Beloved Bible teacher honored for over five decades of impact on Christian publishing and discipleship

EUGENE, Ore. (April 29, 2025) – Renowned Bible teacher and prolific author Kay Arthur was honored with the Pinnacle Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) during ECPA’s annual Christian Book Award^® celebration, which was held on April 29, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee. This distinguished award recognizes Arthur’s outstanding contributions to Christian publishing, the church, and society at large over a period of more than five decades of ministry.

Bob Hawkins, president of Harvest House Publishers, was asked to say a few words about this special recognition on Arthur’s behalf, as she was unable to attend the awards banquet. Hawkins first met Arthur in 1991 when Harvest House contracted to publish The International Inductive Study Bible.

“Kay Arthur has deeply impacted believers around the world through her compelling teaching and carefully crafted books focused on inductive study of the Bible,” Hawkins said. “Her passion for Scripture and commitment to sound doctrine have resulted not only in a lay-level explosion of understanding God’s Word for oneself, but also in countless readers around the globe being drawn closer to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Arthur has long proclaimed that personal Bible study is the key to a transformed life and a deep, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. For decades, she has taught Christians how to nourish themselves spiritually through God’s Word—absorbing its message, engraving its truths on their hearts, and living transformed lives.

Her enthusiasm for understanding and applying God’s Word led her to champion the inductive method of Bible study, a technique with proven results. What began as a small teaching ministry in the living room of her home grew to help millions worldwide learn to let Scripture speak for itself—through observation, interpretation, and application.

That singular passion gave rise to a global movement: Precept Ministries International. Today, the ministry known simply as Precept has trained more than 250,000 Bible study leaders and guided millions of participants through Precept Bible studies, which take readers through Scripture “precept upon precept.”

Arthur’s publishing legacy is equally impressive. She has authored more than 100 books and Bible studies—including the development of what is now The New Inductive Study Bible (NASB and ESV)—with over 18.5 million copies sold globally, primarily through partnerships with Harvest House and WaterBrook & Multnomah. The New Inductive Study Bible alone has sold over 1 million copies in English, Spanish, and several other languages.

As Arthur has said, “No matter how much you know about God’s Word, if you don’t apply what you learn, Scripture will never benefit your life…This is why application is so vital. Observation and interpretation are the ‘hearing’ of God’s Word. Application is the embracing of the truth, the ‘doing’ of God’s Word.” She adds, “The glorious end result is transformation. You’re made more like your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

About Harvest House Publishers
Harvest House Publishers, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes nearly 100 books per year and carries a strong backlist offering more than 1,700 titles. Nearly 200 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional millions have sold in over 75 different languages.

About the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA)
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association is an international nonprofit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content.

 

May 2025 | LISLE, IL—Samuel Escobar, a renowned Latin American theologian and missiologist, died on April 29, 2025, at the age of 90.

“Samuel Escobar was a figure of truly world-historical proportions. From his theological scholarship that opened the eyes of many to ‘the liberating Savior’ and his leadership in the Lausanne Movement to his mentorship of generations who have followed, we stand happily in debt to him and to the Lord who called him for such wide-ranging service,” said Jon Boyd, Associate Publisher and Academic Editorial Director at InterVarsity Press (IVP).

Escobar was born in Arequipa, Peru. He studied arts and education at San Marcos University in Lima, Peru. He earned a PhD from the Complutense University in Madrid, Spain. Escobar served with the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) in Latin America for twenty-six years, from 1959 to 1985, and is a past honorary president of IFES. He also spent three years, from 1972 to 1975, as general director of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) Canada. Escobar was professor of missiology at Palmer Theological Seminary, from 1985 to 2005, and taught at Facultad Protestante de Teología of the Spanish Baptist Union in Alcobendas (Madrid), Spain (full biography available at palmerseminary.edu).

“The impact of Samuel Escobar’s life and ministry on the global church cannot be overstated. He was not only one of the pioneers of the Lausanne Movement and the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students in Latin America (twenty-six years in campus ministry), he laid the theological foundations for ‘integral mission’—an understanding of mission that integrated evangelism with social responsibility. His books and teaching, and his humility and grace, have influenced generations of InterVarsity/USA students and graduates as well as ministry leaders from many other evangelical movements, seminaries, and churches around the world,” said Tom Lin, President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA and Trustee of the Lausanne Movement.

The Lausanne Movement began in 1974 with the First Lausanne Congress convened by Billy Graham in Lausanne, Switzerland. Escobar was one of the pioneers of the movement and first congress alongside René Padilla and John Stott. The Lausanne Movement unites the global church around mission, evangelism, and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Boyd added, “Dr. Escobar was a joy to work with on In Search of Christ in Latin America, the English translation of his influential work, En busca de Cristo en América Latina. I imagine it must have seemed to him like just a bit of icing on the cake of an already monumental career in scholarship, ministry, and leadership, but for those of us at InterVarsity Press, it was a brush with greatness.”

Oscar García-Johnson, Professor of Theology and Decolonial Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary, said, “I know of no other work within Protestantism that has achieved what Escobar did in this book [In Search of Christ in Latin America]—not another modern Christology of sorts but the path for the construction of Original Christology from the context of the American Global South, beyond normative occidentalized theological attempts.” Escobar’s other books include The New Global Mission, Dictionary of Mission Theology, and La Palabra: Vida de la Iglesia.

Cindy Bunch, IVP’s Divisional Vice President of Editorial, said, “We have lost one of our great Christian leaders with the passing of Dr. Samuel Escobar. I am grateful that I was able to hear him teach at the Urbana missions conferences. He was a wise biblical scholar and a pioneering leader of the Lausanne conferences with René Padilla and John Stott. It is an honor to have his work in the IVP list.”

Contact:  Karin DeHaven, kdehaven@ivpress.com 

Jen Pollock Michel, award-winning author and spiritual formation teacher, brings her expertise on developing a personal rule of life to WaterBrook with A Rule for the Rest of Us: An Ancient Practice for Clarity and Courage, Commitment, and the Art of Care.

Drawing from years of workshops, Michel offers a clear five-step process to create sustainable spiritual habits in an increasingly distracted world. Unlike other spiritual growth resources that focus on practices, Michel provides a comprehensive framework for developing a personalized rule of life that aligns with readers’ unique circumstances and desires.

The book is scheduled for publication in Spring 2026. World rights were acquired by Drew Dixon, Executive Editor at Multnomah, from Lisa Jackson at Alive Literary Agency.

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

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

Change is inevitable. And sometimes it’s confusing and difficult, even when it’s good. We can’t keep change from coming, but we can allow it to transform us rather than derail us by facing it and embracing it through the lens of God’s unchanging promises to us.

We’ve all heard the saying, “The only constant is change.”  Sometimes the changes we face, both expected and unexpected, can make our lives feel ungrounded and unsteady. And when we react to change with fear, an opportunity for growth can turn into overwhelming anxiety that locks us into situations, relationships, and ways of thinking and being that prevent us from living in the fullness of who we truly are in Christ.

Beloved Bible teacher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer wants us to know that even when we feel like the ground beneath our feet is shifting, we can stand firm on the promise of God’s Word that He will see us through. With her signature insight and timeless wisdom, Joyce shows us how to align our emotional reactions to changes with the truth of God’s promise that He will work all changes for good in our lives, even the most painful and difficult ones.

In The Courage to Change, you will learn how to:

• Embrace change as a necessary part of growth
• Replace a mindset of fear with a mindset of opportunity
• And live fully within the uncertainty of change while maintaining peace.

We will all face changes again and again throughout our lifetimes. We don’t have to live dreading the challenges that these changes bring. We can equip ourselves to become people of bravery, optimism, and hope in an ever-changing world, because we have God’s assurance that His character and His promises will never change.

Become a change warrior and embrace the courage to change.

The Courage to Change also contains study questions at the end of each chapter for individual or group reflection.

Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s leading Bible teachers. Through Joyce Meyer Ministries, she teaches practically and candidly, openly sharing her experiences and helping millions of people to apply biblical principles to their situations and ultimately find hope and restoration through Jesus Christ. Her book Battlefield of the Mind has been a perennial bestseller, teaching people how to win the war in their minds and “think about what they think about.” Joyce holds conferences across the United States, and her Enjoying Everyday Life program is broadcast on TV, radio and online to millions in 112 languages.

Carol Stream, IL (May 5, 2025) — Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to announce that they have been honored with a Christian Book Award. Presented annually since 1978, the Christian Book Award program honors the “best of the year” in Christian literature.

How to Tell the Truth, bestselling book by Preston Perry, was named the winner in the “New Author” category.  Preston tells the story of how God chased him. The streets of Chicago were his home, and it was there that he encountered all sorts of people who had their own versions of the truth—from Jehovah’s Witnesses to Mormons to Hebrew Israelites. That is where Preston discovered not only the importance of the truth but how to tell the truth in a way that speaks to someone’s heart. How to Tell the Truth is a hope-filled apologetics book that features Preston’s own story in order to show us how urgent our task is—and how powerful our God is.

“When I heard Preston’s story, I immediately knew he had to tell it in a book,” said Jon Farrar, Associate Publisher, Nonfiction. “I am happy that Preston is reaching this generation. His poetic voice, married to evangelism and apologetics, is unique.”

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Andrea Martin, Sr. Director of Public Relations & Author Relations, at andreamartin@tyndale.com.

About Tyndale House Publishers
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.

About the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA)
ECPA is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. Learn more at ECPA.org.

 

May 5, 2025 – Bellingham, WA. – Lexham Press is delighted to announce new volumes in the Spurgeon Commentary series as well as brand-new covers for the entire series. Benefit from the incredible wisdom of Charles Spurgeon, passage by passage.

Four volumes in this series were previously published in 2015 and an additional four were released as digital Logos-only editions. On February 4, 2026, those digital volumes will be released in print alongside a new volume, Song of Solomon and Jonah.

Every volume in the series will sport a completely redesigned cover and Charles Spurgeon’s signature is displayed across the collected spines.

Abilene, TX — Real Marriage Made Simple offers clear, practical insights to navigate the complexities of marriage. Drawing from his extensive counseling experience, Dr. Chris Thurman guides couples through an honest yet approachable exploration of key relationship topics.

In this book, he introduces ten essential, biblically inspired principles of marriage to help couples navigate common challenges and to strengthen their marriages including:

• Stay in Your Own Backyard
• Own Your Own Stuff
• Give More Than You Take
• Get Your Mind Right
• Shoot Straight for Their Good

“Dr. Chris Thurman has invested decades in helping couples strengthen their marriages. Rather than offer quick-fix solutions grounded in worldly wisdom, he has been faithful to point people to the scriptures for ultimate guidance and counsel. Whether you’re engaged, newly married, or have been married for decades, Real Marriage Made Simple will be a much-needed tool to build a healthier marriage. I highly recommend it!”
—Vicki Courtney, bestselling author of Rest Assured, 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter, and 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Son

Dr. Chris Thurman is a psychologist, author, and popular speaker. He is the author of numerous books, including the bestseller, The Lies We Believe. He and his wife, Holly, have been married for forty-four years and have three adult children and four grandchildren they think hung the moon.

• Real Marriage Made Simple 
• By Dr. Chris Thurman
• April 2025, Softcover
• 240 Pages, $19.99
• ISBN: 9781684263233

Media Contact:  Kaylin Graves, publicity@leafwoodpublishers.com

April 17, 2025 – WHEATON, Ill.— God continues to grow his church day by day as he calls new believers to himself. As the global body of believers grows, so does the need for more churches, especially in the Global South. In many parts of the world, even where churches already exist and are led by pastors, there often aren’t opportunities for those pastors to be trained and theologically educated.

One Nigerian pastor highlighted this reality: “Many of my fellow pastors in the villages only have their Bibles and no other book to help them. This results in some pastors using traditional beliefs mixed with the Bible to teach.”

To aid in this effort, Crossway is seeking to provide biblical resources for pastors and ministry leaders around the world. The goal is to raise $200,000 by May 30, 2025, to provide Bibles and theologically sound books to global pastors and church leaders in need of the light the gospel brings.

Through the Crossway Global Ministry Fund, each year thousands of Bibles and books, both English and translated, are freely distributed with the help of on-the-ground ministry partners who have committed to delivering these books and Bibles to the least resourced. These resources support and equip pastors, ministry leaders, and lay believers around the world.

For more information, please visit crossway.org/donate/global-ministry-fund/.

Founded in 1938, Crossway is a not-for-profit global Christian publishing ministry that publishes gospel-centered, Bible-based content to honor our Savior and serve his church. Crossway seeks to help people understand the all-encompassing implications of the gospel and the truth of God’s word—for all of life, for all eternity, and for the glory of God alone. Crossway is the global publisher of the ESV® (English Standard Version®) Bible, more than 1,000 Christian books, and an extensive list of gospel literature. For additional information, visit crossway.org.

Contact:  Lauren Susanto, lsusanto@crossway.org, 1 (630) 682-4300, ext. 6031

 

From the bestselling author of Eat Cake. Be Brave, a love letter to the strong, opinionated Southern women who raised her and surround us all

Lucy and Ethel. Laverne and Shirley. Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche, and Rose. Chicken-Fried Women is a celebration of them: the women who raised us, taught us to cook and clap back. The ones who prayed for us, raged at us and humbled us a notch or two when we needed it. These are the women who have encouraged us, teased us, chastised us, and mortified us. And as they fill up the seats around our table, we realize we wouldn’t have it any other way.

They’re our Chicken-Fried Women—battered on the outside, tender on the inside. Some are salty and a couple are Nashville Hot.  Filled with a hilarious cast of larger-than life women, this book explores why no one messes with Southern women and their hair, why the whole family comes along when you go bra shopping, why true crime and aquarobics brings us together, and how faith shapes us through it all.

Insightful, big-hearted and laugh-out-loud funny, Chicken-Fried Women is a celebration of friendship, kinship and the women who shaped us.

Melissa Radke is a best-selling author, speaker, and television personality who has charmed audiences worldwide with her hilarious and candid insights on life, love, and the complexities of the modern world. Known as the HGIC—Head Girlfriend in Charge—Melissa has been cheering women on since 2016 and sharing tips on what to buy, what to wear, how to LAUGH, and do your hair with her online community of over 1.1 million followers.

Originally from East Texas, Melissa spent over fifteen years in Nashville, Tennessee, having graduated from Belmont University with a bachelor’s degree in commercial music performance. With a love of writing about real life, parenting, and the importance of learning our identity, Melissa published her national best-selling book, Eat Cake. Be Brave., in 2018, released by Grand Central Publishing/Hachette Book Group. She was also the star of the family-friendly television show The Radkes on the USA Network. The show was an unscripted sitcom that focused on her big, loud Southern family and all of their charm.

A mom to two and a wife to one, Melissa embodies the perfect Southern blend of sweet tea and hairspray. She married her college sweetheart, David, in 1994. Melissa, David, and their teenage children, Remi and Rocco, live in the small East Texas town where she was born and raised, Lufkin, Texas.

 

The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK) is delighted to announce that three of its titles have been shortlisted for the ECPA Christian Book Award 2025.

Practicing The Way by John Mark Comer (published 16th January 2024 in the UK) has been nominated as a Christian Book Award finalist in the Christian Living category.

My Big Story Bible by leading theologian Tom Wright (published 21st March 2024 in the UK), has been nominated as a Christian Book Award finalist in the Children category. SPCK’s Rights team has sold My Big Story Bible in 16 languages so far.

And Jesus and The Powers by Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird (published 21st March 2024 in the UK), has been nominated as a Christian Book Award finalist in the Faith and Culture Category.

The winners will be announced on the 29th April 2025 at the ECPA Awards Celebration at the Sonesta Nashville Airport Hotel.

Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK, said: “We are thrilled to have no less than three of our titles shortlisted in different categories for the ECPA Christian Book Award 2025. SPCK is honoured to have been included alongside such a brilliant list of fellow publishers, and we celebrate the diverse range of Christian books in consideration for these awards – all testament to the fact that faith is very much alive in 2025”.

SPCK CEO Sam Richardson is available for interview.

Press contact:  Emily Beater; ebeater@spck.org.uk