WESTMONT, IL—The Gospel Coalition honored two InterVarsity Press titles, In Search of Ancient Roots and The Economics of Neighborly Love, with 2017 TGC Book Awards.

TGC editor Ivan Mesa said, “Each year we review around three hundred titles between our academic journal Themelios and our regular book reviews section, so at the end of the year it’s good to take stock of the most helpful titles from 2017.”

In Search of Ancient Roots: The Christian Past and Evangelical Identity Crisis by Kenneth J. Stewart was the winner in the History & Biography category. Stewart surveys five centuries of Protestant engagement with the ancient church, showing that Christians belonging to the evangelical churches of the Reformation have consistently seen their faith as connected to early Christianity. Stewart explores areas of positive engagement, such as the Lord’s Supper and biblical interpretation, as well as areas that raise concerns, such as monasticism.

Gavin Ortlund reviewed Stewart’s book for TGC in November and said, “In Search of Ancient Roots is a helpful resource that not only provides context for understanding evangelical departures, but also envisions the kind of robust, historically rooted Protestantism that may discourage them from happening in the first place.”

The Economics of Neighborly Love: Investing in Your Community’s Compassion and Capacity by Tom Nelson was chosen as the runner-up in the Public Theology & Current Events category. Marrying biblical study, economic theory, and practical advice, Nelson presents a vision for church ministry that works toward the flourishing of the local community, beginning with its poorest and most marginalized members. Nelson resists oversimplification and pushes us toward more complex and nuanced understandings of wealth and poverty.

Tim Keller, pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, said, “Tom Nelson’s new book is a great contribution to a growing and needed literature that helps churches connect to their parishes and neighborhoods and serve not only individuals, but the public good. There is an emerging awareness of the importance of this, but few volumes are as practical as this one in describing the way forward.”

TGC winners and runners-up were 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.

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

Contact: Krista Clayton
630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

WESTMONT, IL—InterVarsity Press received seven Christianity Today 2018 Book Awards, including the top honor for book of the year that went to Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish Harrison Warren.

Selected by Christianity Today editors as the title that “best embodies our pursuit of Beautiful Orthodoxy,” Liturgy of the Ordinary was also the winner in the spiritual formation category of the 2018 Book Awards. Framed around one ordinary day, Warren’s book explores daily life through the lens of liturgy, small practices, and habits that form us. Each chapter looks at something—making the bed, brushing her teeth, losing her keys—that the author does every day.

Ann Carlson Kennedy, a blogger at Preventing Grace, said, “No matter which chapter you’re reading, it’s hard not to suffer from writer envy. Liturgy of the Ordinary is a gracious, gospel-oriented, fantastically un-preachy invitation to be a more integrated believer. Warren takes the most basic components of everyday life and turns them inside out to reveal the extraordinary work of God. You don’t have to be liturgically minded to be helped by her thought, experience, and spiritual depth.”

Embodied Hope: A Theological Meditation on Pain and Suffering by Kelly M. Kapic was the winning title in the theology/ethics category of the Christianity Today 2018 Book Awards. Kapic meditates on how our suffering—particularly our physical suffering—relates to the Christian faith.

Aimee Byrd, blogger and author of Housewife Theologian, said, “Embodied Hope is a breath of fresh air and a source of hope, as Kapic takes a holistic approach to pain and suffering. Rather than downplaying orthodoxy in order to be practical and compassionate, he gives us a rich teaching of Christian anthropology, Christ’s person and work, and an eternal perspective. He takes care to deal with the physical aspects of suffering as well as its connection with the spiritual. This approach directs our gaze to Christ while not ignoring the hard questions that sufferers and caretakers must face.”

The four IVP titles that received the Award of Merit include:

Winsome Persuasion: Christian Influence in a Post-Christian World by Tim Muehlhoff and Richard Langer received the Award of Merit in the apologetics/evangelism category. Muehlhoff and Langer present a model for cultural engagement that integrates communication theory, theology, and Scripture. “Too many books simply make assumptions about secular modern culture and about the way that we need to respond,” said Holly Ordway, professor of English and apologetics faculty member at Houston Baptist University. “Muehlhoff and Langer take the necessary step of analyzing the way that culture works, especially with regard to media and social issues, and their deft analysis generates significant insights. The authors apply orthodox Christian principles to hot-button issues without being shrill or partisan. In so doing, they model what the book strives to teach.”

Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life by Makoto Fujimura was honored with the Award of Merit in the culture and the arts category. Fujimura issues a call to cultural stewardship to artists and all “creative catalysts” who understand how much the culture we all share affects human thriving today and shapes the generations to come.

“Culture Care is a breath of fresh air for today’s world. Fujimura invites us to find and make beauty in the world with attentive minds, grateful hearts, and generous spirits,” said Jennifer Craft, associate professor of humanities and theology at Point University. “The central idea is a call to generative care—fruitful, generous, stewarding practices in a culture characterized by an attitude of openness, love, and appreciation for beauty. This call to appreciate and cultivate beauty is perhaps the most profound insight for today’s culture, which prioritizes the fast, useful, or most profitable.”

Mending the Divides: Creative Love in a Conflicted World by Jon Huckins and Jer Swigart received the Award of Merit in the missions/global church category. Jenny Yang, senior vice president of advocacy and policy for World Relief, said, “One of the most challenging tasks within the church in the next few decades will be the work of peace-building and reconciliation, of learning from and loving neighbors who are often very different. Taking the parable of the Good Samaritan as their starting point, Huckins and Swigart have written a practical, hands-on manual that shares their rich experiences working in peace-building across various contexts, from local to global.”

The Award of Merit winner in the politics and public life category went to Restoring the Soul of the University: Unifying Christian Higher Education in a Fragmented Age by Perry L. Glanzer, Nathan F. Alleman, and Todd C. Ream. Nikki Toyama-Szeto, executive director for Evangelicals for Social Action, said, “A thorough and ambitious book,Restoring the Soul of the University issues a stirring call to Christian institutions of higher education. The authors offer a deep historical analysis, along with a careful framing of the questions, philosophies, and challenges that define the mission of the university.”

See a complete list of past IVP 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

As the world remembers the tragedy at Sandy Hook in Newtown, Connecticut, Paraclete Press is privileged to release The Child of Faith: Raising a Spiritual Child in a Secular World by mother and son writing team, Sophfronia Scott and Tain Gregory.

“This book we feel is a message of hope,” says author Sophfronia Scott. “By sharing our story we hope other families will see it is possible to help their children have spiritual lives in this very secular day and age. And that spirituality really can help in dark times.”

Taking the events of that tragic day, but also the years preceding it, and the days of recovery and healing that followed, Sophfronia and Tain share stories, experiences and ideas to help parents get to the heart of the question: How do you help a child have faith—real faith that they own—in the challenging world we live in today?

Read more from Sophfronia about This Child of Faith and her family’s journey of faith today in Time, Fox News online, and Religion News Service.

This Child of Faith: Raising a Spiritual Child in a Secular World
Releases today, December 14, 2017
Trade paper, $16.99, ISBN 987-1-61261-925-5
Read more

Sophfronia Scott is a novel and essay writer who spent a large part of her early career as a writer and editor for Time and People magazines. She holds a BA in English from Harvard and an MFA in creative writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

Tain Gregory is in the eighth grade at Newtown Middle School. He enjoys riding his bike, playing video games with his friends, acting in musicals, and playing piano. He’s also a Boy Scout in Newtown’s Troop 770 and appeared in the documentary Midsummer in Newtown.

In this beautiful and timely memoir, mother and son share insights from a family’s spiritual awakening, a journey that led to a deep experience of God and a new way of life in the world. Not only do they offer practical advice on faith formation, but they tackle a difficult question: How does faith prepare us not only life’s joys but for its most shocking tragedies? The answer is deceptively simple: by paying attention to the Spirit and trusting one another. Read this one and weep. And discover the hope of a child. —Diana Butler Bass, Author, Grounded: Finding God in the World, A Spiritual Revolution

Contact:  For more information contact Laura McKendree
lauram@paracletepress.com, (800) 451-5006 x 316

Photo credit: George Duncan

FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE-  December 14, 2017-  Clovercroft Publishing, one of the publishing imprints of Christian Book Services, LLC, announced today that they will be publishing a book by the executive who broke the “glass ceiling” at the largest corporation in the world.  Celia Swanson became the first female executive vice president in the history of the Walmart corporation.   The book, entitled Gracious and Strong, will be published on April 1, 2018.

Celia Swanson is an accomplished senior executive who spent 25+ years at Walmart championing its culture and its people. She is notably recognized as the first female executive vice president at Walmart Stores, Inc. breaking the glass ceiling for women. Swanson has achieved what very few women in corporate America have.

She earned a reputation for being a key culture ambassador throughout her career demonstrating a people-first mindset. In addition, she was hand-selected by the Walmart U.S. CEO to lead a cost-savings and associate engagement strategy transforming store operations for 1.4 million associates.

In addition to her professional career, Celia is known for her community leadership in Northwest Arkansas. She was recently selected by the Northwest Arkansas business community as the 2016 Athena Woman of the Year for her excellence in community service, board leadership and regional impact in Northwest Arkansas. She was also the only leader to receive the top two operations awards from Sam’s Club and Walmart U.S. As a speaker, Swanson delivers leadership talks across the globe. Celia is a keynote leader at The Conversation, a prestigious mastermind event for world changers, and many other events.

In the book, Swanson shares her faith that guided her efforts as she rose through the ranks in an environment that was not always conducive to a life guided by grace.  The book is appropriate for general, as well as Christian bookstores.

According to Larry Carpenter, president and CEO of Clovercroft Publishing, “Gracious and Strong will help readers navigate the obstacles they will face, while becoming an authentic leader who helps others navigate their lives too. There are many ways to be a leader, but the one who inspires others and helps them achieve their full potential is a leader who is gracious and strong. This book will change how readers see leadership and give them tools that they need to step out in their leadership role and pursue positive change within themselves, their family, and their team.”

Carpenter further added, “We were thrilled to work with an author who serves as such an inspiration to women and to all people in positions of leadership.”

The book will be sold and distributed through Ingram Publisher Services, but will be available through all wholesale distributors.  It is available in trade paperback for $14.99 and in hardcover for $24.95.  The book can be preordered through Ingram/Spring Arbor now.

For more details on the company, go to the company’s website at www.clovercroftpublishing.com or contact Larry Carpenter at (615) 472-1128 or at larry@christianbookservices.com.

Ada, Mich. (December 15, 2017)—Christianity Today recently announced the winners of their 2018 Book Awards. Baker Publishing Group won the top award in three categories. The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker won in the Children and Youth category, The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch received top honors in the Christian Living/Discipleship category, and Engaging Globalization by Bryant L. Myers won in the Missions/Global Church category. In addition, three Baker publications won Awards of Merit: Paul and Gender by Cynthia Long Westall in Biblical Studies; The Science of Virtue by Mark R. McMinn in Spiritual Formation; and Scripture as Real Presence by Hans Boersma in Theology/Ethics. Christianity Today honors the books they consider “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought and culture.” For the complete list of winners, please click here.

The Day the Angels Fell by Shawn Smucker
(Revell; ISBN 9780800728496; ebook ISBN 9781493411078; $17.99)
After his mother’s death, twelve-year-old Samuel Chambers would do anything to bring her back. Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Sam begins his search for the Tree of Life—the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death entangles him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict and forces Sam to grapple with an unwelcome question: Could it be possible that death is a gift? Haunting and hypnotic, The Day the Angels Fell explores the difficult questions of life in a voice that is fresh, friendly, and unafraid.

The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
(Baker Books; ISBN 9780801018664; ebook ISBN 9781493406555; $13.99)
Making good choices about technology is more than just using internet filters and determining screen-time limits. It’s about building character, wisdom, and courage rather than accepting technology’s promises of ease and instant gratification. Alongside in-depth original research from Barna Group that shows how families are wrestling with technology’s new realities, Andy Crouch takes parents beyond the typical questions of what, where, and when to show us that in a world full of devices, there’s a way to choose a better life than we’ve imagined.

Engaging Globalization by Bryant L. Myers
(Baker Academic; ISBN 9780801097980; ebook ISBN 9781493410262; $26.99)
Globalization is speeding up our world, extending our relationships globally, and bringing us closer together in many ways. The church and many Christians, however, remain largely unaware of its seductive power. This up-to-date resource by a veteran leader in global development work with World Vision orients readers to the history of globalization and to a Christian theological perspective on it, explores concrete realities by focusing on global poverty, and helps readers reimagine Christian mission in ways that announce the truly good news of Christ and God’s kingdom.

Paul and Gender by Cynthia Long Westfall
(Baker Academic; ISBN 9780801097942; ebook ISBN 9781493404810; $32.99)
Respected New Testament scholar Cynthia Long Westfall offers a coherent Pauline theology of gender, which includes fresh perspectives on the most controverted texts. Westfall interprets passages on women and men together and places those passages in the context of the Pauline corpus as a whole. She offers viable alternatives for some notorious interpretive problems in certain Pauline passages, reframing gender issues in a way that stimulates thinking, promotes discussion, and moves the conversation forward. As Westfall explores the significance of Paul’s teaching, she seeks to support and equip males and females to serve in their area of gifting.

The Science of Virtue by Mark R. McMinn
(Brazos Press; ISBN 9781587434099; ebook ISBN 9781493411214; $18.99)
The church and science have drifted apart over the past century. However, this book shows that the new science of virtue—the field of positive psychology—can serve as a bridge point between science and the church and can help renew meaningful conversation. McMinn clarifies how positive psychology can complement Christian faith and promote happiness and personal flourishing. McMinn brings the church’s experience and wisdom on six virtues—humility, forgiveness, gratitude, grace, hope, and wisdom—into conversation with intriguing scientific findings from positive psychology.

Scripture as Real Presence by Hans Boersma
(Baker Academic; ISBN 9780801017032; ebook ISBN 9781493406654, $39.99)
This work argues that the heart of patristic exegesis is the attempt to find the sacramental reality (real presence) of Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. Leading theologian Hans Boersma discusses numerous sermons and commentaries of the church fathers to show how they regarded Christ as the treasure hidden in the field of the Old Testament and explains that the church today can and should retrieve the sacramental reading of the early church. Combining detailed scholarly insight with clear, compelling prose, this book makes a unique contribution to contemporary interest in theological interpretation.

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

Contact: Lynnae Lubbers
(616)676-9185 x193  llubbers@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Elementary School Teacher Wins Second Annual Prize for Original Children’s Book

MINNEAPOLIS (December 15, 2017) – Sparkhouse Family is pleased to announce the winner of the second annual Sparkhouse Family Children’s Picture Book Contest. Antonino’s Impossible Dream tells the story of a young painter who struggles to capture one of his dreams on canvas, until a new friend helps him and together they achieve new things. Author Tim McGlen is a member of SCBWI and teaches upper elementary at a Montessori school in Florida, where his sixth graders read weekly with their kindergarten reading buddies.

“’Antonino’s Impossible Dream’ is such a fresh portrayal of how art and the willingness to learn new things can bring people together. Our team was captivated by the unique storytelling voice and the possibilities for vibrant art to go along with this artsy story,” said Naomi Krueger, development editor for Sparkhouse Family.

“Antonino’s Impossible Dream” is scheduled for publication in 2019.

The Sparkhouse Family Picture Book Contest is an open call for books that fulfill the mission of the imprint – to help kids thrive in every part of who they are. The contest is open to writers at any stage of their career, and are judged based on writing quality, evocativeness, originality, and other criteria. The contest will open for a new round of submissions in the fall of 2018.

About Sparkhouse Family
Sparkhouse Family publishes high-quality children’s books that help kids thrive in every part of who they are—emotionally, socially, and spiritually. With topics ranging from selfesteem to kindness, ethics, and faith, our books are designed to spark the imagination and equip kids and families to live full and flourishing lives, together. More details about the award-winning books and Bibles for children and Sparkhouse Family can be found at www.sparkhouse.org.

Media Contact: Rachel Zugschwert, Director of Marketing
612-330-3108  zugschwertr@wearesparkhouse.org

Nashville, Tennessee (December 15, 2017)—This Is Our Time: Everyday Myths In Light of the Gospel (March 2017, B&H Publishing) by Trevin Wax was recently honored with two awards: Christian Living in the 2017 TGC Book Awards, and the Award of Merit in Christianity Today’s 2018 Book of the Year.

TGC announced its winners December 12; Christianity Today (CT) announced its winners December 14.

Mi Casa Uptown: Learning to Love Again (November 2017, B&H) by Rich Pérez was also honored as the runner up in TGC’s First-Time Author category. Echoes of the Reformation: Five Truths That Shape the Christian Life (February 2017, LifeWay Resources) by Albert Mohler, Kevin DeYoung, Trevin Wax, and Brandon Smith won the TGC Curriculum Award.

“This is Our Time is a timely word for our hearts. TGC and CT’s recognition of Trevin’s book is a credit to his insight into the unique ways Christians have to live in this brave new world,” said Devin Maddox, B&H Trade Book Publisher. “I also couldn’t be more excited for Rich Pérez, a man who is living faithfully in a city he loves. I have learned so much from him, and am excited for others to get to do so now too, through Mi Casa Uptown.”

TGC judges’ comments on This Is Our Time:

“This is Our Time offers a thoughtful analysis of the myths pervading our culture—whether they’re about our smartphone habits, entertainment intake, or views of shopping, sex, marriage, politics, and life’s purpose—and then wisely applies the truth of the gospel to them. Wax not only enlightens believers by exposing the myths, but equips them to faithfully engage these and other myths with the longing-lie-light framework. In all, This Is Our Time is a valuable resource for faithful living that’s broadly applicable to believers of all ages, stages, and circumstances.”

Christianity Today judges’ comments on This Is Our Time from David Mathis, executive editor of desiringGod.org:

“Trevin Wax is on a quest for deep and enduring joy, and he’s not content to go at it alone. This book is a winsome invitation into the Christian faith and witness that has so much more to say than ‘This is right and this is wrong.’ Rather, ‘This is better.’ Wax is no incurable optimist or jaded cynic. He commends the real God who will satisfy our souls, now and forever, and holds out, as he says, ‘the good news that is true, good, and beautiful.’”

Trevin Wax is Bible and Reference Publisher for LifeWay Christian Resources. A former missionary to Romania, Trevin hosts a blog at The Gospel Coalition and regularly contributes to The Washington Post, Religion News Service, WORLD, and Christianity Today, which named him one of 33 millennials shaping the next generation of evangelicals. His previous books include Counterfeit Gospels, Clear Winter Nights, and Gospel-Centered Teaching. Trevin earned his Ph.D. in Theology at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, and his Masters of Divinity at Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. He and his wife, Corina, have three children.

Through a variety of speaking experiences, Rich Perez has grown into a unique storyteller and thought-leader in faith, family, the arts, and the Hispanic-American experience. In 2011 Rich and his family led a team of friends into his hometown neighborhood (Washington Heights), and started a church that would embrace the very values with which they lived. Rich is the lead pastor of Christ Crucified Fellowship in New York City, where he lives with his wife and kids.

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