WESTMONT, IL—October 2023—Saint Patrick the Forgiver from IVP Kids has won the 2023 Bronze Moonbeam Children’s Book Award in the spirituality and religion category.

This is Ned Bustard’s second Moonbeam Award. His first children’s book with IVP Kids, Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver, also won a Bronze Moonbeam Award in 2021. “It’s been such a joy to work with Ned Bustard on several books for IVP Kids!” said IVP Kids editor Elissa Schauer. “Saint Patrick the Forgiver reminds us that March 17 is about so much more than shamrocks and leprechauns, because Saint Patrick led a remarkable life of love and faith and forgiveness.”

Launched in 2007, the Moonbeam Awards are intended to bring increased recognition to exemplary children’s books and their creators, and to celebrate children’s books and lifelong reading. The purpose of the Moonbeam Awards is to highlight books that encourage children to be generous and compassionate, and to stand up for the rights of themselves and others. The awards attract nearly 1,500 entries from around the world.

Saint Patrick the Forgiver is a retelling of the fascinating life of the real Saint Patrick. After escaping from slavery in Ireland, Patrick is prompted by God’s love to return to the land of his captivity and share the Christian faith with its inhabitants. Saint Patrick is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland and is Ireland’s patron saint.

Bustard, who is both the author and illustrator of Saint Patrick the Forgiver, said, “I’m third-generation Irish with my family coming from Donegal in the northwest region of the island. I feel like, in many ways, Patrick is my saint. Certainly, my family grew up in an area that was Christian because of the work of Patrick. My faith heritage can be traced through to him.”

Bustard also added, “Saint Patrick gives us examples of what it looks like to live a life of forgiveness. He also shows us what it looks like to give up our lives for the kingdom of God. . . . Saint Patrick is a bridge to our culture across which we can walk to discuss what real Christianity looks like. Many people may not have heard of Saint John or Saint Matthew, but they will have heard of Saint Patrick. For those with children in their lives, they can honor Saint Patrick’s Day as a day to celebrate with Irish food and music while focusing on God’s work through the life of Saint Patrick, which is why this book can be helpful.”

Bustard is a graphic designer, a children’s book illustrator, an author, and a printmaker. As the creative director for Square Halo Books Inc. and curator of the Square Halo Gallery, he has lectured at colleges, schools, churches, and conferences. His work is found in numerous titles including Saint Nicholas the Giftgiver, The O in Hope, Revealed: A Storybook Bible for Grown-Ups, and Every Moment Holy. He lives with his family in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

For a complete list of children’s titles from IVP, visit www.IVPKids.com.

Contact: Anna Tjernstrom, atjernstrom@ivpress.com

WESTMONT, IL—October 2023—IVP has announced the launch of a new imprint called IVP Bible Studies that will kick off with the February 2024 release of Upheld: Meeting Our Trustworthy God Through Isaiah—A 6-Week Bible Study Experience by Kori de Leon.

In addition to the small group and Bible study resources that carried the IVP Connect label, the IVP Bible Studies imprint will include a new collection of Bible studies that continue IVP’s legacy of rich Bible content while featuring trusted Bible teachers, fresh perspectives, and an accessible format.

“We wanted these Bible studies to include all the key elements that participants expect: group sessions, video teaching, and individual studies throughout the week,” said executive editor Elissa Schauer. “And we’ve also designed these studies to be accessible and engaging. So whether someone is newer to Christianity or they’ve grown up in the church, they’ll experience both the relevance and refreshment of studying Scripture.”

Bible studies have been a significant part of IVP’s publishing history. As an extension of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), an interdenominational Christian campus ministry founded in 1941, IVP’s history with Bible study is closely tied to its outreach on college campuses. In the early 1940s, Jane Hollingsworth brought her experience with Bible study to IVCF. As millions of men went to war in Europe and Asia, many jobs were filled by women—like Jane, who was recruited to join IVCF campus staff in 1942. A Wheaton College graduate, Hollingsworth had been trained in inductive Bible study at the Biblical Seminary in New York, and she went on to write IVP’s first inductive Bible study guide in 1943 titled Discovering the Gospel of Mark.

In 1985 IVP published the first seven of what have become the press’s most recognizable Bible studies, LifeGuide Bible Studies (LBS). Since then, IVP has sold more than fifteen million copies of the nearly one hundred fifty LBS titles.

Out of IVP’s mission to prioritize what IVP does best—creating valuable content—the IVP Bible Studies imprint will encompass the current LBS titles, along with the newly launched Bible study format.

The upcoming collection is for both groups and individuals and can be used in a variety of ways. “These studies are great for a church to use—for Bible study, small groups, or adult Sunday school classes—and they are just as appropriate for a few friends who prefer to meet at a coffee shop. But even folks who aren’t connected with a group can still engage with these studies and have a meaningful experience,” Schauer said.

Each study will focus on a portion of Scripture through a thematic lens. The current tentative schedule of titles among the forthcoming IVP Bible Studies includes:

• February 2024: Upheld: Meeting Our Trustworthy God Through Isaiah—A 6-Week Bible Study Experience by Kori de Leon
• April 2024: Moms at the Well: Meeting God Through the Mothers of Scripture—A 7-Week Bible Study Experience by Tara Edelschick and Kathy Tuan-MacLean
• May 2024: Hear My Prayer: Learning from the Faith of Elijah—A 6-Week Bible Study Experience by Liz Ditty
• June 2024: Live in the Light of Christ: Radiating the Hope of the Letters of John—A 6-Week Bible Study Experience by Tara Beth Leach

Other authors contracted for 2025 IVP Bible Studies include Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Kristel Acevedo, and Ashley and Bryce Hales.

Each study includes six to eight weeks of content, and each week begins with a group session: a teaching video and discussion questions designed to take about sixty minutes. The group session is followed by five days of individual study, each designed to take about twenty to thirty minutes. The content for individuals includes both traditional Bible study as well as a variety of opportunities for reflection and prayer.

These IVP Bible Studies are authored by a cast of wise Bible teachers and pastors. Schauer said, “I’ve been so encouraged in my work on these studies. The folks teaching us are passionate about God’s word—encouraging and guiding us every step of the way!”

For a complete list of IVP Bible Studies, visit www.ivpress.com.

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

Carol Stream, Ill. (October 20, 2023)—Focus on the Family, in alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, will release four new kids and middle-grade titles in the spring of 2024. The new products—Big Risks in Russia, What a Croc!, Keep It Together, and Courage at the Castle—equip parents to raise their children with thriving faith.

 

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Big Risks in Russia
AIO Imagination Station Books #31

Big Risks in Russia highlights true accounts of Brother Andrew, “God’s Smuggler,” as he aims to get the Bible into communist countries. In the story, cousins Patrick and Beth are on the trail of Amelia Darling, the government agent who followed them on their last two adventures. The cousins arrive in Russia in 1961 and are determined to help a pastor smuggle Bibles past the Soviet police. Meanwhile, Amelia continues to use the Imagination Station for her own greedy purposes.

Tensions rise as Patrick and Beth try to stop their old nemesis while avoiding prison for bringing God’s Word to Christians.

 

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What a Croc!
Magnificent Mulligans #4 

After their second child is born blind, Michael and Tracy Mulligan follow God’s call to care for those in need as a diverse family who tend the animals in their Wild Animal Park.

After visiting Madame Claire’s fortune-telling booth, the Mulligan kids are concerned that “the curse” might be real. After all, things keep going wrong. Their troubles escalate until all the animals escape the park, challenging Mike’s bid to oust the corrupt mayor.

Through their faith in Christ, commitment to one another, and ability to laugh at themselves, the Mulligans are able to face any challenge.

 

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Keep It Together
Adventures in Odyssey #76

Adventures in Odyssey audio dramas open the imaginations of both young and old as listeners follow a host of characters through adventures in the town of Odyssey. Geared toward kids ages 8 and up, these high-quality audio dramas teach biblical truths.

When Odyssey’s resident hacker is accused of a serious computer crime, Suzu, Cooper, and Mr. Whittaker race to investigate what really happened. But the newly formed team isn’t united. Emily Jones’s past dealings with Morrie cloud her desire to help.

Meanwhile, Jules Kendall gets a unique opportunity to use her musical talents with a band, but joining them could mean hurting a friend and lying to Connie. And Buck Meltsner’s new life takes an intriguing turn when Jason Whittaker arrives in Baltimore with a spy job for him.

Friendships are on the line and loyalties are up for grabs as everyone in Odyssey tries their best to Keep It Together.

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Courage at the Castle
AIO Imagination Station Books #32

In Courage at the Castle, cousins Patrick and Beth are swept away to sixteenth-century England to learn how the English Bible came to be—and the real costs to make it a reality.

They meet Christian hero William Tyndale and the hotheaded King Henry VIII. Patrick and Beth begin to see that God’s people have always had enemies desperate to stop the spread of His love and truth.

 

 

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• Big Risks in Russia | ISBN: 978-1-64607-117-3 | Hardcover: $11.99 | January 2024
• What a Croc! | ISBN: 978-1-64607-120-3 | Softcover: $14.99 | February 2024
• Keep It Together | ISBN: 978-1-64607-136-4 | Audio CD: $17.99 | March 2024
• Courage at the Castle | ISBN: 978-1-64607-123-4 | Hardcover: $11.99 | April 2024

 

Since its founding in 1962, Tyndale House Publishers has been a voice to trust for generations of readers. Today, Tyndale is one of the largest independent Christian publishers in the world. Tyndale’s mission is to make the Bible accessible to as many people as possible in language that they can relate and respond to. Tyndale publishes the Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), and offers nonfiction books that equip readers with Christ-centered insight, counsel, and life-improving stories. In addition, Tyndale publishes fiction from fresh new voices and celebrated authors alike, capturing the imagination of millions of readers. With a deep understanding of the importance of nurturing future generations, Tyndale also publishes children’s products that make God’s Word and wisdom come alive. Tyndale’s independent status allows it to follow its founding model, giving a substantial portion of annual revenue—millions of dollars per year—through corporate donations and the work of Tyndale House Foundation. With every book purchased, Tyndale readers help meet the physical and spiritual needs of people around the world. Tyndale.com

Focus on the Family, which reaches about 38 million people in 120 countries, is a global faith-based ministry that helps families thrive in Christ. Tyndale House Publishers is pleased to partner with Focus on the Family to help provide trusted resources for strengthening believers in their faith and sharing the gospel; building resilient marriages that reflect God’s design; equipping parents to raise their children with a thriving faith; advocating for the preborn, orphaned, and life at every stage; and engaging the culture through a biblical worldview. Visit Focus at FocusontheFamily.com or on Facebook and Twitter.

Contact: Natalie Wierenga, nataliewierenga@tyndale.com, 630.784.5211

Who better to guide Christians through the advent season than the mother of Jesus herself: Mary

At Christmastime we remember that an ordinary, young, poor, oppressed woman was chosen to play a significant and breakthrough role in the redemption of the world. It is no mistake that a woman gets to be a part of all this, and that her voice, her questions, her fears, and her actions matter.

Mary’s faith and her wisdom form an astonishing aspect of the story of how God became a person for the love of this world. And in our weary world that is waiting and longing for light, meaning, peace, and love, we can do as Mary did when she “treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

MARY’S VOICE (Worthy Books, October 24, 2023, ISBN: 9781546004523) features full-color interior with reproductions of classic and contemporary art.

Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is an international author, speaker, and theologian who addresses the deep questions of our day with meaningful answers found in the Christian Faith. Amy is the author of multiple books including Where is God in All the Suffering? and the bestselling Why Trust the Bible?

Over the last twenty years, Amy has given talks on university campuses around the world. She holds a doctorate in Theology from the University of Oxford and is Honorary Lecturer in Divinity at the University of Aberdeen.

From the 50-Yard Line to the Supreme Court — How a Marine Turned Football Coach Won Religious Liberty for All

Average Joe Is the Inspiring True Story of an Unlikely Hero Who Took a Stand Against Tyranny By Taking a Knee

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (August 8, 2023) — When Coach Joe Kennedy became a football coach, he made a promise to give thanks to God after each game, no matter the outcome. What started as a simple act of thanks turned into an investigation by the school board and an attempt to silence one man’s freedom of speech and religion. Coach Kennedy soon became an unlikely champion of religious freedom. A former atheist, Kennedy never imagined he’d lead the defense of Americans’ First Amendment rights. He certainly didn’t intend to be at odds with his wife, who was the school district’s personnel director. But his love for God and country and his never-say-die courage landed the Marine in the fight of his life. After a seven-year legal battle, which went to the Supreme Court twice, Coach Kennedy not only won his case but set a precedent that will continue to protect First Amendment rights for generations to come.

Now, Coach Kennedy is sharing how God transformed his life and gave him the courage to take a knee while taking a stand for his beliefs in his debut book, Average Joe: The Coach Joe Kennedy Story (Salem Books, October 24, 2023) along with revelations about the case that will keep readers on the edge of their seat.

“Those prayers I prayed on the fifty-yard line after the Bremerton High School football games were never for attention, and certainly never to proselytize impressionable minors,” writes Kennedy. “As a twenty-year Marine Corps veteran who fought in the First Gulf War, I simply took issue with my constitutional rights being assaulted—the rights I had risked my life to support and defend against when I took my Oath of Enlistment.”

“What most people don’t know is that the Court’s final decision has much greater ramifications nationwide. His is the most significant victory for religious freedom in over fifty years … [as] the Supreme Court overruled another major case, Lemon v Kurtzman, which has been cited more than seven thousand times in the last fifty years and created hostility toward religious expression across America,” shared Coach’s attorney, Kelly Shackelford, from the book’s foreword.

“Thanks to Coach Kennedy, Lemon is now dead. Six of the Supreme Court justices agreed that it was not only an outdated method of judging religious expression, but now all seven thousand citations over the past fifty years have to be reconsidered. Where crosses were once torn down, they can now go back up. Where Ten Commandments displays were put into storage, they can now come back out. Where prayers were banned through the threat of job termination, workers can now pray again. This all happened because of one average Joe with a heart for God and his country who knew how to fight and to persevere, and knew the importance of the freedoms he fought for.”

In this compelling and inspirational personal account, Coach Kennedy invites readers into his life to experience everything from his troubled youth to his victory at the Supreme Court and will encourage them to stand up for their constitutional rights.

A film about his life, also titled Average Joe, is currently in production.

Coach Kennedy is available for interviews and can speak to:

• Fighting for our rights — Why free speech and religious liberty are worth fighting for
• Cancel Culture — How core Christian beliefs can become the center of controversy
• How to stand up for your beliefs even when faced with persecution
• What to do when faced with government overreach

Coach Joe Kennedy, a twenty-year Marine veteran, was an assistant coach for the Bremerton High School (BHS) varsity football team. Before he even coached his first game, the Marine-turned-football coach made a commitment to God that he would give thanks at the conclusion of each game for what the players had accomplished and for the opportunity to be part of their lives through football. This was met with disapproval from his school district and turned into a lengthy court battle. On June 27, 2022, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Coach Kennedy and his First Amendment right and on March 8, 2023, Coach Kennedy was officially reinstated as assistant coach and is excited to be back with his team. Joe and his wife, Denise, are parents to four and reside currently in Pensacola. A film inspired by his life is in development. He continues to speak across the country promoting freedom of speech. His new book, Average Joe, will be available for purchase nationwide October 24, 2023. Connect with him online at https://coachjoekennedy.com/.

Helping Children Impacted by a Trauma

The world can be scary place, and any number of experiences can prove to be traumatic for a young child. Something Scary Happened (New Growth Press/October 16, 2023) by Darby A. Strickland helps children process their feelings after experiencing a trauma and provides comfort through the story of a little lamb named Miles.

Miles is a happy little lamb until something bad happens. All of a sudden, Miles feels like he is alone in a deep dark valley, but it is there in the valley that he meets his good Shepherd who promises to always be with him, no matter what. Strickland, a counselor and trauma expert, uses the story of Miles to help parents and caregivers share the comfort of taking their fears to the Good Shepherd by applying Psalm 23 to difficult experiences.

“I work with many parents whose children are facing trauma and adults who experienced trauma as children. Talking about trauma (to God and others) is critical to healing, but many parents do not know how to help their children through trauma,” Strickland shares. “We have a faithful shepherd who can help parents and children, so I wanted to create a resource steeped in truth but could make a connection point for parents to talk to and guide their children through life’s distresses.”

Children ages four to seven will be drawn to the playful illustrations by Carlotta Notaro, and the story will minister to both parent and child, by explaining how one might feel after a scary or traumatic event. Something Scary Happened will remind children of their faithful shepherd, who will never leave them, but also acknowledges the reality that it will take time to heal.

Through a special section at the end of the book, Strickland helps parents recognize the feelings and behaviors children might have in response to their trauma and guides them in how to help children talk about what scared them. Also included are key promises from Psalm 23 and John 10 to talk about together. “The deepest delight of God’s heart is to care for his children, and he has appointed us as his under-shepherds to help care for them. After a traumatic event, your shepherding can make a child feel safe and loved by you and the Lord. You can help children navigate their fears, guide them through their distress, and assist their recovery.”

Strickland has also written a companion minibook, When Children Experience Trauma: What to Do When Something Scary Happens, which gives even more detailed help for parents and caregivers. Parents can also purchase a Miles toy lamb to go along with Something Story Scary Happened. The plush Miles gives kids something soft and comforting to cuddle when they’re scared and serves as a tangible reminder that the Shepherd who comforted Miles in the story is also with them.

Jonathan Holmes, executive director of Fieldstone Counseling writes, “In our broken world, trauma and suffering are not only experienced by adults. In Darby’s latest resource, she compassionately takes hurting children to the truest and most stable source of comfort they can find—the Good Shepherd. Don’t let the idea of a children’s book fool you—rich, biblical theology flows from page to page as children are brought close to the Lord in the midst of their scary and hard things. I know I’ll be reading this with my family, and I trust you will as well.”

Something Scary Happened is the first book in the Comfort for Children in Hard Times series, addressing difficult experiences that children may face and offering gospel hope and help. Future titles will include Something Sad Happened, slated release in the fall of 2024, followed by A Big Change Happened in early 2025.

Something Scary Happened
Comfort for Children in Hard Times Series
By Darby A. Strickland, Illustrated by Carlotta Notaro
ISBN 978-1-64507-385-7
October 16, 2023 / Retail Price $16.99
Religion / Christian Education / Children & Youth

Darby A. Strickland, MDiv, is a faculty member and counselor at the Christian Counseling & Education Foundation (CCEF). Her speaking and writing focus on training churches and counselors to care well for those who have been victims of trauma and abuse. Strickland is the author of Is It Abuse? A Biblical Guide to Identifying Domestic Abuse and Helping Victims, the children’s book Something Scary Happened, and the minibook When Children Experience Trauma. She is also a contributor to Becoming a Church That Cares Well for the Abused and Caring for Families Caught in Domestic Abuse. She writes regularly for the Journal of Biblical Counseling. Strickland and her husband, John, have three children.  Learn more at www.darbystrickland.com and follow her on Facebook (Darby A. Strickland) and Instagram (@darby_strickland).

About the Illustrator:  Carlotta Notaro is an Italian illustrator and animator. Sometimes she draws for kids, other times she draws for grown-ups, and occasionally she makes little animations for herself. Somehow, one of her animations ended up on a giant screen in Hong Kong. When not drawing, she enjoys long walks with her favorite music, upcycling old stuff, and petting her dog Molly for way too long.

[Miami, FL—October 23, 2023] – Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial (PRHGE) and Grupo Nivel Uno are pleased to announce they have entered into an exclusive worldwide distribution agreement. Effective February 1,2024, PRHGE will take over the sales and distribution of both the Editorial Nivel Uno and the Casa Creación imprints for Grupo Nivel Uno.

Under this distribution agreement, PRHGE, known for its leadership in the Spanish book market, will take on the exclusive distribution of Grupo Nivel Uno’s catalog of titles. This collaboration allows Grupo Nivel Uno to focus its energies and resources on further developing its publishing line while PRHGE leverages its robust distribution network to bring these outstanding works to a wider audience.

“First of all, I would like to thank God and express how thrilled I am for this strategic alliance with Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial (PRHGE). I am also pleased that this agreement will project the distribution of our editorial lines, Nivel Uno and Casa Creación, on a global scale, while at the same time enriching the Hispanic market with world-class authors,” stated Sergio Daldi, President and Owner of Grupo Nivel Uno.

“We are excited to partner with Sergio Daldi to help grow Grupo Nivel Uno as we expand the company’s distribution in both the U.S. and internationally,” added Silvia Matute, President, PRHGE USA.

Grupo Nivel Uno’s main imprint, Casa Creación, is best known for its commitment to the Spanish-Speaking Charismatic Church. Casa Creación publishes such popular authors as Joyce Meyer, John Eckhardt, Jonathan Cahn, Benny Hinn, and Robert Morris. Casa Creación also publishes strong Hispanic authors like Lis Milland, Edwin Castro and Rey Matos, amongst others. This partnership with PRHGE ensures that these bestselling authors will reach even more readers in both the Christian Channel as well as the General Trade.

“Given the rapid growth of our ORIGEN imprint, adding this distribution deal with Grupo Nivel Uno comes to complement our list at the perfect time,” said Larry Downs, Director and Publisher for PRHGE’s ORIGEN imprint.
PRHGE’s ORIGEN imprint is best known for its award-winning Bibles and has quickly become the third largest Spanish Bible Trade publisher. ORIGEN publishes bestselling key Trade authors including Jennie Allen, Mark Batterson, Amir Tsarfati, and Shannon Bream.

About Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial:
Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial, founded by Bertelsmann on July 1, 2013, is a leading book publishing and distribution company part of the international Penguin Random House Group. The aim of Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial is to publish books for all types of readers, of all ages and in all formats – paper, digital and audio – in all the countries in which it operates: Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and the United States. The Group also exports and distributes its titles in more than 45 countries in Latin America, Asia, Europe and the United States. The group currently comprises 54 imprints that are editorially and creatively independent and publishes more than 2500 new titles each year; its catalogues include dozens of Nobel Prize winners and hundreds of the world’s most widely read and bestselling authors.

About Grupo Nivel Uno:
Grupo Nivel Uno was founded in Miami on September 11, 2001. The company encompasses Editorial Nivel Uno, Casa Creacion, and Vida Cristiana. The mission of Grupo Nivel Uno is to contribute to the spiritual growth of individuals by providing them with Bibles, books, and other educational resources for their growth, edification, and comprehensive transformation, enabling them to live the Word of God

For media inquiries and further information, please contact: monica.delgado@penguinrandomhouse.com

Abilene, TX —In her new book, Rahab: Rediscovering the God Who Saves Me, Shadi Hrichi uncovers the heartbeat of the Bible, God’s passionate pursuit of humanity, especially those who feel left out.

“Insightful and rich in cultural details, Shadia’s new Bible study on Rahab takes the reader on a deep and meaningful journey. Because of it, I have a fresh understanding of the God who saves. Highly recommended.’’
—ROBIN LEE HATCHER, Christy Award–winning author of The Legacy of Faith series and I’ll Be Seeing You

Rahab’s story is our story. It’s a story centered on three key themes, without which there would be no Bible, no gospel, and no Savior: faith, grace, and salvation. By the time you finish this six-week study, you will never look at the story of Rahab the same way again.

Other volumes in the Behind the Seen series have been awarded by the West Coast Christian Writers Association and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (Golden Scroll Awards).

Shadia Hrichi has earned a masters in biblical and theological studies (as well as a masters in criminal justice), Her Bible studies have been endorsed by Bible Study Magazine (Faithlife/Logos Bible Software), Francine Rivers, Chris Tiegreen, Liz Curtis-Higgs, and many others.

Rahab: Rediscovering the God Who Saves Me
By Shadia Hrichi
October 2023, Softcover
256 Pages, $18.99
ISBN: 978-1-68426-129-1

Media Contact: Rachael Ray, publicity@leafwoodpublishers.com

The Framework for Building a Church-Based Counseling Ministry

New series helps churches mobilize volunteers and facilitate counseling groups

Many churches want to start a counseling ministry because they want to help their members navigate the hardships of life. However, they are intimidated by the belief that the ministry needs to run like a professional counseling center and fear the liability involved. Sustainable church-based counseling is possible, but it may not look like what is instinctively envisioned.

Brad Hambrick, the Pastor of Counseling at The Summit Church in Durham, NC, has developed the Church-Based Counseling series to help churches mobilize volunteers to utilize levels of care from friendship to mentoring to counseling groups. A groups- and mentor-based counseling model allows churches to effectively enable lay people to lead a counseling ministry in ways that avoid the liabilities and misconceptions that emerge with pseudo-professional models of lay counseling.

Mobilizing Church-Based Counseling, the first book in the series, provides a framework for guiding churches through the process of their ministry. Based on proven models used in his own congregation, Hambrick lays out a clear plan to launch a sustainable soul-care ministry that can be replicated in churches of any size.

Hambrick brings clarity to common points of confusion about church-based counseling and provides guidance on how to provide oversight for lay-led counseling groups and mentoring relationships. A congregation can minister the hope of the gospel to the struggles of life—both sin and suffering—without going beyond the capacity of its members.

Readers will discover two flexible models of church-based counseling ministry. One addresses common life struggles (the G4 group model) and the other focuses on Gospel-Centered Marriage mentoring for premarital and marital enrichment.

John Chapman, who serves as the Director of G4 Recovery-Support Group Ministries at The  Summit Church, joins Hambrick as co-author of the second book in the series, Facilitating Counseling Groups which provides training for lay leaders to guide a group-based church counseling ministry (G4 model) that addresses common life struggles. This book outlines the dynamics of leading a topic-specific peer counseling group and underscores the importance of ongoing support and training for group facilitators.

Leading a counseling group is different from leading a general discipleship group, even if both exist at the same church. A counseling group focuses on a specific need, garners heightened levels of vulnerability about matters of greater sensitivity and requires more skill and intentionality from its leader. When a layperson is well-equipped, this kind of ministry is tremendously rewarding, as they see God multiply the work he did in their life with people walking a similar journey.

The authors equip lay leaders to be effective in a group-based counseling ministry within the church. By learning how to use their life experiences and a group curriculum to help others overcome a life-dominating struggle of sin or suffering, leaders will learn to share the comfort and hope for change that can only come from God.

“At The Summit Church, we’ve been developing and refining a groups- and mentoring-based lay counseling model for over a decade. We believe these models can help churches accomplish the good ministry they want to achieve without the factors that intimidate them,” the authors share. “It’s not theory. It’s field-tested practice. We are not professional counselors retrofitting what we do in private practice to be executed in local churches by lay counselors. Mobilizing and Facilitating provide counseling models that, from their inception, were designed to be carried out in local churches by lay people.”

Michael Gembola, the director of Blue Ridge Christian Counseling writes, “Many churches love the idea of being a place of care, but they are sobered by the possibility of hurting rather than helping. Strong pastoral counseling, lay counseling, and counseling groups truly are difficult to do in an organized and effective way. Brad has done church leaders a real service by offering a realistic template for providing relational ministry wisely and well for the problems of life. Highly recommend.”

Mobilizing Church-Based Counseling: Models for Sustainable Church-Based Care
By Brad Hambrick
Print ISBN: 978-1-64507-329-1

Facilitating Counseling Groups: A Leader’s Guide for Group-Based Counseling Ministry
By Brad Hambrick and John Chapman
Print ISBN: 978-1-64507-331-4
October 16, 2023 / Retail Price: $16.99

Church-Based Counseling Series
RELIGION/Christian Ministry/Counseling & Recovery

FATHOM EVENTS & EDUCATIONAL MEDIA FOUNDATION PRESENTS MAX LUCADO’S BECAUSE OF BETHLEHEM

Featuring New York Times Bestselling Author Max Lucado with performances by CeCe Winans, Matthew West, Anne Wilson, Matt Maher and Evan Craft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2023) – Fathom Events and Educational Media Foundation will bring a live Christmas concert event, “Max Lucado’s Because of Bethlehem,” to theaters nationwide this December 5, 6, and 7.

New York Times bestselling author and pastor Max Lucado invites families to experience the magic and wonder of Christmastime in this unique holiday-themed event. Lucado shares his own holiday memories and the life-changing Christmas story alongside a variety of star-studded artist performances by CeCe Winans, Matthew West, Anne Wilson, Matt Maher and Evan Craft.

Inspired by his bestselling book, Because of Bethlehem: Love is Born, Hope is Here, Max Lucado shows how the Bethlehem story, with all its fumbles, awkwardness and longing, illustrates how God is with us in ways we could never imagine. “Christmas tells us that God knows what it is like to be a human,” Lucado explains.

This live event—captured earlier this year in Nashville, Tenn., in front of a live audience—reminds everyone that the spirit of Christmas is much more than a pretty tree with presents piled underneath. The film, directed by Steve Gilreath, celebrates and reflects the true Gift of the season.

“I love Christmas,” says Max Lucado. “It invites us to believe the wildest of promises: God became one of us so we could become one with Him. Clear the table; clear the calendar. Call the kids and neighbors. Christmas is here. Christ is here.”

“We are thrilled to bring this Christ-centered Christmas production to theaters all across the country,” says David Pierce, EMF Chief Media Officer. “With every word spoken and voices raised in song, audiences will experience the absolute joy of the season in celebration of the world’s greatest gift.”

Adds Lucado: “Because of Bethlehem, we are given the honor to interact with God, hear His thoughts and witness the magnificence of His Glory in both the good and bad parts of life. Jesus brought the Message to us in order that we would know truth and be truth in a dark world.”

Tickets and info at Max Lucado’s Because of Bethlehem | Fathom Events.

About Max Lucado: Max Lucado is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. His trade books begin as sermon series at Oak Hills Church, and his sermons start with Max asking himself this question: “What can I say on Sunday that will still matter on Monday?” He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest and the “Ted Lasso of Pastors” by the Dallas Morning News. Max’s products have sold more than 145 million copies in 54 languages worldwide and regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, and The Wall Street Journal. His writing has also been featured in Bible studies, Bible commentaries, songs, animated videos, and greeting cards. Learn more at MaxLucado.com.

About Fathom Events: Fathom Events is a recognized leader in the entertainment industry as one of the top distributors of content to movie theaters in North America. Owned by AMC Entertainment Inc. (NYSE: AMC); Cinemark Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CNK); and Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group (LSE: CINE.L), Fathom operates the largest cinema distribution network, delivering a wide variety of programming and experiences to cinema audiences in all the top U.S. markets and to more than 45 countries. For more information, visit FathomEvents.com.

About Educational Media Foundation: Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is a nonprofit, multi-platform media company on a mission to draw people closer to Christ. Founded in 1982 in Santa Rosa, Calif., with a single radio station, EMF today owns and operates the world’s two largest Christian music radio networks (K-LOVE and Air1) with more than 1,000 broadcast signals across all 50 states, streaming audio reaching around the world, and a growing family of media ministries including podcasts, books, films, concerts and events. EMF employs 500 team members between its offices in Nashville, Tenn.; Rocklin, Calif.; and field locations across the country. (For more information, visit www.emfbroadcasting.com)

Contact: For all press inquiries, please contact Jana Muntsinger, jana@mmpublicrelations.com or 832-889-MMPR