TEMPE, ARIZ – MARCH 25, 2024 – In partnership with its DEI committee, ECPA has created a DEI Resource Library, a collection of online content about diversity, equity, and inclusion in Christian publishing. Organized in six separate training modules, sessions include resources and webinars that have been presented through ECPA events and programs.

The six modules are:

• DEI INDUSTRY CONVERSATIONS MODULE – 8 hours
• DEI & LEADERSHIP MODULE – 8 hours
• DEI & EDITORIAL MODULE – 6 hours
• DEI & MARKETING MODULE – 5 hours
• DEI & CHRISTIAN FICTION MODULE – 5.5 hours
• DEI & CHILDREN’S BOOKS MODULE – 3.5 hours

After a member completes any one of the six modules, they may apply for a professional Certificate of Completion through ECPA.

“This resource library is for the benefit of ECPA members wanting to understand DEI from a Gospel and specific-to-this-industry lens,” explains ECPA president and CEO Jeff Crosby. “These conversations are uniquely by and for those in Christian publishing and we invite our members to listen and learn.”

The resource library has been a project of the DEI subcommittee on Education, led by Tina Constable (WaterBrook and Multnomah) and Ed Gilbreath (Christianity Today), with input from the entire committee.

“The committee wanted a way to make these conversations more widely available,” explains Tina. “Each module requires the completion of Listening Sessions, which include short videos from fellow publishing professionals of color.”

“There is value in attempting to see the world from perspectives and experiences that differ from our own,” states Ed. “Though this library is specific to Christian publishing, it is still an important step of humility and grace to listen to those who have experienced the industry differently.” Ed is the author of Reconciliation Blues: A Black Evangelical’s Inside View of White Christianity (IVP).

Formed in 2021, the ECPA DEI Committee is chaired by ECPA board member Tina Constable, who heads up Christian imprints at Penguin Random House. Members represent various segments of the ECPA industry:  Jevon Bolden (Embolden Media Group), Peter Cerra (Tyndale House Publishers), Joyce Dinkins (Publishing in Color), Ed Gilbreath (Christianity Today), and Edwina Perkins (Harambee Press). The committee’s initiatives have included the first ECPA Baseline Survey on Diversity, the Open Door Student Intern program, and the DEI Resource Library.

The library was reorganized on the new website platform by ECPA’s communications manager Sheri Toomb. She encourages members to engage in this important resource and to appreciate the steadfast efforts of industry colleagues who were willing to be involved in these hard conversations. The library will continue to grow as the conversations continue, and more industry guidance and resources become available.

To get started, members can go to ECPA.org/page/DEI_library, select a module, and track their progress through the content. (Members must be signed into their ECPA profiles to access.)  Additional industry DEI resources are listed on the ECPA site.

For more information, contact:
ECPA president and CEO Jeff Crosby at jcrosby@ecpa.org or ECPA communications manager Sheri Toomb at stoomb@ecpa.org.

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

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., March 13, 2024 — Christian music artists Rebecca St. James (Fink) and Cubbie Fink are set to release their first co-authored book with Colorado Springs-based publisher David C Cook. The book is an intimate retelling of how the couple overcame trials and challenges to build a married life of faithfulness, and shares their views on love, faith, and marriage in the public eye.

“We’re excited to partner with Rebecca and Cubbie to bring to life their story of steadfast faith and resilience in the face of life’s challenges,” said David C Cook VP of Acquisitions and Publishing, Michael Covington. “This book is not just for those navigating life’s unexpected turns, but also for those seeking inspiration to follow God’s path. Readers will get an intimate and authentic look into their lives as artists, as a married couple, and as parents.”

Australian-born Rebecca St. James, best-known for her many contributions to the Christian music industry, is also an accomplished author with popular titles like Wait for Me and Pure. Along with new music, Rebecca recently launched a podcast with Focus on the Family where she and her co-host talk about family, faith, and parenting. She and her husband, Cubbie Fink, live in Nashville, where they raise their three kids.

Cubbie initially had his claim to fame as one of the founding members of the indie-pop band Foster The People. Outside of his music career, Cubbie also has worked on numerous projects as a film director and producer.

Rebecca and Cubbie see much discouragement in today’s culture in faith and relationships. They hope their story will encourage courage – strength within each reader to stand firm – in marriage or singleness, and to trust in God despite life’s inevitable curveballs.

“We have seen God redeem deeply painful seasons of our lives. We pray that our book authentically communicates the hope and glory of God in every aspect of life,” said Rebecca.

David C Cook is a 501c3 nonprofit organization 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. Read more about David C Cook and its global ministry outreach at www.davidccook.org.

CONTACT:  Cathy Herholdt, 719-533-3011, cathy.herholdt@davidccook.org
 

GRAND RAPIDS, MI—On March 7, 2024, five Kregel titles were announced as finalists in the 2023 Foreword INDIES Awards.

Adult Fiction

Hero Debut by Angela Ruth Strong is a finalist in Romance. A “sparkling feel-good romance, brimming with perfect doses of heart and heat” (Bethany Turner), Hero Debut is the second title in Strong’s Love Off Script series.

We Three Kings by Crystal Caudill, Angela Ruth Strong, and Cara Putman is also a finalist in Romance. In this third collection of Christmas novellas from Kregel, three best-selling romance authors follow the Weise family across generations.

26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse is a finalist in Suspense/Thriller. Authors in the Christian suspense and thriller genres have declared Woodhouse’s first book in her series as “action-packed,” “a thrill ride,” and “chilling.”

Within These Walls of Sorrow by Amanda Barratt is a finalist in War and Military. The Christy Awards 2023 Book of the Year and winner in Historical Fiction 2023, Within These Walls of Sorrow is “superbly written” (Kate Breslin).

Children’s

Kregel’s Christmas Treasury of Illustrated Bible Stories is a finalist in Juvenile Nonfiction. The Scripture and classic artwork make a keepsake families will read every Christmas.

Kregel Publications is pleased to congratulate all these finalists. The full list of finalists is listed on the Foreword website, which can be found here.

Since 1998, Foreword Reviews has provided trade book reviews of the best titles from independent presses. In print and online, its FOLIO award-winning design and editorial content makes the magazine a favorite among librarians, booksellers, and readers—an excellent resource when it comes to purchasing books. Foreword INDIES and the fee-for-review Clarion service complement their online content and print magazine, helping to showcase independent presses and their authors for over twenty-four years.

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.

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

March 2024 | LISLE, IL—Prolific author and respected Old Testament professor John H. Walton has signed a contract with IVP Academic for his next book tentatively titled The Crisis of Biblical Authority.

Walton is professor emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College and Graduate School. Previously, he was professor of Old Testament at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for twenty years. 

Slated to release in Spring 2026, The Crisis of Biblical Authority argues that the decline in biblical authority is not necessarily stemming from a biblical illiteracy issue but rather from a crisis of hermeneutical illiteracy. Walton says, “Once we learn the content of the Bible (becoming biblically literate) and are able to discern the meaning of the text (with exegetical competence), we still have to understand how biblical authority works to put the message to use in our lives, in the church, and in society (hermeneutical literacy).”

Walton (PhD, Hebrew Union College) has authored, edited, or coauthored fourteen projects with IVP Academic, including The Lost World of Adam and Eve, The Lost World of Scripture, The Lost World of Genesis One, Wisdom for Faithful Reading, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament (with Victor H. Matthews and Mark W. Chavalas), and The Lost World of the Prophets.

“John Walton has an ability to get to the heart of issues related to the Bible that trouble both laypeople and scholars,” said Rachel Hastings, associate editor for IVP Academic. “I’m thrilled that the scholarly rigorous yet accessible approach that Walton brought to the origins debate in his Lost World Series is now being brought to the issue of hermeneutics and biblical interpretation. I have no doubt that the wisdom and guidance that he will have to offer on the subject will be a gift to conversations in the church and the academy alike.”

Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

 

Dr. Eric Mason—influential author, pastor, and urban ministry leader—invites readers to re-imagine what the church could be in an era where its public image is at an all-time low in Rebranding the Church: Restoring the Image of God’s People in the World.

This book is a training manual for how individual Christians and faith leaders can honestly address the church’s biggest issues and make changes to create a more positive impact amid a distrusting culture.

The book is scheduled for publication in Summer 2025.

World rights were acquired in a two-book deal by Multnomah Executive Editor Drew Dixon from Jevon Bolden at Embolden Media Group.  For rights queries: Denise Cronin, decronin@prh.com

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

GIRLS OF THE WORLD: DOING MORE THAN EVER BEFORE

New York, March 14, 2024 – The sixth book from Emmy award-winning ABC News Anchor Linsey Davis hit the New York Times bestseller list for 3/24/2024 at #10 for Children’s Picture Books. Her new book, Girls of the World, released March 5, 2024. The new release is her sixth children’s book, following previous bestselling titles The Smallest Spot of a Dot; The World Is Awake; One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike than Different; Stay This Way Forever and How High is Heaven? This is her second time appearing on the list. The newest book was co-written with children’s book author Michael Tyler.

Linsey made appearances on ABC’s Nightline, GMA 3 What You Need to Know, The View, Live with Kelly & Ryan, The Sherri Show, and Good Morning America Weekend in addition to other shows to talk about her book, which released during Women’s History Month.

The book calls attention to the truth that it is never too soon to become aware of and speak up about things that are important. Girls of the World invites all to celebrate the equality and fairness we should all experience. It encourages girls to be strong, brave, and curious about the world and their place in it.

You can’t stop us now.

Our time has come.

We’re ready! Let’s go!

There’s much to be done!

The co-author is writer and Chicago-based speaker Michael Tyler (author of The Skin You’re In, and co-author with Davis on the New York Times bestseller The Smallest Spot of a Dot). The illustrator is Lucy Fleming, who also illustrated Davis’ previous five books.

Girls of the World:

• Has a message that celebrates equality, fairness, and is meant to spur girls (and boys) on to be brave and take their place in a challenging world
• Concludes with a personal note from Linsey Davis, noting remarkable women who have made impacts in their fields
• Is a giftable book for parents, grandparents, teachers to read aloud to young children ages 4 – 8.

“You go, girls–read, be you, stay excellent, and achieve!” — Kirkus Reviews

Girls of the World: Doing More Than Ever Before is available now anywhere books are sold.

Linsey Davis is an anchor for ABC News Live Prime, which is ABC News Live’s first-ever streaming evening newscast, and weekend “World News Tonight” on Sundays. She is a correspondent filing reports for “World News Tonight,” “Good Morning America,” “20/20” and “Nightline.” Davis has covered news stories around the globe, including the Las Vegas massacre, Harvey Weinstein allegations and subsequent MeToo Movement, Boston Marathon bombing, Nairobi Mall massacre and several of President Obama’s trips overseas. She has conducted interviews with major influential figures, politicians, health officials and newsmakers including Hillary Clinton, Mike Pence, Dr. Anthony Fauci, Camille Cosby and Bill Gates. She is also known for her 2020 presidential election cycle coverage, during which she was a moderator (her second time) for ABC News’ New Hampshire Democratic Debate and a core member of the anchor team for election day and all eight nights of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.  Linsey lives in New York with her husband and son, who is her biggest inspiration.

Zonderkidz™, the children’s division of Zondervan, inspires young lives through imaginative, innovative and educational resources that represent a Christian worldview and build up God’s children and teens. For additional information, please visit www.zonderkidz.com.

 

“In this wonderful book, Chris does more than sing; he teaches. He shows us how to expand our view of God through worship. He calls us out of the me-driven world and into a worship-led life. As God grows larger, self and even our struggles seem smaller.”
— Max Lucado, New York Times Best-Selling Author

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (March 18, 2024) – For over two decades, GRAMMY® award winner Chris Tomlin has been recognized as one of the most successful worship leaders around the world. According to TIME magazine, he is heralded as “the most often sung artist” and recently celebrated the historic achievement of holding the #1 position on a radio chart for more than three years during his career.

In his new book, How Great is Our God: Living a Worship-Led Life in a Me-Driven World (K-LOVE Books, March 19, 2024), Tomlin celebrates 20 years of one of his most impactful songs and invites readers to redefine worship beyond music. Tomlin uses his experience as a worship artist and impressive songbook to provide readers with tools for living a God-centered life.

Tomlin and co-author JD Walt work together to reveal all that is to gain by making God and others the focus as they invite readers to remember the true meaning of worship inside and outside of the church and offer guidance for incorporating worship every day.

“As a young man God had placed a calling and mission on my life to help give people a voice to worship God,” said Tomlin. “Over the years of writing songs and leading worship around the world, I have found myself on a journey of learning what it means to truly live a worship-led life. Today I am excited and humbled to announce that I have written a book with a hope and prayer that it helps guide a deeper and more tangible understanding of what it means for us all to live a worship-led life. The book is titled “How Great is Our God: Living a Worship-Led Life in a Me-Driven World” and I pray and believe that the content in this book will have a meaningful impact on your relationship with God, yourself, and others.”

How Great is Our God is a powerful guidebook for what Tomlin describes as the upward, inward, and outward movement of worship. From his first song to his last, Tomlin uses lyrics to encourage readers to maintain heavenly vision and step into our calling of who God created us to be.

The book announcement accompanies the news of Tomlin’s Holy Forever World Tour kicking off in April 2024. This is Tomlin’s first major global headlining tour in over a decade as he will embark across the United States and beyond, including England, Ireland, and Germany.=

How Great is Our God is now available for preorder nationwide. For coverage or interview requests, please contact christina@epic.inc.

About Chris Tomlin
TIME magazine heralded Chris Tomlin as the “most often sung artist in the world” as his music has inspired and uplifted an entire generation of believers. Along the way, Chris has scored 21 number-one singles, 30 top-ten hits (more than any other Christian artist), and spent a total of 158+ weeks at number-one during his career. He’s sold more than 12 million albums with 6.9 billion career global streams, won a Grammy, three Billboard Music Awards, 29 Dove Awards, became a two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year honoree, and an ASCAP Songwriter of the Year. In 2016, he was named one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 billion digital radio streams, alongside Justin Timberlake, Pitbull, and Garth Brooks. Chris is also the first Christian artist to reach the billion streams threshold on Pandora and was presented with their BILLIONAIRE award. In April, he will embark on the Holy Forever World Tour, his first major global headlining tour in over a decade, and “Good Friday Nashville” returns to Bridgestone Arena on Friday, March 29th. His new book, How Great is Our God: Living a Worship-Led Life in a Me-Driven World will also be available nationwide March 19, 2024.

Connect with Chris Online:  Website | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube

J.D. Walt is a renowned Bible teacher, author, poet, and pastor who lives in Gillett, Arkansas.

K-LOVE BOOKS, an imprint of EMF Publishing, has published bestselling books such as The Way of the Father by Michael W. Smith, Heaven’s Light Breaking by Greg Laurie, Behind the Lights by Helen Smallbone and On Our Knees by Phil Wickham. Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is the parent organization of K-LOVE and Air1 Radio and the AccessMore podcast network.

Media Industry Veteran Brings Decades of Marketing Experience to Growing Global Ministry

March 18, 2024 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Christian publisher David C Cook welcomes veteran marketing leader Brian Mitchell to the organization as Chief Marketing Officer. Mitchell has a background in both the publishing and music industries, bringing unique expertise and capability to lead marketing efforts for both Cook and its Nashville-based music label, Integrity Music.

“I’m honored to join the leadership team at David C Cook,” said Mitchell. “I’m driven by the joy of delivering the hope of Christ to people across the globe through music, print, and digital media.”

Mitchell began his media career in 1986 in radio broadcast roles, followed by nearly two decades of record executive leadership positions at Provident/Sony and Capitol/Universal, including General Manager of Essential Records, developing artists such as Jars of Clay and Third Day.

Most recently, prior to joining David C Cook, Mitchell served as President of WTA Media leading its literary agency and publishing efforts with K-LOVE Books after its acquisition by Educational Media Foundation (EMF). He also contributed his marketing expertise to digital distribution campaigns for top-grossing films such as War Room and I Can Only Imagine.

Mitchell also served as Vice President of Marketing at Thomas Nelson Publishers/HarperCollins, helping lead several imprints to garner multiple New York Times bestsellers.

As Big Idea Entertainment/DreamWorks Animation’s Vice President of Marketing and Licensing for the VeggieTales® brand, he led marketing initiatives and contributed product development for live tours, television, films, records, and home entertainment episodic releases.

“Brian’s extensive experience in marketing combined with his servant heart and dynamic leadership style made him the obvious and immediate choice for CMO,” said David C Cook Chief Executive Officer, Bill Reeves. “I could not be more thrilled that Brian is on board and have no doubt he will lead our marketing teams to grow and expand our 149-year global ministry.”

David C Cook is a 501c3 nonprofit organization 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. Read more about David C Cook and its global ministry at www.davidccook.org.

Media Contact:  Cathy Herholdt, VP, Communications, cathy.herholdt@davidccook.org, 719.533.3011

Colorado Springs, CO. (March 6, 2024) – In June 2024, NavPress will release Becoming Like Jesus: Reflecting Christ in Your Everyday Life by Cynthia Heald. Cynthia is the author of multiple bestselling and award-winning Bible study series and books, including Becoming a Woman of Excellence, Becoming a Woman of Freedom, and Abiding in Christ: Becoming a Woman Who Walks with God. In her new book, Cynthia explores questions such as “What if we really imitated Jesus?” and “How can we allow Him to shape our hearts, motivations, and actions so we increasingly remind people of the one we follow?”

Becoming Like Jesus shares Cynthia’s seasoned guidance from a lifelong faith, the challenges and rewards of embodying Christlikeness, and her own imperfect, stumbling experiences in learning to become like Jesus. Perfect for individual quiet time or a 6-week small-group study, the book will inspire and encourage readers to embrace simple yet powerful ways God molds Christians into the image of His Son.

In Becoming Like Jesus, readers will find

• devotional reflections on the invitation to daily spiritual growth;
• insightful quotations from godly writers and prayers; and
• Scripture references and Bible study reflection questions.

Readers can join Cynthia in embarking on the life-changing journey of Becoming Like Jesus beginning June 4, 2024.

NavPress is a business ministry of The Navigators. With a rich catalog of bestselling books, discipleship resources, and The Message® Bible, NavPress supports readers as they know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.®  Since 2014 NavPress has been in a publishing alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, one of the largest independently owned Christian publishers in the world. NavPress resources are sold, distributed, and marketed worldwide through Tyndale House Publishers.

Contact: Kristen Schumacher, kristenschumacher@tyndale.com, 630.784.5103

Becoming Like Jesus
ISBN: 978-1-64158-759-4
Softcover: $16.99 | June 4, 2024
NavPress.com

New wide margin format, first of its kind in NASB

Grand Rapids, MI, March 2024 – Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of the NASB Wide Margin Bible (New American Standard Bible, 1995 Text)—the first of its kind for Zondervan’s NASB line.

“Our mission is to publish beautiful Bibles in translations readers love; we are so happy to bring a wide margin version to faithful readers of the NASB,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “By using the margins to deepen their study with notes, reflections and prayers, readers of this Bible will not only deepen their understanding of the Scripture — they’ll also create a beautiful keepsake for their loved ones.”

The NASB Wide Margin Bible gives readers the translation celebrated for faithfulness to the original biblical languages, with wide margins on both the inside and outside of the page. Features include:

• The full text of the New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition
• Wide margins on the inside and the outside of the page provide ample room for making notes
• Beautiful two-color page design
• NASB Comprehensive Concordance
• Double-column format
• Words of Jesus in red
• Premium 36 GSM paper
• Two satin ribbon markers
• Available in Leathersoft™ and genuine calfskin leather
• Exclusive Zondervan NASB Comfort Print® typeface
• Print Size: 9.5

Universally recognized as the gold standard among word-for-word translations, the beloved New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition, is now easier to read with Zondervan’s exclusive NASB Comfort Print typeface.

The NASB Wide Margin Bible is available now. To request a review copy, please email Amy Bigler at amy.bigler@harpercollins.com

About Zondervan: Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Amy Bigler, Director of Public Relations, amy.bigler@harpercollins.com