Lived A Life Marked By Service to Christ, Publishers, and Booksellers

(January 31, 2025, Tempe, AZ)  Ted H. Terry, whose service to the Christian publishing and bookselling industry dates back more than 60 years, died on Wednesday, January 29 at the age of 82 after an extended illness.

He is survived by his wife, Marietta, four children, 20 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Teddy Terry, Jr., who managed a Christian bookstore in the Houston area. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. (central) on February 22 at the Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church in Flower Mound, Texas.

Terry was the founder of the Noble Marketing Group, which began its work in April 2001. Booksellers and publishers alike whom he served mourned Terry’s passing, saying that he was more than simply a business associate to them. They routinely spoke of him as a friend, a prayer warrior, an investor in their companies’ success, a pastoral presence, and a father figure.

Terry was born Sayre, Pennsylvania on November 12, 1941, a borough in Bradford County near the New York state line.

He began his work with Christian publishers in 1964 in a sales role with Thomas Nelson Publishers. He later held jobs with W.W. Norton in New York and with the Lee Collins and Associates firm, representing a portfolio of publishers across the country. In 2001, Terry partnered with Dwight Baker, then the president of Baker Publishing Group, to form the Noble Marketing Group, which would serve a host of Christian publishers including Baker, Kregel, David C. Cook, InterVarsity Press, Broadstreet, the Good Book Company and Crossway, among others, at various times.

“Over three decades of continual transitions in book publishing and retailing, Ted Terry never wavered in his loyalty to Christian readers and the companies who serve them best,” Dwight Baker said upon learning of Terry’s passing. “Ted Terry was a friend and colleague and our profession has been richly rewarded by his presence.”

Dave Hill, sales director at Kregel Publications, said, “There will be many fitting and laudatory words and touching memories written and spoken about Ted Terry in the days ahead – and each and every one of them will be welcome reminders of the gracious character and many contributions Ted has made to the publishing industry, to the customers he served, and the many other people who have been touched by his selflessness and generosity throughout his lifetime. I mourn the loss of Ted for all those reasons and many more – but the thing I will miss most is the man who warmly called me his friend.”

Current Baker Publishing Group CEO Jesse Myers added, “Ted Terry was exactly what one looks for in a business partner: diligent, professional, and filled with integrity. But more than that his warmth, compassion, and genuine Christian character will make him truly missed.”

Terry was recognized by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) with the ECPA Chair Award for his service to the industry at its awards banquet in May of 2024.

In presenting the award to Terry, ECPA President Jeff Crosby said, “Some people live to build a resume. Other people devote their lives to writing a testimony. Throughout his career working with books that dates back to 1964 and a sales role with Thomas Nelson Publishers, Ted H. Terry has decidedly built a testimony, as publishers and booksellers alike will readily attest.”

In a tribute piece written by ECPA’s Crosby and published in CRA Today magazine upon Terry’s retirement in 2024, a number of booksellers attested to his impact on their work selling Christian literature. Among them was Kathi Broughton, book buyer at Sower Bible Bookstore in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

“When Ted calls and says he’s coming, we all get very excited as he makes it a celebration for us,” Broughton said. “Ted’s knowledge of the Christian market has been a great help to us, and he is willing to answer our barrage of questions. Both Ted and Marietta are also prayer warriors and have been ones we count on many times. We’ve been immensely blessed to have him as our rep, and we will continue to call him for advice and prayer.”

Marietta Terry, who has worked alongside Ted in service to the Christian products industry, described his passing by saying, “Our hearts are mourning, but our spirits are at peace knowing he is with his blessed Savior.”

Media Contacts:  
Jeff Crosby, ECPA president, 630-989-0222, jcrosby@ecpa.org
David M. Terry, Noble Marketing Group, 510-813-9854

(COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 1/27/2025)—WaterBrook, an imprint of PRH Christian Publishing Group, congratulates Jennie Allen, founder and visionary of IF:Gathering and Gather25, on the fifth anniversary of her blockbuster New York Times Bestseller, Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts, and its phenomenal success of 1.4 million copies sold in all formats.

Released January 28, 2020, Get Out of Your Head was an instant national bestseller and went on to appear on the New York Times bestseller list for 36 weeks, along with appearances on bestseller lists for USA Today, Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, and ECPA. On ECPA’s annual list, it was the top-selling new book of 2020. Get Out of Your Head continues to appear on ECPA’s monthly top 50 bestseller list. As of January 2025, it has made 60 consecutive appearances in total.

Get Out of Your Head was also named one of the Best Books of 2020 by both Amazon and Barnes & Noble and was nominated for a Good Reads Readers Choice Award.

“Get Out of Your Head has been one of the most transformative publications of the last decade,” says Campbell Wharton, SVP Publisher, Penguin Random House Christian. “We are incredibly grateful to have been on this journey with Jennie and her team. It has transcended the Christian Living category and is now being discovered everywhere by believers and nonbelievers. As one online reviewer rightly summed it up: “this is not just a book; it’s a lifeline.”

Released a mere few weeks in advance of the onset of the Covid pandemic, Allen’s book hit the cultural zeitgeist as it coached readers on how to take captive the spiral of toxic or negative thinking. Get Out of Your Head focuses on the battle for our thoughts and the impact they have on our lives. Through practical strategies and biblical insights, Allen inspires readers to reclaim their thoughts and experience freedom and hope amidst chaos.

“I am so grateful for this work and how it keeps blessing people! It’s humbling to see how God has brought freedom and hope to so many, including me,” says Jennie Allen. “My prayer is that it continues to remind us that we have the God-given power to fight back.”

“The continued momentum of Get Out of Your Head underscores Jennie’s remarkable ability to craft profound, timeless content that speaks to the deepest concerns of her readers,” says Laura Baker, VP, Publisher PRH Christian and editor for Get Out of Your Head.

A wildly popular worldwide resource, Get Out of Your Head has been translated into 17 languages. For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cronin, decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jennie Allen is the founder and visionary of Gather25 and IF:Gathering as well as the New York Times bestselling author of Get Out of Your Head, Untangle Your Emotions, Find Your People, Made for This, Anything, Nothing to Prove, the middle grade book You Are Not Alone, and most recently, the devotional Stop the Spiral. Jennie’s blockbuster Get Out of Your Head has sold more than 1.4 million copies and spent 36 weeks on the NYT bestseller list. Her 2022 bestseller Find Your People won the ECPA Book of the Year. A frequent speaker at international events and conferences, Jennie is a passionate leader, following God’s call on her life to catalyze a generation to live what they believe. She is the host of the Made for This podcast with more than 41 million downloads. Jennie has been featured in such media outlets as Today, GMA3, 700 Club, Greg McKeown Podcast, Focus on the Family, Woman’s World, Christianity Today and many more. She holds a Master of Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. Jennie lives with her family in Dallas, Texas.

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 

Respected Prophet of Word of Life World Outreach Mike Thompson Unravels a Prophetic Vision about End Times

Lake Mary, Fla. – Mike Thompson reveals a powerful vision regarding the final fight between God’s army and Satan’s army. In the form of a lion, Jesus commanded an army of righteous warriors endowed with spiritual power on earth to fight against the devil and defeat his soldiers.

In his book, The Lion’s Army, Mike Thompson provides spiritual guidance to fight against our adversaries (ISBN-13: 978‐1‐63641‐430‐0, Charisma House, February 4, 2025).

“The spiritual realm is just as real as the physical realm,” Thompson said.

The Lion’s Army focuses on the three strategies that the devil and his army are using against our nation as well as the three weapons that God has given us to fight back against them. Thompson’s prophetic vision in 2018 set the stage for what is occurring in the here and now—on our soil—to our people.

“There is a whole new generation of Spirit-filled believers being raised up at this time who need the foundation that was laid by those of us who have learned the ways of the Spirit through decades of experience.”

While The Lion’s Army will first and foremost prepare our hands for spiritual warfare, it will also act as a spiritual guide, teaching all believers the ways of the Holy Spirit. Step-by-step, readers will learn not only how to identify their spiritual creation and makeup, but they will also perceive the voice of God in their lives.

Mike Thompson is a respected prophet and Bible teacher at Word of Life/Mike Thompson Ministries in Las Vegas. He holds a degree in Bible Theology from International Seminary and a certificate from Rhema Bible Training Center, and he did graduate work in Christian counseling. He functions as a prophet to the body of Christ and is intent on hosting the glory of God and revival on planet Earth. Thompson has been a guest on such programs as Sid Roth’s It’s Supernatural as well as The Eric Metaxas Show and ElijahStreams With Steve Shultz. He and his wife, CK, have been married since 1972 and have been in full‐time ministry since 1977. They have two adult sons and five grandchildren.

To interview Thompson or for a review copy, please contact media@charismamedia.com.

AVAILABLE MARCH 24, 2025

Learning to Listen offers counselors the biblical principles and core skills necessary to become the active, compassionate listeners counselees need.

Counselors have a high calling to love and care for people who are struggling in a fallen world. A wise biblical counselor draws out the deep attitudes of the heart and encourages their counselees toward growth into the image of Christ. Learning about specific problems, sharing Scripture, and sitting with suffering people are all important parts of counseling. While all of these elements are essential to the counseling task, counseling will ultimately fail without the simple yet vital skill of listening well.

In Learning to Listen, biblical counselor Joseph Hussung gives readers a theology of listening and explains the purpose, posture, and practice of this essential counseling skill. If counselors do not truly hear the hearts of their counselees, they won’t understand the nuanced struggles at play nor how to apply biblical principles. Listening well enables counselors to love well and understand with empathy.

• Outlines specific practices including sample questions, reflections, affirmation, confrontation, body language, and vocal tone.
• Offers both a theology of listening and practical application of skills.
• Learn from Jesus what a listening heart attitude is like.

Learning to Listen: Essential Skills for Every Counselor
by Joseph Hussung
March 24, 2025 / Retail Price: $16.99
Print ISBN:978-1-64507-489-2
Religion / Christian Ministry / Counseling & Recovery
New Growth Press

Joseph Hussung, MDiv, DMin, is the Director of Recruitment and a Senior Counseling Supervisor at Fieldstone Counseling, where he counsels regularly, supervises the remote counseling team, and directs Fieldstone’s residency program. He previously spent over fifteen years on staff at churches in various discipleship and pastoral roles. He is the author of Learning to Listen and is a regular contributor to the Biblical Counseling Coalition blog. Joe and his wife, Sarah, have three children and live in Hopkinsville, KY.

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

True Woman 2025 Conference

Louisville, KY – 10ofThose.com and Revive Our Hearts are excited to announce their partnership for the upcoming True Woman 2025 Conference.

True Woman 2025 is a Bible-teaching event for women by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Revive Our Hearts. Lord willing, the conference will take place in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 2–4, 2025. The theme for the event is “The Word: Behold the Wonder,” and it is expected to gather around 7,000 women. Attendees will hear from Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, Kevin DeYoung, Jackie Hill Perry, Mary Kassian, Kelly Needham, Blair Linne, Dannah Gresh, and many more. To learn about the conference and see the full lineup visit TrueWoman25.com.

As part of this partnership, 10ofThose.com will manage the on-site bookstore, providing attendees access to high-quality Christian resources.

“We’ve long admired Revive Our Hearts and their Word-centered ministry, whether through their radio broadcasts, books, or conferences,” said Anthony Gosling, CEO of 10ofThose. “Partnering with them now to facilitate their event bookstores is a tremendous privilege. At 10ofThose, we are committed to distributing Christian resources that uphold the Bible and point to Jesus. We look forward to serving the women attending this conference in this special way.”

Jason Davis, Director of Marketing at Revive Our Hearts, echoed the excitement, stating, “This partnership will help us further our mission of equipping women with biblical truth.”

Registration for the True Woman 2025 conference is now open.

Revive Our Hearts is the Bible-teaching ministry of Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, calling women around the world to freedom, fullness, and fruitfulness in Christ.

10ofThose.com is a Christian book retailer and publisher that provides the conference bookstore for nearly 200 events a year, including The Gospel Coalition, Getty Sing!, Cross Con, and many others. Their authors include Timothy Keller, Alistair Begg, Nancy Guthrie, Kevin DeYoung, and Kenneth Taylor.

January 2025 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is thrilled to announce that four IVP Kids titles have received 2025 Independent Press Awards. The honored titles are Zion Learns to See by Terence and Zion Lester, Not Finished Yet by Sharon Garlough Brown, Penny Preaches by Amy and Rob Dixon, and Birth of the Chosen One by Terry M. Wildman.

The Independent Press Award recognizes outstanding books by independent authors and publishers. The competition is judged by experts from different aspects within the book industry, and selected IPA Winners and Distinguished Favorites are based on overall excellence.

IVP Kids books received awards in the following categories:

Picture Books: Ages 4-8

Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness
Written by father-daughter duo Terence and Zion Lester, and illustrated by Subi Bosa, this story is inspired by real-life events. Zion joins her dad at the community center one day and learns about people experiencing homelessness. She is moved to respond as she recognizes that all people matter to God.

Childrens: Religion Fiction

Not Finished Yet: Trusting God with All My Feelings
This gentle story by bestselling Christian novelist Sharon Garlough Brown, with illustrations by Jessica Linn Evans, shares the story of young Wren and Gran in their favorite place, Gran’s art studio. Not only is it where Wren and Gran paint, but it’s also where they talk about all the good and hard stuff of life—to each other, and to God.

Childrens: Christian Fiction

Penny Preaches: God Gives Good Gifts to Everyone!
Written by Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon, and featuring illustrations from Jennifer Davison, Penny’s story reminds us that God gives good gifts to everyone! Penny loves the sermon on Sunday because she loves to think about big things. But when preaching from the front porch to her friends doesn’t turn out quite as she expected, Penny wonders if she was wrong to want to teach others about God.

Distinguished Favorite, Childrens: Holiday

Birth of the Chosen One: A First Nations Retelling of the Christmas Story
This unique retelling by Terry M. Wildman is an Indigenous translation that recounts the Creator’s Story following the tradition of Native storytellers’ oral cultures. With text from the bestselling First Nations Version and stunning Native American art by Hannah and Holly Buchanan, Birth of the Chosen One is a powerful picture book that illuminates the Christmas story in a fresh and new way.

In keeping with IVP’s historic mission, IVP Kids offers resources that reflect and celebrate diverse voices, equipping and encouraging children to follow Jesus in every area of their lives. “Books from IVP Kids aim to engage and encourage children with meaningful content,” says IVP Kids editor Elissa Schauer. “But the real challenge is to package that content in books that kids enjoy and want to read over and over and over again! This recognition from the Independent Press Award affirms the excellent work that these authors and illustrators have done. We extend our congratulations and sincere gratitude to all of them!”

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

Contact:  Anna Tjernstrom | atjernstrom@ivpress.com

NASHVILLE, TENN. (JANUARY 23, 2025) Pastor, author and podcaster Adam Griffin is set to release a whimsical children’s book, What Will You Teach Me? (B&H Publishing), on February 4th. The book can be pre-ordered now here.

“I wanted to equip parents with a book that teaches kids their letters, numbers, and colors while sharing how all of them come from God and teach us about God,” shares Adam Griffin. “You can read this book 20 times and see something new every time!”

As a father himself and host of the Family Discipleship Podcast, Griffin knows the importance of teaching children to remember that we can see God’s work in everything that we do. What Will You Teach Me? follows a group of adorable, whimsical animals as they discover that everything we learn was created by God. The reader will love finding little details in Pablo Pino’s illustrations and watching two bear cubs learn their letters, numbers, music, food, right and wrong, and that God is the creator of all those things!

This board book includes interactive, educational opportunities for kids to count, name colors and shapes, point out different types of animals, and more. God is the inventor of all things we can learn, and parents get to help teach those things to their children. Teaching basic skills is an opportunity for family discipleship.

Adam Griffin is available for interview opportunities to talk about the idea behind this book and how parents can find opportunities to teach their children to love and worship the God who created everything.

Book information:
Title: What Will You Teach Me?
ISBN: 978140088653
Price: $14.99 (USD)
Format / Page: Board Book / 24 pages

ABOUT ADAM GRIFFIN: Adam Griffin (DEdMin, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the Lead Pastor of Eastside Community Church in Dallas, Texas. He authored The Boy Who Was Bold and co-authored Family Discipleship: Leading Your Family Through Time, Moments, and Milestones with Matt Chandler. He is also the host of the Family Discipleship Podcast, one of the top Christian parenting podcasts. Adam lives in Dallas with his wife Chelsea and their three sons – Oscar, Gus, and Theodore.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. —  Lifeway’s B&H Publishing Group and Holman Bibles have released the “CSB Grace Bible for Adults” with dyslexia in partnership with 2K/DENMARK and Cambridge University. This announcement follows the “CSB Grace Bible for Kids” in October, a first-of-its-kind Bible for readers with dyslexia.

“Dyslexia shouldn’t keep children and adults from reading the Bible,” said Lifeway President and CEO Ben Mandrell. “We want to ensure that all families have a way of enjoying God’s Word together by providing a Bible that enhances the readability and accessibility of Scripture. At its core, the “CSB Grace Bible” is meeting that need by helping people interact with God’s Word.”

Like the “CSB Grace Bible for Kids,” the adult edition of the Grace Bible integrates academically tested typeface and design principles developed by 2K/DENMARK and the Cambridge University research department. Additionally, the Bible offers an inclusive reading approach that improves visual processing for adults by adding space between letters, words, lines and paragraphs with distinct letter forms that enhance readability.

Klaus Krogh, founder of 2K/DENMARK, began developing the Grace typeface five years ago. Cambridge University heard about his work and asked if they could participate in developing and testing the typeface and design. In addition to the added weight to the baseline of letters, the Grace typeface helps readers differentiate between pairs of similar letters like m and n or p and q. Readers will also notice special-colored page overlays that enhance visual processing and can reduce visual stress.

“We know faith changes lives, and we’d like as many as possible to be given the chance to change their life by the message in the Bible,” said Krogh. “We hope that in the same way this Bible has been transformational for kids with dyslexia, the same will be true of adults and their ability to read God’s Word.”

According to the International Dyslexia Association, 15-20% of the population has a language-based learning disability. Of the students with specific learning disabilities receiving special education services, 70-80% have deficits in reading. Many times, these readers struggle to see letters as fixed on a page and instead see letters as “bouncing balloons,” as Krogh described it. To address this, the Grace typeface ensures better readability by making letters heavier toward the bottom, so they stay fixed to the baseline.

“When we released the ‘CSB Grace Bible for Kids’ last fall, we hoped to increase biblical literacy among kids and help establish a foundation of spiritual disciplines that would lead to greater engagement with God’s Word,” said Andy McLean, publisher for Holman Bibles. “The feedback from families on the Grace Bible has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re excited to see how providing a resource for adults with dyslexia will further enhance engagement with and enjoyment of Scripture.”

For more information about the Grace Bible, visit Lifeway.com/GraceBible. For information about other resources for special needs ministry, visit Lifeway.com/SpecialNeeds.

By Lauren Pratt
Lauren Pratt is a contracted publicist for Lifeway Christian Resources.

In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School, and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.

Holman Bibles is the oldest Bible publisher in North America, publishing high-quality Bibles and reference resources that are trustworthy, accessible and useful for the pursuit of lifelong discipleship. Print and digital releases include the award-winning CSB Explorer Bible for Kids and The She Reads Truth Bible and the Rainbow Study Bible with over three million copies sold. Holman Bibles is a subsidiary of B&H Publishing Group.

MEDIA CONTACT:  Aaron Earls, aaron.earls@lifeway.com

PRE-ORDER HER NEW BOOK SPRING SINGS NOW; RELEASING FEBRUARY 11TH

NASHVILLE, TENN. (JANUARY 21, 2025)  Award-winning author and songwriter Ellie Holcomb is set to release her fourth children’s book, Spring Sings (B&H Publishing), on February 11th. Holcomb uses her beloved lyrical writing style to encourage young readers to watch as the world slowly wakes from winter – to know that the new life of spring also retells the story of God’s Son.

“This is an Easter book that I hope will resonate with young and old hearts all year long,” shares Ellie Holcomb. “We all know what it’s like to be in the winter seasons, and this book is a reminder that the winter never gets the final word. The book is an invitation to open our eyes and ears to hear the beautiful song that Spring sings to us each year….it’s a song of hope, reminding us that God loves to make all things new! Spring sings with the kind of green that reminds us that death never gets the final word. Love does!”

Illustrated by Laura Ramos (Sounding Joy), Spring Sings is Holcomb’s fourth book in a series. Her children’s books include Who Sang the First Song?, Don’t Forget to Remember, Sounding Joy, and now Spring Sings. Pre-order the book now here.

As she has with her other books, Holcomb will simultaneously release a companion children’s album produced by Nathan Dugger. Sing: Spring Songs will be released on March 21st featuring seven songs including five original songs. The project will include the title track “Spring Song,” “Go Now In Peace” by Natalie Sleeth and a bluegrass version of “Christ The Lord is Risen Today.”

Holcomb adds, “It has been one of the JOYS of my life to get to write books that families gather around and fold into that sacred time with their children as they read stories curled up on the couch together. With the music, it is a blessing to send families on their way, singing melodies of hope in their hearts.”

Book information:
Spring Sings by Ellie Holcomb
ISBN: 9798384506690
PRICE: $14.99 (USD)
PAGES: 24 (Picture book)
Pub Date: Feb. 11, 2025

About Ellie Holcomb
For eight years, Ellie recorded and toured full-time with her husband’s band, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, before stepping off the road when her first child was born. Her solo debut, As Sure As The Sun (2014), landed her a Top 10 hit and a GMA Dove Award for “New Artist of the Year.” Her critically acclaimed sophomore LP, Red Sea Road, followed in 2017. In 2021, she released her third full-length solo project, Canyon, to much acclaim, earning her a second Top 10 radio single with the song, “I Will Carry You.”

Holcomb has also released three children’s books – each with a companion EP of original music written specifically for kids. Her debut book, Who Sang The First Song? (B&H Publishers, 2018), has achieved the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Bronze Award for selling more than 100,000 copies. The book hit the ECPA juvenile bestseller list and was a finalist for the 2019 Christian Book Award in the children’s category. She has also authored two additional children’s books, Don’t Forget To Remember, and most recently her Christmas book, Sounding Joy, which landed at No. 4 on ECPA’s Christian Juvenile Bestsellers, Christmas 2022 list. She won the GMA Dove Award for “Children’s Album of the Year” in 2020 for her Sing: Remembering Songs album, in 2022 for “Recorded Music Packaging” for her album Canyon as well as in 2023 for “Children’s Recorded Song of the Year” for her Christmas song “Sounding Joy.” Her first adult book and devotional, Fighting Words: 100 Days of Speaking Truth into the Darkness (2021), has spent many months on the ECPA Bestseller list.

Ellie resides in her hometown of Nashville, TN with her husband Drew Holcomb, and their three children. For more information visit: ellieholcomb.com

Distinguished Ad-man Co-authors Book Re-imagining Scriptural Stories and Parables for Modern Audiences

Mike Elms and Ivan Filby present the accounts of the Biblical texts in a striking way, through contexts and analogies that are understandable to 21^st century readers

PLANO, Texas (January 20, 2025) – Mike Elms, a former CEO of two major UK ad agencies, and Ivan Filby, President and CEO of Seedbed, a subsidiary of Asbury Theological Seminary, team up to present the timeless truth of Jesus’ parables in a reimagined format. Jesus Unbranded (Invite Press, January 2025) is an artistically rich two-volume guide for modern-day Christians who find themselves disengaged, disinterested in or else confused by the ancient settings of the parables in the Gospels.

Jesus’ parables were culturally relevant to his time. However, Western Christians today live in a significantly different world than their ancient Palestinian counterparts, and as such, many of the instructional stories and analogies from scripture fall flat on modern ears.

“The themes and messaging of the parables are timeless, but the storylines are time limited,” explains Elms. “The parables Jesus told had real ‘cut-through.’ He knew his audiences, he knew the culture, he knew the messaging he wanted to convey and he constructed his storylines accordingly.”

Perceiving indifference to the Biblical message among his fellow church congregants, Elms felt a call to use his extensive expertise as CEO of the Ogilvy & Mather and Tempus Group advertising agencies to strategically revitalize the Christian faith with cultural relevance and application. Jesus Unbranded, featuring AI-generated images by Jason Moore, author of AI and the Church, brings the stories of Christ to life through modern-day imagery and storytelling.

“My goal was to put myself in Jesus’ shoes and reimagine the stories in a way he would explain them to 21^st century listeners,” said Elms. “If Jesus were telling stories today, he’d use different images to share his timeless truths—people and scenes such as builders and electricians; entrepreneurs, Ferraris and Fords; a ski-trip and a theme park; stock market traders and hospice nurses.”

Jesus Unbranded is broken into two books, based on the scriptural timeline and the tone, tenor and purpose of each message—preserving the essence of the original scriptures. The first volume, referred to as “stories without spin,” focuses on the “teaching parables,” or Jesus’ early ministry in and around Galilee. The second volume, “stories with bite,” begins as Jesus approached the climax of his ministry, resulting in his Passion and crucifixion.

Each parable begins with a “rewiring” of the original, followed by a “reminding” of the original text from the NIV Bible translation. The guide then walks readers through how to interpret the parables, allows them to reflect with provided questions and gives them blank note space to respond to what they have just read.

“To spend time with the parables enables us to see and engage with the spiritual themes that permeate the events, relationships and situations in our everyday lives,” says Elms. “The lives that we are living, here and today.”

Jesus Unbranded releases January 28, 2025, from Invite Press. For more information, visit https://www.inviteministries.org/lp/jesus-unbranded-bundle-landing.

Mike Elms is an author and former adman with over 40 years of leadership experience in the industry, heading two UK advertising agencies, Ogilvy & Mather and Tempus Group PLC. Currently, he is the Chair of Trustees at Christian Publishing and Outreach and has worked with many prominent Christian organizations, including MAF, TWR Radio and ChurchAds.Net. He has served the church as an Anglican Churchwarden and a Baptist Deacon and is a contributor to “Thought for the Day” on Radio Kent. Mike is the author of Parables: Rewired, and the imminent Proverbs: Restitched in Time. Jesus Unbranded is his latest release and will be made available on January 28, 2025.

Ivan Filby Ivan is an ordained minister in the Free Methodist Church and holds a Ph.D. in Management and a M.A. in Evangelism. He taught at The University of Dublin: Trinity College for sixteen years before moving to the USA to chair the Management Department at Greenville University. Following a year as business school dean at Point Loma Nazarene University, Ivan returned to Greenville U to serve as its 12th president. Ivan has authored two books: Livestream: Learning to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit and Speak Tenderly: Prophetic ministry seasoned with grace.

Invite Press is a premier publisher of books to help readers grow in their Christian faith. It publishes books that matter to the everyday life of following Jesus as well as those that apply to the work of full-time ministry. Invite Press is an imprint of Invite Ministries, which exists to build a like-hearted community of influencers who are high on Jesus, low on politics, and biased toward innovation. Visit inviteministries.org for more information.

CONTACT: Lauren Briggs, lauren@kccommunications.co, (469) 626-8637