We are delighted to announce that the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) has been shortlisted for both Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year and the Virtusales Metadata Award at the Independent Publishing Awards 2025. The winners will be announced at a Gala Lunch at OXO Tower in London on the 30th April, hosted by broadcasters Bridgid Nzekwu and Andrew Verity.
SPCK is the UK’s third-oldest publishing house, and has been active since 1698. Under CEO Sam Richardson, the company merged with Inter-Varsity Press (IVP) in 2015, and acquired Lion Hudson in 2021, becoming the largest Christian publisher in the country.
Independent Publishing Awards of SPCK’s nomination for Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year:
‘SPCK is a three-time winner of this Award, and is shortlisted again having revived its fortunes after a challenging few years in its field of Christian publishing. It had its highest ever sales and market share – the result of publishing fewer books better and finding new global markets… Judges said: “SPCK [is] always striving to do more and be THE voice in its field.”’
The Independent Publishing Awards also said of SPCK’s nomination for the Virtusales Metadata Award:
‘SPCK has substantially improved the breadth and accuracy of its data lately, and it focused its strategies in two areas in 2024: its own metadata in the US, and the inbound feeds of partner publishers into the UK. Judges said: “SPCK shows a real commitment to metadata excellence. It understands its value and is focusing improvements in the correct areas.”’
Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK, said:
“We are thrilled to have been nominated for both Specialist Consumer Publisher of the Year – an award which SPCK has won three times previously – and the Virtusales Metadata award. Both these decisions are testament to superb new strategies that we have put in place regarding our publishing, which saw us deliver a 20% increase in sales in 2024, and we are delighted to see these achievements reflected in these Independent Publishing Awards 2025 nominations.”
Patrycja Moroszczuk, Marketing Development Manager at SPCK, said:
“We are incredibly proud of the progress SPCK has made. These nominations are a clear indication to the hard work and dedication of our team, and we’re excited to continue building on this momentum. In 2024, we achieved the Silver BIC Metadata Excellence Award recognizing the completeness and timeliness of all our products. At the same time, our new partnership with Ingram US is helping us enhance our metadata management for both front and backlist titles on an internation scale.”
SPCK CEO Sam Richardson is available for interview.
Press contact: Emily Beater; ebeater@spck.org.uk; 07494430503
IVP social handles:
- Twitter – @IVPbookcentre
- Instagram – @ivpbooks
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/
ivpbooks/
SPCK social handles:
- Twitter – @SPCKPublishing
- Instagram – @spck_publishing
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/
SPCKPublishing/
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., April 2025 – Popular audiobook narrator, Mark Smeby, celebrates two
Abilene, TX — Faithful Defiance chronicles the extraordinary life of Marshall Keeble, one of the most influential evangelists in the Churches of Christ during the twentieth century. Passing away in April 1968, the same month as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Keeble’s remarkable 55-year ministry saw him baptize over forty thousand individuals and establish more than three hundred congregations across the United States. Known for his steadfast commitment to evangelism, Keeble mentored many leaders, including civil rights attorney Fred Gray.
April 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) has announced that Genesis Marketing will serve as its new sales representation group for Christian independent stores and the gift market, starting May 1, 2025.
Based in Greenville, South Carolina, Genesis has been in business since 1970 and represents inspirational gift manufacturers and publishers to the retail market. Genesis has a team of seventeen full time reps that visit, call, and sell to four thousand retailers each year. Other companies they represent include DaySpring, Harvest House Publishers, Tyndale House Publishers, Simon & Schuster, and more.
Brentwood, Tenn., April 10, 2025 — Seven titles published by Lifeway Christian Resources and its imprint, B&H Publishing Group, have been honored as finalists for the upcoming Christian Book Awards.
“Each of these titles represents the hard work, passion and faithfulness of our authors and the incredible Lifeway and B&H teams,” said Devin Maddox, publisher at B&H Publishing Group. “Their dedication to excellence in Christian publishing is truly inspiring. We are thrilled to see these efforts recognized and celebrated by the ECPA.”
B&H Publishing Group imprints—Holman Bibles, Holman Reference, B&H Kids and B&H Books—received recognition in various categories.
“It’s always a joy to recognize excellence in Christian publishing as we reveal the finalists for these prestigious awards,” said ECPA President Jeff Crosby. “I extend my sincere congratulations to all authors and publishers who have been recognized and look forward to our celebration together in Nashville.”
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
April 2025 | LISLE, IL—Inspired by their IVP Kids book
“Zion’s Closet represents a shared vision to offer a supportive and inclusive environment as well as an essential resource hub to help schools address the needs of students who are impacted by extenuating circumstances beyond their control,” said Lester. “Our goal is to have Zion’s Closets installed in as many schools as possible throughout Georgia and expand to other states as well.”
PRH Christian Publishing Group welcomes Nicole Grimes to the Creative Services team as Senior Designer, Adult Jacket Program, reporting to Jeff Miller, Art Director.
Nashville, TN—Who let the Daystar dogs out? Beloved Daystar Counseling dogs, Lucy and Owen, star in their first children’s book series, The Daystar Dogs. These full-color illustrated children’s books equip parents to help little kids navigate big emotions. Veteran counselors and bestselling authors Sissy Goff and David Thomas share their fur-clad companion’s stories of overcoming fear and the scary unknown with hopeful encouragement, practical tools, and heartwarming storytelling.
The third and fourth books—Happy Finds Her Calm: A Lesson in Self-Control and Pippa Learns to Share the Spotlight: A Lesson About Jealousy —will be available in November 2025.
APRIL 2025 — The Brain Change Program by Dr. Alan Weissenbacher, published by BroadStreet Publishing Group, has been nominated as a finalist for the ECPA Christian Book Award in the New Author category. Dr. Weissenbacher is one of 70 finalists representing the best in Christian publishing. The winners across 12 book and Bible categories will be announced at the ECPA Awards Celebration on April 29th in Nashville, during the ECPA Leadership Summit.
In The Greatest Story Ever Told: An Eyewitness Account – which will be published globally in summer 2025 – the much-loved adventurer retells the astonishing story of Jesus as you have never heard it before in a thrilling, fast-paced narrative.
The Greatest Story Ever Told publishes in the US on 22 July 2025 and in the UK on 19 June 2025. In the UK, the book was pre-launched by Bear at Flame 2025 at Wembley Arena London on 15 March to an enthusiastic reception from over 10,000 young people and youth leaders. It will be featured at Spring Harvest in April 2025, as well as at other events and conferences in the UK and the US during 2025.
Bear Grylls OBE is probably the most recognisable face of adventure on the planet. His books have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide, including the number 1 bestselling Mud, Sweat and Tears. He is a former 21 SAS soldier, who went on to become one of the youngest ever climbers of Mount Everest, despite breaking his back in a free-fall accident only months earlier. Bear’s TV shows include the legendary Discovery channel show MAN Vs WILD and the hit show RUNNING WILD with Bear Grylls, now in its eighth season on National Geographic Channel and Disney Plus. He also hosts two hit Netflix series, You Vs Wild and BEARHUNT where Bear trains celebrities in jungle survival then tests if they can evade him! He is a double Emmy and BAFTA award winner and is Chief Ambassador to 55 million Scouts worldwide. He is married to Shara and they have three sons. His books for Hodder Faith include Mind Fuel, Soul Fuel for Young Explorers, and Mind Fuel for Young Explorers, as well as the new scouting handbook Do Your Best.




