December 2024 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) will kick off the second season of The Digital Examen on January 8. Hosted by pastor and author Jay Kim, the podcast will expand on the theme of “Living at the Pace of Peace.”

“Like many people these days, I often find myself overwhelmed by the chaos of the digital age—so much frenzy, so little peace,” Kim said. “My hope is that The Digital Examen will offer people not only a learning experience but also an invitation into stillness with God as we slow down enough to listen as much as we learn.”

Building on the topics of listening, peace, and slowness explored in season one, season two will seek to not only equip listeners to perceive God’s voice but to also notice God himself in the everyday with one’s whole self.

New episodes of The Digital Examen release weekly on Wednesdays starting January 8 through March 26.  In the first episode Kim will introduce the second podcast season by posing questions about what it means to slow down and notice God amid the noise and pace of the digital age. As the lead pastor at WestGate Church in Silicon Valley, Kim has experienced the digital church in all its splendor and writes about it in his two books, Analog Church and Analog Christian. Kim has also written on the topic of the digital age for Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, and Relevant Magazine.

Kim’s guests for season two include:

January 15
Ashlee Eiland is a thought leader, writer, and Bible teacher. She formerly served as colead pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in West Michigan. She is the author of Human(Kind) and Say Good.

January 22
Glenn Packiam is the lead pastor of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. He is the author of several books, including The Resilient Pastor, Worship and the World to Come, Blessed Broken Given, and the most recent title, The Intentional Year, coauthored with his wife, Holly.

January 29
Ruth Haley Barton is founding president of the Transforming Center, a spiritual formation ministry to pastors and Christian leaders. She is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life, including Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Sacred Rhythms, Longing for More and Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.

February 5
Michael John Cusick is the CEO and founder of Restoring the Soul, an intensive counseling ministry in Denver. He is a licensed professional counselor, spiritual director, and former assistant professor of counseling at Colorado Christian University. Michael is the author of Surfing for God and Sacred Attachment.

February 12
A.J. Swoboda is an associate professor of Bible and theology at Bushnell University and lead mentor for the doctor of ministry program on spiritual formation and soul care at Friends University. He is the author of many books, including The Gift of Thorns, After Doubt, and the award-winning Subversive Sabbath.

February 19
Kathy Tuan-MacLean is the national faculty ministry director for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, where she invites and resources faculty to follow Jesus together. Since joining InterVarsity in 1990, she has led numerous students and faculty in Bible study, spiritual formation, and leadership development. She is the coauthor, with Tara Edelschick, of Moms at the Well.

February 26
Natasha Smith is a grief advocate, speaker, and podcast host. She is the author of Can You Just Sit with Me? and Black Woman Grief. Her work has appeared in Guideposts, Propel Women, Influence magazine, her.BIBLE, and elsewhere.

March 5
Kevin Chapman is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialty in cognitive behavioral therapy. He is the founder and director of the Kentucky Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders and has appeared on TLC and the Today show as well as in USA Today, Huffington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Chapman leads Sound Mind Ministries and is the author of Mastering Our Emotions.

March 12
Steve Cuss is the author of Managing Leadership Anxiety. He spent twenty-six years in local church leadership after serving as a trauma and hospice chaplain. He now hosts emotional health workshops all over the world for non-profit organizations and businesses and cultivates an online community of learners at Capable Life.

March 19
Andy Crouch is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, an organization that works as a creative engine for redemptive entrepreneurship. Crouch served for more than ten years as an editor and producer at Christianity Today, including serving as executive editor from 2012 to 2016. His work and writing have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Time. He is the author of numerous books, including Culture Making, Strong and Weak, and The Life We’re Looking For.

March 26
Kim will wrap up the second season of The Digital Examen with a final episode focused on reorienting our lives so that we can notice God with the entirety of our beings—heart, soul, mind, strength—in both the mundane and majestic moments of everyday life.

The Digital Examen podcast will be available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast distributors. Check out the IVP YouTube page for a peek at The Digital Examen trailer.

Contact: Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com

 

Chattanooga, TN – As followers of Jesus, we know that prayer is essential to our daily walk with Him. But at times, the practice of prayer can begin to feel stagnant or obligatory—just another thing to check off the list. Jesus invites us to something much deeper—a flourishing prayer life that draws us closer to the heart of God.

In The Purpose of Prayer: A Collection on Prayer, Volume One, users will journey through Scripture, using the Precept Bible Study Method, to discover the true purpose of prayer and its ability to transform our hearts and lives and our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Users will find thought-provoking reflection questions, journaling prompts, Scripture meditation exercises and more. The study is four weeks in length and perfect for both group and individual study.

This Bible study is the first installment in Precept’s new Know God Deeply™ study series that will focus on using the tapestry of Scripture to explore various themes that help users to know God deeper and grow in their relationship with him.

Since 1970, the mission at Precept is to engage people in God’s Word through Bible study, helping them discover truth for themselves and deepen their relationship with God. Today, millions in the US and around the world have studied with Precept. Founded on a commitment to inductive Bible study, Precept provides a variety of Bible study workbooks, training, and tools that empower individuals, small groups, and churches to study Scripture in a meaningful and transformative way. Precept publishes a range of Bible Study resources tailored for people at any level of biblical understanding, including Know God Deeply studies, Precept Upon Precept, Yarrow by Precept, 40-Minute Studies, Lord Studies, New Inductive Studies as well as Precepts for Life and Discover 4 Yourself. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to go deeper, Precept exists to equip you to engage with Scripture, not just as a reader, but as a true disciple. Find out more at https://www.precept.org/.

December 2024 | Bellingham, WA — Lexham Press celebrates numerous award wins this year. We are delighted to report that several books received multiple awards and recognitions:

The Thing That Would Make Everything Okay Forever: Transcendence, Psychedelics, and Jesus Christ by Ashley Lande was a finalist in the 2025 Christianity Today book awards for Christian Living / Spiritual Formation and Ashley received a first-time author Award of Distinction from The Gospel Coalition.

Our FatCat children’s series received four recognitions. The Ten Commandments: For All God’s Children was a Moonbeam gold award winner in Religion/Spirituality and a finalist in the American Book Fest Children’s religious category alongside Who is Our King?, which was also a Moonbeam silver award winner in Religion/Spirituality.

Other awards we received this year include:

A Quiet Mind to Suffer With: Mental Illness, Trauma, and the Death of Christ by John Andrew Bryant received an ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award, in addition to being the 2024 Christianity Today book award winner in the Christian Living / Spiritual Formation category.

Reformed Covenant Theology: A Systematic Introduction by Harrison Perkins received an award from Credo Magazine in the Systematic Theology & Dogmatics category.

Lexham Geographic Commentary on the Pentateuch received a Biblical Studies Award of Distinction from The Gospel Coalition.

Conquerors Not Captives: Reframing Romans 7 for the Christian Life by Joseph R. Dodson with Mattie Mae Motl received an Award of Merit from Christianity Today in the Bible and Devotion category.

A Bit of Earth: A Year in the Garden with God by Andrea G. Burke was named by Jared Wilson as his runner-up for book of the year at For the Church.

To learn about Lexham Press, visit lexhampress.com.

Media: Lindsay John Kennedy, Marketing and Business Development Manager,  lindsay@lexhampress.com

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (December 16, 2024)—Christianity Today has selected the NavPress title Nearing a Far God: Praying the Psalms with Our Whole Selves by Leslie Leyland Fields as the winner of the Bible and Devotional category.

Nearing a Far God offers readers an immersive survey of the Psalms in their various forms—lament, wisdom, trust, confession, creation, thanksgiving, and praise—and facilitates a prayer practice of psalm writing in these various forms. As an internationally recognized teacher and trainer in faith and writing, Leyland Fields is well suited to this uniquely crafted project. She previously won the 2017 Christianity Today Book Award for Christian Living/Discipleship with her NavPress title Crossing the Waters.

“Helping people find their way to God is deeply important work,” said Caitlyn Carlson, senior editor at NavPress. “Leslie does a beautiful job of demonstrating how the Psalms equip us to enter prayer with renewed honesty and hope.”

Also recognized as a finalist in the category of Marriage, Family, and Singleness was Anna Broadway’s NavPress release Solo Planet: How Singles Help the Church Recover Our Calling. Broadway’s editor, Deborah Sáenz, was “thrilled to see this important work receive well-deserved recognition as a CT Book Award finalist. Anna Broadway brings deep insight and compassion to the complex experiences of single Christians around the globe. I hope that Solo Planet will continue to challenge assumptions about singleness and spark meaningful conversations in the church.”

“It’s thrilling and immensely validating to have these books represented among Christianity Today’s annual Book Awards,” writes David Zimmerman, publisher for NavPress. “As we enter our fiftieth year as a publishing program, we’re gratified to know that our books are contributing to the vitality and impact of the church’s life and witness.”

For more information about NavPress titles, please visit www.navpress.com.

From 1975 until today and into the future, NavPress equips people with bold, loving, and sensible disciplemaking resources, including books, Bible studies, and The Message® Bible. A business ministry of The Navigators, NavPress supports readers as they know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same®. NavPress has been in a publishing alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, one of the largest independently owned Christian publishers in the world, since 2014. NavPress resources are sold, distributed, and marketed worldwide through Tyndale House Publishers. Learn more at navpress.com/purpose or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.

Contact:  Andrea Martin, andreamartin@tyndale.com

WaterBrook, an imprint of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group, is celebrating the extraordinary sales track of 5.3 million copies sold in the bestselling God Gave Us children’s series by Lisa Tawn Bergren; illustrated by Laura J Bryant and David Hohn. The debut title, God Gave Us You (illustrated by Laura J Bryant), originally published in 2000 and has gone on to sell more than 2.1 million copies in all formats.

Now, with 14 titles in the series, each book offers a tender story of a young animal family, featuring either the curious polar bear Little Cub or wolf Little Pup asking big questions about life.  Among the bestselling titles are seasonal favorites such as God Gave Us Christmas (illustrated by David Hohn), 1.2 million sold, and God Gave Us Easter (illustrated by Laura J Bryant), 942,000 sold. The charming picture books for readers 3-8 address a range of topics, including prayer, Thanksgiving, love, heaven, sleep, family and so much more.

The series also includes God Gave Us the Bible (2019) featuring 45 stories from the Bible, with reflections from adorable Little Cub and her friends.

“I am amazed that my little children’s book (that God woke me up in the middle of the night to write) has grown to this epic number sold,” says Lisa Tawn Bergren. “Truly, God does great things when we listen to him!”

“We are so grateful to Lisa for the 25-year publishing relationship and that all of the wonderful titles in the God Gave Us series continue to delight readers worldwide, helping children have a clearer understanding of God and Jesus,” added Campbell Wharton, SVP, Publisher, Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group.  “It is a joy to see the next generation of parents discover these beautiful stories.”

The God Gave Us series has been translated into 12 languages worldwide. For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cronin, decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lisa Tawn Bergren is a bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 books that span many genres, from children’s books to YA fiction, devotionals to books on prayer. She and her husband, Tim, live in Colorado Springs.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATORS
Laura J. Bryant studied painting, printmaking, and sculpture at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. She has illustrated numerous award-winning children’s books, including God Gave Us You and multiple other titles in the God Gave Us series, Smudge Bunny, and If You Were My Baby. Laura lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

David Hohn is an illustrator based in Portland, Oregon. His previous books include God Gave Us the Bible, God Gave Us Prayer, God Gave Us Thankful Hearts, and God Gave Us Christmas, as well as Just Like Beverly: A Biography of Beverly Cleary and A Gaggle of Geese and a Clatter of Cats. His past and current clients include Scholastic, Viking, Random House, Sasquatch Books, and Spider magazine, as well as Nike, Proctor & Gamble, and Oregon Children’s Theater.

Full listing of the God Gave Us Series, authored by Lisa Tawn Bergren:

• God Gave Us You: Published  9/19/2000; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us Two: Published 9/18/2001; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us Christmas: Published 10/10/2006; Illustrated by David Hohn
• God Gave Us Heaven:     Published 8/19/2008; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us Love: Published 9/15/2009; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us So Much: Published 8/10/2010; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us the World: Published 1/11/2011; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us Easter: Published 1/15/2013; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us Angels: Published 9/16/2014; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us Sleep: Published 9/8/2015; Illustrated by Laura J Bryant
• God Gave Us Thankful Hearts:  Published 8/23/2016; Illustrated by David Hohn
• God Gave Us Family: Published 10/17/2017; Illustrated by David Hohn
• God Gave Us The Bible: Published 9/17/2019; Illustrated by David Hohn
• God Gave Us Prayer: Published 3/2/2021; Illustrated by David Hohn

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

Contact: Beverly Rykerd, VP, Publicity Director, PRHCPG, bykerd@penguinrandomhouse.com.

 

New Fantasy Series Takes Readers on Journey Through Time and Space

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 3, 2025

New Growth Press will release the first of seven books in the Lightglider Origins series for ages 8–14, telling the stories of teens from different time periods and locations around the world who are transported to the mystical land of Glideon to become Lightgliders. These fantasy adventure stories have relatable, authentic characters that affirm a biblical worldview and positive values. The Lightglider Origin series is based on the characters and story found in the Lightgliders virtual world of Christian faith, games, and community for kids. www.lightgliders.com.

Journey through time and space to the world of Glideon, where a group of teen Lightgliders are tasked with saving a mysterious land filled with Gliddles, talking spiders, and diabolical Machines. 
Victor Harbor, Australia, 2024

Life is full of responsibilities for fifteen-year-old Bryce Holland. Between working at his uncle’s horse stables, playing his newly earned spot on the varsity basketball team, and leading a Bible study, the juggling act of his life is on the verge of a crash. An injury ends his season prematurely and the girl he likes starts hanging out with the guy who sprained his ankle. The stress sends Bryce over the edge and he thunders away on his uncle’s Clysdesdale without permission. When the horse gets away from him, the search to find the missing animal sends Bryce wandering deep through the woods and into a strange new land.

Bryce suddenly finds himself in the alternate realm of Glideon where he meets other teens who have been tasked with rescuing the Gliddles from an army of Machines that threaten the land. Along the way, Bryce and his new friends discover the mysterious pearl that will guide them in their journey to resurrect Lightglider Academy, rescue the Gliddles, and restore the land.

Bryce and the Lost Pearl
Lightglider Origins Book 1
by Derek Holser and Zach Fay
February 3, 2025 / Retail Price: $16.99
Print ISBN: 978-1-64507-476-2
Juvenile Fiiction / Religious / Christian / Action & Adventure

Derek Holser, MEd, MTh, JD, is an author, educator, and attorney. He and his wife, Leah, and their three teenage children live in Bainbridge Island, Washington. His many works include Atlas Forman & The Necessary Dream and BOY 39. He is dedicated to producing works of inspiration and education, which lead to personal and societal transformation.

Zach Fay, MDiv, MBA, is the creator of Lightgliders, a virtual world of Christian faith, games, and community for kids. He and his wife, Margaret, live with their four young children in St. Louis, Missouri. He is inspired by the intersection of faith, reason, and imagination.

For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings – audra@newgrowthpress.com 

December 4, 2024 (Nashville, Tenn.) — Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, today announced it received four 2024 Christianity Today Book Awards, including Book of the Year, with an additional four titles named as finalists. The awards honor the books that are “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.”

Award winning titles include:

• God’s Grace for Every Family: Biblical Encouragement for Single-Parent Families and the Churches That Seek to Love Them Well by Anna Meade Harris (Zondervan Reflective) – Marriage, Family, and Singleness Category
• What It Means to Be Protestant: The Case for an Always-Reforming Church by Gavin Ortlund (Zondervan Reflective) – Theology (Popular) Category; Book of the Year
• Mere Christian Hermeneutics: Transfiguring What It Means to Read the Bible Theologically by Kevin Vanhoozer (Zondervan Academic) – Theology (Academic) Category

The following titles were selected as finalists:

• Jesus, Contradicted: Why the Gospels Tell the Same Story Differently by Michael R. Licona (Zondervan Academic) – Biblical Studies Category
• Strong: Psalm 1 by Sally Lloyd-Jones and Jago (Zonderkidz) – Children Category
• The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life by Michael Wear (Zondervan Books) – Politics and Public Life Category
• Know the Theologians by Jennifer Powell McNutt and David W. McNutt (Zondervan Reflective) – Theology (Popular) Category

“We are deeply honored that our titles have been recognized by Christianity Today,” said Mark Schoenwald, President and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “This achievement reflects the countless hours of dedication and effort from our authors, editors, and entire team, showcasing the power of true collaboration. We are gratified to see this hard work acknowledged and hope these books will continue to serve the needs of scholars, pastors, students, and readers for years to come.”

Visit Christianity Today to see the full list of award winners and finalists.

HarperCollins Christian Publishing
The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. comprises the Thomas Nelson, Zondervan and HarperChristian Resources publishing groups and imprints, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com, StudyGateway.com and ChurchSource.com. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 29 million unique visitors each month. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, Tenn. For more information visit harpercollinschristian.com.

Contact:  Amy Morris, amy.morris@harpercollins.com

Carol Stream, IL (December 9, 2024) — In April 2025, Tyndale House Publishers (@tyndalehouse) will release Ashley Morgan Jackson’s Tired of Trying Study Guide, based on her debut book, Tired of Trying. When navigating difficult seasons of life, it is easy to become overwhelmed by feelings of hurt, frustration, and doubt. In this four-week streaming video study, Ashley helps readers get real about the struggle they are facing and discover God’s invitation to wrestle with Him.

This study tackles tough questions, such as

• Why isn’t God fixing this even though I have prayed?
• Why is He allowing this to hurt for so long?
• Why does it seem like everyone else’s life is so easy and smooth? Does God love them more?

Designed as a resource for small groups (and adaptable for individual use), the Tired of Trying Study Guide provides practical personal study and discussion prompts to help show readers that, if God invites His people to wrestle, He will bring them through it.

Tired of Trying Study Guide by Ashley Morgan Jackson
ISBN: 979-8-4005-0352-8
Softcover: $14.99
April 22, 2025
Tyndale.com

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.

Contact:  Natalie Wierenga, nataliewierengea@tyndale.com, 630-784-5211

Ada, Mich. (Dec. 2, 2024)— Baker Publishing Group is pleased to announce Pastor Jon Tyson’s book The Intentional Father: A Practical Guide to Raise Sons of Courage and Character, achieved a significant milestone, surpassing 100,000 copies sold across print, digital, and audio formats.

“We are thrilled to be marking this significant milestone for The Intentional Father,” says Brian Vos, Editorial Director of Baker Books. “Each book sold represents fathers who have been equipped with practical tools to raise sons of courage and character. We look forward to recommending Jon’s remarkable book to fathers for years to come.”

Originally from Adelaide, Australia, author Jon Tyson has spent over two decades in the United States pursuing his passion for church renewal and cultural transformation. As the lead pastor of Church of the City New York, Tyson brings a unique global perspective to the challenges of modern fatherhood. Drawing from his own experience as a father of two adult children and his 25-year marriage to his wife Christy, Tyson offers both personal insight and practical wisdom for the journey of intentional fatherhood.

In The Intentional Father, Tyson provides fathers with a clear, practical roadmap for raising sons. The book offers specific activities, customizable rites of passage, and significant “marking moments” that help fathers intentionally guide their sons toward authentic manhood. Through real-life examples and biblical wisdom, Tyson shows fathers how to counter the negative cultural trends and help their sons develop into men of integrity, faith, and purpose.

Baker Books has a vision for showing people a better way to live by publishing books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging.

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

 

Aaron Graham, lead pastor of The District Church in Washington, D.C. and an emerging influential voice in the faith space, has signed with Multnomah for two trade books, with the first scheduled for release in Spring 2026.

Seven Lies Christians Believe: Why They’re So Deceptive, Dangerous, and Defeatable, tackles the mistaken beliefs that lead increasing numbers of millennials and Gen Z Christians to move away from orthodox faith, and offers a practical path to engage culture without being co-opted by it.

Bryan Norman at Alive Literary Agency represented the author, and world rights were acquired by Drew Dixon, Executive Editor at Multnomah.
Rights queries: Denise Cronin, decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com

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