Pastor Shane Bishop releases fifth Trail Guide to the Scriptures:  John

Trail Guide to the Gospel of John invites you into a step- by-step journey through the most theological of the four Gospels—and for many, the most beloved. With rich imagery, poetic depth, historical insight, and spiritual encouragement, Pastor Shane Bishop helps you navigate John’s layered message with clarity and confidence, so you can discover its treasures for yourself.

But reading John can feel like wandering through unfamiliar terrain. It moves from story to symbolism, from signs to sermons. And its most famous passages are often the most misunderstood.

That’s where Trail Guide to the Gospel of John comes in. With pastor, teacher, and fellow traveler Shane Bishop as your guide, you’ll explore this Gospel with fresh eyes.

• Acclimatize to Your Surroundings-Start with background info on authorship, audience, and historical setting to ground your reading.
• Recognize Key Landmarks-Identify major plot points and moments of revelation in Jesus’ ministry.
• Discover Cool Sights-Dig into meaningful verses, historical details, and theological
• Visit Scenic Overlooks-Zoom out to see the Gospel’s major themes and their relevance
• Get Tips for a Stronger Faith Journey-Apply what you’ve learned with takeaways and personal reflection prompts.
• Share What You’ve Discovered-Discuss with others using built-in questions for small group or personal use.

Shane Bishop previously published four other Trail Guides to the Scriptures through Invite Press: 1 & 2 Peter, Jude and James. He has also authored That’s Good News, The Ping Life and In Search of the Holy through Invite Press. For more information, about his latest work visit: invitemininistries.org

Trail Guide to the Scriptures releases October 14, 2025. Order today at inviteministries.org or wherever books are sold.

Shane Bishop has served as the Sr. Pastor of Christ Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois since 1997. With his strengths of vision casting, preaching, teaching, soul winning and leadership, Christ Church total weekend worship attendance has increased under his leadership from 200 in 1997 to over 3,500 in 2023.

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Ruth’s Need for a Redeemer: A Bible Study on Loss, Loyalty and Unexpected Love

Redemption isn’t a distant concept. It’s a reality that meets us in the middle of loss, transition, and everyday struggle. In Ruth’s Need for a Redeemer, author and teacher Stephanie Watson (Invite Press) guides women through one of Scripture’s most profound accounts of restoration. With wisdom, warmth, and practical insight, this seven-week study explores how God meets us in our deepest places of longing—and how His love restores what we thought was lost.

Releasing October 14, 2025, the workbook includes daily Scripture readings, thoughtful prompts, and space to reflect. Each session includes personal study, discussion, and then concludes with a short video to bring the participant even further in their understanding of Scripture and application for their life.

Whether you’re leading a group or walking through the material on your own, this study creates space for real conversations, spiritual insight, and deeper connection with God’s story. Designed for individual or group use, this workbook-style study includes:

• Daily Scripture readings and reflection prompts
• Space to write, process, and wrestle with your story
• Weekly video summaries to guide and inspire
• A clear focus on Jesus as our ultimate Redeemer

This is the first release in The Table, a new women’s Bible study ministry designed to nourish spiritual growth through Scripture and small group fellowship. Built for real churches and real women, The Table offers spiritually rich, easy-to-lead studies for every season of life.

For more information, visit: invite.pub/ruth

Stephanie Watson:  The Lord has given Stephanie a passion for women’s Bible study through her 11 years of participating in and leading with Bible Study Fellowship. Stephanie brought her love of Bible study to her home church and started a women’s Bible study ministry called The Table, where she currently writes and teaches. She is also deepening her knowledge and love for the Lord through classes at Dallas Theological Seminary, where she is working toward her Master of Arts in Christian Leadership.

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Good Guilt: Rediscover the Joy and Freedom of Repentance

What if repentance isn’t about shame, but about joy? In his new book, Good Guilt: Why Repentance Is the Rhythm of a Faithful, Joy-Filled Life (Invite Press), pastor Kelly McCuaig reclaims repentance not as a burden, but as a life-giving rhythm. Releasing October 14, 2025, the book offers readers a path to freedom, renewal, and deep joy in Christ.

Through biblical insight, pastoral wisdom, and real-life ministry experience, McCuaig challenges cultural assumptions about guilt and shows how repentance can become a daily practice that heals the soul and restores intimacy with God.

• Recover repentance as a rhythm – Discover why turning back to God is more than a one-time event.
• See guilt differently – Understand how guilt, rightly embraced, can lead to healing and
• Resist cultural avoidance – Learn how repentance helps us take responsibility in an age of denial.
• Strengthen the church – Restore a lost practice without legalism or fear, fostering authenticity and grace.

For more information, visit: invite.pub/guilt

Kelly McCuaig is a pastor and spiritual leader dedicated to equipping individuals and churches for growth. His insights are shaped by years of ministry and a passion for helping believers experience the transformative power of God’s grace.

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About Invite Ministries
Invite Ministries equips churches and individuals with resources for spiritual growth, leadership, and community impact. Through an innovative approach to Christian publishing, Invite helps people learn to live more like Jesus.

Contact:  Susan Mahaney, Exec.Admin., Invite Ministries, 214-291-8091, smahaney@inviteministries.org

Recent books by authors Daniel Im, Karen Stiller, and Christie Thomas were recognized as part of the guild’s annual awards program, which honors the best of Canadian Christian writing from the previous year.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (October 14, 2025) — A recent release from NavPress author Daniel Im was recognized at The Word Awards, an annual awards program hosted by The Word Guild to honor the best of Canadian Christian writing from the previous year. Im received the Writer of Colour Award for his 2024 book, The Discipleship Opportunity: Leading a Great-Commission Church in a Post-Everything World. Two other NavPress titles—Karen Stiller’s  Holiness Here and Christie Thomas’ Little Habits, Big Faith—were finalists in the Christian Living – Personal Growth category.

“I’m delighted to see these gifted authors recognized for their writing,” says Deborah Sáenz, acquisition editor for NavPress, which is a business ministry of The Navigators. “All three books offer deep insight and wisdom, enriching individual readers and strengthening the Church as a whole. The recognition is well deserved.”

Daniel Im (Edmonton, Alberta) is a pastor, Bible teacher, and podcast host with a passion for the local church. In The Discipleship Opportunity, Im offers a powerful, practical resource for church leaders seeking to navigate the challenges of today’s rapidly evolving, post-pandemic, post-Christian world.

“As I was writing this book, the question that was burning in my heart, my soul, and my mind was how we could be more faithful to Jesus’ Great Commission in this ‘post-everything’ world that we’re living in,” Im shared upon receiving the Writer of Colour Award. “I’m so grateful to hear all of the stories from the pastors and the church leaders who have […] told me the ways that they have changed the way that they disciple and preach and evangelize — because the ways that we used to do it don’t work anymore.”

Holiness Here by Karen Stiller (Ottawa, Ontario) and Little Habits, Big Faith by Christie Thomas (Sherwood Park, Alberta) were included on the 2025 Word Awards Short List as finalists in the Christian Living – Personal Growth category. Holiness Here invites readers to explore how holiness pervades the Christian life, even in its seeming mundanity. Little Habits, Big Faith offers simple daily practices to support children in their spiritual growth.

Founded in 2001, The Word Guild is a diverse and growing community of Canadian writers, publishing professionals, librarians, and others who share a passion for the written word and affirm a common statement of faith. The guild’s mission is “to organize and serve Canadians who communicate through the written word from a Judeo-Christian worldview, so that they can increase in faith and excellence and inspire all readers.” The guild’s annual Word Awards program “exists to encourage writers and recognize their accomplishments over the past year,” offering awards in three primary categories: Unpublished Works or Writers, Published Works or Writers, and Specialty Awards.

To learn more about The Discipleship Opportunity and other NavPress titles, visit NavPress.com.

About NavPress
NavPress is a business ministry of The Navigators. With a rich catalog of bestselling books, discipleship resources, and The Message^® Bible, NavPress equips readers “to know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same^®.” Since 2014, NavPress has been in a publishing alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, one of the largest independently-owned Christian publishers in the world. NavPress resources are sold, distributed, and marketed worldwide through Tyndale House Publishers. NavPress, the NavPress logo, and The Message ^® are registered trademarks of NavPress, The Navigators, Colorado Springs, CO.

About The U.S. Navigators
The Navigators is a ministry that shares the gospel of Jesus and helps people grow in their relationship with Him through Life-to-Life^® discipleship, creating spiritual generations of believers. Since its founding in 1933, The Navigators has upheld the mission “to know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same^®.” Our Worldwide Partnership includes around 6,000 staff of 85 nationalities, serving in 123 countries. Navigators encourage spiritual growth across life stages, serving wherever people work, live, worship, and play: on college campuses and military bases as well as in urban neighborhoods, workplaces, churches, local communities, and hard-to-reach places. To learn more, visit www.navigators.org.

Contact:  Mariah Franklin, Marketing and PR Content Editor, (719) 594-2563, mariah.franklin@navigators.org

Abilene, TX — Earl Young, an Olympic sprinter, businessman, and cancer survivor, has entered a final race to save lives. Gold and Grace follows the story of Earl Young, who won Olympic gold in 1960 at nineteen, appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, and embarked on a globetrotting finance career in the oil, gas, and precious metals industries.

His work abroad led him to serve as director of the Corporate Council of Africa, and he was active with the US Olympic and Paralympic Alumni Association, where he helped create a relief fund for Olympians in need.

At the age of seventy-one, Earl was diagnosed with a deadly form of leukemia. Doctors gave him only three months to live. The odds of finding a stem cell donor were one in twenty-two million. Miraculously, a woman living in a small village in Germany was a match. She stepped up and agreed to save his life. After a difficult recovery, Earl dedicated himself to passing on the blessings of his donor’s unselfish gift. He created Earl Young’s Team, a non-profit that recruits stem cell donors to help others stricken with deadly blood cancers.

Earl Young encourages readers to develop their God-given gifts and find their highest purpose in serving others, just as he has done: “I believe the most meaningful life is one of purpose, especially when our purpose is greater than ourselves.”

“The adage ‘Once an Olympian, Always an Olympian’ has never fit a world-class competitor better than Earl Young. He helped put his alma mater on the map with his athletic accomplishments, and saves lives through his tireless work to defeat blood-borne cancer. He has carried his gold medal, faith, and selfless spirit around the globe, telling his one-of-a-kind story about the urgent need to care for each other in small yet mighty ways.”
—Ron Hadfield, Editor Emeritus, Senior Writer and University Historian, Abilene Christian University

Earl Young became the youngest man on the US national track team to earn a gold medal at the Rome Olympics in 1960 following his sophomore year at Abilene Christian College. After placing sixth in the 400-meter dash, Young helped the 1600-meter relay team establish an Olympic and World Record with a time of 3:02.2.

After the Olympics, he returned to the classroom and completed his degree. For two more seasons, he ran track for the Wildcats. Young placed second in the 400-meter final at the NCAA championships in 1961. He anchored the Abilene Christian track team in key victories at the Texas Relays and the Compton Invitational. At the Pan-American Games in 1963, Young won gold with the 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.

Gold and Grace
By Earl Young
October 2025, Softcover
224 Pages, $19.99
ISBN: 9781684264025

Media Contact:  Kaylin Graves, publicity@leafwoodpublishers.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — October 7, 2025— Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group announces the launch of its newest imprint, Align Insight, the first new imprint introduced under the Penguin Random House Christian division. The debut signals PRH Christian’s confidence in the growing demand for values-oriented publishing that bridges Christian perspectives with mainstream audiences.

About the Imprint
Align Insight will be a home for Christian authors and experts writing to a broad, general-market readership on topics such as self-help, lifestyle, psychology, relationships, memoir, and leadership. The imprint will publish books that offer insights, inspiration, and practical solutions to everyday challenges—works that subtly reflect Christian values without necessarily being overtly religious.

“We are seeing a segment of the market continue to gravitate toward books written by Christians for both Christian and general-market audiences,” said Campbell Wharton, Senior Vice President and Publisher. “PRH Christian is committed to expanding the scope of its program to reach even more readers, and the formation of Align Insight gives us an exciting opportunity to publish Christian crossover voices. In addition, we are utilizing the extraordinary strengths of our team across editorial, sales, marketing, and publicity—many of whom have experience reaching both Christian and mainstream readers. After announcing our growth strategy earlier this year, Align Insight is uniquely positioned for success.”

The imprint’s logo features two circles joining to form an alignment with a capital “A” at the center, symbolizing the partnership between authors and Align Insight. It conveys trust, focus, intentionality, and shared purpose in publishing timely, meaningful content.

Looking to acquire 8-10 books per year, acquisitions are led by an experienced team, including Madison Trammel, Editorial Director; Susan Tjaden, Vice President and Executive Editor; Kim Von Fange, Associate Editor; Jamie Lapeyrolerie, Editor; and Leslie Calhoun, Associate Editor.

Align Insight will debut its first title in fall 2026 with Vanessa Adekoya, a financial wealth educator and entrepreneur whose dynamic voice has already attracted more than 650,000 YouTube subscribers. Looking ahead to 2027, the imprint will launch with an exciting group of authors that includes actor Kellan Lutz, best known for his breakout role as Emmett Cullen in the global phenomenon Twilight Saga and now marking two decades in Hollywood, together with his wife Brittany Gonzales Lutz, a former model and actress; Dr. Jay Barnett, former Green Bay Packer turned sought-after speaker and certified mental health therapist; and Dr. Zoe Shaw, a licensed psychotherapist, author, relationship coach, and host of a popular podcast. 

About Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group
Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, reaches Christian readers through the imprints WaterBrook, Multnomah, Image, Forum Books, Ink & Willow, WaterBrook Childrens, and its newest imprint, Align Insight.

Contact:  Beverly Rykerd, VP/Publicity Director, brykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com

An Invitation to Breathe Deeply and Experience the Impact of Holy Spirit Living!

Take a 52-week Journey to Transform Your Life, Renew Your Mind, and Empower Your Faith

Orleans, MA – October 7, 2025 — Journaling with the Holy Spirit by Bonnie Rickner Jensen, invites readers into an intimate relationship with the Spirit of God through Scripture, reflections on the Word, journaling prompts, coloring pages, prayers, and praise.

The world’s demands can leave us worn out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We sprint through our days to prove our worth at home, at work, as friends, and on social media. This ongoing pressure to be the best we can be in every area of our lives can leave us feeling depleted. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is our air. God sent His Spirit to help us in this spiritual race, to be the oxygen that keeps every part of our being healthy, strong, and wise. The Holy Spirit is a gift and walks alongside us in times of need. He is here. He is beside us. His power is in us.

Journaling with the Holy Spirit is a perfect companion for individual devotions or group Bible study. This 52-week journal features:

• Scripture—over 150 Bible verses of encouragement and focus as well as an inspiring Bible verse to color, reflect and meditate on throughout the week, to help readers become more grounded in the Spirit and claim the authority God intends for them to enjoy.
• Devotion—a thought-provoking reflection to help bring readers into the presence of the Holy Trinity, tapping into Holy Spirit power for daily growth and interaction.
• Journal—three pages to record thoughts and responses to reflection questions, thanksgiving, highlights of the week, and how readers wish to learn and grow in relationship with the Spirit.
• Praise—space for recording praise and answered prayers, so readers can see the power of the Holy Spirit moving in their lives.

About the Author
After becoming a young wife and a mother of three daughters, Bonnie Rickner Jensen began her professional writing career at Hallmark Cards in their Christian division (DaySpring). She began writing children’s books through a partnership with Harper Collins Christian Publishing. Bonnie is the bestselling author behind the Really Woolly brand, with more than 1.6 million books sold, and the ECPA gold award-winning Really Woolly Bedtime Prayers. Her first book, God, I Know You’re There, (Tommy Nelson in 2017) is now in four languages. Her recent 3-book devotional series for Dayspring, The Beach is Calling, The Campfire is Calling, and The Mountains are Calling, have garnered inspirational reviews.

Praise for Journaling with the Holy Spirit
“There is a lot to like about this special journal. Its pages are filled with still waters and quiet resting places where your spirit and the Holy Spirit can fellowship together. An adventure of faith awaits as you spend time with the Holy Spirit discovering what is in His heart for you!” – Roy Lessin, Author, Bible teacher, Co-founder of Blessed Day Cards

Media Contact:  Danielle Bushnell, danielleb@paracletepress.com

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — As churches and families prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ, Lifeway Christian Resources has released a robust lineup of Advent Bible studies and resources, including an online event, designed to equip worshipers of every age to mark the season with Scripture, reflection and community.

While 9 out of 10 Americans celebrate Christmas, only 53% think they can accurately tell the story of Christ’s birth, according to Lifeway Research.

“These resources from Lifeway invite each of us to slow down, understand and reflect on the significance of Christ’s birth, with the hope that this holiday season will gain a greater meaning and purpose,” said Becky Loyd, vice president at Lifeway Christian Resources.

Lifeway Bible studies serve men, women, girls

Written by the teams at Lifeway Women and Lifeway Men respectively, “Behold the Savior” is the title of the four-week, verse-by-verse studies of Luke 1 and 2 created for women’s and men’s groups. Both editions include suggested group activities and discussion guides crafted to deepen understanding of the Christmas story and foster spiritual growth.

“Love Came Down” is a resource created by the Lifeway Girls team to meet the needs of this demographic. The four-session Bible study helps teen girls explore the gospel message through the lens of Advent. It emphasizes God’s holiness, the cost of His love and the transformative power of Jesus’s coming.

Resources for the family

Lifeway Kids has also provided a free family Advent guide that moves through Luke 1 and 2, coordinated with the “Behold the Savior” releases.

“The One We’re Waiting For: An Illustrated Advent Devotional for Families,” written by Taylor Combs and illustrated by Aedan and Natalie Peterson, is intended to create a daily Advent experience for families, with a Bible story, simple discussion questions and illustrated ornaments for each day.

Other Christmas- and Advent-focused devotionals are also available for readers on Lifeway.com. B&H Publishing recently released “Christmas for the Heart” from Cheryl Baker, and “Advent for Exiles,” was recently honored as a finalist in the Christian Book Awards in the new author category.

Prepare Him Room virtual event

Churches and small groups are invited to host or attend an immersive Advent experience called “Prepare Him Room,” featuring teaching from Kelly Minter and worship led by Lindsay McCaul. The event explores the lives of Mary and Elizabeth and encourages participants to make space for Jesus in their hearts and homes.

“I love the story of Mary and Elizabeth,” said Bible teacher Kelly Minter. “Things did not go as planned for them that very first Christmas, and yet both of them were so fully satisfied by the experience of Jesus Christ.”

The virtual event streams Nov. 14 – Dec. 31. Tickets for the live taping in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 16 are available as well.

More information about all Advent resources is available at lifeway.com/advent.

In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources, is a team that believes Every Word Matters®. We seek to provide intentional, biblical content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, cultivating lifelong relationships with Jesus Christ. We publish (print and digital) in the trade, church and academic markets, as well as the CSB translation. For more information, visit BHPublishingGroup.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Jill Waggoner, Jill.Waggoner@lifeway.com

 

Inter-Varsity Press (IVP UK) has appointed two new editors, Sydney Tooth and Elizabeth Sond as part of an ongoing expansion. IVP UK is the evangelical publishing division of SPCK Group.

IVP publishes leading evangelical authors such as Amy Orr-Ewing, John Stott, and Tim Chester. Committed to biblical faithfulness, gospel witness, and equipping the church, IVP also serves academic readers through its Apollos imprint and reaches a global audience via extensive licensing and partnerships.

SPCK Group, founded in 1698, is the UK’s third-oldest publishing house. Under CEO Sam Richardson, it merged with IVP in 2015 and acquired Lion Hudson in 2021, becoming the country’s largest Christian publisher.

Elizabeth Sond was previously Editorial Assistant at Cambridge University Press, and prior to this was an Editorial Intern for Inter-Varsity Press. As editor for IVP, she will commission new titles, engage IVP UK’s rich backlist, and support existing projects, effective from the 27^thJuly 2025.

Sydney Tooth joins IVP UK from Oak Hill College, where she was Director of Postgraduate Studies and Lecturer in New Testament and Greek. As editor for IVP, she will commission new titles, and manage a number of New Testament series, as well as projects on IVP’s Apollos imprint, effective from the 19^th August 2025.

In February 2025, SPCK Group also appointed Rochelle Owusu-Antwi as Marketing Campaign Manager, with a focus on IVP UK and Apollos titles.

Tooth and Sond will report to IVP UK’s Publishing Director, Thomas Creedy.

Tooth says: “I’m delighted to join IVP UK and contribute to its mission of resourcing and strengthening the church through thoughtful, faithful publishing. As an academic now moving into publishing, I’m excited to collaborate with leading authors to bring the best of evangelical scholarship to pastors, academics, and the wider church.”

Sond says: “I’m honoured to join IVP UK as an editor and look forward to working with the wider team and IVP’s brilliant authors to publish books that encourage and strengthen readers in their faith. I’m especially excited to commission new titles that reflect IVP’s mission to serve the global church with the best pastoral, theological, and academic resources.”

Creedy says: “IVP UK is growing, and a highlight of this year has been the expansion of our editorial team. I’m delighted to welcome two new editors who share our vision and bring excellent experience. Elizabeth, a standout former intern, returns after a role at Cambridge University Press. Sydney joins us from a distinguished academic background, and her appointment reflects our commitment to the highest biblical scholarship and rigour. As we mark ten years since IVP’s merger with SPCK, we’re on the front foot heading towards our centenary in 2028 – committed to publishing that is biblically rooted, culturally engaged, and globally relevant.”

Wendy Grisham, Deputy CEO of SPCK Group, says: “These new appointments reflect an exciting period of growth and expansion for IVP UK. The addition of Sydney and Elizabeth to the editorial team will take us to new heights of publishing excellence, strengthening our ability to produce books that are theologically rigorous, culturally engaged, and pastorally wise. Sydney’s and Elizabeth’s expertise and experience, combined with the vision of IVP UK Publishing Director, Thomas Creedy, and the wider team, will equip us to nurture established authors, develop vital new voices, and create resources that inspire, challenge, and support readers in their faith. As IVP UK continues to flourish within SPCK Group, I am confident that these appointments will be key to shaping the next chapter of their publishing mission.”

For further information please contact:  Emily Beater, ebeater@spck.org.uk, 07494430503

For social posts, please use the following IVP UK social handles: 

• Twitter – @IVPbookcentre
• Instagram –  @ivpbooks 
• Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ivpbooks/

October 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that Longing for Joy by Alastair Sterne was named the Best Nonfiction Book of the Year as part of the 2025 Word Guild Awards. In addition, IVP Academic’s Improvising Church by Mark Glanville received the Word Guild Award in the Academic category. The Return of the Kingdom by Stephen G. Dempster received the top honor in the Biblical Studies category, and The Riches of Your Grace by Julie Lane-Gay received the award in the Christian Living – Personal Growth category.

“We are thrilled and honored to have four of our books as award winners with The Word Guild this year,” said Cindy Bunch, vice president of IVP Editorial. “The diversity of the categories of the books represented (Christian living, church ministry, and biblical studies) drawn from both our academic and trade imprints highlights the thoughtfulness and range of The Word Guild Awards. Congratulations to these authors!”

The Word Guild’s thirty-seventh annual awards event was held on Saturday, October 4, in honor of talented Canadian writers who are Christian. This virtual event recognized both unpublished works and those published in 2024, encompassing genres for Christian and general market audiences.

Longing for Joy: An Invitation into the Goodness and Beauty of Life, the top nonfiction title, was one of five finalists for the Best Nonfiction Book of the Year. Through theologically grounded insights and research-based practices, Sterne offers guidance for becoming people of joyful presence, even for those who don’t consider themselves naturally inclined toward an enthusiastic, happy temperament.

“I am regularly chagrined by the obstinacy of my cynicism, so I received Alastair Sterne’s Longing for Joy with real apprehension. This book might not be for me, I thought, but I was gloriously, joyfully wrong,” said Emily Hunter McGowin, associate professor of theology at Wheaton College. “Reading Longing for Joy is like being taught to dance by a gentle and confident partner. Self-consciousness and doubt are overcome by Sterne’s skilled and intuitive accompaniment. Something approaching a sacrament, Longing for Joy affects what it signifies, as the reader is led into ‘an ever-widening circle of joy.’”

Sterne is also the author of Rhythms for Life: Spiritual Practices for Who God Made You to Be.

The Word Guild winner in the Academic category Improvising Church: Scripture as the Source of Harmony, Rhythm, and Soul proposes how to move beyond cookie-cutter approaches (which may have worked in the past) to build the creative, compassionate, and incarnational churches we long for. Glanville, a biblical scholar and accomplished jazz pianist, plays with a metaphor of improvisation to chart twelve themes as the key “notes” on which Christian communities play as they bear witness to God in the world today. Building on these two dynamic traditions—jazz music and Christian community—Improvising Church unfolds a biblical, practical, and inventive vision for churches seeking to receive and extend the healing of Christ.

Jason Byassee, senior pastor of Timothy Eaton Memorial Church in Toronto, Ontario said, “Imagine an interpreter of Scripture with trustworthy credentials. Now imagine a musician who enchants with creativity. Next imagine a pastor who can mobilize a community to bless a neighborhood. In Mark Glanville, all three of these are one person. Read, listen, and imagine what more may be possible.” 

The Return of the Kingdom: A Biblical Theology of God’s Reign, the top Biblical Studies Word Guild honoree, is part of IVP Academic’s Essential Studies in Biblical Theology series that explores the central or “essential” themes of the Bible’s grand storyline. In this volume, Dempster traces the themes of kingship and kingdom throughout Scripture, illuminating the challenges, pain, and ultimate hope that the Bible offers. The story of God’s kingship is ultimately the fulfillment of a promise, a promise to restore the rightful rule of humanity over creation by defeating sin and death and to establish a world of peace and justice.

“In this delightful handbook Stephen Dempster takes his readers on a royal tour of the Christian scriptures,” said Daniel I. Block, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College. “He invites us to picture the Bible as a royal garden consisting of a vast variety of trees whose foliage and fruit stimulate all our senses as we pass by. As he leads us through this literary paradise, he highlights its major structural features and theological themes, but he adds color and brilliance to the picture with exegetical nuggets and gemstones that leave us in awe of this place.”

A finalist for the Best Nonfiction Book as well as the top Christian Living – Personal Growth title, The Riches of Your Grace: Living in the Book of Common Prayer shares the treasures Lane-Gay has found in the Book of Common Prayer. It’s not a history of the prayer book nor a guide (though it will certainly help readers get their bearings). Instead, using stories from her own life, Lane-Gay shows what it means to live in the prayer book: to allow its prayers and patterns to shape an ordinary Christian life.

“Julie Lane-Gay is guide and fellow explorer in this rich contemplation of the Book of Common Prayer,” said Karen Stiller, author of Holiness Here and The Minister’s Wife. “Her personal journey through an ancient text of Anglicanism is honest and poetic. As she reads the Book of Common Prayer at church and at home, the book reads her, and we all benefit. The Book of Common Prayer can at first seem formal and a bit complicated for some of us, but in Lane-Gay’s skilled and sensitive hands, we experience how it opens the mysteries of God’s grace, love, and direction in our daily lives. I put down this book and felt encouraged to pick up that ‘small red book’ once again.”

The Word Awards were established by The Word Guild to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the art, craft, practice, and ministry of writing and to help raise the profile of Canadian writers who are Christian. For more information about The Word Guild and the complete list of winners for the 2025 Word Awards visit thewordguild.com.

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

Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

 

To Know Him: A 90-Day Invitation to Come to God As You Are to Release Oct. 28, 2025

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 9, 2025—After writing 46 books that have encouraged people worldwide, Christian psychologist, leadership expert and New York Times best-selling author of Boundaries Dr. Henry Cloud will release his first-ever devotional on October 28 called, To Know Him: A 90-Day Invitation to Come to God As You Are (Worthy Books). In To Know Him, Cloud offers a devotional book to inspire deeper faith through the stories, miracles and science he’s encountered. Each day offers a Bible passage, heartfelt reflection, and guided prayer—all designed to encourage readers to know God more fully.

As a psychologist, Cloud has dedicated his life to exploring the great and beautiful mystery of the human mind and how it interacts with existential questions like: What gives our lives purpose and makes them meaningful? How do we not only survive but find joy in a world that is full of suffering and disappointment? How can we live fully within the tension between the way things are and the way we long for them to be? These themes are reflected throughout the devotional, and readers are invited to join this 90-day journey to come to God from exactly the place they are right now – from right in the middle of worry, sadness, joy, longing, doubt, certainty, fear, anger or compassion.

Inspired by his previous book, Why I Believe (Worth Books, 2024)—a deeply personal story of faith and miracles in the field of psychology that examines his exploration of science and suffering, and how it relates to our relationship with God—Cloud penned To Know Him in devotional format to further share his own faith and inspire others to draw near to God in every circumstance.

A healer of minds and a teller of stories, in To Know Him, Cloud gives readers glimpses into significant milestones in his life and faith journey, from his diagnosis with a medical condition at the age of nearly four to his battle with depression as a college student. Throughout the 90 days of devotional entries, Cloud asks thought provoking questions, offering daily reflections on who we are, why we are here, and the nature of our connection to each other and to our Creator.

“Getting to know God and growing in your spiritual life is hardly ever a straight line. But at the same time, through all the twists and turns, times of strong enlightenment and other times of feeling lost, there is a sure direction. God promises that, and He fulfills that promise,” said Cloud. “The journey is always ‘to Him.’ Getting closer to Him and knowing Him more and more intimately. The journey is worth it!”

To Know Him: A 90-Day Invitation to Come to God As You Are (Worthy Books, ISBN: 978-1-5460-0923-8) is available Oct. 28, 2025. Hardcover: $20.00.

Dr. Henry Cloud is an acclaimed leadership expert, clinical psychologist and New York Times bestselling author. His 46 books, including the iconic Boundaries, have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide. He has an extensive executive coaching background and experience as a leadership consultant, devoting the majority of his time working with CEOs, leadership teams, and executives to improve performance, leadership skills and culture. To Know Him is Cloud’s first devotional book.

MEDIA NOTE:  For more information about To Know Him: A 90-Day Invitation to Come to God As You Are, or to arrange an interview, contact Laura McGowan at 847.347.5206 or Alli Ehrhardt at 541.973.1994.

CHARLOTTE, NC – The Good Book Company is excited to announce that it is partnering with the Yoto kids audio platform to provide Yoto’s first officially licensed Christian content.

Over the last few years, Yoto has become a major player in the children’s audio market. Their screen-free audio player keeps parents in control of the content their kids are listening to, while being fun to use. To this point, their official 850-strong audiobook list has not included any Christian content.

“We’re delighted to be the first Christian publisher Yoto has decided to add to its officially published content,” said President and Co-CEO James Burstow. “Yoto is rapidly becoming the go-to audio player, and we’re thrilled to be able to provide the millions of kids who listen to a Yoto player each month with Christ-centered, faithful biblical content.”

TGBC’s first offering through Yoto is the God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook, which is narrated by pastor and author Andrew Wilson and features an immersive surround-sound listening experience. The double-card pack launched October 9^th.

The next two cards will each feature five stories from the million-selling Tales that Tell the Truth series. The bestsellers The Christmas Promise by Alison Mitchell and God’s Very Good Idea by Trillia Newbell are included on the first card, releasing in November; February will see the launch of a second card including The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross.

The cards will be available from both yotoplay.com and thegoodbook.com. Retail outlets wishing to start the process of joining in with the success of these TGBC Yoto cards can do so by emailing nick.bannister@thegoodbook.com.

ABOUT THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY
Founded in 1991, The Good Book Company (TGBC) is an employee-owned international Christian publisher. Their Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses, and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. Everyone at TGBC is passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church, and His gospel of grace. They create and publish biblical, relevant, and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing, and keep sharing their faith.