WESTMONT, IL—The Gospel Coalition (TGC) has announced that Christianity at the Crossroads by Michael Kruger was chosen as one of its best books of 2018.

TGC reviews around three hundred titles each year between its regular book review section and its academic journal, Themelios. From those titles judges selected one 2018 TGC Book Award winner and one runner-up for each of nine categories. Christianity at the Crossroads was chosen as the award winner in the History & Biography category.

In an April 2018 Themelios review of Christianity at the Crossroads, David A. Evans wrote, “A masterful account of the church in the second century, this book skillfully describes Christianity’s movement into the wider pagan world and provides insight into the development of doctrine, formation of the canon, and Christian worship and practices. With an excellent summary of contemporary research on the second-century church, Christianity at the Crossroads could also be a manual for the church of the 21st century.”

Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church by Michael J. Kruger examines how Christianity took root in the second century, how it battled to stay true to the vision of the apostles, and how it developed in ways that would shape both the church and Western culture over the next two thousand years.

David A. deSilva, trustees’ distinguished professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary, said, “Kruger takes us into a world in which ‘Christianity’ is still very much at risk and up for grabs, struggling to find its identity in the midst of forces within and without seeking to define its identity or suppress its existence. His book invites us into the tensions and trajectories that would eventually give shape to what we, in distant retrospect, take for granted as Christian faith, practice, and polity. I recommend it highly, alongside the texts that have richly informed it (the apostolic fathers, the early martyrologies, and the apologists), to all those interested in learning how ‘New Testament faith’ found its footing and began to take root.”

TGC winners and runners-up are chosen based on whether they offer gospel-centered argument and application; include faithful and foundational use of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament; foster spiritual discernment of contemporary trials and trends; and encourage efforts to unite and renew the church.

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

About InterVarsity Press: 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

NORTH CANTON, Ohio, Dec. 13, 2018 — The award-winning children’s book, The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas, has sparked a movement to put the focus on the true meaning of Christmas by giving a gift to Jesus on His birthday. In a show of support, Worthy Publishing, the book’s publisher, did something unprecedented in the traditional world of children’s book publishing: it made The Sparkle Box available to read online for free through December 31, 2018.

The movement is inspired by a tradition called The Sparkle Box that is revealed at the end of the book. What The Sparkle Box contains catches readers by surprise. Unlike traditions pointing to the North Pole, The Sparkle Box points to the origin of Christmas: a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and the message he taught to care for those in need.

The Sparkle Box tradition requires the participant to give a gift to someone in need of basic necessities such as food, clothing, clean water or kindness. They write down the gift given and place it in the box. On Christmas morning, they remember Jesus by reading The Sparkle Box gift given in celebration of his birthday.

Author Jill Hardie said the ability to read the book for free is fueling a movement to do The Sparkle Box tradition. “When people read the book, there’s often an ah-ha moment of ‘This is what we’ve been missing in our celebration of Christmas.’ People want to share that. They want to be part of putting the focus on Jesus at Christmas and celebrating his birthday by giving him a gift,” said Hardie.

To read The Sparkle Box online for free visit, TheSparkleBox.com.

The Sparkle Box: A Gift with the Power to Change Christmas was published in hardback in 2012 by Ideals Children’s Books. The Sparkle Box received the EPCA Christian Book Award in 2014. On October 2, 2018, The Sparkle Box was released in paperback by Worthy Publishing. Both the hardback and paperback editions come with a foldable Sparkle Box. Written by Jill Hardie and illustrated by Christine Kornacki, The Sparkle Box is available at many local bookstores and online at Barnes & Noble, Christian Books and Amazon. The book can be read for free at TheSparkleBox.com through December 31, 2018.

Contact: Jill Hardie, 330-418-4492

WESTMONT, IL—With nearly fifty thousand books representing nine hundred titles, InterVarsity Press will soon be hosting the largest missions bookstore in the world at the twenty-fifth Urbana Student Missions Conference.

The Urbana 18 Conference, held in St. Louis, Missouri, will include nearly sixteen thousand attendees, two hundred seminars, and two hundred sixty organizations. It starts on Thursday, December 27, and concludes at midnight on New Year’s Eve. During this five-day conference, participants engage in a variety of experiences, including sixteen thousand person worship sessions, Bible exposition, messages and seminars, manuscript Bible studies, testimonies from the global church, and prayer ministry. And IVP employees and volunteers will once again construct and serve at the expansive pop-up bookstore for Urbana.

“The Urbana Student Missions Conference has made a significant impact on global missions for decades,” Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said. “And through Urbana, we have had the opportunity to introduce hundreds of thousands of people to life-changing books published not only by IVP but by other like-minded companies who care for global missions, for the expansion of the gospel, for social justice, evangelism, and Bible study. Those books return to homes and dormitories; they are studied, applied, and acted on. As an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, we are privileged to be the bookstore curator for Urbana.”

Books will be discounted from 30 to 70 percent and also include the ever-popular Books of the Day that are just five dollars.

Al Hsu, senior editor for IVP Books, will be participating in his ninth Urbana Missions Conference this year. He said, “When I attended Urbana 93 as a college student, I was amazed and overwhelmed by the big picture of what God was doing in the world. So I found my way to the IVP bookstore at Urbana, where I bought every Book of the Day and dozens of other books to help me navigate my next steps after the conference. I literally brought two boxes of books home with me on the bus! The books students encounter at Urbana can help them discern their vocation and get them to wherever in the world God may be calling them to serve.”

“We long to see this student generation fully engaged in God,” said Ruth Hubbard, vice president for Urbana. “For many, Urbana will be a time when they say yes to God’s invitation. The journey from yes to full engagement requires intentional discipleship. I’m confident that the books they purchase from Urbana’s bookstore curated by IVP will support this journey. Part of the Urbana legacy of yes is a legacy of deep discipleship through things like Urbana’s Book of the Day offerings.”

This year the Urbana Books of the Day will include:

• Crossing Cultures with Jesus: Sharing Good News with Sensitivity and Grace by Katie J. Rawson
• Anxious: Choosing Faith in a World of Worry by Amy Simpson
• From Cairo to Christ: How One Muslim’s Faith Journey Shows the Way for Others by Abu Atallah and Kent A. Van Til
• The Power of the 72: Ordinary Disciples in Extraordinary Evangelism by John Teter
• The Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action by Michelle Ferrigno Warren
• Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores by Dominique DuBois Gilliard
• Sabbath Keeping: Finding Freedom in the Rhythms of Rest by Lynne M. Baab
• Mending the Divides: Creative Love in a Conflicted World by Jon Huckins and Jer Swigart
• Beyond Colorblind: Redeeming Our Ethnic Journey by Sarah Shin

Several of these IVP authors—Amy Simpson, Michelle Ferrigno Warren, Dominique DuBois Gillard, and John Teter—will be plenary speakers at the conference and participating in book signings in the bookstore. Other plenary speakers and book signings, include Danielle Strickland, author of A Beautiful Mess; René Breuel, author of The Paradox of Happiness; and John D. Inazu, author of Confident Pluralism. A complete list of plenary and seminar speakers is available at urbana.org/speakers, and plenary sessions will be streaming live from urbana.org. There will also be regular updates and chances to share on Twitter with hashtags #u18 and #urbanabooks.

Books and ebooks featured at the conference will be available to purchase online at ivpress.com/urbanabooks. The Urbana conference discounted prices will be offered between December 27 and January 2.

About InterVarsity Press:  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 | 630.734.4059 | kclayton@ivpress.com

Nashville, Tenn. (December 2018) – Bestselling author and international TV host Bear Grylls is known worldwide as one of the most-recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure. He began his journey in 21 SAS before becoming one of the youngest-ever climbers of Mount Everest.

He then went on to star in seven seasons of the Discovery Channel’s Emmy Award-nominated“Man vs. Wild” TV series, which became one of the most-watched shows on the planet, reaching an estimated 1.2 billion viewers.

Most recently “Running Wild” has featured Bear taking some of the world’s best-known stars on incredible adventures. These include President Obama, Julia Roberts, Roger Federer, Will Ferrell, Zac Efron, Channing Tatum, Kate Winslet, to name but a few.

Nature has taught Grylls some important lessons, and behind every feat is a story of grit, determination, and strength grounded in faith. 

Grylls is sharing those lessons and more in his new book, Soul Fuel: A Daily Devotional, out July 30, 2019. Grylls shares the backstories behind many of his most daring expeditions and how his faith gave him the purpose and power to carry on in 365 devotions as he explores themes of hope, courage, risk, heaven, and more. 

“This is all about making spirituality attainable. This is the stuff that I do every day quietly. I read a little about life, the Bible, things that will strengthen me and bring peace and power into my life. My Christian faith has been a key part of my journey,” said Grylls. “This has really come about because so many people have come to me and said that they know I have a faith and have wondered how it impacts my life.”

Soul Fuel is inspired by Grylls’ ‘in the wild’ experiences. Most of his Soul Fuel writings were done on his phone out in nature. Grylls has sold over 15 million books, including international bestseller Mud, Sweat, and Tears. 

“Celebrities are often guarded, rightfully interested in protecting their privacy. So when someone like Bear Grylls wants to share a part of his life that isn’t regularly on display, you seize the opportunity. He wrote each entry—from whatever cave, whatever cliff, whatever jungle he was in—to share a very personal, relatable part of himself with people like you and me. What a privilege it is for Zondervan to be able to share this side of Bear Grylls with the rest of the world,” said Lee Eric Fesko, Specialty Publishing Division associate publisher.

Bear Grylls has become known worldwide as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure. His journey started as a young boy on the Isle of Wight, where his late father taught him to climb and sail.

Trained from a young age in martial arts, Grylls went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, as part of 21 SAS Regiment. It was here that he perfected many of the survival skills that his fans all over the world enjoy, as he pits himself against the worst of Mother Nature. Despite a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa, where he broke his back in three places and endured many months in and out of military rehabilitation, Grylls recovered and went on to become one of the youngest climbers ever to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Since then he has gone on to host more extreme adventure TV shows across more global networks than anyone else in the world, including five seasons of the BAFTA award-winning The Island with Bear Grylls and the US hit TV show Running Wild.

His autobiography Mud, Sweat and Tears spent 15 weeks at Number 1 in the Sunday Times Bestseller list and he has written over 85 books, selling in excess of 15 million copies worldwide. He is an Honorary Colonel to the Royal Marines Commandos, the youngest ever UK Chief Scout and the first ever Chief Ambassador to the World Scout Movement, representing a global family of some fifty million Scouts.

He is married to Shara and together they have three young boys who also love adventure. They live between a houseboat on the Thames and a private island off the Welsh coast. Bear’s life motto is simple: courage and kindness… and never give up!

About Zondervan:  Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, MI. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Angela Guzman, Publicist, (615) 902-2737, Angela.guzman@harpercollins.com

Live technical help for Churches worldwide 365 days per year 

BELLINGHAM, Wash., Dec. 4, 2018 — Faithlife Corporation opened a new, full-service customer care center, the Church Support Center, in late October. The opening coincided with the launch of Logos 8, the latest version of its popular Bible study software. The Church Support Center offers churches technical support 365 days per year. The center ensures Sunday-morning support for products like Faithlife Proclaim (church presentation software), Faithlife Giving (online and mobile giving), and all the elements of the Faithlife Equip platform for churches.

The support center expands Faithlife’s service to customers using the Faithlife platform of products including Faithlife Proclaim, Faithlife Giving, and Faithlife Sites, as well as it’s church SaaS solution, Faithlife Equip.

As part of the center’s operations, customer support specialists across Faithlife’s product lines are located in a state-of-the-art facility in Washington state. These specialists provide advanced help to customers, like churches and pastors, at times of highest need-such as Sunday mornings.

“By opening the new Church Support Center, we are able to enhance the level of service provided to our customers in significant ways,” says Bob Pritchett, Faithlife CEO. “The new facility puts key team members close together for collaboration, and helps them monitor our services around the world.”

Faithlife Customers can reach the Church Support Center daily by calling 888-634-2038 or +1-360-527-1700. For more information go to Faithlife’s Church Support Center.

About Faithlife:  Faithlife Corporation, based in Bellingham, Washington, has been using technology to equip the Church to grow in the light of the Bible for more than 25 years. Since 1992, Faithlife has developed multiple tools including an integrated church platform, academic study resources, ebooks, and Logos Bible Software.

Contact: Amy Esary, 360-220-2755

New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Amazon, and Publishers Weekly

Nashville, TN (December 5, 2018) — It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered (Thomas Nelson) by Lysa TerKeurst debuts after one week of release on seven national general market bestseller lists:

• The New York Times (#4 Advice, How-To & Misc., December 2, 2018, #9 Advice, How-To & Misc., December 9, 2018);
• USA Today (#12, November 22, 2018);
• The Wall Street Journal (#3 Combined, November 23, 2018; #3 Hardcover Non-Fiction, November 23, 2018; #4 Nonfiction E-Book, November 23, 2018);
• Amazon (#6 Most Sold, November 27, 2018);
• Publishers Weekly (#7 Overall, November 26, 2018 and #3 Hardcover Non-Fiction, November 26, 2018).

HarperCollins fully expects It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way to be a fixture on the ECPA Christian Bestsellers in December 2018 for November sales.

“This is so much more than a book for me,” says Lysa TerKeurst. “If I could only give one life message, this would be it. I want people to know that while we trust a God who does allow hurt, we also trust a God who uses hurt for good. Every single time.”

TerKeurst launched It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way, with an exclusive in-studio interview with The Today Show (November 8, 2019). TerKeurst was also featured on national media including Focus on the Family Radio, New Life Live Radio, The 700 Club, The Dave Ramsey Show, Religion News Service, Life Today with James Robison, Charisma.com, KLOVE, The Christian Post, iBelieve.com,  and more. Additonal interviews will come in December and early January 2019 including Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey, and Charisma Magazine. Also during January 2019, Proverbs 31 will host an online Bible Study with Lysa for more than 50,000 participants to discuss the themes of It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way.

It’s Not Supposed to Be This Way released alongside companion Bible study resources for individuals or groups.  A six-session DVD features teaching from Lysa TerKeurst, and a softcover Study Guide corresponds with the DVD sessions. The hardcover book, DVD and Study Guide are available separately or as a package. More information at www.ItsNotSupposedToBeThisWay.com.

Lysa TerKeurst is president of Proverbs 31 Ministries and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Uninvited and The Best Yes. She writes from her sticky farm table and lives with her family in North Carolina. Connect with her at www.LysaTerKeurst.com.

Thomas Nelson is a world-leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Jana Muntsinger, MMPR, jana@mmpublicrelations.com, 281-251-0480

Acquires Elsevier’s Linn, Missouri Fulfillment and Distribution Center

(December 5, 2018) – The Parable Group is pleased to announce and welcome Franklin Goldberg as Chief Marketing Officer. Goldberg brings 20 years of experience marketing and selling Christian content including books, Bibles, and software.

Goldberg will be responsible for further expanding The Parable Group’s in-demand digital marketing agency, which is currently experiencing rapid growth—more than doubling prior year sales. Goldberg will expand offerings to include new services that boost discoverability such as influencer marketing and customer journey mapping.

Goldberg served as a pastor for 13 years, operated an online Christian bookstore for 12 years, and since 2010, he has held leadership roles in Sales, Marketing, and Product teams at Christian publishing and software companies.

He brings a broad content background ranging from children’s books to textbooks, and having served in Christian ministry, retailing, and publishing environments, Goldberg’s diverse experiences complement The Parable Group’s strengths in retail marketing, digital campaigns, and Christian audience data.

Franklin Goldberg joins the marketing company 4 months after Greg Squires moved into ownership and leadership of The Parable Group. Squires bought the company from Steve Potratz after Potratz had founded and operated the company for over 30 years.

“I am excited and honored to join this team with its commendable legacy of serving the Christian community,” says Goldberg.

Squires added, “Franklin is not only one of the sharpest marketing minds in this industry, he also has a unique passion and uncanny ability to connect content with Christian audiences. I am so pleased to integrate him into our team to contribute towards growth.”

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

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

WESTMONT, IL—WORLD Magazine recommended about five hundred books to its readers in 2018 and recently chose from those the top books of the year. The winners were made up of five nonfiction books of the year, four theological honorable mentions, and twenty-five short list honorees, including three InterVarsity Press titles: Last Call for Liberty by Os Guinness, Embodied Hope by Kelly M. Kapic, and Disruptive Witness by Alan Noble.

Last Call for Liberty: How America’s Genius for Freedom Has Become Its Greatest Threat made the short list in the Understanding America category. WORLD Magazine editors wrote: “In this year of battles between Pro-Trumpers and Never-Trumpers, Os Guinness has thoughtful observations that can benefit both camps. Guinness writes, ‘The present obsession with President Trump, whether supporting or opposing him, is a massively distorting factor for a simple reason: Donald Trump is the consequence of the crisis and not the cause.’’

A frequent international speaker and prominent social critic, Guinness argues that the American republic faces a fundamental crisis of freedom as once again America has become a house divided. This grand treatment of history, civics, and ethics in the Jewish and Christian traditions represents Guinness’s definitive exploration of the prospects for human freedom today.

Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering was one of the short list titles in the Accessible Theology book category. Drawing on his own family’s experience with prolonged physical pain, Kapic reshapes our understanding of suffering into the image of Jesus. Embodied Hope was also chosen as Christianity Today’s 2018 Book of the Year for Theology/Ethics.

Joni Eareckson Tada, founder and CEO, Joni and Friends International Disability Center, said, “I am all too familiar with the topic of this book, having lived as a quadriplegic for nearly fifty years and dealing daily with chronic pain. So I’m always heartened when I stumble upon a rich new resource that really encourages. That describes the remarkable book you hold in your hands. Rather than focus on why, Kelly makes much of how—how to trust God in this world. Best of all, Embodied Hope leads the reader to the foot of the cross, the only place to find true relief and healing.”

Another IVP title that made the short list in the Accessible Theology book category was Disruptive Witness: Speaking Truth in a Distracted Age. In this timely book, Noble looks at our cultural moment, characterized by technological distraction and the growth of secularism, laying out individual, ecclesial, and cultural practices that disrupt our society’s deep-rooted assumptions and point beyond them to the transcendent grace and beauty of Jesus.

Author and podcaster Barnabas Piper said, “While reading Disruptive Witness I got more than a little tired of Alan Noble reading my mind, diagnosing my issues, and jabbing at the nerves of my heart. Page after page he hit on issues of thought, habit, perspective, or lifestyle with which I struggle and in which I fail to be a proper witness for Jesus. Of course what I was really tired of was my own distracted, thin faith. And those are the very things this book helps. Noble clearly and gently diagnoses the problems first and then he offers robust solutions. Disruptive Witness is incisive, substantial, and encouraging for tired, frustrated believers looking for direction.”

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

Ada, Mich. (December 10, 2018)—Baker Publishing Group is pleased to welcome Rachel McRae to the Baker Publishing family as senior acquisitions editor for Revell Books. Rachel comes to us from LifeWay Christian Stores, her career home for the past eighteen years. Most recently, she served as category director of books, kids, reference, and academic business areas for 170 retail stores. Her industry experience and knowledge base are outpaced only by her passion for serving Christian readers. Rachel will be located in Nashville, Tennessee.

Andrea Doering, editorial director for Revell, stated, “Rachel’s depth of experience serving Christian readers, her desire to provide books that change lives, and her wealth of industry knowledge are exceptional. For years we’ve been privileged to work with Rachel as an industry colleague; we’re thrilled to now have her join Revell and bring her skills to our team.”

Rachel McRae said, “I’ve been a big fan of Baker Publishing Group and Revell in particular for many years, both as a buyer for a chain as well as for my own reading enjoyment. I’m honored to join the Revell team, and I look forward to discovering new projects and authors that will further Revell’s impact on the industry and also bring encouragement and help to readers.”

Revell has a passion for providing books that inspire and equip readers, offering them hope and help for daily life.

Baker Publishing Group publishes high-quality writings that represent historic Christianity and serve the diverse interests and concerns of evangelical readers.

Contact: Ruth Anderson, (616)676-9185 x8131, randerson@bakerpublishinggroup.com