JUNE 2026, LISLE, IL—After five years as the president and publisher of InterVarsity Press (IVP), Terumi Echols has announced she will be retiring from her role on October 1, 2026.

Reflecting on her tenure at IVP, Echols points not to any single initiative or achievement, but to the privilege of stewarding a ministry with a rich legacy and enduring mission. “I am most proud of the people of IVP, our staff, authors, and ministry partners who faithfully serve the church,” Echols said. “During a season of significant change in publishing and ministry, they remained committed to creating resources that help people follow Jesus more faithfully.”

Echols added, “I am especially grateful for the trust our authors have placed in IVP. Their willingness to entrust us with their ideas, scholarship, stories, and ministry has been a privilege and a responsibility. Together, they have helped shape conversations, deepen faith, and equip generations of readers.”

Nicole Massie Martin, an IVP author (Nailing It, 2025) and the president and CEO at Christianity Today, said this of Echols: “Christian publishing has faced steady headwinds for the past few years. The obstacles seem to have increased as well for Christian authors seeking to simply be faithful in sharing their gifts with the world. Not only has Terumi sustained and strengthened IVP during these challenging times, but she has also done so with incredible service toward authors. I am proud to have published with IVP under Terumi’s leadership and am grateful for her mentorship. Her wisdom, discernment, and faithfulness to God have been evident in the way she leads, both internally and externally. The publishing world is better because Terumi has played such a significant role in it.”

Tom Lin, president and CEO at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA (IVCF), said, “Under Terumi’s leadership, IVP has expanded its distinctive biblically grounded, pastorally thoughtful, culturally engaged books to new markets and digital spaces. She’s also invested in infrastructure so that IVP can enrich the way it serves authors and audiences for years to come.”

Echols notes that she too is encouraged by how IVP expanded its ministry reach over the past five years. “Much of this work happened behind the scenes, strengthening operations, modernizing systems, and preparing IVP to navigate a rapidly changing publishing landscape,” she said. “These efforts were undertaken with a single purpose: helping ensure that IVP remains a faithful and effective ministry for years to come.”

Through initiatives such as Every Voice Now,  IVP Español, the Lilly Endowment–funded Wholehearted Household project, and the growth of IVP’s audio, podcast, and digital media efforts, Echols says the press has been able to serve new audiences, strengthen families, elevate diverse voices, and support spiritual formation across generations.

“I’ve had the honor and privilege of working closely with Terumi since she came to IVP nine years ago,” said Helen Lee, IVP’s director of strategic initiatives. “She has been a stalwart supporter of the strategic initiatives that my team oversees and is always open to experimentation and innovation. We have also served together since its inception on our Every Voice Now initiative which seeks to offset the racial and ethnic imbalances in our industry, elevate voices of color, and increase the cultural competency of the organization, and I have been so glad for IVP’s continued leadership in this area through Terumi’s example. I have deeply appreciated her pastoral heart for the IVP staff, her desire to create a financially stable foundation for IVP’s future, and her love for the authors and books representing IVP through our publishing program. She has given so much of herself to the organization, and I am excited for her to experience a new season in which she enjoys the fruits of decades of excellent, faithful work in the Christian publishing space. She will be deeply missed.”

Before her time at IVP, Echols worked for nearly two decades at Christianity Today International, and from 2014 to 2016 as the executive vice president and chief publishing officer. She joined IVP as the director of finance and fulfillment operations in 2017 under the leadership of Jeff Crosby, who served as IVP’s publisher from 2016 to 2021.

“It has been a joy to serve alongside Terumi Echols both as a colleague at InterVarsity Press and in the broader Christian publishing industry through her presence on the board of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA),” Crosby, current president of ECPA, said. “Her simultaneous commitment to innovation and mission, to people and possibilities has been a gift to both organizations. I have learned a great deal by watching her, being challenged by her, and being supported by her. I extend my thanks and my congratulations in this time of change and look forward to whatever lay ahead for her.”

As Echols finishes up her time at IVP in the coming months, she says she is grateful and hopeful. “It has been an honor to serve alongside such dedicated colleagues and to steward a ministry that has helped countless readers grow in faith through its authors and partners. My continued prayer is that IVP will continue to serve the church faithfully for generations to come.”

In the coming months InterVarsity and IVCF executive vice president Nathan Krupke will lead the search process for IVP’s new president and publisher. The job description for the role is available at ivpress.com.

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

JUNE 22, 2026 — The creator of the popular Simply Bible platform, a book club community with more than 70,000 members, Bethany Lauren Thompson has signed a four-product deal with WaterBrook.

The deal is anchored by the trade book, The Best Book You’ve Ever Read, slated for Fall 2027 that helps readers rekindle a deep love for Scripture by offering a simple framework for how to read the Bible in a way that restores wonder and reshapes the mind, heart, and life.

The release will be followed by a companion devotional meant to help readers put what they’ve learned into practice, as well as a second devotional or Bible study, both scheduled for 2028. Included in the deal is an online video course available through PRH Christian’s digital platform and imprint Grace Corner in 2027.

World rights were acquired by Leslie Calhoun, Editor at WaterBrook, from Rory Green at Alive Literary Agency.

For rights inquiries, contact Denise Cronin at decronin@penguinrandomhouse.com.

WaterBrook and Grace Corner are imprints of Penguin Random House Christian Publishing Group.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI — On May 31, 2026, former Executive Director of Bible Study Fellowship Rosemary Jensen passed away to be with the Lord. She is remembered for her lifelong, faithful service and her commitment to the Word of God.

Jensen is the author of Praying the Attributes of God (Kregel), which has sold over 70,000 print copies. Through this devotional, she has helped guide many toward growth in their prayer life and connection with God—transforming the believer’s experience of worship. Her book remains life-changing, and Kregel Publications is privileged to continue her legacy of ministry with this book.

“We are honored to publish Rosemary’s devotional that highlights divine attributes of God using the ACTS acrostic, aiding believers in their prayer life, and to be a part of her extensive ministry over her lifetime and beyond,” says Jerry Kregel, president of Kregel Publications.

Jensen and her husband were medical missionaries in East Africa, where they founded the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre in Tanzania. They later went on to found the Rafiki Foundation, which operates “training villages” in ten African countries, providing living and learning spaces for Bible study, education, teacher training, outreach, and orphan and widow care.

We are deeply grateful to Rosemary Jensen for the faithful work, service, and words she has dedicated to the Lord.

‘This biography restores Gaudí to life as one of the most original architects of all time…Stanford shows how the Catalan genius put his soul into everything he did.’  Blake Morrison 

In 2025, the Vatican placed Antoni Gaudí on the path to sainthood in recognition not only of his architectural achievements but of the way he lived. Now,one hundred years after his death, a new biography revisits his remarkable life, work and faith.

Gaudí: God’s Architect, a full‑colour biography, released by Hodder Faith, by writer and broadcaster Peter Stanford, offers a vivid account of Gaudí’s Catalan childhood, his visionary buildings in Barcelona and the deep Catholic conviction that shaped his creative imagination. 

Stanford explores the spiritual vision behind landmarks such as La Sagrada Família, while also examining the personal struggles, losses and convictions that defined this singular artist, who remains the focus of contemporary moves toward beatification.Lavishly illustrated with over 100 full‑colour photographs, the book presents Gaudí’s life, art and inspiration in a single accessible volume, ideal for readers interested in architecture, Barcelona’s cultural history and Gaudí’s enduring spiritual legacy.

Peter Stanford is a writer, journalist, broadcaster and prison reform campaigner. He is the author of acclaimed biographies including Lord Longford, C. Day‑Lewis, Martin Luther and the Devil, and his works on religious history and culture include Heaven: A Traveller’s Guide, Pilgrimage, Judas and Angels. His books have been translated into twelve languages. 

A former editor of the Catholic Herald, he writes for the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and The Tablet, and has presented several television documentaries, including Channel 4’s award‑winning Catholics and Sex. Raised in Birkenhead, he has been director of the Longford Trust for penal reform since 2002. 

For marketing and press inquiries, please contact:
Ava Schubert at: ava.schubert@johnmurraypress.co.uk

 

June 2026 | LISLE, IL—A prominent social critic and longtime InterVarsity Press (IVP) author, Os Guinness was honored with the 38th annual William Wilberforce Award from The Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Wilberforce was a British politician whose work was born from his Christian faith and ultimately led to the abolition of the transatlantic slave trade in the 19th century. The award recognizes Guinness’s decades of helping Christians make sense of their calling in a post-Christian cultural moment.

“I think Guinness is in the tradition of Wilberforce, also of Francis Schaeffer and Chuck Colson, basically helping the Church think clearly about the moment by thinking about the past, and looking ahead toward the culmination of all things: the Kingdom,” John Stonestreet, who serves as president of The Colson Center, told The Christian Post.

Guinness is the author or editor of more than thirty books, including numerous IVP titles, such as The Dust of Death, Last Call for Liberty, Carpe Diem Redeemed, The Magna Carta of Humanity, Zero Hour America, Signals of Transcendence, Impossible People, Fool’s Talk, Renaissance, The Global Public Square, The Great Quest, and A Free People’s Suicide.

Al Hsu, who was editor for ten of Guinness’s IVP books, said, “We are grateful for the clarity and vision his many books have provided, and we congratulate him on this award commemorating his lifetime of Christian faith and service.”

Born in China to missionary parents, Guinness is the great-great-great-grandson of Arthur Guinness, the Dublin brewer. After witnessing the climax of the Chinese revolution in 1949, he was expelled with many other foreigners in 1951 and returned to England, where he was educated and served as a freelance reporter with the BBC. Since coming to the United States in 1984, he has been a guest scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies and a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution. He was the lead drafter of the Williamsburg Charter, celebrating the First Amendment, and has also been senior fellow at the EastWest Institute in New York, where he drafted the Charter for Religious Freedom. He also coauthored the public-school curriculum Living With Our Deepest Differences.

A sought-after speaker, Guinness has addressed audiences worldwide, from the British House of Commons to the United States Congress to the Saint Petersburg Parliament. He is a senior fellow at The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics and was the founder of The Trinity Forum.

Guinness has had a lifelong passion to make sense of our extraordinary modern world and to stand between the worlds of scholarship and ordinary life, helping each to understand the other—particularly when advanced modern life touches on the profound issues of faith.

Hsu said, “For over half a century, Os Guinness has been an incisive Christian thinker, philosopher, apologist, social commentator, and champion of religious freedom. His perceptive insights have helped many engage the public square and discern their own sense of calling. It is particularly fitting for Os to be honored as an inheritor of William Wilberforce, not only because he has been a model of courage and conviction in public witness, but also because he has, like Wilberforce, encouraged many to pursue lives of faithful action in the times we live in, for the common good.”

Contact:  Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

Newburyport, MA (June 15, 2026)—Firebrand Technologies, a strategic part of the Firebrand Group of companies owned by Media Do International, today announced the launch of its new logo and redesigned website—a bold new expression of the company’s commitment to modern innovation, clarity, and warmth, while continuing to honor the trusted foundation the company has built alongside its publishing partners for nearly 40 years.

Designed with publishers in mind, the new website makes it easier than ever to explore Firebrand’s workflow and metadata solutions, discover industry insights, and connect with the team behind the technology. Clear navigation, streamlined content, and a renewed focus on customer needs create a digital experience that speaks the language of publishing.

The updated logo introduces a fresh interpretation of Burnie, Firebrand’s longtime mascot, bridging the company’s storied heritage with a forward-looking focus on delivering modern, innovative tools for Firebrand’s publishing clients.

“Our industry is evolving rapidly, and Firebrand is evolving with it,” said Angela Bole, CEO of Firebrand Technologies and NetGalley LLC. “Our new brand reflects the energy, optimism, and sense of community that have always been at the heart of Firebrand. While we’re proud of our history, we’re equally excited about the future and the opportunities ahead. We designed the new website to be a welcoming, intuitive resource that helps our clients discover solutions, gain insights, and connect with the people behind the technology.”

More than a visual refresh, the updated logo and website represent an enhanced, big-picture approach to how Firebrand Technologies showcases its data-driven solutions. By breaking down complex tools into clear, approachable resources, the new platform helps publishers of all sizes—from boutique indies to global enterprises—better understand and leverage the power of efficient workflow management and metadata distribution.

The new website is now live. To explore Firebrand’s new digital home and learn more about its mission to guide more content into the minds of more readers with technology solutions that serve the publishing industry, visit firebrandtech.com.

About Firebrand Technologies
Firebrand Technologies—a strategic part of the Firebrand Group collection of companies owned by Media Do International—is dedicated to providing leading software and services that help publishers succeed. At Firebrand Technologies, we believe that intelligent technology paired with human expertise is the key to increased accessibility, sales, and efficiency, igniting publisher success and bettering lives. For more information, visit firebrandtech.com.

JUNE 12, 2026 — W Publishing Group, an imprint of Thomas Nelson, announced New York Times bestselling book The King is Coming: It’s Time to Prepare for the Return of Christ by John Bevere has surpassed 100,000 units sold across all formats.

Released in March 2026, the book addresses the Second Coming of Christ and focuses on biblical understanding, spiritual readiness, and everyday discipleship. It examines common misconceptions about the end times and encourages readers to approach the subject with hope rather than fear.

For much of his ministry, Bevere did not teach extensively on eschatology. After years of prayer, study, and reflection, he wrote The King is Coming to explore what Scripture says about Christ’s return and how believers should live in response. The book emphasizes faithful daily living, spiritual attentiveness, and a commitment to loving people, making disciples, and serving with purpose.

The sales milestone reflects continued reader interest in the book’s message and subject matter. Readers have engaged with its call to examine their faith, renew their focus, and consider what it means to live with an eternal perspective.

The King is Coming follows Bevere’s The Awe of God, which has sold more than 600,000 copies across all formats and spent more than a year on the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association’s Bestsellers List.

When I wrote The King is Coming, my prayer was simple—that believers would stop either fearing or arguing over Christ’s return and rather start longing for it. To see 100,000 people engage with this message in just three months tells me something deeply resonates with them, and I believe it’s the awareness that the Bridegroom is at the door. I pray this message continues to awaken a hunger for holiness and a bridal longing in the Church—an eager, expectant love for the One who is coming, that transforms how we live every single day until He does,” said Bevere.

“Seeing The King is Coming reach 100,000 readers is deeply encouraging. John’s message is helping people move from fear to hope, take their faith seriously, and think honestly about how to prepare their hearts for Christ’s return,” said W Publishing Senior Acquisitions Editor Kyle Olund.

About Thomas Nelson
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, 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, Sr. Publicity Dir., W Publishing Group, allison.carter@harpercollins.com

JUNE 12, 2026 — Lindsey Gurk, a former broadcast journalist turned social media content creator, entrepreneur, and podcaster, has signed a three-book deal with W Publishing, an imprint of Thomas Nelson. The first book in the series, Get Your Pink Back, is a heartfelt and empowering guide for women navigating the challenges of giving so much of themselves that they lose their own vibrancy. The deal was brokered by Jenni Burke, CEO of Illuminate Literary Agency, and the book was acquired by W Publishing Senior Acquisitions Editor Lisa-Jo Baker.

Get Your Pink Back is written for the busy, exhausted woman who feels like her “color” has faded—much like a flamingo losing its vibrant pink while nurturing others. Drawing from her own experiences, Gurk writes with humor, honesty, and deep compassion, offering relatable and practical insights. Each chapter features personal storytelling, surprising lessons, and biblical truths that readers can apply to their everyday lives. The book also includes “Pink Pearls,” key takeaway pages designed to remind readers of important truths when they need them most.

“I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the team’s belief in this book and its message. I’m honored by the trust placed in this project. My hope is that these words will help many women and draw them closer to our Lord—the ultimate giver of all things good and PINK,” said Gurk.

The book builds on the success of Gurk’s Get Your Pink Back® Movement and apparel line, which she launched in 2022. What began as a personal declaration grew into a global community and a thriving inspirational brand, encouraging women to reclaim their joy, identity, and strength during life’s hardest seasons.

“Lindsey has done something remarkable: she’s built a movement and brought millions of women along with her,” said Burke. “This isn’t just a book; it’s the permission slip her readers have been waiting for. It was an honor to bring this book to the right publishing home.”

“I’m delighted to welcome Lindsey to the W Publishing family. Her message in Get Your Pink Back is both timely and deeply encouraging, reminding women that God’s redeeming work is never finished and that joy can be restored even after life’s hardest seasons,” said HarperCollins Christian Publishing and HarperCollins Focus Senior VP, Group Publisher Don Jacobson. “Lindsey brings authenticity, hope, and a genuine trust in God’s timing to everything she does. We are honored to partner with her and excited to share her message with readers everywhere.”

“Get Your Pink Back is a raw and highly relatable rallying cry for women everywhere to rediscover their God-given vibrancy and purpose,” said Baker. “We look forward to the impact Lindsey’s words will have on readers around the world.”

Additional details about Get Your Pink Back, including its on-sale date, will be announced.

Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational products 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, 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, Sr. Publicity Dir., W Publishing Group, allison.carter@harpercollins.com

AVAILABLE AUGUST 10, 2026

Counselor Brad Hambrick outlines 9-step processes for finding hope and relief amid the struggles associated with depression and anxiety in “Depression and Anxiety” and from trauma in “Growing After Trauma,” both released from New Growth Press on August 10.

Depression and Anxiety is a step-by-step, biblically rooted plan that can be used as a personal study, with a counselor, or in a group. Participants will learn to bring their hardships to God, steward their body well, and pursuing a meaningful life even when they feel depressed or anxious. Hambrick emphasizes the importance of understanding the interplay between suffering and sin and provides practical tools to address emotional struggles while encouraging spiritual growth.

Growing After Trauma seeks to help readers strike a healthy balance. As we understand and counter the impact of trauma, we can live satisfying and fruitful lives. Hambrick outlines a process for finding peace after trauma by establishing an environment of safety, processing painful memories, and reengaging the life God has for you to live.

Both resources are part of the Church-Based Counseling series, built on the G4 model of subject-specific, lay-led counseling groups, designed to help churches create sustainable lay counseling ministries. The G4 peer support and recovery group ministry series of books were developed to help churches mobilize volunteers to utilize levels of care from friendship to mentoring to counseling groups. The format of the curriculum is useful for individual, one-on-one study, or small group book discussions. Each chapter of the books contains QR codes that link to teaching videos to guide leaders and participants through every step.

Brad Hambrick, ThM, EdD, serves as the Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, a council member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition, and has authored several books, including Making Sense of Forgiveness, Angry with God, and the Church-Based Counseling series, and served as general editor for the Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused curriculum.

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

JUNE 15, 2026 — Giancarlo Montemayor will be joining Penguin Random House as Director of Sales, Christian Market on June 15, 2026, reporting to Cynthia Lasky, EVP, Group Sales Director, Random House & Crown. In this role, Giancarlo will lead the PRH sales strategy across the Christian publishing landscape, helping to drive growth and strengthen presence throughout the Christian marketplace.

Giancarlo’s role is two-fold:  as the lead sales director for the PRH Christian Publishing team, he will work with PRH trade sales directors to prioritize Christian titles in traditional book markets. Giancarlo will also provide strategic direction for Christian Market Sales. William Bauers, National Accounts Manager, and Kate Nolan, Associate Manager, will both report to Giancarlo.

Having held senior roles spanning Editorial, Spanish Publishing, Go-to-market sales initiatives, and International Christian Markets at Hachette and Lifeway Christian Resources, Giancarlo brings a wealth of experience and a thorough understanding of the publishing industry.

“His broad knowledge, proven leadership, and passion for publishing, along with his deep appreciation for the unique mission and importance of Christian publishing, will be tremendous assets as we continue to grow our Christian Publishing Group. We are excited to benefit from his expertise, energy, and vision, and look forward to the impact he will have on our authors, publishing partners, customers, and colleagues. Based in Nashville, Giancarlo is an avid reader, lifelong learner, photographer, and world traveler,” stated Lasky.