ST. LOUIS (August 19, 2025)—Strong and Courageous: Studying God’s Promises in Joshua, a 2025 Concordia Publishing House Bible study written by Donna Snow, has been named The Christian Market Bible Study Book of the Year by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) as a part of the 2025 Golden Scrolls Awards.

“It is a humbling distinction to receive this profound honor in Christian publishing, and I give all glory to God for the mighty ways He is sending His Word to the ends of the earth,” Snow said. “With deep gratitude, I rejoice in the privilege of writing to point hearts to the unfailing hope we find in Christ alone.”

AWSA, the sponsor of the Golden Scroll Awards Banquet, is an outreach program of Right to the Heart Ministries and consists of nearly 900 top women authors who both publish and speak nationally. AWSA has presented the Golden Scroll Awards for 17 years. The Golden Scroll Awards are open to the over 1,100 members of AWSA.

“As a writer, Donna Snow digs deep into research, takes time to understand fully the subject, consults with Bible scholars, and strives for accuracy and clarity, resulting in a powerful study of God’s Word,” Peggy Kuethe, senior editor at CPH, said. “What a joy it is that her work in Strong and Courageous is recognized for her consistently excellent writing.”

Visit cph.org/joshua for more information about Strong and Courageous. Contact Erica Sontag to schedule an interview with Donna Snow.

About Donna Snow
A soul-stirring, engaging speaker, author, Bible teacher, and worship leader, Donna Snow has a passion for studying and teaching God’s Word. Her clear, down-to-earth style encourages women of all ages to wholeheartedly love, serve, and live for Jesus Christ. Since launching Artesian Ministries in 2007, Snow has scratched out more than 30 Bible studies and books and enjoys the incredible privilege of traveling throughout the United States and internationally to speak and teach where the Lord opens doors. Snow writes regularly on her blog, Hydrated Living, as she seeks to find beauty in the quiet and sacred in the chaos, treasuring the knowledge that this path is a holy experience planned by God before the beginning of time. A native, lifelong Texan, Snow fuels her incredible journey with the Word, coffee, chocolate, family, friends, and worship.

About Concordia Publishing House
Concordia Publishing House (CPH) is the publishing arm of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. For 155 years, CPH has been providing individuals, churches, and schools with products that are faithful to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. From books and Bibles to church supplies, curriculum, and software, CPH offers more than 10,000 products to support the proclamation of the Gospel worldwide. Visit CPH online at cph.org.

CONTACT:  Erica Sontag, Public Relations, 314-268-1303, erica.sontag@cph.org      

August 11, 2025 | Duluth GA — Each year the Logos Bookstores gather at the Logos Annual Conference prior to the Christian Product Expo (CPE), held this year in Duluth Georgia, for a time of education, fellowship and celebration. Part of that celebration was the announcement of this year’s awards for Vendor of the Year, Author of the Year and Books of the Year in seven categories.

August 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is excited to announce the signing of a contract with Terry M. Wildman for the First Nations Version of the Old Testament. This historic project will be a continuation of the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Bible Translation of the New Testament (FNV) and the First Nations Version Psalms and Proverbs, the newest translation that released in August 2025.

The FNV is a dynamic equivalence translation of Scripture that captures the simplicity, clarity, and beauty of Native storytellers in English, while remaining faithful to the original language of the Bible. The project was birthed out of a desire to provide an English Bible that connects, in a culturally sensitive way, to the traditional heart languages of the over six million English-speaking First Nations people of North America.

“Ever since we published the FNV New Testament in 2021, readers have been asking us when the FNV Old Testament will be coming along,” said Al Hsu, associate editorial director at IVP and the project editor for the FNV. “We’re thrilled that Psalms and Proverbs is the first installment to be released, and that the rest of the FNV Old Testament has been contracted to be released over the next decade. Terry and the FNV Translation Council are doing monumental work that will be a gift to the church for generations.”

The FNV Old Testament will be released in four phases over the next ten years. Genesis through Joshua will release in 2029, Judges through Esther in 2032, the Major and Minor Prophets in 2034, and the full FNV Bible of both the Old and New Testaments together in 2035.

“The FNV truly is a groundbreaking project, both in the scope of the translation work and in its profound ministry impact,” said IVP president and publisher Terumi Echols.

More than 100,000 copies of the FNV New Testament have been sold, and more than eight million people have looked up a New Testament chapter in the FNV translation at Bible.com.

Echols said, “We are grateful for the ways God called Terry to pursue this Bible translation. And we are especially thankful for the courage and faithfulness of Terry and the First Nations Version Translation Council to that call, one that has impacted countless lives with this fresh reading of the Christian Scriptures, of Creator’s Story.”

Much like the FNV New Testament and Psalms and Proverbs, the FNV Old Testament will be a collaboration with a translation council that consists of multiple Native North American elders, pastors, young adults, and men and women from different tribes and diverse geographic locations.

Casey Church, pastor of Good Medicine Way in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said, “The FNV is written for a particular time, place, and people—the indigenous people of North America. The First Nations Version is a Bible for us. With estimates that a mere 5 percent of indigenous people of North America have a relationship with Creator Sets Free (Jesus), it’s time for us to have a Bible translation of our own that speaks to our culture, our values, and our hearts through Creator’s Word.”

Wildman says that he is blessed to know that so many Native people are resonating with the FNV. Wildman adds that that it’s more than that: “We also consider the FNV a gift to non-native people.”

Matthew Schlimm, professor of Old Testament at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, attests to that. He said, “The First Nations Version is far and away the most creative Bible translation I’ve ever read. It’s an exciting alternative to the boring, stodgy renderings that have dominated the English market for centuries. All readers can open the FNV and experience old passages in new perspectives. Talk about it with your kids. Study it in churches and classrooms. Use it in worship. The Bible becomes alive!”

To learn more about the story behind the FNV, read this interview with Wildman.

Contact:  Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com

August 2025 | LISLE, IL— InterVarsity Press (IVP) is delighted to announce that The Association of Logos Bookstores has awarded James Bryan Smith with this year’s Author of the Year award. Smith joins many other distinguished authors, such as J. I. Packer, Dallas Willard, and Richard Foster, in receiving the award.

“We are pleased to announce that James Bryan Smith is this year’s Author of the Year, for his body of works and the role his books have played in changing lives through the written word,” said Becky Gorczyca, executive director of Logos Bookstores.

The Association of Logos Bookstores is a member-owned, non-profit trade association of independent Christian booksellers with locations across the United States, in Canada, and in the Bahamas. The 51-year-old organization is headquartered in Kent, Ohio.

The Logos Bookstores gather at the Logos Annual Conference each summer for a time of education, fellowship, and celebration. Part of that celebration is the awarding of Books of the Year, Reps of the Year, Vendor of the Year, and Author of the Year, which Logos Bookstores nominate and then vote for.

Of Smith’s The Good and Beautiful Series, fellow Author of the Year award-winner Dallas Willard said, “The [Good and Beautiful] Series is the best practice I have seen in Christian spiritual formation.” Over 250,000 copies of Smith’s The Good and Beautiful God have been sold.

James Bryan Smith is the author of The Good and Beautiful Series, including The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, The Good and Beautiful Community, The Good and Beautiful Journal, and The Good and Beautiful You. He is also the author of The Kingdom and the Cross, Hidden in Christ, The Magnificent Story, The Magnificent Journey, Room of Marvels, and Rich Mullins, and the editor of A Spiritual Formation Workbook and Devotional Classics (with Richard Foster). Smith’s writing invites readers to explore the God that Jesus knew while uncovering the truth about themselves, their communities, and their lives as disciples of Christ.

“It has been an honor for me to work with author James Bryan Smith on ten books at InterVarsity Press. His commitment to IVP and to a publishing relationship is a mark of his integrity and his commitment to kingdom values in all parts of his life. I have met countless readers who have expressed appreciation for his work and described how it has shaped their experience of a rich life with God every day,” said Cindy Bunch, vice president of IVP Editorial. “During the time that IVP has been working with Jim, he has also established the Apprentice Institute at Friends University, and it has been a delight to see the growth and influence of that part of his work as well. His work is truly shaping the work of spiritual formation in this generation.”

For a complete list of IVP award-winning titles, visit https://www.ivpress.com/award-winners.

Contact:  Eva Pankratz | epankratz@ivpress.com

AUGUST 22, 2025 — WaterBrook has signed therapist, speaker, and founder of Let’s Move Albaner Eugene Jr. for a two-book deal for MOMENTUM, a bold, action-oriented 100-day devotional for readers ready to move again, offering short daily reflections and practical steps to reclaim energy, renew faith, and create forward motion, and THE WILDERNESS, a biblically anchored and emotionally grounded roadmap for readers who feel stuck, hidden, or in transition, using Jesus’s time in the wilderness as a model for growth, identity formation, and spiritual maturity.

Deal went to Kimberly Von Fange at Waterbrook, at auction, in a two-book deal, for publication Fall 2026 and Spring 2028, respectively, by Jevon Bolden at Embolden Media Group (World Rights).

For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cronin, decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com

WaterBrook is an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Carol Stream, Il. — Tyndale House Publishers expresses its deep appreciation for the remarkable life and ministry of Dr. James C. Dobson, who faithfully served families and the Christian community for decades.

As a long-standing Tyndale author, Dr. Dobson profoundly shaped conversations on family, faith, and parenting. We are honored to have published many of his bestselling and enduring works, including Dare to Discipline (1970), What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew about Women (1975), The Strong-Willed Child (1978), When God Doesn’t Make Sense (1993), Bringing Up Boys (2001), and Bringing Up Girls (2010). These books have touched millions of readers, offering biblical wisdom, practical guidance, and encouragement for generations of families.

Beyond his books, Dr. Dobson’s influence reached into homes worldwide through his radio ministry at Focus on the Family and later through the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. His vision also extended to the public square, where he co-founded Alliance Defending Freedom, leaving a lasting impact on the cause of religious liberty and family advocacy.

With heartfelt sympathy, Tyndale House Publishers extends condolences to Shirley Dobson, Danae Dobson, and Ryan Dobson on the loss of their loving husband and father. “We at Tyndale are deeply grateful for Dr. Dobson’s unwavering commitment to strengthening families and equipping believers,” said Ron Beers, Chief Publishing Officer at Tyndale House.

Dr. Dobson’s life was a testimony to his faith in Christ and his steadfast dedication to serving families everywhere. His influence will endure for generations to come.

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a majority of annual revenue—more than $110 million throughout its history—to charitable missions. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Andrea Martin, andreamartin@tyndale.com

Fort Washington, PA (August 25, 2025)—CLC Publications will be publishing an updated and revised edition of Prayer on Fire by Fred A. Hartley III this September.

Prayer on Fire—Rekindled is not a guide on how to pray.   It’s a call to encounter—a call to trade lifeless rituals for the living flame of God’s Spirit. Drawing from Scripture, personal encounters, and testimonies from around the world, Hartley reveals what happens when ordinary believers and churches welcome the extraordinary presence of God into their lives through prayer. With updated Fireside Encounters and additional text, Prayer on Fire—Rekindled will help you set your soul ablaze for God.

Whether you’re a seasoned intercessor or spiritually dry and desperate, Prayer on Fire—Rekindled will spark your hunger for more—and show you how to experience God in ways you never thought possible.

Prayer on Fire—Rekindled will be available on September 15^th.

Here’s what early readers are saying about Prayer on Fire—Rekindled:

“We stand at the threshold of a nationwide Christ-awakening in answer to over two decades of united prayer across the land. In this remarkable book, Fred shapes our expectations about how this impending move of God will manifest itself, showing us ways to enter into it even now. The hope that springs from the last chapter is by itself worth the price of the book!”
—David Bryant, founder

“Prayer On Fire is a wonderful explanation of how the Holy Spirit makes prayer happen in a person and in a church. My prayer life also used to be a duty, a ‘flicker’ in flame. Then the Holy Spirit touched me, and I could not pray enough. I am so thankful for this book’s message and the fruit it will inspire in the church.”
—Dr. Terry Teykl, founder and director, Renewal Ministries and the World Methodist Prayer Team

CLC Publications is the English language publishing house for CLC Ministries International. Headquartered in Fort Washington, PA, CLC has published books for the Deeper Christian Life for over 50 years.

AUGUST 22, 2025 — Thomas Nelson celebrates as Max Lucado’s recent release, Tame Your Thoughts: Three Tools to Renew Your Mind and Transform Your Life, lands the No. 3 spot on Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous on the New York Times bestsellers list.

“I’m deeply grateful to see my books on The New York Times bestseller list,” says Max Lucado. “Any recognition like this is not about me, but about the timeless hope of God’s Word reaching hearts. I’m thankful beyond words Tame Your Thoughts is helping people win the battle in their minds.”

With Lucado’s story-telling skill and pastoral insight, Tame Your Thoughts explores three key thought management tools and then applies them to the most common thought problems: worry, guilt, anxiety, and other types of mental quicksand that threaten to trap us.

• Tool 1: Practice Picky Thinking – Guard your thoughts
• Tool 2: Identify UFOs – an Untruth creates a False narrative that leads to an Overreaction
• Tool 3: Uproot + Replant – Weed out your most unhealthy thought patterns

Adds Max: “God loves us too much to let us lead a life marked by poor thinking. He made our brains; he can retrain our brains. God has not left us alone in this battle of the mind.”

“We couldn’t be more delighted that Tame Your Thoughts is a New York Times bestseller,” says Nelson Books VP & Publisher Andrew Stoddard. “Max Lucado brings transformative and timeless truths to life, and we’re thrilled to see readers responding so wholeheartedly.”

With more than 150 million products in print, Max Lucado is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. His trade books all begin as sermon series at Oak Hills Church, and his sermons all start with Max asking himself this question: “What can I say on Sunday that will still matter on Monday?” He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest, and the “Ted Lasso of Pastors” by the Dallas Morning News. Max Lucado has penned more than 40 works of adult nonfiction, standing alongside dozens and dozens of bestselling children’s books, gift books, Bible studies, commentaries, and collections. His books have been published in 56 languages worldwide and regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today. Learn more at www.MaxLucado.com.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content, providing readers with quality inspirational products for more than 200 years. With over 250 new, original books and Bibles published each year and distributed in more than 100 countries, translating content in more than 65 different languages, Thomas Nelson is committed to one central mission: inspiring the world by meeting the needs of people with content that promotes biblical principles and honors Jesus Christ. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curricula, and digital content. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.ThomasNelson.com.

Contact:  Jana Muntsinger, MMPR, 832-247-9308 or jana@mmpublicrelations.com

August 13, 2025 — GRAND RAPIDS, MI — On Sunday, August 10, the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association announced the winners of the 17th annual Golden Scroll Awards and the 6th annual Christian Market Book Awards. Three Kregel titles are winners.

An Invitation to Experience Literature’s Power to Transform Lives and Deepen Faith in an Age of Distraction

New Book Explores How Reading Is More Than a Pastime —It’s a Spiritual Practice

Orleans, MA – August 6, 2025 — Why should we read? It’s a question Jeff Crosby both poses and beautifully answers through engaging personal stories, literary reflections, and spiritual insights in World of Wonders: A Spirituality of Reading. In an era dominated by screens and information overload, where attention spans are shrinking and deep reading is on the decline, this rich, thought-provoking book makes a compelling case for reading as a transformative spiritual discipline.

Studies show that immersive, intentional reading is linked to improved empathy, greater mental clarity, and deeper self-reflection. Crosby argues that reading isn’t just an intellectual exercise or an escape—it’s a sacred practice that opens the door to spiritual renewal, personal growth, and divine connection.

Drawing on the wisdom of C. S. Lewis, Dostoyevsky, Maya Angelou, and other literary greats, Crosby explores how books bridge differences, cultivate wonder, and illuminate the presence of God in everyday life. Each chapter includes curated book recommendations, guiding readers toward literature that has the power to shape both heart and mind.

In her foreword, Dr. Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford, calls the book “a beautiful illumination of what God has in store for us, and in story for us.”

Brent Bill, author of Holy Silence, adds, “World of Wonders is itself a wonder—showing us how reading deepens our spiritual lives, even when we don’t realize it.”

With the resurgence of faith-based literature and a growing movement toward “slow reading” as a counterbalance to digital fatigue, World of Wonders is a timely, much-needed invitation to reclaim the joy, wisdom, and sacredness of the written word.

Jeff Crosby is the president and CEO of ECPA, the trade association of Christian publishing, and has worked in bookselling and publishing roles for more than four decades. Among cherished books on his personal library’s “shelf of honor” you would find books by Dostoyevsky, John Steinbeck, Maya Angelou, Kent Haruf, Marilyn McEntyre, Frederick Buechner and Luci Shaw, among others. He resides in the Chicago area with his wife, Cindy Crosby.

Media Contact:  Danielle Bushnell, danielleb@paracletepress.com

Praise for World of Wonders

“This beautiful book illuminates what God has in store for us, and in story for us. With Jeff Crosby as our guide, we see how best to number our days along with the pages. The wonder of reading unfurls the glory of God – a God who is lo! with us always – to the very last page.” — Dr. Carolyn Weber, author of Surprised by Oxford (from the foreword)

“World of Wonders is itself a wonder. In this delightful and inspiring book, Jeff Crosby shows us how reading deepens our spiritual lives, even when we may not initially be aware of it doing so. While reading it, I was reminded of so many books and writers who have influenced me over my life. Crosby’s clear and wise writing illuminates, as do the vignettes from other authors sprinkled throughout the book. And the reading lists for each section are delightful. As we Quakers say, this book speaks to my condition. I’m sure it will yours as well.” — J. Brent Bill, author of Holy Silence and Amity: Stories from the Heartland

“C.S Lewis wrote, ‘Heaven, once attained, will work backward.’ In that sense, Jeff Crosby’s book is heavenly, as it works its way backward in your life, revealing that your reading was really a companioning, with the great Companion from whom all creativity comes. After reading World of Wonders, I no longer see the books on my shelf as a home library; I see them as a spiritual record of my time here. What a gift.” — Dr. Kelly Flanagan, author of The Unhiding of Elijah Campbell and True Companions

“As I read through World of Wonders, it created two surprising images for me. First, I felt like I was with Earnest Shackleton sailing the infamous Drake Passage, battling hurricane force winds and waves over a hundred feet high and like him, telling myself, ‘No doubt Providence guided us.’ Second, I felt a kinship to John Muir strapped to a California Sierra Douglas Spruce during a violent December storm. Muir said, ‘Never before did I enjoy so noble an exhilaration of motion.’ Crosby’s book brought me to the Southern Ocean and to the California Sierra. Good books and good reading do that. Crosby’s book is rightly named and an adventure worth taking. Read this book. Go exploring. ” – J. K. Jones, author of Reading with God in Mind and A Soul’s House

“World of Wonders is a heartfelt tribute to the transformative power of reading. Crosby’s depth and breadth of personal vignettes is deftly woven with profound insights, making a compelling case for reading as a spiritual discipline. From soulful reflections on spiritual growth to prescriptive tools, this book is a treasure trove for anyone seeking to deepen their faith through literature. It’s more than just a guide—it’s also an invitation to embark on a lifelong journey of wonder, curiosity, and connection. A must-read for avid readers, would-be readers, and spiritual seekers alike.” — J. Dana Trent, author Between Two Trailers

“Most book lovers love that genre of writing — books about books. They are beloved and often influential. World of Wonders is one that is unlike any other in this field, a truly lovely, easy-to-read, utterly delightful, deeply spiritual book that indeed makes you want to read more. It helps you realize God’s presence as you turn the pages and guides you to encounter the world of wonder that is discovered in an open-hearted reading life. No stuffy tome for only the erudite experts, this is a book for you, me, your neighbors, friends, and even those who may not (yet) love to read. This book is a gift. Read and share.” — Byron Borger, Hearts & Minds Books, Dallastown, Pennsylvania

“Crosby’s book not only traces the way the magic of reading captured his own imagination, setting him on a lifelong career in the book industry. More than that, his exploration of reading as an act of worship, a form of liturgy, and even a spiritual discipline, summons all of us, calling us forth from the frenzy and fragmentation of modern life to the sacred and healing ground of getting lost in a book. It is a stream of shining waters for a fatigued and thirsty soul.” — Wendy Murray, journalist and author of Clare of Assisi, Gentle Warrior and Inner Healing the Franciscan Way.

“Having been an English teacher and language arts administrator on both high school and college levels during my 40-year career in education, it is easy for me to say that our national education community would greatly benefit from Jeff Crosby’s refined celebration about the mesmerizing holiness of reading. I highly recommend World of Wonders!” — Christopher de Vinck, contributing columnist for The Dallas Morning News, author of Things That Matter Most

“In World of Wonders, Crosby has given us a wonderfully written, intimate bit of memoir.  Woven throughout are excerpts from great writers, across all genres. With these quotes, we are shown the way in which reading has been formational in this author’s journey and discover the joy to be found within our own pages.” — Rick Lewis, Logos Bookstore, Dallas, Texas

“If spiritual disciplines are practices to help us encounter God’s grace, then Jeff Crosby is onto something important. What’s more, he’s the consummate storyteller who brings decades of experience reading, writing, editing, selling, and publishing a variety of books and genres. His wisdom is as evident as his breadth of reading in these pages, gently pointing us toward grace in the various seasons of life.” — Mark R. McMinn, co-author of An Invitation to Slow

“Jeff Crosby appropriately begins his exploration of reading with a quotation from C. S. Lewis’s brilliant Experiment in Criticism, which, with the perceptive precision typical of Lewis, perfectly describes why we read: ‘We want to see with other eyes, to imagine with other imaginations, to feel with other hearts, as well as with our own.’  World of Wonders is intended to help us do just that.  Despite his immersion in every aspect of book reading and publishing, Jeff is an unintimidating, disarmingly gentle and humble guide for readers of every level of proficiency and every type of reading intention, whether it’s for sheer entertainment or deepest spiritual discipline.  And don’t miss the dozen reading lists, reflecting decades of experience of a veteran reader and publisher.  Pure gold.” — Warren Farha, founder and owner, Eighth Day Books, Wichita, Kansas

“Jeff Crosby invites me to step away from my fragmented life of screens, information, images and opinion, and he returns me to earlier days when I dwelled in books, when I lost track of time, when the now-rare experience of “presence” was as natural as reading.  Where researchers fail to spark a change in my habits (despite their evidence of my changing brain and shrinking capacity for attention), World of Wonders speaks to my soul through literary quotes, intriguing books lists, practical strategies, and stories of people who call me back to what I once knew – that to read deeply is to inhabit the world more fully and to encounter the God who is there.” — Karen Wright Marsh, author of Wake Up to Wonder and Vintage Saints and Sinners, and executive director of Theological Horizons.