Beverly LaHaye, who entered Christ’s presence on April 14, 2024, lived an extraordinary life of service to our Lord. Both she and her husband of 69 years, Tim, were dearly cherished members of the Harvest House family going all the way back to 1976, shortly after the company was founded. 

For decades, Beverly had a positive and far-reaching impact on our culture as an evangelical Christian advocate for women, the unborn, traditional marriage and family, and the nation of Israel. In 1979, she founded Concerned Women for America, which gave everyday Christian women a much-needed voice in Washington, DC. CWA quickly became one of the largest and most influential women’s organizations in the country.

Behind the scenes, Beverly was a dedicated wife, mother, and grandmother who poured her heart into all things family. Those who attended Tim’s funeral service in July 2016 were given a moving glimpse of her love and care when she gathered the entire family in front of the church and spoke from her heart about the ways she and Tim had prayed regularly for every one of them. 

Beverly’s spiritual leadership and influence have encouraged and blessed countless lives over the decades, and a significant part of her legacy is the books she wrote. Her first book with Harvest House—The Spirit-Controlled Woman—was published in 1976. 

The book became an instant classic. By 2019, it had sold more than one million copies, earning Beverly the ECPA Platinum Award. In total, Beverly’s Harvest House books have exceeded two million in sales worldwide, which translates to numerous lives touched by her writing ministry. 

Bob Hawkins, president of Harvest House Publishers, notes that “when my father, Bob Hawkins Sr., first contacted Beverly about writing, she felt inadequate to do The Spirit-Controlled Woman. But he persisted, sharing his vision for what was already within Beverely to write. She finally succumbed and was glad she did!  For God used that book in amazing ways to spiritually impact so many growing Christian women during and following the Jesus revolution of the 1970s and 1980s.”  

Beverly humbly and repeatedly gave God full credit for her accomplishments. In the updated edition of The Spirit-Controlled Woman (released in 2005), she wrote, “My testimony is that I have come this far by faith and the power of the Holy Spirit. I still have a long way to go, but God is faithfully working in me to prepare me for that day when I shall meet Him face to face.” 

About Harvest House Publishers: From its beginning in 1974, the company has produced books that impact the hearts of people worldwide. That focus continues with the making of biblically nourishing and innovative products that enrich lives, inspire creativity, and glorify God. With an emphasis on addressing the spiritual and practical needs of men, women, and children, Harvest House seeks to serve God and those who need Him through the books it publishes. For more information, visit http://www.harvesthousepublishers.com/

Media Contact:  Cindy Irvin, cindy.irvin@harvesthousepublishers.com, 541-302-0725

 

The Spanish publishing divisions of HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP)—Editorial Vida, Grupo Nelson, distributed imprint, Clie, as well as the HarperFocus imprint, HarperEnfoque—were recognized and honored with a combined 13 awards at the 2024 Spanish Evangelical Publishing Association (SEPA) banquet on April 18, 2024.

The winning titles were:

LIBROS DE MÁS VENTA (TOP SELLERS)

Libro de Estudio Bíblico (Bible Study Book)

• Apocalipsis (Revelation) by Jahaziel Rodríguez | Editorial Vida

Líderazgo (Leadership)

• El poder para cambiar (The Power to Change) by Craig Groeschel | Editorial Vida

Matrimonio & familia (Marriage and Family)

• Solo quiero que sepas (I Just Want You to Know) by Andrés and Kelly Spyker | Editorial Vida

Fe y cultura (Faith & Culture)

• Generación idiota (Idiot Generation) by Agustín Laje | HarperEnfoque

Biblia de Texto (Text Bible)

• Reina Valera 1960 Santa Biblia Edición Económica, El regalo de Dios (RVR60 The Gift of God Economy Bible) | Editorial Vida

Biblia de Estudio con anotaciones en toda la Biblia (Study Bible with Notes)

• Reina Valera Revisada, Biblia de Referencia Thompson (RVR Thompson Chain Reference Bible) | Editorial Vida

MEJOR PORTADA DE LIBRO (BEST BOOK COVER)

• Generación idiota (Idiot Generation) by Agustín Laje | HarperEnfoque

MEJOR PORTADA Y DISEÑO INTERIOR DE BIBLIA ESPECIALIZADA (BEST COVER & INTERIOR DESIGN FOR SPECIALIZED BIBLE)

• NBLA Biblia Edición Artística Ilustrada (NBLA, Illustrated Artisan Collection Bible) | Editorial Vida

MEJOR ANUNCIO (BEST PRINT/DIGITAL AD)

• Las crónicas de Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia) by C. S. Lewis | Grupo Nelson

GALLERY OF HONOR

Premio plata (Silver Award- 100K+ copies sold)

• Generación idiota (Idiot Generation) by Agustín Laje | HarperEnfoque
• Las trampas del miedo (Fear Traps) by Daniel Habif | HarperEnfoque

Premio Oro (Gold Award-250K+ copies sold)

• ¿Cuál camino? (Which Way?) by Luisa Jeter de Walker | Editorial Vida

MEJOR LIBRO ORIGINAL ESPAÑOL (Best Original Spanish Book)

• Curso de teología patrística (Course of Theology of the Church Fathers) by Xabier Pikaza | Clie

“We are thrilled to see 13 books honored at the SEPA awards,” said Cris Garrido, vice president and publisher for HCCP’s Spanish publishing program. “These accolades reflect the hard work and dedication of our talented authors and employees, as we strive to publish impactful and inspiring stories that resonate with readers and their faith.”

For more information on the 2024 SEPA awards, please visit its website.

Children Don’t Need Perfect Parents—They Need a Perfect Savior

Juan and Jeanine Sanchez offer a guide to parenting with gospel grace and practical application

Raising children can feel overwhelming as you try to navigate the many voices telling you what to do and not to do, but God has already given you everything you need to be faithful parents. In Reaching a Child’s Heart: A Practical Guide to Faithful Parenting (New Growth Press/May 6, 2024), Juan and Jeanine Sanchez encourage parents from their gospel-shaped perspective that children don’t need perfect parents—they need a perfect Savior.

“Parenting is hard. It’s the hardest and most humbling thing I’ve ever done. Quite often I felt like a failure. But my kids didn’t need me to be a perfect dad, and they didn’t need Jeanine to be a perfect mom. They need a perfect Savior, and they have that in Jesus,” Juan writes. “What they needed from us was an example of humility, faithfulness, patience, repentance, and love. They needed us to help them see the impact of the gos­pel in everyday situations. They needed us to be willing to teach them God’s Word and to show them the Father’s love.”

After hearing from parents who are frustrated by their kids’ behavior and exhausted by the world’s wisdom, Juan and Jeanine wanted to sit down with parents and encourage them with God’s plan for raising children. As they share their own journey of parenting five children, the authors highlight the importance of a team-based approach to parenting. They emphasize focusing on children’s hearts, rather than behavior modification, and illustrate how daily faithfulness in the routine cares of life is never a waste of time. The authors start by sharing how a parent’s desire for their children should be the same as God’s: that they would reflect the image and glory of God. A parent’s job is to teach them God’s truths and hold them to God’s standard and when they fail, point them to Jesus, the One who gives a new heart and his empowering Spirit.

“The main point we want to stress is the importance of knowing God’s Word so that you may know God. This is our aim—to know him, that we may become like him. When the truth of God’s Word is in our hearts, we can pass it along to our children. But we must also lead our children by the example of our actions,” Jeanine explains.

Reaching Your Child’s Heart provides a down-to-earth, practical guide for parents that will help them move from survival mode to joyful, Christ-dependent parenting. For every parent who may be exhausted and discouraged, they can take heart from the simple, biblical principles shared in Reaching Your Child’s Heart as the authors:

• introduce a biblical and theological foundation for the role of parents,
• expose the dangers of child-centered parenting,
• offer practical guidance on establishing healthy patterns for children’s security and success,
• provide practical help for practicing gospel-based discipline,
• guide parents in navigating the teenage years so that they may be enjoyed,
• include questions for reflection for individual use or group discussion.

Keri Folmar, author of the Delighting in the Word Bible studies and cohost of the Priscilla Talk podcast writes, “Reaching Your Child’s Heart establishes a firm, biblical foundation for godly parenting and provides a wealth of advice on how to live it out. Not formulaic but eminently practical, this book doesn’t stir up guilt but gives the hope of the gospel. Offering many helpful illustrations, these seasoned parents walk alongside you with good counsel for the various challenges of parenting in the different stages of your children’s lives. Read this book and use the insightful questions to discuss with your spouse and other parents in your church. Whether you’re a new parent or have teenagers, it will equip you to shepherd your children, pointing them to Christ.”

Reaching Your Child’s Heart: A Practical Guide to Faithful Parenting
by Juan and Jeanine Sanchez
May 6, 2024
ISBN: 978-1-64507-318-5
Retail Price: $18.99
Religion / Christian Living / Parenting

About the Authors

Juan Sanchez, MDiv, ThM, PhD, serves as senior pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, TX and is a council member of The Gospel Coalition, cofounder and president of Coalición, and an associate professor of theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored numerous books, including 1 Peter for You and The Leadership Formula and is the coauthor of Reaching Your Child’s Heart with his wife, Jeanine.

Jeanine Sanchez teaches English and writing to children and teaches the Bible to women. When not in the classroom, Jeanine enjoys reading, hospitality, watching Florida football, and spending time with her adult children and her grandchildren.

Juan and Jeanine have been married over thirty years and are the parents of five adult daughters, They live in the Austin, TX area.

Learn more at www.jandjsanchez.com. Follow the Sanchezes on Facebook (Juan R. Sanchez), X (@manorjuan), and Instagram (@manorjuan and @jeaninedell).

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

 

Neighborhoods Reimagined by Chris & Elizabeth McKinney, a call to show and share Jesus’ love with our communities.

Louisville, KY— Speakers and authors Chris and Elizabeth McKinney are set to release their new book NEIGHBORHOODS REIMAGINED, a clear vision to show and share Jesus’ love in our communities. Neighborhoods Reimagined will release May 6 through 10Publishing.

Through their personal experiences of being actively involved in their neighborhood community, the McKinney’s tell their story of how God called them to take Jesus’ beatitudes and apply these upside-down, kingdom values in order to turn corners right-side-up.

In the book, they write, “He [Jesus] knows the broad, sweeping obstacles we face in our neighborhoods. He sees the general ruin and disrepair. He understands the specific and unique challenges of our individual addresses – the isolation, independence, social anxiety, over-scheduling, suspicion, inattentiveness, and other seemingly insurmountable hurdles. But he has plans.” (Page 21)

Speaking about the book, Jonathan Pountney, Editorial Director at 10ofThose, said, “So often Christians lack a clear vision for how they can show and share Jesus’ love in their communities. The wonderful thing about Neighborhoods Reimagined is that in it, Chris and Elizabeth McKinney challenge readers to imagine a neighborhood where people are connected rather than isolated, where mercy helps right wrongs, and where we become agents in seeing God’s kingdom come.”

The book features blurbs from experienced Bible teachers, Nancy Guthrie and Michael Graham, Program Director for the Keller Center for Cultural Apologetics.

NEIGHBORHOODS REIMAGINED is published by 10Publishing and will release May 6. Retail page is available here.

About Chris & Elizabeth McKinney:
Chris (MDiv, Covenant Seminary) and Elizabeth McKinney live in Columbia, Missouri, with their four daughters and a Pomeranian. They work for Cru City and serve as associate staff at their church, The Crossing. They are co-authors of Placed for a Purpose and host of the Placed for a Purpose Podcast.

About 10ofThose:
10ofThose is a publisher, distributor and retailer, and provides the bookstores for many major conferences. They are based in Leyland, UK and Louisville, KY.  Their publishing imprints include 10Publishing, Evangelical Press and Reformation Lightning.

For More Information:
Marketing Assistant, Callie Strasser, callie.strasser@10ofthose.com

April 2024 | LISLE, IL—With a rich seventy-five year history of publishing titles and textbooks that have facilitated broader conversations taking place in the academy and the church, IVP Academic will soon offer another vantage point of the academic publishing process with a new podcast called Behind the Books. The first episode releases May 2.

The first season of Behind the Books will feature Scot McKnight, Lynn H. Cohick, and Nijay K. Gupta, the three volume editors of the second edition of the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. After the deep focus on this foundational Pauline dictionary, Behind the Books will transition to IVP Academic hosts Jon Boyd, associate publisher and academic editorial director, and Alexandra Horn, academic marketing manager.

Horn said, “While it’s easy to judge a book by its cover, the pursuit of Behind the Books is to take the posture of curious learners and storytellers, while demystifying aspects of our industry that are oft observed as behind-closed-doors or only accessible to the few. Behind every book are many people, from authors to editors, contributors, designers, etc. This podcast seeks to see the human and humanity behind and within the publishing process, exploring the journeys and faith that brought us to this vocation.”

Boyd said, “Getting to talk with authors and other certified book nerds (that is, my IVP colleagues) is just about my favorite thing in the workday, so when Alexandra Horn pitched this idea, I was immediately all in.”

For the first eleven episodes of Behind the Books McKnight, Cohick, and Gupta will interview contributors to DPL2, IVP’s shorthand for the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, second edition; share insights from the writing and editing process; and look back to how the first edition of DPL started thirty years ago.

McKnight said, “When the door into the studies of today’s Pauline scholars is opened for all of us to enter, we learn why they write what they do. On the Behind the Books podcast you will hear firsthand accounts by the authors of why they chose to become scholars, how their faith impacts their writings, and why their writings can impact the church and the Christian life. Rarely do we get such personal and inside information about authors and their understanding of the apostle Paul.”

A one-of-a-kind reference, DPL2 is a thoroughly revised and updated version of the acclaimed 1993 publication. Since that groundbreaking volume was published, developments in Pauline studies have continued at a rapid pace, with diverse new scholars entering the conversation, new ideas and methods gaining attention, and fresh expressions of old topics shaping the present discussion. Classic topics such as Christology, justification, hermeneutics, and book studies of individual epistles receive careful treatment by specialists in the field.

Gupta said, “Most people experience DPL2 as words on pages, but what makes it fun for me as an editor is that the contributors are real people with fascinating stories and passions. Behind the Books offers a precious glimpse into scholars at work and play—the people, planning, and efforts behind the books we cherish!”

The featured DPL2 scholars for the first season of Behind the Books are

• May 2: An introduction to Behind the Books with hosts and DPL2 editors Scot McKnight, Lynn H. Cohick, Nijay K. Gupta
• May 9: Michael Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary and University
• May 16: Jeannine Brown, professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary
• May 23: Helen Rhee, professor of church history at Westmont College
• May 30: Chris Hoklotubbe, assistant professor of religion at Cornell College
• June 6: Amy Peeler, Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College
• June 13: Louise Gosbell, principal of Mary Andrews College
• June 20: Dennis Edwards, associate professor of New Testament, vice president for church relations, and dean of North Park Seminary
• June 27: Lucy Peppiatt, principal of Westminster Theological Centre
• July 4: Mike Bird, academic dean and lecturer in New Testament at Ridley College
• July 11: Dan Reid, developmental editor for IVP’s award-winning New Testament dictionaries

New episodes of Behind the Books will release every Thursday.

Boyd said, “The publishing process from beginning to end is more fascinating—and complicated!—than even most avid readers would expect, so we relish the chance to usher you backstage, so to speak. We’re going to make it both fun and educational.”

Check out the trailer for Behind the Books here: Behind the Books Podcast – InterVarsity Press (ivpress.com).

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

 

Ada, Mich. (April 22, 2022)—Baker Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce it recently signed a third book with David Green, founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby stores.

“We’re thrilled to build upon the incredible success of Leadership Not by the Book and the forthcoming The Leader’s Devotional to collaborate on a major new project with David Green and Bill High,” said Brian Vos, editorial director for Baker Books. “They have a countercultural, biblical message to share about personal and family life—a life with deeper meaning and purpose—that will equip our brothers and sisters in Christ across the nation and around the world to lead lives that matter for eternity.”

The book is slated for Fall 2025 with a tentative title of The Legacy Life.

“I’m afraid we think too short-term and too small,” said Green. “I believe we are called to think and live a life that will impact generations. The Legacy Life will teach people how to live a life that makes a generational difference.”

Bill High will co-author the book with Green. Green is represented by Tom Dean, founder of A Drop of Ink.

“God looks at family as a multigenerational enterprise,” said Dean. “This new book will reset the definition of family: readers will be challenged, encouraged, and convicted to think about how they live each day and how it will impact their family for generations to come. I’m so honored to represent David Green and Bill High and this timely and practical book.”

Baker Books has a vision for building up the body of Christ through books that are relevant, intelligent, and engaging. Learn more at www.BakerBooks.com.

Contact: Kelli B. Smith, ksmith@bakerpublishinggroup.com

Inter-Varsity Press (IVP) has appointed Professor Beth M. Stovell, Chair of General Theological Studies at Ambrose Seminary, Canada, as the new editor for their Apollos Old Testament Commentary Series.

Professor Stovell joins David W. Baker as co-editor of the Apollos Old Testament Commentary (AOTC) series, replacing former editor Gordon J. Wenham on his retirement. Written by an international team of scholars, the AOTC series expounds the divine and human aspects of scripture, and emphasises the relevance of the Old Testament for modern readers.

Stovell is currently Professor of Old Testament at Ambrose University, teaching courses in Old Testament, Hebrew, and Biblical Theology, and overseeing seminar programmes in her role as Chair of General Theological Studies.

In her new role as AOTC editor, Stovell will work with Thomas Creedy, Editorial Director for IVP.

Creedy says: “Beth is a fantastic addition to the AOTC team. She is a scholar who embodies the sensitive exegesis and thoughtful biblical theology that the series is known for, and I look forward to seeing it flourish further under her work. I’m excited to see Beth interact alongside co-editor David Baker, with manuscripts already in the pipeline, and to see her work on David’s Genesis contribution to the series. We at IVP are so grateful to David and Gordon for their pioneering and faithful stewardship of the AOTC to date, and pray for God’s continued blessing on the work of the series”

Stovell says: “I am so honoured to come into this role. The AOTC has been excellently run by Gordon Wenham and David Baker for over 20 years. I want to honour what has come before, while offering my unique skills and experience as the series continues.  I am aware of the great responsibility and the great joy of offering my service in this way, and am proud to work with the well-respected scholars who are the authors of the AOTC series. When I think of the AOTC, I think of the values of inspiration and authority of Scripture, and how both the divine and human aspects of Scripture shape our understanding of who God is, who we are in light of Him, and what we should do with our lives, and how to engage with the world around us. For over two decades, this series has provided valuable international voices exploring the historical, literary, and theological depth of the Old Testament. I am so excited to be part of editing a series that reminds us all of the enduring value of biblical theology”.

About Inter-Varsity Press (part of SPCK Group)
Inter-Varsity Press (IVP) publishes Christian books that are true to the Bible and that communicate the gospel, develop discipleship and strengthen the church for its mission throughout the world.

We publish evangelical Christian books for the church and the world, including for academic audiences under the imprint Apollos. As a British publisher, we aim to be at the centre of the UK evangelical church’s conversation with itself and with the wider world. We also seek to have a global reach and impact through worldwide distribution, licensing and partnerships.

Our roots are in the university Christian Union movement. IVP started back in the 1930s as the publishing wing of UCCF. IVP is now a subsidiary charity of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK), an Anglican mission agency and publisher. Engaging students and the academy are still important to our mission, and we remain committed to publishing books true to the UCCF Basis of Faith. You can find some of our resources for students, produced in partnership with UCCF, here.

Press contact: Emily Beater, ebeater@spck.org.uk, 07494430503

April 2024 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that Shane White has been named Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Publicity.

White joins IVP with more than twenty-eight years of sales management experience, most recently as the Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Publicity for Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

“As someone who has clearly left a lasting impression on those he has worked with in the past, Shane quickly rose to the surface in our search,” said Terumi Echols, President and Publisher at IVP. “We heard from numerous publishing professionals about Shane’s innovative ideas, knowledge of the industry, and his genuine interest in the people he works with. We are grateful for the skills and passion Shane brings to IVP and look forward to working with him to build on IVP’s long history as we expand our digital infrastructure, grow our publishing program, and move into Spanish-language publishing.”

White said, “I am honored to be joining the IVP team. For over seventy-five years, IVP has had a reputation for creating and publishing books that deepen lives in Christ. It is a privilege for me to contribute to this legacy of excellence. I look forward to collaborating with IVP’s dedicated staff, our esteemed authors, and our valued trading partners to expand our market presence and increase distribution.”

White’s career includes significant roles at Sourcebooks, Kidsbooks, and Harvest House Publishers, where he was instrumental in identifying and leveraging strategic opportunities to bolster business and ministry efforts.

LaRae Weikert, former Vice President of Editorial at Harvest House Publishers, said, “Not only is Shane White a seasoned sales professional, he is a creative and gifted product developer. During our time working together, he was responsible for finding several bestselling books and authors. Shane has an extensive knowledge of the book-publishing industry, and he has a keen sense of what books will sell well in the market. One of his best qualities is how much he loves brainstorming product ideas with authors, coworkers, and book buyers. Shane is sincerely interested in people and he makes relationships a priority, which is an incredible asset to any company. As an acquisition editor, I loved interacting with Shane about new products and authors to pursue for the publishing company where we worked.”

White’s first day as IVP’s Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Publicity will be April 29.

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

 

A former counterterrorism official explores how modern evangelicalism and right-wing conservatism intermingled to form the combustible ideology that resulted in the January 6 attacks on the Capitol—and which threatens to destroy the American Church from within.

How did a Church that purports to follow the teachings of Jesus – the Prince of Peace – become a breeding ground for violent extremism?

When Elizabeth Neumann began her anti-terrorism career as part of President George W. Bush’s Homeland Security Counsel in the wake of the September 11 attacks, she expected to spend her life protecting her country from the threat of global terrorism.

But as her career evolved, she began to perceive that the greatest threat to American security came not from religious fundamentalists in Afghanistan or Iraq but from white nationalists and radicalized religious fundamentalists within the very institution that was closest to her heart – the American evangelical church. And she began to sound the alarm, raising her concerns to anyone in government who would listen, including testifying before Congress in February of 2020. At that time, Neumann warned that anti-Semitic and white supremacist terrorism was a transnational threat that was building to the doorstep of another major attack. Shortly after her testimony, she resigned from her role as Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention in protest of what she believed was then-President Trump’s failure of leadership and his stoking of the hatred, anger, and division from which she had dedicated her life to protecting her country.

Her worst fears came true when she witnessed the attack on the capital on January 6, 2021.

In Kingdom of Rage, Neumann explores the forces within American society that have encouraged the radicalization of white supremacist, anti-government and other far-right terrorists by co-opting Christian symbols and culture and perverting the faith’s teachings. While Neumann offers decades of insights into the role government policies can play to prevent further bloodshed, she believes real change must come from the within the Christian church. She shines a bright light on the responsibility of ordinary Americans – and particularly American Christians – to work within their families and their communities to counteract the narrative of victimization and marginalization within American evangelicalism. Her goal for this book is not only to sound a warning about one of the greatest threats to our security but to rescue the Church from the forces that will, if left unchecked, destroy it – culturally, morally, and ultimately quite literally. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand the unholy marriage of right-wing politics and Christian exceptionalism in America and who wants to be a part of reversing the current path towards division, hatred, violence and the ultimate undermining of both evangelical Christianity and American democracy.

Elizabeth Neumann served as the Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Neumann is an ABC News contributor and the chief strategy officer at Moonshot. She is based in the Denver, CO area.

A funny, thought-provoking memoir-in-essays about learning to understand—again and again—that we can’t earn God’s love no matter how many rules we follow or boxes we check, and learning to accept the grace that is freely given.

Growing up, Kimberly Stuart got really good at strapping on her spiritual tap shoes and trying to be a star for Jesus. She could sing all the songs, ace the sword drills, and know all the right theology. From earning creepy Jesus paperweights in her church’s faux Girl Scout program to trying to calm an actual storm on the Mediterranean, she was doing her best… and still found herself longing for something more. She didn’t mean to completely ignore the most beautiful tenets of her faith—the unwavering grace and tenacious love of God—but she did. Which, of course, was the problem. Her best was lackluster, and God wasn’t looking for a star performer anyway.

Star for Jesus (And Other Jobs I Quit), is an invitation for readers to spot unvarnished, amazing grace when they see it. With her trademark wit and transparency, Stuart brings readers through both big and small moments that teach us to cling to the fierce love of God instead of the flimsier versions we find elsewhere.

With unflinching honesty and relatable humor, Stuart encourages readers to take another look at unrelenting grace; why, contrary to the cultural narrative, we are not actually enough, and that’s good news; how we always, remarkably, have all the grace we need; and why this moment in history is the perfect time to extend no-strings-attached grace to an emotionally bedraggled, wary world.

Kimberly Stuart is a writer, speaker, podcaster, and dark chocolate obsessive. She is the author of eight novels. Stuart’s books have been featured in Cosmopolitan, Huff Post, and the Chicago Sun-Times. She and New York Times-bestselling author Bob Goff have coached hundreds of aspiring authors through their executive coaching, online courses, podcast, and live events in the San Diego area. Stuart has made her home in Minneapolis, Houston, Chicago, Costa Rica, Nebraska, and Iowa, where she now lives with her brave husband and three wily children.