on Lies (Zondervan, 2019).

Read this interview.

 

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Bible Gateway Interviews Aaron Smith, Author of “Marriage After God”

What if God has a unique purpose for your marriage? Is your marriage God-centered or us-centered? Are you and your spouse ambassadors of holy love to a hurting world? Is your marriage what God intends it to be: a life-saving, hope-inspiring, and transforming force of his love? Bible Gateway interviewed Aaron Smith (@husbandrevo), who, along with his wife Jennifer Smith (@unveiledwife), is the author of Marriage After God: Chasing Boldly After God’s Purpose for Your Life Together (Zondervan, 2019).

Read this interview.