Bellingham, WA | December 2023 | Lexham Press celebrates John Andrew Bryant’s A Quiet Mind to Suffer With receiving Christianity Today’s 2024 book award for the Christian Living/Spiritual Formation category.

Christianity Today judge Shar Walker notes, A Quiet Mind to Suffer With is “profound and deeply troubling, lovely and heart-wrenching. I’m both grieved and grateful when I think of the suffering Bryant endured to give us something so wise, true, and beautiful. This book sheds conventional genres, somehow combining memoir, poetry, lecture, sermon, and essay all in one.”

Author John Andrew Bryant responded to the award win, saying, “I would never have thought that this strange book would be acknowledged in this way. My main hope was that this memoir would be a song to Jesus and a gift to others–a gift to those who endure the affliction of a mental illness and a gift to those who love them. This award encourages me to continue to hope this book might be such a gift. I’m honored and grateful.”

A Quiet Mind to Suffer With also received honorable mention in the Counseling category for the 2023 Southwestern Journal of Theology Book Awards.

Pastor, Jesus is Enough by Jeremy Writebol received an Award of Distinction in the Ministry category in the The Gospel Coalition 2023 Book Awards and was selected as a finalist in the Church & Pastoral Leadership category in the Christianity Today 2024 Book Awards. Pastor, Jesus is Enough was also a 2023 For the Church Book Award runner-up.

The Gospel Coalition judges share, “The book is theologically stout but wonderfully devotional, biblically tethered but highly applicational. It’s a beautiful and evergreen work of shepherding through writing. As the tide of evangelicalism shifts once again away from interest in the sufficiency of the gospel, this book powerfully urges repentance, return, and recommitment to the good news at the heart of pastoral ministry.”

Writebol, responding to the recognition, said, “I am honored to be selected for these awards and that the book has been recognized as a solid source of encouragement and help to pastors and Christian leaders. I am hopeful that [these awards] will propel the work into the hands of more leaders and serve the body of Christ well.”

In further award news, Southwestern Journal of Theology Book Awards listed Bulwarks of Unbelief by Joseph Minich as an honorable mention in the category of Applied Theology/Ethics.

Lexham Press is committed to excellent publishing that loves the church, loves the faith, and loves the Word, drawing from the Christian tradition and the global church to provide resources for pastors, scholars, parents, and students of the Bible. As part of the Logos Bible Study family of brands, Lexham Press seeks to increase biblical literacy, thoughtful reflection, and faithful Christian action around the world. To learn more about Lexham Press, visit lexhampress.com.

Contact: Lavender Duke | Marketing & Publicity at Lexham Press | press@lexhampress.com

 

 

December 8, 2023, WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that four books—Impossible Christianity by Kevin DeYoung; A Praying Church by Paul E. Miller; Remaking the World by Andrew Wilson; and Reforming Criminal Justice by Matthew T. Martens—have been named winners in their respective categories for the Gospel Coalition’s 2023 Book Awards.

Impossible Christianity: Why Following Jesus Does Not Mean You Have to Change the World, Be an Expert in Everything, Accept Spiritual Failure, and Feel Miserable Pretty Much All the Time (Crossway, August 2023) by Kevin DeYoung was awarded in the Popular Theology category. This book speaks to anxious Christians who feel inadequate or overwhelmed in their faith and assures them that they can experience lasting joy in a life of sincere and simple obedience. TGC comments, “In an age of extrabiblical burdens and stifling demands, Impossible Christianity is a breath of fresh air.”

A Praying Church: Becoming a People of Hope in a Discouraging World (Crossway, January 2023) by Paul E. Miller was awarded in the Ministry category. Addressing church leaders in a post-Christian culture filled with discouragement, cynicism, and unbelief, Miller’s book casts a vision and provides direction for a return to the simple yet life-changing practice of praying together. “Miller’s magnificent book stands as a compelling wake-up call,” writes TGC.

Remaking the World: How 1776 Created the Post-Christian West (Crossway, September 2023) by Andrew Wilson was awarded in the History and Biography category. In this skillfully researched book, Wilson explains how seven historic events in 1776 shaped today’s post-Christian West and equips believers to share God’s truth in the current social landscape. “Remaking the World is an imaginative work of cultural apologetics that every church leader should grapple with,” writes TGC.

Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal (Crossway, November 2023) by Matthew T. Martens was awarded in the First-Time Author category. Written from personal experience as a noted attorney and seminary graduate, Martens examines the American criminal justice system and proposes a vision for it that is based on Christ’s command to love our neighbors as ourselves. TGC comments, “To some extent, all Americans participate in our justice system—from voting to serving on juries. As Christians, we can do this with wisdom, peace, and hope. We can love our neighbors well as we point to the perfect justice of the God who justified us. Martens shows us how.”

Andreas Köstenberger and Gregory Goswell’s Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, and Ethical Approach (Crossway, March 2023) received an honorable mention in the Academic Theology category. The book provides an essential foundation for interpreting all 66 books of the Bible, identifying the central themes of each text and discussing its place in the overall storyline of Scripture.

Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing, comments, “We are quite delighted to see these four authors win book of the year for their respective categories, along with two authors sharing an award of distinction. So our heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to Kevin DeYoung, Paul E. Miller, Andrew Wilson, Matthew T. Martens, Andreas J. Köstenberger, and Gregory Goswell for writing such wonderful books, and thank you to the Gospel Coalition for their encouragement and support in promoting and commending good books for God’s people!”

The Gospel Coalition, founded in 2005, reviews nearly three hundred books per year on their website and in their academic journal, Themelios. Awards are given to titles that are gospel-centered, faithful to Scripture, spiritually discerning, and unifying and renewing for the church.

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

Additional Crossway Titles Earn Distinction

December 8, 2023, WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is excited to announce that Elisabeth Elliot: A Life by Lucy S. R. Austen has been named winner in the History and Biography category of Christianity Today’s 2024 Book Awards, and Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online Age by Samuel D. James has been named winner in the Culture and the Arts category.

Elisabeth Elliot (Crossway, June 2023) takes readers on an in-depth journey through the life of Elisabeth Elliot, one of the most widely known Christians of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Lucy S. R. Austen explores Elliot’s birth to missionary parents, her courtship and marriage to Jim Elliot, her missions work in Ecuador, and her private life and public work after she returned to the United States. This thorough and thoughtful single-volume biography highlights Elliot’s example of love for God and obedience to his commands, leading readers to ponder what it means to follow Jesus.

Digital Liturgies (Crossway, September 2023) examines the connection between patterns in technology and human desires. Samuel D. James exposes five “digital liturgies” that prohibit people from contemplating big truths, accepting the uncomfortable, and acknowledging God as their Creator. He then calls readers to live faithfully before Christ, finding wisdom through Scripture and rest in God’s perfect design.

Additionally, Knowing God’s Truth: An Introduction to Systematic Theology by Jon Nielson was awarded runner-up in the Young Adults category. CT notes, “It’s a huge challenge to write a systematic theology book for teens in language they can understand. But Nielson succeeds at this task, helping students grasp deep concepts like eschatology and soteriology.”

How to Read and Understand the Psalms by Bruce K. Waltke and Fred G. Zaspel won the award of merit in the Biblical Studies category. One of CT’s reviewers commends, “When it comes to works of biblical studies, my ideal is high-level scholarship that connects to pulpits and pews. How to Read and Understand the Psalms is a masterful example, and it now qualifies as my go-to introduction for this section of Scripture.”

“We are delighted that the 2024 Christianity Today Book Awards have recognized these books. We love publishing good books, and we give thanks to God for the privilege of doing so. All four of these recognitions are well deserved.” says Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing. “Lucy S. R. Austen spent a decade researching and writing her incredible biography of Elisabeth Elliot, facing significant challenges along the way in order to tell the story with grace and truth. Samuel James, my colleague at Crossway who is wise beyond his years, wrote his very first book and it won book of the year for culture and arts. We hope these recognitions lead to more people reading and benefiting from these excellent resources.”

The Christianity Today Book Awards are presented to books in fifteen different categories, including Theology, Christian Living and Spiritual Formation, and Biblical Studies. According to Christianity Today’s website, winners are nominated for their “capacity to awaken slumbering souls, whether they ring out with theological wisdom, literary beauty, pastoral warmth, or everyday encouragement.”

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, crossway.org

Peachtree Proofreading Services proudly announces a significant milestone in their history. They have contributed to Bibles that now exceed one billion copies distributed worldwide.

“Our journey, deeply rooted in a mission to protect and advance God’s Word, celebrates a profound impact—over one billion Bibles,” says Christopher Hudson, President of Peachtree. “This milestone is not just about business. It’s about the individual lives touched by the Scripture translations we’ve helped to develop and proofread.”

Peachtree regularly provides quality control reviews of new Bible page layouts, edits study notes, converts Bible study notes from one translation to another, writes inspirational content, and conducts meticulous word-for-word proofreading of new Bible databases. The firm originated from a Bible proofreading company established in the 1960s and was later organized under the visionary leadership of Doug and June Gunden, who were committed to enhancing the quality of Bible publishing.

Throughout the years, Peachtree has pioneered the development of cutting-edge electronic tools to refine their proofreading process. “We embrace a hybrid approach, combining both human discernment with technological precision. We are determined to ensure that every Bible we review is as free from errors as humanly possible,” Hudson remarks.

Today, Peachtree proofreads about 80 percent of the English Protestant Bibles that are commercially published in the US. They also proofread many Catholic Bibles and serve a number of publishers worldwide. In 2023, Peachtree reviewed Bibles in 12 different languages, furthering their commitment to international outreach.

“One billion Bibles is significant. We’re genuinely humbled that God has allowed us to touch Bibles that have had such a broad distribution,” Hudson says. “But with eight billion people in the world, we recognize there is more work to do.”

For further information or to schedule an interview, please contact Peachtree Publishing Services via email at press@peachtreeeditorial.com. More details about our services and expertise in Bible publishing can be found on our website at PeachtreeEditorial.com.

About Peachtree Publishing Services
Peachtree Publishing Services is a leader in the Bible publishing industry, renowned for its Bible proofreading and editorial services. With a mission to protect and advance God’s Word, Peachtree has been dedicated to excellence in publishing for over 40 years. Stay updated with the latest news and developments by following Peachtree Publishing Services on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/peachtree-publishing-services).

NASHVILLE, Tenn., December 2023 – Zondervan Books, a leading publisher of Christian literature, announces a two-book book deal with Patrick Miller and Keith Simon.  Miller and Simon are pastors at The Crossing in Columbia, Missouri, and host two podcasts, Truth Over Tribe and Ten Minute Bible Talks.

“We are thrilled to welcome Patrick and Keith to the Zondervan Books family. Patrick and Keith have proven to be dynamic co-authors speaking into cultural issues most important to readers. We look forward to working with them on their next books and seeing how they impact readers during these critical times,” said Webster Younce, Zondervan Books VP and Publisher.

Miller holds an M.Div. from Covenant Theological Seminary. He is a contributor to platforms such as The Gospel Coalition and Mere Orthodoxy and has also written for publications including Christianity Today, Newsweek and Christ and Pop Culture. Additionally, he’s been interviewed by more than 50 podcasts and has spoken at events such as Theology in the Raw’s Exiles in Babylon conference and TGC’s Good Faith Debates.

Simon began his ministry serving for five years with Cru, before pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has written for Newsweek and The Gospel Coalition and frequently speaks as a guest on podcasts across the United States.

“I am so pleased to work with Patrick and Simon on their next books. Their theological insight and cultural understanding will serve readers well,” said Paul J. Pastor, senior acquisitions editor for Zondervan Books.

Their first planned book with Zondervan is titled Out of Place and set to release in January 2025. The book helps readers navigate the increasingly hostile culture and guides them through five Biblical postures and practices designed to help them navigate tension and build God’s kingdom in their everyday life.

Zondervan is a HarperCollins Company and part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Zondervan is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian communications. The company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com

Contact: Kristin Cole, Zondervan Books, kristin@kcolecommunications.com

“If we can inspire people who work in the arts to steer their creativity toward the Lord,
it will be culture-changing.”  – Bill Reeves

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Dec. 4, 2023—Amid celebrating three wins at the 54^th GMA Dove Awards and two consecutive seasons with titles on USA Today’s Best-selling Booklist, Christian publisher and music company David C Cook announced today that Bill Reeves will serve as the ministry’s new CEO.

For 35 years, Reeves has dedicated his career to using music, books and movies to tell the world about Jesus. His passion and talent are evidenced by his storied career: more than 20 gold and platinum records in the music industry, an agent for many bestselling books and executive producer of more than two dozen films and home entertainment titles, placing many in the top 10 opening weekend at the box office.

As CEO of David C Cook and Integrity Music, Reeves will continue to innovate products, platforms and strategies to meet spiritual needs and deliver creative content in a way that draws hearts closer to God.

“Telling the world about Jesus through entertainment and media has always been my calling in life,” said Reeves. “I’m excited to join a team dedicated to connecting people with their faith through music, books and media. If we can inspire people who work in the arts to steer their creativity toward the Lord, it will be culture-changing.” 

David C Cook retained Korn Ferry, an internationally known executive search firm, to conduct a thorough executive search, using rigorous qualifications established by the ministry’s board of trustees.

“Bill Reeves’ heart for our mission—combined with his vast industry knowledge—stood out among the many applicants,” said Todd Rankin, Chairman of the Board. “We believe Bill’s experience has brought him to this moment in our story, equipping him to lead David C Cook into this next season.”

About David C Cook

David C Cook is a nonprofit dedicated to equipping the global church with leadership, discipleship and worship resources to help Christians grow in faith and pass it along to the next generation. Integrity Music, part of the David C Cook family, is committed to taking songs of substance to the local church and its leaders around the world.

Read more about David C Cook and its global ministry outreach online at www.davidccook.org.

Three Other Crossway Titles Receive Distinction

November 27, 2023 – WHEATON, Ill.—Crossway is pleased to announce that Elisabeth Elliot: A Life (June 2023) by Lucy S. R. Austen was one of two biographies to win a 2023 WORLD Magazine Books of the Year award.

In this single-volume biography, Lucy S. R. Austen takes readers on an in-depth journey through the life of Elisabeth Elliot—her birth to missionary parents, her courtship and marriage to Jim Elliot, her missions work in Ecuador, and her private life and public work after she returned to the United States. Through Elliot’s example of love for God and obedience to his commands, readers will ponder what it means to follow Jesus.

WORLD commends, “In her biography Elisabeth Elliot: A Life (Crossway 2023), author Lucy S. R. Austen presents her subject as someone to be admired, and not simply because of her wisdom or bravery. Elliot’s words should not be taken as gospel, but her understanding of the gospel should be taken seriously.”

Three other Crossway titles were awarded honorable mention in this year’s awards: A Praying Church by Paul E. Miller (January 2023), Digital Liturgies by Samuel D. James (September 2023), and Five Lies of Our Anti-Christian Age by Rosaria Butterfield (September 2023).

“There are thousands of Christian books published each year, so we are always gratified and delighted when our books are read and recognized and recommended in this way,” says Justin Taylor, Crossway’s executive vice president of book publishing. “We are thankful to God for these outstanding books by Lucy S. R. Austen, Samuel James, Paul E. Miller, and Rosaria Butterfield!”

In all, 17 titles were highlighted by WORLD magazine staff for the 2023 Books of the Year issue, highlighting different genres including history, biographies, religion, science, parenting, and contemporary social and political issues. WORLD’s Timothy Lamer notes, “These books all offer important insights into this world in which we are sojourners called to love our neighbors.”

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

New Release From “The Book-Banning Pastor” Seeks Truth

Hoodwinked addresses lies Americans believe and provides tools to counter the false narrative

WASHINGTON, D.C., (December 4, 2023) — Pastor, author, and activist John Amanchukwu Sr., is set to release his sophomore book Hoodwinked: 10 Lies Americans Believer and the Truth That Will Set Them Free (Salem Books, May 28, 2024). Hookwinked neuters ten of the most insidious lies at work in society today and provides readers with the tools needed to counter the false narratives and be beacons of hope in their relationships and communities. It also includes a foreword from Charlie Kirk, founder and president of Turning Point USA.

Amanchukwu’s compelling stand against gender ideology and
race-baiting at school board meetings across the country has attracted a huge online audience and made him a leading voice for biblical justice. Derided as “the Book-Banning Pastor” by his critics, Amanchukwu understands that the best way to heal our wounded and battered culture and restore sanity to our once-great nation is to expose the lies for what they are. And the best way to do that is to speak the truth.

“From Hollywood to mainstream media, to the halls of our children’s classroom, lies and propaganda exist everywhere,” Amanchukwu said. “The only way—the only way—we can stop the spread of these lies is to speak truth. The Gospel of John tells us ‘the truth will set us free’ and in Hoodwinked, we confront those lies head-on with the Gospel as our guide.”

Hoodwinked explores 10 lies in society today—everything from the supposedly racist roots of America to the myth that debt can be cancelled to the pornography currently being peddled as children’s literature. Amanchukwu provides the training and ammunition needed for readers to become a leader in the fight for our country.

The head of Salem Books, Julie Jayne, shares her enthusiasm for the pending release. “We are honored and proud to partner once again with John Amanchukwu as he diligently works to help open the eyes of believers and non-believers alike to the realities of what is happening in our world. Hoodwinked will shock and educate readers, and we look forward to bringing light to the world through this work.”

One can pre-order a copy of Hoodwinked here.

John K. Amanchukwu Sr. is a preacher, author, and activist whose passion for the next generation pours out on audiences nationwide. He holds a master’s degree in Christian ministry from Liberty University and has led ministries to youth and young adults for many years. In addition, he spent twelve years ministering outside one of the busiest abortion clinics in the Southeast. Currently, he is a contributor with Turning Point Faith, and the First Assistant and Youth Pastor at the Upper Room Church of God in Christ in Wake Forest, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife and their three children. His first book, Eraced, was released in October 2022.

CONTACT: Elizabeth Hance, publicity@SalemBooks.com

The 5LL team recently approached Faceout Studio to help them update their branding and book packaging.

The 5 Love Languages® have become a cultural reference point for how we give and receive love. Once you understand the Love Language® concepts, you see them everywhere. This was the inspiration for the new brand design. The goal was to create an experience for the viewer—a moment of realization where you see something hidden that was there all along. What do you see?

Brand design and related brand assets by Tim Green.

It’s been an honor to work with an amazing team on this time tested and hugely influential book franchise. Thank you to Moody Publishers and the amazing 5LL team! We can’t wait to see where you take the 5 Love Languages® brand next!

November 2023 | Lisle, IL—IVP creative director David Fassett was honored for his design work with six 2023 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). The Top Shelf Book Cover Awards program is managed by ECPA to recognize design excellence in the Christian publishing industry.

“David Fassett is one of IVP’s greatest assets,” said Cindy Bunch, IVP vice president, editorial. ”These awards are a testament to the range of his design abilities, including both academic and trade lines: general spirituality, apologetics, theology, and pastoral ministry. He is always pressing boundaries, inviting readers to pick up our books and explore new ways of seeing God at work in the world. I am so grateful to have David Fassett as the IVP art director. We are honored to have him receive these awards.”

Fassett joined InterVarsity Press (IVP) as a marketing designer in 2009. He was promoted to senior graphic designer in 2014, to art director in May 2017, and now serves as IVP’s creative director.

Fassett’s six award-winning cover designs in the nonfiction category include:

• Creating the Canon: Composition, Controversy, and the Authority of the New Testament by Benjamin P. Laird
• Learning Humility: A Year of Searching for a Vanishing Virtue by Richard J. Foster
• More Than Things: A Personalist Ethics for a Throwaway Culture by Paul Louis Metzger
• The Offensive Church: Breaking the Cycle of Ethnic Disunity by Bryan C. Loritts
• The Resilience Factor: A Step-by-Step Guide to Catalyze an Unbreakable Team by Ryan T. Hartwig, Léonce B. Crump Jr., and Warren Bird
• Wandering Toward God: Finding Faith amid Doubts and Big Questions by Travis Dickinson

ECPA announced the winners of this year’s awards during ECPA PubU Online, the industry’s publishing training program gathering over three hundred publishing professionals this year. ECPA president Jeff Crosby announced the winners in four categories: Bibles, Children, Fiction, and Non-Fiction. This year’s judges reviewed nearly two hundred fifty entries and chose a record number of forty-one winning designs from sixteen publishers, with the design teams at Crossway, InterVarsity Press, and Moody Publishers earning half of the wins. Winning book covers are featured at TopShelfAwards.org.

For a complete archived list of IVP’s Top Shelf Award-winning book covers, visit ivpress.com/award-winners

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com