Minneapolis, Minn. —BroadStreet Publishing author Brian Bird is speaking at the NRB Convention Super Session on Tuesday, February 27th in Nashville. Bird is sharing the stage with Vice President Mike Pence, actor Dennis Quaid, Director/ Author/ Writer Alex Kendrick, Evangelist Luis Palau, and Emcees, The Benham Brothers.

BroadStreet Publishing has partnered on a three-book series from Brian Bird, the Executive Producer of The Hallmark Channel’s original show, When Calls the Heart, and his co-author Michelle Cox. The first book is a devotional title When God Calls the Heart which released on February 1st, 2018 and was the #1 New Release on Amazon in the areas of Christian Inspirational and Christian Devotionals. The next book in the series is a Christmas offering complete with special traditions and recipes for the season set to release early fall 2018. The third will be centered on romance and will release around Valentines Day, 2019. Each book takes God moments from the series episodes and highlights the inspirational meaning.

When Calls the Heart has a fan base that has been described by Hallmark as a phenomenon. The worldwide “Hearties” group resembles one big family, even having a yearly reunion where the cast shows up to greet the fans. The show is going into its fifth season and expects to expand its weekly viewership of 3.6 million due to the numbers from this year’s Christmas movie positioned as the first episode of season 5. That premiere had 5.7 million viewers tune in for the 2-hour special.

Brian and Michelle were invited to be guests on the Hallmark Channel’s Home & Family show to share about When God Calls the Heart.  http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/home-and-family/videos/when-god-calls-the-heart-home-family

BroadStreet Publishing President, Carlton Garborg, said he is thrilled by the partnership with Brian Bird and Michelle Cox and views this as the beginning of a long and exciting relationship.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

BRIAN BIRD is executive producer and co-creator of the Hallmark Channel original series When Calls the Heart. In his three decades in Hollywood, he has written or produced two dozen films, including most recently, The Case for Christ, Captive, and Not Easily Broken, and more than 250 episodes of such shows as Touched By An Angel, Step By Step, and Evening Shade.

His films have garnered awards from the New York Independent Film Festival, New York Festivals, Heartland Film Festival, the Movie Guide Awards, the Telly Awards, and the Christopher Awards.

He has spoken widely on the intersection of the arts and the church, and his professional blog, BrianBird.net, serves as a lively exchange in the best practices of storytelling. Beyond Bird’s professional achievements, he considers his top productions to date his thirty-six-year marriage to wife, Patty, and his five children.

MICHELLE COX is a speaker and an award-winning, best-selling author. She is a member of the blog team for Guideposts, and her “Life with a Southern Grandmother” column runs twice each week at Guideposts.org.

She has written for Focus on the Family, FoxNews.com, Christian Cinema, WHOA Magazine for Women, Leading Hearts Magazine, and the website of Fox News’ radio host Todd Starnes. Michelle is the creator of the Just 18 Summers® brand of parenting products and resources, and has been a guest on numerous television and radio programs, including Hannity and Focus on the Family. She and her husband, Paul, have been married for forty-three years and have three sons and six perfect grandchildren.

Connect with Michelle at just18summers.com and GodGlimpses.com, on Twitter @MichelleInspire, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MichelleCoxInspirations.

For Interviews Contact: Suzanne Niles
213-434-3331  suzanne.niles@broadstreetpublishing.com

On April 4, 2018 Paraclete Press will release Billy Graham: An Ordinary Man and His Extraordinary God (ISBN 978-1640600874 / Hardcover / $21.99) by Lon Allison, with a foreword by Dr. Leighton Ford and Jean Graham Ford (Billy’s youngest sister).

“You have no idea how sick I get of the name Billy Graham, and how wonderful and thrilling the name Christ sounds to my ears,” Billy once said. So, why another book about him? Lon Allison, evangelist, pastor, and former director of The Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College, has learned much from Billy. Allison retells the highlights of a fascinating life, and in a way that resonates with Graham’s desire to always be sharing the Good News. Every stage of Graham’s life is included, even the rough spots, with appreciation and a desire to answer the question: What can we learn from the life and ministry of Billy Graham? What is his legacy? What was his message and how might it still be relevant for today?

Lon Allison has a gift for explaining how everyday people can connect personally with the God who loves them—Lon worked for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for years, and served as Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center at Wheaton College before becoming pastor at Wheaton Bible Church in Illinois in 2013. Lon has taught masters and doctoral evangelism courses at North Park Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Northern Seminary, and is a visiting professor at Wheaton College Graduate School. He maintains an active speaking schedule at churches and conferences around the world, and is the author of Going Public with the Gospel and That the World May Believe. He and his wife, Marie, have three grown children and live in West Chicago, Illinois.

Originally planned for release in September, in anticipation of Graham’s 100^th birthday, Paraclete is responding to Graham’s recent passing and the urgent need for Graham’s message of salvation for the nation and the world by moving publication up six months—to the first week of Easter. We believe Billy would be pleased with the timing!

Contact:  To interview Lon Allison or to receive an Advance Review Copy, please contact Director of Marketing Laura McKendree at 800-451-5006 ext 316 or lauram@paracletepress.com

(Nashville, TN) February 21, 2018— It is with great sadness that HarperCollins Christian Publishing has learned of the death of Billy Graham.

“It has been a privilege to have Billy Graham as part of our publishing family,” says Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing.  “His work here on earth has been unsurpassed and we are comforted that he is at the side of his heavenly Father.  Our world is forever impacted by the example he set as a follower of Jesus Christ, and for that we are grateful.”

“Despite the great publishing success that Billy Graham enjoyed for over fifty years, it was never about bestsellers,” says David Moberg, senior v-p and group publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing Trade Books Group. “It was always only about one thing…the Gospel.  We have been blessed and inspired to have served as his publisher for many years and will always treasure this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Since 1975, Thomas Nelson had been Dr. Graham’s majority trade book publisher. In that time the publishing group has partnered with Dr. Graham on numerous million-copy bestsellers including “Angels: God’s Secret Agents” and “How to Be Born Again.” In September 2015, at the age of 96, Graham released his last  book “Where I Am: Heaven, Eternity, and Our Life Beyond.” His two previous releases“Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well” (October 2011) and “The Reason for My Hope: Salvation” (October 2013), were both New York Times best sellers. Zondervan and HarperOne, sister company to HarperCollins Christian Publishing, co-published Dr. Graham’s autobiography, “Just As I Am,” in May, 1997.

“To have published Billy Graham is one of the most treasured experiences of my life,” said Matt Baugher, who worked as with Billy Graham’s publisher for ten years. “Billy Graham had one reason, and one reason only, to preach, teach, and write. That reason was the foundational gospel of Jesus Christ. He never watered down that message, yet was somehow accepted around the world by a wide variety of individuals, groups and belief systems.”

Billy Graham, the world-renowned author, preacher, and evangelist, delivered the gospel message to more people face-to-face than anyone in history and ministered on every continent of the world. Millions have read his inspirational classics, including “Angels,” “The Secret of Happiness,” “Peace with God,” “The Holy Spirit,” “Hope for the Troubled Heart,” and “How to be Born Again.”

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES, CONTACT CASEY HARRELL casey.harrell@harpercollins.com

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

Nashville, Tennessee (February 23, 2018)— After consulting with thousands of churches and pastors, LifeWay Christian Resources President and church leadership expert Thom S. Rainer found that most church members perceive their church to be friendly. But as he researched, he found that the guests typically saw church members as unfriendly. The perception chasm existed because the members were indeed friendly to one another, but many of the guests often felt like they crashed a private party.

In his new book, Becoming a Welcoming Church (March 1, 2018, B&H Publishing), Rainer helps churches and their members explore what it takes for their church to become a welcoming church. The bestselling author of I Am A Church Member and Autopsy of a Deceased Church, Rainer presents a practical framework for churches to become more hospitable.

“More than one million people and counting have read I Am a Church Member,” said Devin Maddox, B&H Book Publisher. “Our expectation is that Becoming a Welcoming Church and the supporting resources will be a wake-up call for churches to be aware of how they can serve guests and be a part of growing the kingdom.”

Designed for church members and leaders to read individually or study together, Becoming a Welcoming Church can be used to assess and audit where churches are on a spectrum between welcoming and not. The companion book We Want You Here is designed as a gift for guests, sending them home with a compelling vision for what pastors want every guest to know after they visit.

B&H is supporting Becoming a Welcoming Church with national advertising and media, bulk purchase options to help churches, and free teaching and study guides for churches to use. For more information, visit http://welcoming.church.

“An outward focus is critical to the overall health of the church,” stated Rainer. “It is my prayer that these books move churches to look beyond themselves and into their community to reach and welcome guests as they carry out the Great Commission.”

Thom S. Rainer is the President and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the largest Christian resource companies in the world. Also a respected pastor and researcher, he has written more than twenty books and coauthored the No. 1 bestsellers Simple Church and I Am a Church Member. Rainer and his wife, Nellie Jo, have three grown sons, several grandchildren, and live in Nashville, Tennessee. Visit ThomRainer.com to learn more.

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of LifeWay Christian Resources, is a team of mission minded people with a passion for taking God’s Word to the world. Because we believe Every Word Matters® we seek to provide intentional, Bible-centered content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, inspiring them to build a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ. Among our print and digital releases for the trade, church, and academic markets, titles include The New York Times No. 1 bestsellers The Love Dare and The Vow, No. 1 CBA bestseller I Am a Church Member as well as the newly-revised Christian Standard Bible (CSB) version.

Media Contact: Jenaye White
Jenaye.White@BHPublishingGroup.com  615-251-2964  www.bhpublishinggroup.com

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE) – LSC Communications (NYSE: LKSD) and Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company announced jointly today that they have agreed to enter a supply-chain-services agreement. Beginning in March 2018, LSC will supply a range of services for Wm. B. Eerdmans, including fulfillment and distribution, digital content management on LSC’s Harvest platform, and digital print technologies such as print-on-demand and automatic inventory replenishment.

Eerdmans’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tracy Danz, said, “After several months of study, we concluded that partnering with LSC would be the most effective way to provide the fast and reliable fulfillment service that our customers expect today. LSC has a strong reputation among publishers, and we are confident that our customers will be pleased.”

According to Wm. B. Eerdmans’ President and Publisher, Anita Eerdmans, this new distribution partnership is one of a number of steps the highly regarded publisher is taking to position itself for success in its second century. “In order to safeguard and enhance our ability to publish the excellent books that our readers and authors expect and need, we have undertaken a comprehensive assessment and adjustment of our business operations.” The aim, she said, is to build up core strengths (editing, marketing, and selling) and find the best external solutions for ancillary functions (manufacturing, warehousing, fulfillment, and retail sales).

“LSC continues to focus on providing expanded supply chain services to publishers, allowing our clients to dedicate more resources to creating great content for their customers, while LSC facilitates delivering that content,” said Dave McCree, President of the Book Division at LSC Communications. “We look forward to enabling Wm. B. Eerdmans to increase efficiencies across their distribution channels while providing exceptional service to their customers.”

About LSC Communications
With a rich history of industry experience, innovative solutions and service reliability, LSC Communications (NYSE: LKSD) is a global leader in print and digital media solutions. The company’s traditional and digital print-related services and office products serve the needs of publishers, merchandisers and retailers around the world. With advanced technology and a consultative approach, LSC’s supply chain solutions meet the needs of each business by getting their content into the right hands as efficiently as possible.

About Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company is an independent publisher of religious books, from academic works in theology, biblical studies, religious history and reference to popular titles in spirituality, social and cultural criticism, and literature. Founded in 1911, the company has developed a reputation for publishing excellent literary and intellectual works that offer a myriad of responsible viewpoints from across the religious spectrum. For more information visit www.eerdmans.com.

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and any such forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the following cautionary statements. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release and are based on current expectations and involve a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking statements, including risks associated with the ability of LSC Communications to perform as expected as a separate, independent entity and risks associated with the volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, and adverse changes in the global economy. Readers are strongly encouraged to read the full cautionary statements contained in LSC’s filings with the SEC. LSC disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Investor Relations Contact:  Janet Halpin, SVP Treasurer and Investor Relations
investor.relations@lsccom.com  773-272-9275

Source:  LSC Communications, Inc.

New Brunswick, NJ – February 19, 2018 – Writing for Your Life, a resource center for spiritual writers, is pleased to announce that four members of the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association (ECPA) have been named to the Advisory Board of Publishing in Color for African Americans. Those members are: Joyce Dinkins, Our Daily Bread Ministries VOICES Executive Editor, Yvonne Hawkins, Chief Content Office, Urban Ministries, Inc., Jeff Crosby, Publisher, InterVarsity Press, and Jennifer Leep, Executive Vice President, Trade Publishing, Baker Publishing Group.

Publishing in Color is a series of conferences for under-represented groups of spiritual authors such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. The goals of these conferences are to:

• Foster relationships between under-represented groups of prospective spiritual authors and representatives of spiritual book publishing companies and spiritual magazines
• Provide networking and educational opportunities so that prospective authors can learn more about how to work with these publishers and magazines
• Result in an increased number of books and articles published by under-represented groups

The first Publishing in Color conference will serve prospective African American authors and others of African descent. It will take place June 19-20, 2018 at the New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Additional information about the conference can be found here: https://publishingincolor.com/conferences/

“I look forward to serving new authors at these conferences designed to expand opportunities for African Americans and others in Christian publishing” said Joyce Dinkins, Our Daily Bread Ministries VOICES Executive Editor.

“As members of the Christian publishing industry,” said Jeff Crosby, Publisher of InterVarsity Press, “it is important for us to provide more opportunities for under-represented groups to be heard. The Publishing in Color conference series is an excellent vehicle to help make that happen.”

The first Publishing in Color conference will include accomplished authors from the African American Christian community, including Patricia Raybon, Sophfronia Scott, Rev. Frank A. Thomas, and Rev. Jacqui Lewis. In addition to these keynote speakers, the event will feature publishing house representatives speaking about various aspects of “how to get published” and will include ample time for networking and relationship building.

Publishing in Color has established a scholarship fund that will pay for selected individuals to attend a future Publishing in Color conference at no charge. The fund is currently accepting donations, and profits from the Publishing in Color conferences will be donated to this fund.

You can learn more about the Publishing in Color conference series at: https://publishingincolor.com/

About Writing for Your Life
Writing for Your Life is committed to offering a comprehensive set of useful resources and services to support spiritual writers. We offer in-person writing conferences and online webinars featuring leading spiritual authors and publishing industry experts. Authors discuss and teach about various aspects of spiritual writing. Industry experts offer advice on how to get published and how to market.  We also offer a variety of writer support services including book development, editing, book proposal review, marketing, and platform development. https://writingforyourlife.com/

About Publishing in Color
Publishing in Color is a series of conferences for under-represented groups of spiritual authors such as African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Native Americans. The goals of these conferences are to: foster relationships between under-represented groups of prospective spiritual authors and representatives of spiritual book publishing companies and spiritual magazines; provide networking and educational opportunities so that prospective authors can learn more about how to work with these publishers and magazines; and result in an increased number of books and articles published by under-represented groups. https://publishingincolor.com/

For additional information contact Brian Allain at brian@writingforyourlife.com

“The Color of Compromise” to release January 2019

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 14, 2018 — Jemar Tisby, president and co-founder of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, has signed on to publish his first book, “The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism,” with Zondervan in January 2019.

Tisby will reveal the chilling connection between the church and racism throughout American history. He will survey the many ways Christians have reinforced theories of racial superiority and inferiority, and he will provide motivation for readers to take a series of bold actions—which must be performed to forge a future of equity and justice.

Tisby has written about race, religion, and culture for The Washington Post, CNN, Vox, Christianity Today and The New York Times. He is the co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast, which is frequently rated as one of the top 100 religion and faith podcasts on iTunes.

Tisby is a PhD student in history at the University of Mississippi, studying race and religion in the 20th century, and he has spoken to thousands at colleges, conferences, and churches across the country on such topics as “Understanding the Heart Cry of Black Lives Matter,” “The Historical Politics of Race in America,” and “The Image of God and the Minority Experience.” In 2017, the Religion News Association recognized him for excellence in student religion reporting for his articles on the police-related killings of unarmed black citizens.

“I could not be more pleased to have Jemar publishing with Zondervan,” says Stanley N. Gundry, SVP and publisher, Zondervan. “For the last 35 years I have been committed to giving a publishing platform to African-American Christian leaders. Jemar’s voice and expertise is a welcome addition to this publishing program, and the message of this, his debut book, is urgently needed at this moment in our nation.”

“The Color of Compromise” was acquired for publication by Zondervan’s team responsible for Reflective books. Tisby is represented by Erik S. Wolgemuth of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc. “The Color of Compromise” will be supported by national advertising and publicity campaigns.

About Zondervan: Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, 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, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Trinity McFadden, Senior Manager of Publicity
web: trinity.mcfadden@harpercollins.com  tel: 616-698-3514

Author of The Other Side of Infamy Was Recognized by Guinness World Records as “Oldest Published Author” in 2017

CAROL STREAM, ILL. (February 14, 2018) – Jim Downing, the second-oldest known survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor, passed away late yesterday afternoon in Colorado Springs, Colo. He’d undergone surgery in recent weeks, and was unable to rally. Downing was 104-years-old. Just last year, Guinness World Records recognized Downing as its “Oldest Male Author” as he was 102 years and 176 days when the final draft of his book, The Other Side of Infamy (NavPress, November 2016), was accepted for publication. This morning, Megyn Kelly on NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today” shared a very moving tribute to Jim and the impact that he recently had on her life: https://twitter.com/MegynTODAY/status/963822963790434304

“Jim continually amazed me. I met him when he turned 100! Imagine! He had the vim and vigor of my 50-something peers—perhaps more,” said Don Pape, Publisher, NavPress. “But what struck me more than his zest for life was his daily desire to serve his Lord and Savior in the moment. With nary a thought for tomorrow, he lived, serving God each day, maximizing each breath he took. It was a most certain honor to publish his book The Other Side of Infamy and introduce this great Christian citizen to a whole new generation. His character and his deep devotion to his Lord is most certainly a model for us all.”

Downing was born August 22, 1913, in Oak Grove, Missouri, a small community on the eastern outskirts of Kansas City. While his family moved around frequently during Jim’s early years, he spent most of his childhood in Plevna, Missouri, where his father owned a full service general store. At the time Jim left home for the Navy in 1932, he had never lived in a house with indoor plumbing or electricity.

Jim joined the Navy at age 19. The first ship he was assigned to was the USS West Virginia, where he served as gunner’s mate 1^st class and postmaster.  Jim later met his future wife, Morena, at a college graduation in 1940. She was the graduating class women’s speaker. They were married in July 1941 in Hawaii, where Jim was stationed. “The altar was covered with orchids for which we paid $10. The bill for the 55-guest banquet was $55.”

Just 149 days later, the Downings’ lives were turned upside down by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. “I lost everything I owned except the clothes on my back. The only money we had was the change in Morena’s purse. On Christmas Day, Morena left Hawaii on a passenger liner turned military transport. We would not see each other face-to-face for the next 18 months.”

Jim’s life would be forever linked to the “date which will live in infamy.” During the attack, with a fire hose in one hand, Jim memorized the name tags of the fallen around him so he could write a personal letter to each of their families.

Jim’s Navy career culminated with becoming the commanding officer of the USS Patapsco from 1952 until 1955, during the Korean War. While in hostile waters he was exposed to the equivalent of 470 dental x-rays over his entire body when radio-active ash from an “H” bomb being tested at Bikini Atoll covered his ship.

In 1956, after 24 years in the Navy, Jim went to work for The Navigators, a worldwide Christian ministry, with which he has been affiliated since its founding in 1933.

“My life’s ambition was changed when I became [founder Dawson’s Trotman’s] spiritual descendant,” Jim once said. “I had planned to attend law school and enter political office. After meeting Dawson, my life became all about availability to his Lord and mine.”

Jim officially retired in 1983, but in many ways his ministry was just beginning. His retirement allowed him to travel the world to speak and teach. His practical application of the Bible, his warmth and wit, made Jim a popular speaker, especially among college students.

Jim was also the author of three books, published by NavPress:

• Meditation (1976)
• Living Legacy: Reflections on Dawson Trotman and Lorne Sanny (2007).
• The Other Side of Infamy by Jim Downing, with James Lund, (2016).

The Navigators U.S. President Doug Nuenke says, “Jim was an influence among us for walking with God and having our life’s work flow from our knowledge of the Word and walk with Christ. Jim has influenced me by being a man who finished well—with a spirit of humility and faith, not demanding influence but having influence because all see the character of Jesus in his life.”

Jim is survived by six children, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren, including his daughter Marobeth Ruegg; his son Jon Downing and his wife, Cheryl; son Joe Downing; son Don Downing and his wife, Deb; son David Downing and his wife, Crystal; and daughter Joy Riley and her husband, Mark. His son James died of a heart attack in 2013. Morena, his beloved wife of 68 years, died in 2010.

Visit jimdowning.net for more information on Jim’s life and ministry.

Jim Downing was born August 22, 1913 in Oak Grove, Missouri. He joined the Navy at age 19. The first ship to which he was assigned was the USSWest Virginia, where he served as gunner’s mate 1st class and postmaster. Jim later met his future wife, Morena, at a college graduation in 1940. During July of 1941, they were married in Hawaii, where Jim was stationed. Just 149 days later, the Downing’s lives were turned upside down by the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. During his life, Jim served admirably in the United States Navy, was a devoted husband for 68 years, and was a father to seven children. He lost his beloved wife, Morena, in 2010. In 2013, Jim was entered into the Congressional Record, with a special declaration by Colorado’s U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn. Today, at 104 years of age, Jim Downing is the second oldest known survivor of the December 7, 1941, Japanese sneak attack that killed more than 2,400 Americans.

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.

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) November 2017 – Little ones today are growing up surrounded by a seemingly endless stream of media vying for their attention. For Christian families, it can be difficult to get kids excited about the things that matter, such as learning about the Bible. Worthy Publishing is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the creative team at Planet 316 to develop a Bible uniquely suited to the needs of today’s child. Using the exciting technology of Augmented Reality, the Planet 316 Story Bible allows beloved Bible stories to pop off the page and engage the hearts and minds of a new generation.

The Planet 316 Story Bible (March 6, 2018; ISBN 9780824956882) contains more than 100 stories and hundreds of illustrations—and it comes with a free downloadable app. As young readers turn the pages, they will find images waiting to spring to life on every page. When children hold a smart phone or tablet over the stories, the app allows characters, animals, and objects to spring up in 3-D. As children interact with the app, the characters talk, the animals make sounds—and the child is immersed in the Bible story. Children can hear Adam and Eve talking in the Garden of Eden, Jonah getting thrown overboard during a loud storm, and Mary and Joseph talking to baby Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem.

“The Bible is already full of adventure,” says Peggy Schaefer, Vice President & Associate Publisher, WorthyKids/Ideals. “But with Augmented Reality and the Planet 316 team, we can make the exciting events of the Bible more tangible and accessible to children.” Bound to be a favorite among little learners, thePlanet 316 Story Bible invites children on a fun-filled Bible journey.

Watch a demo: http://planet316storybible.com/.

Planet 316 is a team of talented writers and artists who share a love for technology and a desire to make the Bible approachable and engaging for children. They create fun and interactive experiences that are infused with faith and family values. While the team members come from diverse backgrounds, many have experience in ministry as pastors, children’s ministers, and creative leaders within their churches.

Worthy Publishing Group is a privately held, independent voice in inspirational publishing, based in Nashville, Tennessee. Worthy includes five distinct imprints: Worthy Books publishes inspirational works addressing spiritual growth, biblical study, faith and culture, biography, fiction, and specialty Bibles; Museum of the Bible Books is a partnership between Worthy and the Museum, publishing books that reveal the history, narrative, and impact of the Bible; Ellie Claire produces beautifully crafted journals, gifts, and paper expressions; Worthy Inspired publishes felt-need, spiritual growth, inspirational, and devotional books; and WorthyKids/Ideals creates colorful, interactive children’s books, including VeggieTales and Berenstain Bears, for ages 1 to 9.