Digital Safety Expert Chris McKenna Partners with Zondervan, Debut Release Anticipated June 2026

The founder of Protect Young Eyes, an organization equipping families to protect kids online, Chris McKenna has signed a multi-book deal with Zondervan. McKenna’s partnership with Zondervan includes the release of one adult trade, scheduled for June 2026, followed by two children’s books.

McKenna is a respected digital safety voice, creating practical resources for families and schools. At a time when parents often feel unprepared to prepare and protect their children online with the right tools and words, McKenna’s adult trade book will equip parents to feel confident guiding their child through the online world with a framework to tame the tech and reclaim family. This essential book will teach parents five practical habits that wrap children in protection, build Digital Trust, and unlock digital parenting superpowers.

“Parents are looking for an expert voice who can provide both a framework for understanding the benefits and problems tech offers and who can offer specific steps to take to protect children and families” said Webster Younce, Zondervan Books’ Vice President and Executive Editor. “Chris McKenna is that voice, and we are thrilled to partner with him to provide families with the resources they are looking for.”

McKenna’s impactful 2019 testimony before the U.S. Senate initiated a series of hearings to further online child protection policy. Protect Young Eyes, won the 2020 Dignity Defense Award from the National Center on Sexual Exploitation and the 2024 Child Safety Award from The Phase Alliance. He is a technical advisor to AngelQ AI and works closely with digital safety advocates and legislators to craft policies that reign in abusive technologies. As a representative of the Human Change Movement, McKenna spoke at the 2024 and 2025 World Economic Forum.

“Partnering with Zondervan is taking the mission of Protect Young Eyes even closer into the hands of families looking to prevent online exploitation,” says McKenna. “The upcoming books will provide accessible tools, tips and guidance for kids and caregivers to provide a comfortable environment to discuss digital safety.”

McKenna’s children’s titles are anticipated to release in the summer of 2027. A picture book for ages 4-8 and a book for ages 8-12 will focus on introducing young readers to the topic of digital safety and give children and their caregivers practical tools and strategies for navigating the technological landscape.

“These books will be a tremendous resource for both kids and caregivers,” said Katherine Easter, Acquisitions Editor for Zonderkidz. “Chris’s immense expertise and accessible approach make him the perfect person to speak into this incredibly important topic.”

McKenna is represented by Tom Dean of A Drop of Ink Literary based in Grand Rapids, Mich.

JUNE 2, 2025 — Jon Tyson, award-winning author and pastor of Church of the City, New York, brings his pastoral heart and theological clarity to the problem of exhaustion and its impact on our spiritual lives to WaterBrook in a two-book deal starting with The Antidote for Exhaustion: The Power You Need for the Life You Want. 

As one of the foremost voices in the spiritual formation movement, Tyson offers a helpful framework for why so many feel burned out: it’s a disconnect between the chaotic world around us and the deep inner world God wants to create in us. The solution he proposes is not trying harder to earn God’s favor, but rather to go deeper with God—which is the only path to stability, power, and peace.

“We are delighted to welcome Jon Tyson back to WaterBrook,” said Campbell Wharton, SVP and Publisher, PRH Christian. “His new book will be an essential resource for those seeking to navigate the fear, anxiety, and exhaustion so prevalent in today’s world.”

This book is scheduled for publication in Fall 2026. World rights were acquired by Will Anderson, Senior Editor at WaterBrook and Multnomah, from Curtis Yates and Mike Salisbury at Yates & Yates in an exclusive submission.

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

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

CHARLOTTE, NC– The Good Book Company is excited to announce that it will publish best-selling author and Bible teacher Jen Wilkin’s debut book for children.

Just Like Me, a rhyming picture book that retells the story of the creation of the first man and woman in Genesis 2, will inspire kids by showing how wonderful it is that God made them to need each other and help each other.

Wilkin has a passion to see others become articulate and committed followers of Christ, with a clear understanding of why they believe what they believe, grounded in the Word of God. This book falls in line with her passion as she shares with children the biblical message of God’s good design for image-bearers.

“I’m thrilled to be publishing my debut children’s book with The Good Book Company,” said Wilkin. “It’s an honor to partner with a publisher so firmly committed to creating fun, gospel-centered resources for young learners.”

Carl Laferton, Executive Vice President of Publishing at TGBC, said, “It’s a joy and a privilege to partner with Jen on her first children’s title, especially as it highlights such a foundational truth for children to understand. Parents and children alike will love sharing precious moments with this book.”

Just Like Me is slated for a fall 2026 release. The Good Book Company acquired worldwide rights from Erik Wolgemuth at Wolgemuth & Wilson.

For media inquiries and access to promotional assets, contact: publicity@thegoodbook.com.

ABOUT THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY
Founded in 1991, The Good Book Company (TGBC) is an international Christian publisher. Their Bible studies, books, devotionals, videos, tracts, evangelistic courses, and training materials are used throughout the English-speaking world, and in translation in over 35 languages worldwide. Everyone at TGBC is passionate about the Lord Jesus, His word, His church, and His gospel of grace. They create and publish biblical, relevant, and accessible resources that will encourage Christians to keep going, keep growing, and keep sharing their faith.

JUNE 5, 2025 — Jerri Helms has been promoted to SVP of marketing operations at HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

When Jerri joined HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) in 2008, she led the digital marketing team for Zondervan Bibles. She was promoted to Senior Director, Digital Marketing Initiatives in 2018, and began reporting to Doug Lockhart with a dotted line reporting to Mark Schoenwald, President and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

In 2020, Jerri was promoted to VP, Digital Marketing / Analytics, and has built the marketing operations and consumer insights teams into what they are today. In March 2024, Jerri joined HCCP’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT).

“Jerri’s understanding of the global publishing industry, emerging trends in digital marketing, including being a member of News Corp’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Committee, and her strong dedication to our mission, will serve her well in her new role,” stated Schoenwald.

Ada, Mich. (June 5, 2025)—Brazos Press, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that Grace P. Cho will join Brazos Press as senior acquisitions editor. This role will be in addition to her ongoing acquisitions responsibilities at Revell, another division of Baker Publishing Group.

Grace P. Cho is a Korean American writer and speaker, who offers a unique combination of thoughtful pastoral care and a deep commitment to excellence in her editorial work with authors. She holds an MA from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and is interested in books that cultivate people’s personal growth and spiritual formation. Grace lives in Southern California with her family.

“I’m thrilled that what we’ve experienced at Revell with Grace’s involvement will now be shared by the publishing program at Brazos! This is a great fit for all of us and allows for the exercise of Grace’s talents on a larger scale.”—Andrea Doering, editorial director, Revell

“Since joining the Brazos team, Grace has already shown keen editorial judgment, a care for the authors and readers we serve, and a collegial spirit, which have together raised the bar of excellence. I anticipate that the Brazos program will excel with Grace’s insights and contributions in the days ahead.”—Katelyn Beaty, editorial director, Brazos Press

Brazos Press publishes books that creatively draw upon the riches of the Christian story to deepen our understanding of God’s world and inspire faithful reflection and engagement.

Contact:  Shelly MacNaughton, (616) 450-5560, smacnaughton@bakerpublishinggroup.com

 

In FLAME’s newest book, readers will discover church history and church fathers that bring a greater appreciation for what God has given His people.

ST. LOUIS (June 5, 2025)—Why is it important for today’s Christians to know about the church fathers? What’s important about the Sacraments? And why should today’s Christians truly care about them? In his second book with Concordia Publishing House, Because Jesus Taught It: Christianity Through the Eyes of the Church Fathers, Grammy-nominated Christian rapper FLAME answers these questions from a Lutheran perspective and sheds light on just how important it is to know the history of the church. FLAME’s new book is now available on CPH’s website.

“Shouldn’t we know who God is?” FLAME writes. “The nature of God’s existence? The true nature of Jesus, the Messiah? The difference between God’s Law and His Gospel? . . . If the Sacraments are important enough for Jesus to implement, then we would do right to wrestle with how they have been historically understood and practiced to see where they fit into the Christian life” (pp. 11–12).

Because Jesus Taught It helps readers study the early church fathers, Scripture, and Christian history alongside FLAME’s conversational voice to see for themselves why these teachings continue to be important to the Christian’s lived-out life in Christ today.

“FLAME’s joy in discovering the efficacy of Baptism and the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, as found in the church fathers’ works and carried over into Lutheranism, is exhilarating and contagious,” said Dr. Gene Edward Veith Jr., PhD, and author of Spirituality of the Cross. “This seminary-trained rap star makes an engaging case for a faith that is both evangelical and sacramental. Or, as he calls it, ‘ancient Christianity as preserved through confessional Lutheran thought.’”

Visit cph.org for more information about the book. Contact Erica Sontag to schedule an interview with the author.

About the Author
FLAME is a Grammy®-nominated and Stellar Award–winning hip-hop artist. He is a well-versed leader in the Christian hip-hop scene with a growing list of accolades, including a Grammy nomination, multiple Billboard chart-toppers, and several Dove and Stellar Award nominations. He was born and raised in the inner city of St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to touring, writing, recording, and coproducing his own projects, FLAME founded and helms Clear Sight Music and Extra Nos Academy, boutique imprints raising the bar in Christian hip hop and beyond. He has a master’s degree in theology with a minor in counseling from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis.

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    

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Praise for Because Jesus Taught It

This sounds like a book about ancient Christianity, but even more than that, it is about contemporary Christianity—with its perfectionism and endless self-scrutiny—and our desperate need for the Sacraments. FLAME’s joy in discovering the efficacy of Baptism and the real presence of Christ in the Lord’s Supper, as found in the church fathers’ works and carried over into Lutheranism, is exhilarating and contagious. This seminary-trained rap star makes an engaging case for a faith that is both evangelical and sacramental. Or, as he calls it, “ancient Christianity as preserved through confessional Lutheran thought.”
—Dr. Gene Edward Veith Jr., PhD; author of Spirituality of the Cross and Embracing Your Lutheran Identity

In his most recent book, Because Jesus Taught It, FLAME tells inspiring stories of faith and faithfulness through the ages in ways that speak to our contemporary times. With insights from the earliest Christians as well as his own walk of faith, FLAME challenges readers to explore a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus that make a difference in our lives today.
—Rev. Dr. Gerhard Bode, chairman of the department of historical theology and director of the Center for Reformation Research, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

Church history, contrary to popular opinion, is far from a mere theoretical academic pursuit. Studying the contexts, writings, and lives of faithful men and women who have gone before us in Christ’s church should be a deeply practical and faith-building journey that helps us make sense of our own life experiences and Christian walk. Because Jesus Taught It is an illustration of this truth. In a seamless melding of memoir and theology, FLAME brings the reader along on his personal journey of patristic discovery. This study highlights the strengths of the Lutheran theological tradition, equipping those new to Lutheranism and lifelong Lutherans alike to identify the comfort, assurance, and beauty of our confession of faith when contrasted with errors common in American evangelicalism. Deeply relatable and moving, yet informative and researched, FLAME’s book on the early church fathers and the historic Christian view of the Sacraments is fresh, well-written, and difficult to put down.
—Christa Petzold, author of Journey Through Church History and Gathered by Christ: The Overlooked Gift of Church

FLAME gets the church fathers—and they got him too. Despite what you may have been taught growing up, Christianity did not go off the rails after the New Testament, only to be rediscovered by Martin Luther. The Holy Spirit has a history, and this book rejoices in that history. The Word of God and the sacramental life have always gone hand in glove. Like Plato’s analogy of the cave, Marcus “FLAME” Gray shares his own discovery of this life, bringing his readers along with him to reacquaint them with the great tradition. I highly recommend this book.
—Rev. Dr. Joel C. Elowsky, professor of historical theology, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri

Because Jesus Taught It by FLAME is an essential guide for anyone seeking to understand and teach the true nature of Jesus Christ. It emphasizes the importance of clear, Christ-centered instruction, ensuring that even the youngest believers can grasp the core tenets of the faith. This book delves into several key themes:

1. A History Behind the Teachings: Exploring the origins and development of Christian doctrines.
2. Church According to the Early Church: Understanding how the early Christians practiced and organized their communities.
3. Baptism According to the Early Church: Examining the significance and practice of Baptism in early Christianity.
4. The Eucharist According to the Early Church: Investigating the early church’s understanding and celebration of the Eucharist.

By delving into God’s Word and the teachings of the early church, this book will help preserve and pass down the Gospel message for generations to come.
—Rev. Dr. B. Keith Haney, assistant to the president for Mission, Human Care, and Stewardship, LCMS Iowa District West

As a lifelong Lutheran, I’ve learned much from FLAME’s journey and gained an even deeper understanding of what we believe about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. FLAME gives us a front-row seat to his tussle with Scripture and the early church fathers as he discovers that Lutheran teaching on Baptism and the Lord’s Supper isn’t European innovation but a preservation of what the earliest Christians taught. This book will foster understanding and dialogue among readers with different views on the Sacraments and is a fantastic resource for lifelong Lutherans, pastors, church workers, and those wrestling with questions about the Sacraments.
—Michelle Diercks, author of Promised Hope: Finding Peace in God’s Faithfulness

Nashville, TN – June 5, 2025– W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, announced the promotion of Madison Baird to director of digital marketing. Madison’s track record of leveraging analytics, creative campaigns, and strategic expertise has significantly contributed to the imprint’s success and revenue growth.

Madison joined HarperCollins Christian Publishing in February 2017, as a part of the Direct-to-Consumer division. She played a key role in launching and expanding the popular Online Bible Study program at FaithGateway, partnering closely with renowned authors such as Anne Graham Lotz, Lysa TerKeurst, Jennie Allen, and Max Lucado. She transitioned to W Publishing in December 2021, where she served as senior marketing manager, shaping the digital marketing presence for the imprint over the past four years.

From crafting innovative strategies that marry creative storytelling with SEO and paid media campaigns to analyzing data for actionable insights, Madison’s work has been instrumental in driving sales, solidifying author platforms, and elevating the visibility of W Publishing’s titles. She has had the privilege of collaborating with New York Times bestselling authors including Savannah Guthrie, Ann Voskamp, John Bevere, Dr. Josh Axe, Kathie Lee Gifford, Sadie Robertson Huff, and Louie Giglio.

“Madison’s innovative approach to blending data-driven insights with creative campaigns has been pivotal in driving our digital marketing efforts to new heights,” said W Publishing VP of Marketing, Caren Wolfe. “Her passion, creativity, and ability to connect with audiences across platforms have played a significant role in W Publishing’s success. We couldn’t be more excited to see her step into this leadership role.”

With this promotion, Madison Baird will continue to oversee the digital marketing strategy for W Publishing Group, ensuring the imprint remains at the forefront of the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. As part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., the publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, cookbooks, curriculum and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact:  Allison Carter, W Publishing Group, allison.carter@harpercollins.com

 

Ada, Mich. (June 5, 2025)—Baker Publishing Group is proud to announce that authors from Bethany House and Revell earned ten prestigious awards at the 2025 Selah Awards, presented May 29 at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference in Ridgecrest, North Carolina. The celebration culminated with Jaime Jo Wright’s Specters in the Glass House (Bethany House) winning the 2025 Selah Fiction Book of the Year.

Wright dominated the Mystery/Suspense Fiction category, taking both first place for Specters in the Glass House and second place for Night Falls on Predicament Avenue, both published by Bethany House Publishers. Her Fiction Book of the Year recognition represents the highest honor bestowed by the Selah Awards in the fiction category.

“We’re delighted to see this well-deserved recognition of Jaime’s writing!” says Senior Acquisitions Editor, Rochelle Gloege. “The thirteen dual-time novels she’s published with Bethany House thus far fill a unique niche and need in our market: page-turning, atmospherically eerie suspense with a consistently redemptive arc. With each book, Jaime shines a light on the hope that can be found in Christ in even the most trying situations. It’s a joy to be able to work with her to bring her books to readers!”

Karen Witemeyer, who recently reached the one million sales milestone, continued her winning streak by sweeping the Western Fiction category. Her novels Cloaked in Beauty and If the Boot Fits—both published by Bethany House—respectively earned first place and second place.

Bethany House author Sarah Loudin Thomas also acquired third place in the Historical Fiction category with her novel These Tangled Threads. Revell authors achieved significant recognition across multiple categories as well. Ann H. Gabhart’s The Song of Sourwood Mountain secured second place in Historical Romance, while veteran author Suzanne Woods Fisher’s A Healing Touch tied for third place in Amish Fiction. Debut novelist Nicole M. Miller earned third place in the First Novel category for Until Our Time Comes. Joanna Davidson Politano’s book The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple won third place in Historical Romance, and Lynnette Eason’s In the Dark won third place in the Novellas category.

The Selah Awards, established in 1999, recognize and celebrate excellence in Christian publishing across various categories. The awards are organized by the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference and represent one of the most respected honors in Christian literature.

Baker Publishing Group’s strong showing at the 2025 Selah Awards highlights the company’s commitment to publishing high-quality fiction that combines compelling storytelling with meaningful themes of faith, hope, and redemption.

Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group, has been publishing high-quality books for more than 50 years. Recognized as the pioneer and leader in Christian fiction, Bethany House publishes over 75 new fiction and nonfiction titles annually. Each Bethany House publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, publishes books that help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. Whether through fiction, Christian living, self-help, marriage, family, or youth resources, each Revell publication reflects relevance, integrity, and excellence.

Contact:  Emily Vest, 616.676.9185 x 160, evest@bakerpublishinggroup.com

June 2025 | Lisle, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that two IVP titles have been honored with 2024 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards. These awards celebrate the outstanding books published in 2024 by small, independent, and university presses.

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Reviews hosts an annual awards program. More than 2,400 entries spread across fifty-five genres were submitted for consideration. Foreword’s editors selected approximately twelve finalists per genre, which were then presented to individual librarians and booksellers entrusted with the challenging task of determining the Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Honorable Mention winners.

IVP’s Our Church Speaks: An Illustrated Devotional of Saints from Every Era and Place by Ben Lansing and D. J. Marotta received the Bronze INDIES Award in the Religion category.

Our Church Speaks offers a beautifully illustrated devotional that bridges the teaching of Scripture with our everyday lives through the lives of great men and women from throughout the history of the church. Illustrated by Ben Lansing, these saints, from every continent and century of church history, illustrate God’s faithfulness in all times and demonstrate the historic church’s relevance for Christians today.

“In a world captivated and mesmerized by the cult of celebrity, this book helps us to reorient our hearts to experience the saints as ones that not only speak to our past but also shine the light and guide the path to our future,” said J.R. Briggs, founder of Kairos Partnerships and author of The Art of Asking Better Questions. “We stand on the shoulders of brothers and sisters in the faith who’ve faithfully shown us the way—and this resource helps make them accessible and relevant to our everyday lives. Our Church Speaks is a useful tool full of stunning artwork and meaningful prayers to help us to sit at the feet of saints young and old and learn from those who are a part of the great cloud of witnesses. For the past few years, I’ve been shaped and formed by these visuals online. I’m thrilled this collection has been published into a book we can now hold in our hands!”

The other IVP INDIES Award honoree was The New Testament in Color: A Multiethnic Bible Commentary, which was named the Honorable Mention title in the Reference category.

Historically, Bible commentaries have focused on the particular concerns of a limited segment of the church, all too often missing fresh questions and perspectives that are fruitful for biblical interpretation. The New Testament in Color is a one-volume commentary on the New Testament written by a multiethnic team of scholars holding orthodox Christian beliefs. Each scholar brings exegetical expertise coupled with a unique interpretive lens to illuminate the ways social location and biblical interpretation work together. Theologically orthodox and multiethnically contextual, The New Testament in Color fills a gap in biblical understanding for both the academy and the church. The general editor for this volume is Esau McCaulley, and associate editors include Amy L. B. Peeler, Osvaldo Padilla, and Janette H. Ok.

“Reading the New Testament, intentionally, through one’s ethnic point of view (African American, Asian American, Hispanic, or Native American) does not violate an objective, traditional reading of Scripture. Rather, reading the Bible in and out of one’s location exposes the bias of the (formerly so-called) ‘objective’ reading as a Euro-white reading and, at the same time, offers to the traditional readings fresh perspectives,” said Scot McKnight, New Testament scholar and author of The Second Testament. “Over and over, I thought the essays were worth the price of this book, but I was wrong. The commentaries interact with the essays in a manner that makes this book a required desk companion for anyone who wants to hear all the Word of God has to offer. A must-have for all Bible teachers and pastors.”

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com.

Contact:  Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — On May 29, 2025, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference announced the winners of their annual Selah Awards. Three Kregel titles won first place.

The cruise-ship rom-com by Shannon Sue Dunlap Love Overboard won in Contemporary Romance. This laugh-out-loud novel features lovable characters, over-the-top situations, and a dash of mystery.

Humorous and heartwarming, The Tangled Tale of the Woolgathering Castoffs by Sharon J. Mondragón won in Women’s Contemporary. This novel wrestles with the loneliness of being the forgotten spouse of a dementia patient, showing readers how love and compassion can make all the difference.

The Appalachian novel Coal Black Lies by Cindy K. Sproles won in Historical/Biblical Fiction. Coal miner Joshua Morgan grapples with heartbreak, vengeance, and forgiveness in a sweet story about freedom and peace.

Kregel is pleased to congratulate all these winners. The full list of winners can be found here.

The mission of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference is to inspire writers to connect with God, other writers, and industry professionals as they embrace their calling with excellence. The Selah Awards open each year and accept books that were published within the last calendar year, from January to December, and include books published traditionally and nontraditionally.

Kregel Publications is an evangelical Christian publisher that aims to develop and distribute—with integrity and excellence—trusted, biblically based resources that lead individuals to know and serve Jesus Christ.  www.kregel.com

Contact:  Kregel Publicity Department, 616-451-4775, publicity@kregel.com