The global Christian publishing community gathered from March 18 to 20 in Krakow, Poland  for the first-ever European Christian Rights Fair (ECRF), sponsored by ECPA and CLC International. More than 75 publishers attended the event, including rights professionals representing nearly 40 evangelical Christian publishers.

For two full days publishers from 21 different countries met with key international rights and licensing managers. A special banquet at the end of the first day featured reports from publishers in The Netherlands, Norway, and Poland. The banquet concluded with a time of worship led by a pastor from a vibrant evangelical Reformed church in Krakow.

The third day of ECRF featured four training sessions led by Jim Elwell of Tyndale House Publishers, Nadiyka Gerbish of Riggins Rights Management, Ivano Cramerotti of CLC Italy, and ECPA president Stan Jantz, assisted by Ingram’s Kelly Gallagher in a video appearance.

“The entire experience was practical and enriching on many levels,” said Jantz. “ECPA took on this responsibility on relatively short notice, and I could not be more pleased with the outcome. It raised my own awareness of and appreciation for the work being done by experienced and dedicated global publishers. I have also gained a new appreciation for the rights community that serves ECPA member publishers. These men and women tirelessly travel the world to find fertile ground for the books and Bibles produced by our members.”

Carl Dobrowolski, who represents several publishers though his company, Goodwill Rights Management, commented on the tone of ECRF. “This event was qualitatively different from the previous one. It had a spiritual, family reunion feel to it, and the Lord was present!”

“It was a delight to meet so many CLC brothers and sisters and a number of other publishers we haven’t seen for a while or indeed ever,” said Anthony Gosling, rights manager for Crossway.

Prior to hosting and facilitating ECRF in Krakow, Jantz attended the London Book Fair, where ECPA sponsored the Christian Collective. While in London, Jantz met with SPCK president Sam Richardson, Andy Lyons of Hodder Faith, James Burstow and staff with The Good Book Company, and Steve Briars of Christian Resources Together.

 

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 20, 2019)—LifeWay Christian Resources is charting a new course in 2019 marking a strategic shift of resources to a dynamic digital strategy. As part of the transition, LifeWay will close its 170 brick-and-mortar stores in 2019.

The organization will continue to offer a broad selection of resources through LifeWay.com and the LifeWay Customer Service Center (1-800-458-2772). LifeWay Customer Service hours are Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. (Central). LifeWay will also continue to serve customers through its network of church partners who work directly with churches.

“LifeWay is fortunate to have a robust publishing, events and church services business. Our retail strategy for the future will be a greater focus on digital channels, which are experiencing strong growth,” said acting President and CEO Brad Waggoner. “LifeWay is moving into a new era with a strategic digital focus that will prepare us for the future and allow us to better serve our customers.”

In January LifeWay announced it would reduce the number of its retail locations due to declining customer traffic and sales. “While we had hoped to keep some stores open, current market projections show this is no longer a viable option,” Waggoner said.

“The decision to close our local stores is a difficult one,” Waggoner said. “LifeWay has developed close connections with the communities where our stores are located, and we have been honored to serve those communities. We will continue serving local congregations as they meet the spiritual needs of their neighbors.”

The timing of store closings will vary depending on local circumstances. LifeWay expects all brick-and-mortar stores to close by the end of the year.

In operation since 1891, LifeWay offers a comprehensive selection of Bibles, books, Scripture reference tools, Bible studies, children’s products, Christian music and movies, gifts and church supplies. Additional items including church signs, furnishings and buses, as well as background checks, electronic giving and other services are available through LifeWay’s OneSource program at LifeWay.com/OneSource. LifeWay also hosts a number of camps and events throughout the year for all age groups.

As part of the organization’s strategy, LifeWay has introduced a number of digital resources including online Bible studies, worship planning, live streaming of events and online training opportunities.

“LifeWay has been serving the church for 128 years, and we will continue to grow our ministry to churches and individuals into the future,” Waggoner said. “As the market continues to change, primarily through shifts in brick-and-mortar retail, we are taking steps to meet customer demand for digital shopping experiences and to expand our reach globally.” LifeWay distributes resources in 164 nations and licenses resources in more than 60 languages.

Like other retailers, over the last decade the organization has seen commerce increasingly move online, while experiencing overall growth in digital sales.

In one month, LifeWay interacts with five times as many people through its digital environments as it does through LifeWay stores.

“Our world and our customers are increasingly online,” Waggoner said, “Investing in a dynamic digital strategy allows LifeWay to better serve the Church in its mission and only enhances our ability to provide biblical solutions for life.”

More information about store closings is available at LifeWay.com/StoreFAQs.

Anne Graham Lotz, bestselling author, international speaker, and daughter of evangelist Billy Graham, is releasing her new book, Jesus in Me: Experiencing the Holy Spirit as a Constant Companion, on Oct 1, 2019, from Multnomah, an imprint of Random House.

In Jesus in Me, Lotz draws on her rich biblical knowledge as well as personal stories to help readers more fully understand the role, power, and person of the Holy Spirit.  In this seminal message, she explores seven key aspects of the Holy Spirit that will revolutionize how readers understand and relate to the Third Person of the Trinity.

Jesus in Me is Lotz’s first book since her father’s passing in February 2018 and since her own breast cancer diagnosis.  She shares moving insights on how the Holy Spirit has been meaningful to her during these difficult seasons of life.

As Lotz writes, “One of my deepest, richest joys has been discovering by experience who the Holy Spirit is in every step of my life’s journey. Each name that He has been given—Helper, Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor, Counselor, Strengthener, and Standby—reveals another aspect of His beautiful character and has provoked in me a deep love for the One who is my constant Companion…Jesus in me.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Anne Graham Lotz, called “the best preacher in the family” by her father Billy Graham, is an international speaker and the bestselling, award-winning author of numerous books, including Just Give Me Jesus. The New York Times named Lotz one of the five most influential evangelists of her generation. She has been profiled on “60 Minutes” and has appeared on programs such as “Larry King Live,” “The Today Show,” and “Hannity Live.”  Lotz is the president of AnGeL Ministries in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the former chairperson for the National Day of Prayer.

For more information, visit www.waterbrookmultnomah.com or http://www.annegrahamlotz.org/Jesus-in-me/

Multnomah is an imprint of Random House, a division of Penguin Random House.

Contact: Beverly Rykerd, VP, Director of Publicity, brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com, (719) 268-1935

WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that three IVP titles have been recognized as finalists in the twenty-first annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreward Magazine Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year. Finalists represent the best books published in 2018. After more than two thousand individual titles spread across fifty-six genres were submitted for consideration, the list of finalists was determined byForeword’s editorial team.

IVP books were chosen as finalists in the following categories:

Biography (Adult Nonfiction)

• In Becoming Dallas Willard: The Formation of a Philosopher, Teacher, and Christ Follower, Gary W. Moon, a close friend of Willard, offers a candid and inspiring biography about a great man of the faith who was a personal mentor and inspiration to hundreds of pastors, philosophers, and average churchgoers. His presence and ideas rippled through the lives of many prominent leaders and authors, such as John Ortberg, Richard Foster, James Bryan Smith, Paula Huston, and J. P. Moreland. As a result of these relationships and the books he wrote, Willard fundamentally altered the way tens of thousands of Christians have understood and experienced the spiritual life. Moon writes about the development of Willard’s personal character, philosophical writing, and spiritual teaching, and how he has inspired some of the most influential books on spirituality of the last generation.

Multicultural (Adult Nonfiction)

• In Reconstructing the Gospel: Finding Freedom from Slaveholder Religion, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove recovers the subversiveness of the gospel that sustained the church through centuries of slavery and oppression, from the civil rights era to the Black Lives Matter movement and beyond. Wilson-Hartgrove grew up in the Bible Belt in the American South as a faithful church-going Christian. But he gradually came to realize that the gospel his Christianity proclaimed was not good news for everybody. The same Christianity that sang, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound” also perpetuated racial injustice and white supremacy in the name of Jesus. His Christianity, he discovered, was the religion of the slaveholder. Wilson-Hartgrove traces his journey from the religion of the slaveholder to the Christianity of Christ.

Religion (Adult Nonfiction)

• Still Evangelical?: Insiders Reconsider Political, Social, and Theological Meaning, edited by Fuller Theological Seminary president Mark Labberton, is a collection of essays offering a diverse and provocative set of reflections from evangelical insiders who wrestle with the question of what it means to be evangelical in today’s polarized climate. Contributors include Shane Claiborne (Red Letter Christians), Jim Daly (Focus on the Family), Mark Galli (Christianity Today), Lisa Sharon Harper (FreedomRoad.us), Tom Lin (InterVarsity Christian Fellowship), Karen Swallow Prior (Liberty University), Soong-Chan Rah (North Park University), Robert Chao Romero (UCLA), Sandra Maria Van Opstal (Grace and Peace Community), Allen Yeh (Biola University), and Mark Young (Denver Seminary).

In the next three months a panel of volunteer librarians and booksellers will determine the winners in each category based on their experience with readers and patrons. Winners in each genre—along with Editor’s Choice Prize winners and Foreword’s INDIE Publisher of the Year—will be announced June 14, 2019.

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com.

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press 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: Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

WESTMONT, IL— Outreach magazine named three InterVarsity Press titles as Outreach Resources of the Year, with four additional books making the short list for the Also Recommended resource in its category.

The Outreach Resources of the Year aim to highlight valuable resources for church leaders and bring deserved attention to resources that can help churches better engage in effective outreach to share the gospel and reach communities for Christ.

More than 170 resources published between November 1, 2017 and October 31, 2018 were submitted for consideration and placed into eleven categories. An expert in each category evaluated the resources and chose what they considered to be the best. The experts also chose how many resources to recognize and whether to include any as Also Recommended.

Here are the IVP titles that were honored as part of the Sixteenth Annual Outreach Resources of the Year:

Culture

Healing Our Broken Humanity: Practices for Revitalizing the Church and Renewing the World by Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Graham Hill was the Resource of the Year in the culture category.

Based on their work with diverse churches, colleges, and other organizations, Grace Ji-Sun Kim and Graham Hill offer Christian practices that can bring healing and hope to a broken world. They provide ten ways to transform society, from lament and repentance to relinquishing power, reinforcing agency, and more. York Moore, national evangelist for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and an expert for the culture award category, said, “This book is a fantastic invitation to pursue the vision of a church that flourishes in every category.”

Social Issues/Justice

IVP also received top honors in the social issues/justice category. Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard and What Does It Mean to Be Welcoming: Navigating LGBT Questions in Your Church by Travis Collins were both named the social issues/justice Resources of the Year.

Exploring the history and foundations of mass incarceration, Gilliard examines Christianity’s role in its evolution and expansion by assessing justice in light of Scripture and showing how Christians can pursue justice that restores and reconciles. Category expert Mark DeYmaz, Outreach magazine contributing editor and cofounder and president of Mosaix Global Network, said, “Readers will gain a holistic overview of past and present complexities concerning mass incarceration and be encouraged toward future engagement with people at-risk or affected by them, in ways that are merciful, empathetic, and just.”

In What Does It Mean to Be Welcoming Collins calls readers to both grace and truth, with humility, as they wrestle with LGBT questions. Collins has been there. A pastor who has walked congregations through the complex issues surrounding gay Christians, he knows firsthand the confusion and hurt that often follow. In this practical resource, readers gain insight into relevant biblical passages and, while the author is working from a traditional perspective, he offers insights from interpreters on both sides of the debate. DeYmaz said that What Does It Mean to Be Welcoming is “a legitimate attempt to navigate complexities in an honest way that includes and respects varying voices, positions and opinions.”

IVP titles chosen as Also Recommended resources include:

Social Issues/Justice

A Sojourner’s Truth: Choosing Freedom and Courage in a Divided World by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

“An insightful and well-written narrative that is thoughtful, theological, and truthful.” —Mark DeYmaz, Outreach magazine contributing editor, founding pastor of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas, and cofounder and president of Mosaix Global Network

Apologetics

God Is Stranger: Finding God in Unexpected Places by Krish Kandiah

“God Is Stranger is listed in the apologetics section (and that’s a good place for it), but it’s also a remarkably insightful look at the faith and embracing its strangeness.” —Ed Stetzer, an Outreach magazine contributing editor and director of the Billy Graham Center

Leadership

The Fellowship of the Suffering: How Hardship Shapes Us for Ministry and Mission by Paul Borthwick and Dave Ripper

“This resource offers readers a helpful perspective on what best shapes us for ministry leadership.”—Ron Edmondson, chief executive officer of Leadership Network who previously served for sixteen years as a senior pastor

Cross Cultural/Missional

Megachurch Christianity Reconsidered: Millennials and Social Change in African Perspective by Wanjiru M. Gitau

“Wanjiru Gitau provides an engaging analysis of the rise, growth, and position of megachurches worldwide in the twenty-first century, centering on the role of millennials in the midst of globalization and postmodernity.” —Robert L. Gallagher, director and professor of intercultural studies at Wheaton College Graduate School

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

---

Founded in 1947 as an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press 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: Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

 

New Film ‘Kingdom Men Rising’ Addresses God’s Purpose for Masculinity; Features Tony Dungy, Kirk Franklin, Lecrae, Dallas Cowboys’ Jon Kitna, Others

NASHVILLE, March 5, 2019 — What do Heisman Trophy-winner Tim Brown, Super Bowl-winning Coach Tony Dungy, NFL Vice President Troy Vincent, Grammy Award-winners Kirk Franklin and Lecrae, and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Jon Kitna have in common? They are all “Kingdom” men – embracing and walking out God’s true design for masculinity in a culture that seems confused about the way manhood should look. In the new film KINGDOM MEN RISING, respected pastor, author and broadcaster, Dr. Tony Evans explores the biblical intentions of masculinity and encourages believing men everywhere to take up the mantle of God’s original purpose.

Presented by Tony Evans Films, LifeWay Films and Fathom Events, KINGDOM MEN RISING will release in movie theaters for two nights only, April 29 and 30.

“We as men have to understand while we’re waiting on God, God’s waiting on us. He’s waiting on us to step up and become men of faith…who not only believe in God, but believe God. Men who act like God is telling the truth and who walk by faith not just talk by faith,” said Dr. Evans. “There’s a difference between being a man and being a male. You can be one without the other because you’re not taking responsibility under God. So it is absolutely critical that we own this. We own the responsibility of calling a culture in decline back, calling men back.”

Through the stories of the men cited above, and others, KINGDOM MEN RISING explores God’s ultimate purpose for masculinity and provides an honest portrayal of today’s man that is countered by God’s original design.

The powerful documentary will explore what it means to be a real man in a modern age, addressing many of the unique circumstances facing men today. Drawing from his own experiences and using a biblical perspective, Dr. Evans addresses the topics of significance, priorities, race and passivity, challenging men to step more actively into their purpose – no more sitting on the sidelines, no more excuses.

“KINGDOM MEN RISING presents a unique and powerful opportunity for churches and ministries to bring men together for a life-changing experience,” said LifeWay Films’ Trent Myers. “Through their Fathom Affinity Network, Fathom gives churches the option to host screenings at local movie theaters or in their own churches, offering new possibilities for men’s outreach that we’ve never seen before.”

For more information on KINGDOM MEN RISING visit www.kingdommenrising.com.
For tickets visit: www.fathomevents.com/events/kingdom-men-rising.

About Dr. Tony Evans
Dr. Tony Evans is the founder and senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, founder and president of The Urban Alternative, chaplain of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, and author of over 100 books, booklets and Bible studies. The first African American to earn a doctorate of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, he has been named one of the 12 Most Effective Preachers in the English-Speaking World by Baylor University. Dr. Evans holds the honor of writing and publishing the first full-Bible commentary and study Bible by an African American. His radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 1,300 US outlets daily and in more than 130 countries.  Dr. Evans launched the Tony Evans Training Center in 2017, an online learning platform providing quality seminary-style courses for a fraction of the cost to any person in any place. The goal is to increase Bible literacy not only in lay people but also in those Christian leaders who cannot afford nor find the time for formal ongoing education. For more information, visit TonyEvans.org.

About Tony Evans Films
Tony Evans Films ushers in positive life change through compelling video-shorts, animation and film. We seek to build kingdom disciples through the power of story. We use a variety of platforms for viewer consumption and have over 25,000,000 digital views. We are launching the distribution of our films through movie theaters in 2019. We also merge video-shorts and film with relevant Bible Study materials to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and to strengthen the body of Christ worldwide. We aim to expand viewership and participation through demonstrable market strategies. TUA’s mission is to serve as a teaching, training and resource ministry in order to restore hope and transform individuals, families, churches and communities through the proclamation and application of the Word of God.

About LifeWay Films
LifeWay Christian Resources is one of the world’s largest providers of Christian resources. LifeWay Films exist to empower churches and Christians to engage faith-based films as a tool for discipleship and growing in their faith.

About Fathom Events
Fathom Events is the leading event cinema distributor with theater locations in all top 100 DMAs® (Designated Market Areas) and ranks as one of the largest overall theater content distributors. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal Cinemas, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom Events offers a variety of unique entertainment events in movie theaters such as live performances of the Metropolitan Opera, top Broadway stage productions, major sporting events, epic concerts, the yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series, inspirational events and popular anime franchises. Fathom Events takes audiences behind the scenes for unique extras including audience Q&As, backstage footage and interviews with cast and crew, creating the ultimate VIP experience. Fathom Events’ live Digital Broadcast Network (“DBN”) is the largest cinema broadcast network in North America, bringing live and pre-recorded events to 975 locations and 1,578 screens in 181 DMAs. The company also provides corporations a compelling national footprint for hosting employee meetings, customer rewards events and new product launches. For more information, visit www.FathomEvents.com.

CONTACTS:
Jennifer Willingham, Icon Media Group, 615-483-4729, Jennifer@iconmediagroup.com;
Trent Myers LifeWay Films, 615-251-3696, trent.myers@lifeway.com;
Jessica Nelson, 720-262-2753, jnelson@fathomevents.com; Katherine Schwappach, 720-262-2713, kschwappach@fathomevents.com; both with Fathom Events

What Is a Girl Worth? and How Much Is a Little Girl Worth? to be published by Tyndale House Publishers in September 2019

CAROL STREAM, ILL. (March 5, 2019) – For forty minutes in January 2018, Rachael Denhollander stood in a Lansing, Michigan, courtroom and resolutely faced a slumped-over Larry Nassar, the now-disgraced former USA Gymnastics team doctor who had been her abuser years prior. Denhollander, the first to go public in accusing Nassar of abuse, was granted the opportunity by Judge Rosemarie Aquilina to provide the final of the more than 150 victim impact statements before Nassar was sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. Denhollander’s impact statement received a standing ovation in the courtroom and garnered widespread resect for her bravery and sacrifice as a key force in the #MeToo movement.

In September 2019, Denhollander (@R_Denhollander), a former gymnast, lawyer, and mother of four, will publish her highly anticipated memoir, What Is a Girl Worth?, with Tyndale House Publishers (@TyndaleHouse and www.tyndale.com). The memoir ($26.99, ISBN: 978-1-4964-4133-1, Hardcover) will be accompanied by the simultaneous release of the illustrated children’s bookHow Much Is a Little Girl Worth? ($14.99, ISBN: 978-1-4964-4168-3, Hardcover)

“What Is a Girl Worth? will be one of the most important books to come out of 2019,” said Sarah Atkinson, associate publisher. “Rachael is the voice our culture needs right now on how to support survivors, create communities that are safe for the vulnerable and unsafe for predators, and do unimaginably hard things with integrity, courage, and faith. The impact of abuse is immeasurable and the cost of speaking out is high, but Rachael is fearlessly sharing her experience to help others. She is one of my heroes, and it is a privilege to be entrusted with her story.”

In requesting that the judge impose the maximum sentence, Denhollander asked, “How much is a little girl worth?” She answered her own question: “These victims are worth everything. . . . I plead with you to impose the maximum sentence under the plea agreement because everything is what these survivors are worth.”

Over the course of the next year, Denhollander was recognized as one of Glamour magazine’s Women of the Year and named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.

Additionally, Sports Illustrated recognized her as its 2018 Inspiration of the Year. In her acceptance speech for the award, Denhollander said in part, “I accept this on behalf of my sister survivors and on behalf of every victim who is still living in silence. May this be a reminder to us to stand with them. This award means that their voices matter, that their stories matter, and that we are here with them.”

The Nassar abuse story began in August 2016, when the Indianapolis Star began reporting on Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics. The Star’s five-month investigation led to a pivotal email from Denhollander. The initial article, written by Marisa Kwiatkowski, Mark Alesia, and Tim Evans, detailed several cases in which USA Gymnastics received complaints about coaches and filed them away, even as the coaches continued to abuse young gymnasts.

Denhollander wrote the IndyStar in an email: “My experience may not be relevant to your investigation, but I am emailing to report an incident that may be. I was not molested by my coach, but I was molested by Dr. Larry Nassar, the team doctor for USAG. I was fifteen years old, and it was under the guise of medical treatment for my back.”

Denhollander offered to be named in the story and to record a video testimony for the IndyStar. The article explained how USA Gymnastics learned about allegations against Nassar but did not tell either Michigan State University or Twistars USA gymnastics club—two organizations that continued to employ Nassar as a team doctor.

As a result of the article, a criminal investigation was opened and Denhollander became a key witness.

What Is a Girl Worth? will disclose the untold story of the systemic abuse that was reported and ignored for years. It will detail the system that looked the other way and refused to listen to and protect abuse victims. Denhollander will reveal the crushing impact that this abuse has had on her life; trace her journey in harnessing the courage to speak out against such abuse—both for herself and on behalf of abuse victims everywhere; and illuminate the path to a better way forward. The book will also enable readers to recognize the patterns of predators; understand the damage caused by abuse; and offer validation, hope, and healing to survivors.

The children’s book How Much Is a Little Girl Worth? is Rachael’s tenderhearted anthem to little girls everywhere, teaching them that they have immeasurable value. Armed with this understanding, girls will develop confidence and blossom into women who can face any challenge life puts in their paths.

The launch of Denhollander’s books will be supported by a significant marketing campaign and national media tour.

Contacts:
Katie Dodillet, Tyndale House Publishers, Director of Public Relations, Books – katiedodillet@tyndale.com
Todd Starowitz, Tyndale House Publishers, Director of Public Relations, Corporate – toddstarowitz@tyndale.com

---

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imaginations of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a majority of annual revenue—more than $100 million throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

Mike Nawrocki returns with comical and character-building stories for a new generation with The Dead Sea Squirrels series 

Carol Stream, Ill. (March 6, 2019)— Mike Nawrocki, co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment and voice of the beloved Larry the Cucumber, has written the first two installments of The Dead Sea Squirrels, a series of first chapter books intended for ages 6–10. Squirreled Away and Boy Meets Squirrels are scheduled for release on May 7, 2019.

The series opens with Squirreled Away, in which ten-year-old Michael Gomez sneaks into the Dead Sea caves near the archeological dig where his dad is working. There, Michael discovers two 2,000-year-old squirrels petrified in salt. Hijinks ensue as Michael tries to bring them back to the U.S., hidden in his backpack. Kirkus Reviews noted that, “there is plenty of humor to tickle young readers, and the target audience will undoubtedly laugh out loud. . . . Fans of such characters as Big Nate and Stink will likely enjoy the silly humor and adventures in this series opener, while many of their caregivers will appreciate the character-building lessons.”

In the second book of the series, Boy Meets Squirrels, Michael discovers his “souvenirs” are alive. Michael learns that Merle and Pearl Squirrel lived at the same time as Jesus—and they have great stories and lessons to share in their own hilarious way. The squirrels even help Michael and his friends confront a bully. Further installments in the series will continue to intertwine humor and biblical lessons alongside comic-book style illustrations.

Regarding this acquisition, associate publisher Linda Howard said, “I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to work on this series with Mike. His sense of humor and engaging storytelling will have kids learning great life lessons and laughing through every minute of it.”

Mike Nawrocki has been dedicated to helping parents pass on biblical values to their kids through storytelling for over two decades. Mike currently serves as assistant professor of film and animation at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, and makes his home in nearby Franklin with his wife, Lisa, and their two children. The Dead Sea Squirrels is Mike’s first children’s book series.

Squirreled Away and Boy Meets Squirrels by Mike Nawrocki
ISBN: 978-1-4964-3498-2, 978-1-4964-3502-6
Softcover $6.99 each
May 2019
Tyndale.com

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.

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. – Outreach Magazine (www.outreachmagazine.com), which provides practical resources for pastors and volunteer leadership in all areas of outreach, has announced that NavPress  (@NavPress) book Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing (SC, 978-1-63146-67204, September 2018) by Jay Stringer (https://jay-stringer.com/) has been selected as its Resource of the Year in the Counseling/Relationships Category. The book will be highlighted in the March/April issue of Outreach as well as online.

“Jay brings a wealth of wisdom, a pastor’s heart, and the desire to remove shame from the lives of many sexually addicted men & women,” said Don Pape, Publisher, NavPress. “His book is a hopeful tonic for many in the grips of an addiction that harmfully shapes their story. Unwanted is a wanted gift to the church.”

Unwanted is a ground-breaking resource that explores the “why” behind self-destructive sexual choices. The book is based on research from more than 3,800 men and women seeking freedom from unwanted sexual behavior, be that the use of pornography, an affair, or buying sex.

Stringer’s (M.Div, MA, LMHC) original research found that unwanted sexual behavior can be both shaped by and predicted based on the parts of our story—past and present—that remain unaddressed. When we pay attention to our unwanted sexual desires and identify the unique reasons that trigger them, the path of healing is revealed.

Although many of us feel ashamed and unwanted after years of sexual brokenness, the book invites the reader to see that behavior as the very place God can most powerfully work in their lives. Counselors, pastors, and accountability partners of those who experience sexual shame will also find in this book the deep spiritual and psychological guidance they need to effectively minister to the sexually broken around them.

Jay Stringer has spent more than a decade working on the frontlines of the demand for pornography and sexual exploitation. As a writer, speaker, and therapist, as well as a lecturer in the Seattle “john school” (mandatory courses for people arrested for soliciting a prostitute), Jay has unique insight into the cultural calamity of sexual brokenness. His research is used internationally by such organizations as Josh McDowell Ministry and Fight the New Drug to help men and women find a lasting path to healing and wholeness.

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

March 7, 2019, Tempe, Ariz. — The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has announced the formation of the International Christian Rights & Export Fair (ICREF), being held June 25 and 26 in Chicago on the campus of Moody Bible Institute.

This inaugural event is for publishers who are exchanging rights and licensing, as well as customers purchasing for export.

“We were asked by the leadership of the Christian rights community to facilitate this first-ever event in Chicago,” said Stan Jantz, president of ECPA. “This is a wonderful opportunity for members of the international Christian publishing community to meet with foreign publishers, retailers, and distributors to discuss licensing and international sales.”

Registration is now open for ICREF. Pricing has been set at $399 for an exhibitor table for up to two people, with additional tables priced at $99. Attendees will pay just $49 for a two-day pass, including parking.

For more information, please contact Cynthia Helblig, ECPA administrator, at chelblig@ecpa.org.
Register at https://www.ecpa.org/event/ICRF