Orange County, CA – Now in its 27th year, the Web Marketing Association’s WebAwards are recognized as the world’s premier industry-based Website Award program.  In this year’s awards contest, FrontGate Media was honored with two WebAwards.  The Web Marketing Association’s independent evaluation of websites by expert judges awarded FrontGate Media the Standard of Excellence in Marketing as well as the Standard of Excellence in the Faith-based category for their newly redesigned website at http://FrontGateMedia.com.

“Our site documents the work we do through case studies, marketing tips, market commentary, and more as we connect ad agencies, marketing consultants, for profit companies, and non-profit organizations with the faith-based audience,” says founder and president Scott A. Shuford. “I am honored for our newly redesigned FrontGate Media website to be recognized by our digital marketing peers not just in the Faith-based category, but also in the overall Marketing category.”

The Web Marketing Association’s 27th annual WebAward Competition for website development featured entries from around the world and were adjudicated in 97 industry categories. Entries were judged on design, copywriting, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology.  A complete list of the winning sites can be found at the WebAward website at http://www.webaward.org.

About FrontGate Media
Award-winning FrontGate Media is a leading full-service marketing agency and media group specializing in the Faith and Family audience.  With a 20+ year track record of success, the firm serves as “Your Gateway to the Christian Audience.” FrontGate’s full-service agency and media group has been trusted with over 7,500 campaigns, providing Faith-based market Strategy Development, Public Relations, Social Media Content & Advertising, Media Buying, and Creative Services. FrontGate’s own Digital Network also provides reach to more than 10 Million UMV, 20 Million Email Subscribers, and Millions more Social Followers each month.  Founded in 2001, FrontGate has repeatedly been honored in the Internet Advertising Competition and the WebAwards. The company plays a key role in the success of for-profit and non-profit organizations seeking faith-based and family-friendly audiences.   http://FrontGateMedia.com

To discuss the faith-based market, for more information on FrontGate Media, or to schedule an interview with Scott A. Shuford, please contact Anna Glova at 414-240-1721 or Anna@FrontGateMedia.com.

Media Contact:  Anna Glova, 414-240-1721, Anna@FrontGateMedia.com

(Nashville, Tenn., October 2023) — Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of the Timeless Truths Bible. Pastor and author Matthew Z. Capps served as its general editor.

“This is a special resource that can be handed to a new believer who needs to be introduced to the Christian tradition,” said Capps. “It’s also ideal for a seasoned saint who wants to read alongside some of the church’s most influential figures.”

Each chapter of the Timeless Truths Bible features devotional notes and commentary from trusted voices throughout history, along with text from the ancient creeds, confessions, catechisms and covenants of the Christian faith. Essays sharing the stories of key historical figures and reproductions of artwork inspired by Scripture are also included.

“In our fast-paced, uncertain world, the Timeless Truths Bible reminds us how the Christian faith is a solid place to stand,” said Philip Nation, PhD, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Thomas Nelson. “With notes on the Scriptures from the great figures of church history, this edition will be a great source of hope and comfort for any Bible reader.”

The Timeless Truths Bible is available now everywhere Bibles are sold. Learn more at timelesstruthsbible.com.

About the editor
Matthew Z. Capps, (MDiv, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, DMin., Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, PhD candidate at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia), is the Senior Pastor of Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, North Carolina. Matt and his wife, Laura, have three children.

About the New English Translation
The New English Translation (NET) is faithful to the text, clear to modern readers, and establishes an unparalleled accountability. Translated by a team of leading biblical scholars, the NET marries fidelity to original texts with everyday English clarity. It is backed by extensive online resources at NetBible.org which detail every major translation decision. Enrich your reading experience of Scripture with the NET: Faithful. Clear. Accountable.

About Thomas Nelson:
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, cookbooks, 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 thomasnelson.com

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

The Jesus Storybook Bible Has Now Reached over 5 Million Sold

Grand Rapids, MI – October 31, 2023 – Zonderkidz is pleased to announce that Sally Lloyd-Jones’s and Bishop Michael Curry’s episode of The Jesus Storybook Bible Podcast won the silver W3 award for individual episodes/specials in the community category from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts.

Created in 2021 by Zonderkidz and the New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones and based on the multi-million bestseller The Jesus Storybook Bible, the podcast now has 114 episodes and has been downloaded over 350,000 times. Inspired by the many beautiful stories of hope, joy, and grace that readers have shared in the 17 years since The Jesus Storybook Bible was published, the podcast has become a platform where people from of all walks of life share about the life-transforming power of God’s love in their lives. Guests have included Amy Grant, Max Lucado, Tim Keller and more.

In addition, the book reached a milestone this summer, with over 5 million copies sold since it was first published in 2007. The book is published in over 55 languages.

Winning entries for the W3 Awards were selected by a jury from the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of leading digital marketing and creative experts (www.aiva.org). More about the awards can be found here: https://www.w3award.com/jury-process/

“We’re so pleased with this recognition of the hard work and time that has gone into producing this podcast these past two years. This platform is a tool for reaching more people with the inspiring stories that make up The Jesus Storybook Bible and the lives impacted by the book,” says Megan Dobson, Vice President and Publisher of Zonderkidz. “Bringing Sally together with friends of the book has been beautiful. Listeners have enjoyed the perspectives guests share on what their favorite Bible story is, how the telling of that story in The Jesus Storybook Bible has grown their faith, and how they’ve seen God at work in their life.”

“I wrote a book for children that somehow found its way into the hands of pastors and professors, musicians and actors, on NICU wards, in prisons. And then we began to hear incredibly moving stories about lives transformed by God’s love. I couldn’t keep the stories to myself any longer. So I invited people to share with us personally about how God’s love has changed everything,” says Lloyd-Jones. “I am so grateful to Bishop Michael Curry for sharing his beautiful message of love. It could not be more fitting for our podcast whose whole aim is to share God’s wonderful Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love.”

More about the Podcast:

More about the podcast can be found at https://www.sallylloyd-jones.com. Four Eyes Media (www.iiiimedia.com) produces the podcast. The podcast can be found on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher and most other podcast platforms.

The link to the award-winning episode can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/id/podcast/leading-with-love-bishop-michael-curry/id1586003820?i=1000536356258

More about the Book:

For over a decade, The Jesus Storybook Bible has been introducing children to God’s wonderful story, and the Savior at the center of that story. Trusted and treasured with over 5 million copies sold, The Jesus Storybook Bible is the quintessential book for parents, grandparents, pastors, and anyone else who wants to share God’s Never Stopping, Never Giving Up, Unbreaking, Always and Forever Love with children. Beautifully written by New York Times bestselling author Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by award-winning artist Jago, the book contains 21 stories from the Old Testament and 23 stories from the New Testament.

Milestones and accolades:

• First published in 2007, The Jesus Storybook Bible has sold over 5 million units, one of the bestselling storybook Bibles in the last 2 decades
• The book has been published in over 55 languages
• The Jesus Storybook Bible has captured the attention of many, with thousands of blog, social media and magazine reviews and interviews including mentions in USA Today, Christianity Today, and more. See more at jesusstorybookbible.com under the “Etc.” tab.
• See the full collection of related books, board books and more: https://www.sallylloyd-jones.com/jsbcollection/
• Awards:
  • 2007 Moonbeam Award
  • 2009 NAPPA Award
  • 2010 Mom’s Choice Award
  • 2010 ALA Notable Award for Children’s Recordings
  • 2011 ECPA Gold Book Award
  • 2014 Rodda Award
  • 2014 Best in Children’s Media Award from the Association of Christian Booksellers Group- UK
  • 2018 Logos Author of the Year Award

More about Sally Lloyd-Jones:

Sally is a New York Times bestselling writer and frequent performer of her work. She has written over 25 books, spanning the Christian and the general markets. Her work has been critically acclaimed by the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. Her Zonderkidz books include The Jesus Storybook Bible, winner of the Platinum Book Award, with over 5 million copies sold and translated into over 55 languages; Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing, winner of the Association of Christian Publisher’s Book of the Year Award in the adult inspiration category; Baby Wren, winner of The Christopher Award, and many others. Sally has performed her stories and poems with Amy Grant and Ellie Holcomb, appeared at Carnegie Hall with The Gettys in their Christmas Show and with Andrew Peterson at The Ryman. Sally was born in Kampala, Uganda, raised in East and West Africa and at a boarding school in the New Forest, England, studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, and now lives in NYC.

She can be found at www.sallylloyd-jones.com , on Instagram @sallylloydjones, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SallyLloydJones/

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

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan’s offices are located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

New series introduce tiny hearts to timeless hymns, scriptural prayers, and covenant promises.

P&R Publishing has released the first three board books in an ongoing series for children ages 0–3. Filled with vibrant, exuberant artwork by graphic designer Jessica Hiatt, they introduce young readers to historical Christian hymns, biblical prayers, and covenant promises compiled by Hannah Estes. Prayers and Promises include original, child-friendly Bible translations by Westminster Theological Seminary professor and P&R author Iain M. Duguid. The board books are a first for P&R, and the publisher plans to bring important scriptural truths to the board book format with subsequent volumes in the series.

HYMNS

Teach your children eight enduring hymns of the faith while enjoying vibrant illustrations that capture the lyrics for little hearts.

Hymns Included:

• Holy, Holy, Holy
• Be Thou My Vision
• Amazing Grace
• This Is My Father’s World
• Great Is Thy Faithfulness
• Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
• Crown Him with Many Crowns
• Doxology

PRAYERS

Model prayer for your little one using eight beautifully illustrated scriptural prayers from Hannah, David, Daniel, Mary, and others.

Prayers Included:

• Mary’s Prayer from Luke 1
• Hannah’s Prayer from 1 Samuel 2
• Daniel’s Prayer from Daniel 9
• Paul’s Prayer from Ephesians 3
• David’s Prayer from Psalm 130
• The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6
• The Saints’ Prayer from Revelation 19
• The High Priest’s Prayer from Numbers 6

PROMISES

Use eight beautifully illustrated passages to rehearse with your little one the covenant promises that God made to his people in the Old and New Testaments.

Promises Included:

• “I Will Be With You”
• “You Are My Sheep”
• “Ask and I Will Give”
• “I Am Strong when You Are Weak”
• “I Will Show You the Way”
• “I Will Forgive You”
• “I Will Change Your Heart”
• “I’m Coming Back”

THE EDITOR

Hannah Estes was born in Cambridge, England, and grew up in a ministry family. A graduate of the English Nanny & Governess School, she worked as a certified professional nanny and as an event coordinator at Westminster Theological Seminary before marrying her husband, Clint. She loves being a mom and pastor’s wife and hosting book clubs and gatherings at their home in Flourtown, Pennsylvania.

THE ILLUSTRATOR

Jessica Hiatt is a pastor’s wife, mother, designer, and illustrator living in the Midwest. Her lifelong love of art and theology merged when she began working as a graphic designer for Westminster Theological Seminary, where she received an MAR. She has designed covers for the books The Wonderful Works of God (Bavinck), Things Unseen (Machen), and Struck Down but Not Destroyed (Hibbs), among others. She is passionate about conveying theological concepts creatively and visually, for work, at home, and in her church community.

By renowned biblical scholar and author N.T. Wright

(Grand Rapids, MI, Oct. 2023) Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of The New Testament for Everyone, Third Edition, an updated translation of the New Testament by renowned biblical scholar and author N.T. Wright. It is also available for the first time as an audio book, featuring Wright as narrator.

“Translating the New Testament has been one of the most stimulating challenges of my life. I wanted not only to be as accurate as possible but also to convey the energy and excitement of the original text,” said Professor Wright. “It’s possible to be technically accurate but dull and lifeless — and that would be the worst sort of ‘inaccuracy’! I hope this new version enables a fresh generation to get a sense of the sheer power and drama of the early Christian writings — and of the living presence of Jesus which speaks through them.”

Building upon the work done in Wright’s The Kingdom New Testament, this newly typeset edition features Wright’s slight translation revisions, as well as book introductions not published in previous editions. The language used in this translation seeks to convey the meaning of the original Greek while also being accessible to modern readers. Features include:

• Complete text of the New Testament translated by N. T. Wright
• Preface and book introductions by N. T. Wright
• Dozens of maps throughout the text
• Type size: 11

“We are so proud to partner with Professor Wright for an updated version of his initial work. His expertise brings a fresh, dynamic feel to the translation – making it accessible to people at any point in their faith journey,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “Hearing his voice, in the audio edition, adds a new dimension and energy to this sacred text.”

N.T. Wright is the former bishop of Durham and senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He is one of the world’s leading New Testament scholars and the award-winning author of many books, including After You Believe, Surprised by Hope, Simply Christian, Interpreting Paul, and The New Testament in Its World, as well as the Christian Origins and Question of God series.

The New Testament for Everyone, Third Edition is be available now. To request a review copy, please email Amy Bigler at amy.bigler@harpercollins.com.

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

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

For more than two decades Skot Welch has been an internationally known and respected advisor on diversity and inclusion – but he is also an ordained pastor and teaching Elder for Christian Life Center/Stones Church. Welch is very aware of the fractures within the Christian community: “We have problems. Strained racial and ethnic relations, deceptions of various sorts of ‘privilege,’ low esteem and the like have driven a wedge between segments of the church – between the ‘black church’ and the ‘white church’ specifically – that has effectively separated us for so long that decidedly different languages have developed.”

He believes the church can lead the culture in this conversation by creating a more effective dialogue, which he discusses in his new book Unfractured: A Christ-Centered Action Plan for Cultural Change (Nov. 2023, Chosen Books). Welch suggests the church holds the redemptive solution our world needs, one that puts Christ at the center, modeling conciliation that leads to lasting reconciliation.

As Welch explains, “We cannot work together as a body until we are able to communicate effectively. So, here’s a new language for a new church era. The explanations of truths, understandings, and change suggestions [in this book] will reverse the trend of separation so the body of Christ can function as an unfractured whole, bringing glory to our God, who can then operate on our planet through the unity of His family.”

In Unfractured, Welch takes the tools and discussions he successfully implements in the secular world and offers them to his faith family, the church. He challenges readers to rethink the way they talk about race and ethnicity, empowering people of faith to:

• Celebrate both your identity in Christ and diverse cultural makeup.
• Embrace a new kingdom language that is biblically grounded and culturally relevant.
• Explore a Christ-centered perspective on hard but crucial questions.
• Build a united, diverse community where compassionate, challenging conversations can take place.
• Learn a proven metric-based change model that has been in organizations across the globe.

Each chapter concludes with reflection questions and a glossary of terms used in the chapter, to both educate the reader on new ideas and bring them deeper into the discussion.

“The church is fractured today because of the people’s inability to communicate,” Welch writes in Unfractured. “But thanks to the unifying blood of Jesus, this fact does not have to remain true.”

For press inquiries: 
Judy McDonough, KCM, judy@karencampbellmedia.com 
Karen Campbell, KCM, karen@karencampbellmedia.com  

Book publishers and other interested parties are invited to learn more during an online information session scheduled for November 15 at 4:00 PM Eastern.

Newburyport, MA (October 26, 2023)—Firebrand Technologies (www.firebrandtech.com), a leader in book industry technology solutions for over 35 years, announced two exciting new products for 2024 release during its annual user conference held October 25 in Chicago, IL. The new products—Firebrand Flywheel and Title Management Lite—were built to further empower the book publishing industry with enhanced workflow capabilities and sales opportunities.

Introducing Firebrand Flywheel
The first of its kind, Firebrand Flywheel (www.UnlockYourBacklist.com) harnesses the power of AI-supported technology to identify hidden opportunities for driving backlist sales, precisely when it matters most. Ready for client onboarding starting January 2024, Flywheel revolutionizes backlist discoverability and sales through the strategic enhancement of title information, providing technology-driven recommendations for metadata updates, a quick and easy way for these updates to go to market, and a user-friendly dashboard for real-time sales performance monitoring.

Kevin Franco, Firebrand Technologies Director of Special Projects and Flywheel’s head product manager said of the new product, “Flywheel embodies Firebrand Technologies’ dedication to creating products that empower publishers through technology solutions. Flywheel will revolutionize the way publishers optimize backlist sales by helping them pick ‘the right titles at the right time’ through its unique combination of data science and publishing acumen.”

Introducing Title Management Lite
A natural stepping stone on the path to Title Management Enterprise—Firebrand Technologies’ core book publishing workflow solution—Title Management Lite (www.firebrandtech.com/tmlite) was specially designed to meet the needs of small to mid-sized publishers. As with its sister product, Title Management Lite provides publishers the ability to manage key parts of the publishing workflow, from the very beginnings of title acquisition through scheduling, editorial, production, marketing, and publicity. Built-in starter templates and industry-standard workflows will get your team up and running quickly. However, the system is yours, and you have the power to easily adapt it to your own needs, with custom templates and schedules, custom reports, client-specific data fields, and more. Title Management Lite will be ready for client onboarding starting February 2024.

“We’re excited about the launch of Title Management Lite, something a long time in the making,” stated Joshua Tallent, Firebrand Technologies Director of Sales & Education. “Its powerful workflow solutions will be a game-changer for small to mid-sized publishers, enabling them to experience the same efficiency and productivity big publishers have known for years.”

Firebrand Group CEO Angela Bole expressed excitement about both product launches, saying, “For more than 35 years, Firebrand Technologies has developed a core understanding of the technological opportunities fundamental to book publisher success. Firebrand Technologies’ Flywheel and Title Management Lite teams have leveraged this understanding to bring two innovative products to market that are sure to have an immediate impact on publishers’ bottom lines.”

For more information about Firebrand Flywheel contact Joshua Tallent at joshua@firebrandtech.com, visit www.UnlockYourBacklist.com, or register here for Firebrand Technologies’ live new product launch webinar on November 15, 2023 at 1:00 PM Pacific (3:00 PM Central/4:00 PM Eastern).

For more information about Title Management Lite contact Joshua Tallent at joshua@firebrandtech.com or www.firebrandtech.com/tmlite.

About Firebrand Technologies
Firebrand Technologies—a strategic part of Firebrand Group’s family of companies—is dedicated to providing leading software and services to help publishers succeed. Title Management Enterprise tracks titles from pre-acquisition through post-production, marketing, and sales. Eloquence on Demand is the industry gold standard for implementing ONIX and maximizing control of how data reaches the marketplace. Eloquence on Alert’s proprietary title performance monitoring service collects key, hard-to-access details about your products from major online marketplaces and review sites, and puts all of that information directly at your fingertips. For more information, visit firebrandtech.com.

About Firebrand Group
Firebrand Group—a global collection of companies including Firebrand Technologies, NetGalley, and Supadu Ltd—offers comprehensive technology solutions to nurture book publisher success. The companies within Firebrand Group are owned by Media Do International (MD-i), the US-based subsidiary of Japan’s Media Do Co., Ltd, one of the largest ebook distribution companies in the world retaining the largest share of Japan’s ebook market. For more information on Media Do’s services and corporate divisions, visit mediado.jp/english.

October 2023 | DOWNERS GROVE, IL—Less than two years since the first episode released on January 1, 2022, IVP has announced that the Get in the Word with Truth’s Table podcast has surpassed one million downloads.

Get in The Word with Truth’s Table is a daily Bible podcast featuring two cohosts of the popular Truth’s Table podcast—Christina Edmondson and Ekemini Uwan—who narrate the entire Bible and offer daily prayers over the course of a year.

“Hitting the one million download milestone for Get in The Word with Truth’s Table is an affirmation and confirmation of the importance of this kingdom work,” said Uwan. “We knew there was a void in the audio Bible podcast market, and we sought to fill that void so that Black women and everyone knows that the gospel of Jesus Christ belongs to us too.”

Produced in partnership with the popular show Truth’s Table, Get in The Word with Truth’s Table is one of a growing number of projects underwritten by IVP’s Every Voice Now initiative, which seeks to amplify and elevate voices of color.

“When Ekemini first shared with us her dream of creating an audio Bible featuring the voices of women of color, I had no idea whether or not IVP could bring this dream to reality,” said Helen Lee, IVP’s Director of Product Innovation. “Thankfully, through the generosity and support of IVP’s Every Voice Now fund and The Grace & Mercy Foundation, both of which caught Ekemini’s vision, we have been honored to create a resource that continues to bless and inspire listeners every day. Reaching this milestone underscores the reality that so many people want to hear God’s Word in voices that either resonate with their lived experiences or that expand those experiences to include marginalized voices. Historically in the church, the voices of Black women have not always been among those heard and heeded. I’m so grateful to Ekemini and Christina for lending their respected and trustworthy voices towards this project that will help listeners hear and obey God’s Word.”

Edmondson (PhD, Tennessee State University) is a higher education instructor, organizational consultant, and cohost of the Truth’s Table podcast. She is the coauthor of Faithful Antiracism and has served in a variety of roles including as the Dean for Intercultural Student Development at Calvin University. She is also a certified Cultural Intelligence facilitator, public speaker, mental health therapist, and a consultant in the areas of ethics, equity, and Christian leadership development. Her writing has been seen and referenced in outlets like Essence.com, YourBlackWorld.com, and Gospel Today magazine.

“We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with our colleagues at IVP to bring this resource to the public,” Edmondson said. “First and foremost, Get in The Word with Truth’s Table presents the power and beauty of God’s Word through the voices and prayers of Black women. We’re grateful and amazed at reaching one million downloads, and we are trusting God for one million more. We know that God’s Word lifts burdens, transforms hearts, and reassures us of the bounty of grace extended to all of us.”

Uwan (MDiv, Westminster Theological Seminary) is a public theologian and the cohost of the Truth’s Table podcast. Her writings have been published in The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Huffington Post Black Voices, Christianity Today, and The Witness: A Black Christian Collective. Ekemini has appeared on MSNBC, and her insights have been quoted by NPR, CNN, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The New Yorker, among other publications. In 2021, she earned the IMPACT Award from The Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience.

Featuring the New English Translation and a reading plan developed by Peter Schrock of Bible Study Together, the Get in The Word with Truth’s Table episodes move chronologically through the Old Testament and make relevant connections between the Old and New Testaments along the way, interweaving Scripture passages together in a single tapestry so that Old Testament stories, psalms, and prophecies connect as much as possible to New Testament teaching without losing their original context.

“The partnership between InterVarsity Press and Get in The Word with Truth’s Table has been a great example of what we strive to do—to create and publish resources that deepen lives in Christ,” said IVP publisher Terumi Echols. “What this milestone of one million downloads means is that so many people have had their faith deepened through the encouragement of the Scripture and prayers offered in each podcast episode. I am deeply grateful to the hosts, Christina Edmondson and Ekemini Uwan, for the investment of their time and willingness to collaborate with us on this meaningful and important reading of Scripture that has blessed so many listeners.”

Contact | Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com

October 2023 | Downers Grove, Ill.—Respected New Testament scholars Nijay K. Gupta and Amy Peeler have signed a contract with IVP Academic to serve as volume editors for Hard Sayings of the New Testament, scheduled to release in 2026.

The forthcoming volume will be a continuation of the Hard Sayings series that began in 1983 with the publication of The Hard Sayings of Jesus by F. F. Bruce, which was then followed by Hard Sayings of Paul by Manfred Brauch in 1989. The most well-known volume, Hard Sayings of the Bible by Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Peter H. Davids, F. F. Bruce, and Manfred Brauch, was published in 1996. The Hard Saying books eventually became one of the first dynamic features of the IVP website with a rotating banner that linked to the “Hard Saying of the Day.” This daily feature is still active and continues to draw readers decades later.

“The Hard Sayings books were an important set of foundation blocks in IVP’s long history of Bible reference books connecting top-notch scholarship with felt needs of a wider readership of Christians,” said Jon Boyd, IVP’s academic editorial director. “The original books still have their place (and some remain in print), but this ‘reboot’ forty years on will bring both the questions and the scholarship solidly up to date. Professors Gupta and Peeler have deep knowledge of what’s needed to do the project justice in both the academy and the church. We are grateful to them for their passion for refreshing an IVP classic.”

Gupta (PhD, New Testament, University of Durham) is a professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary. His books include Tell Her Story and Worship That Makes Sense to Paul, and he’s written Bible commentaries and over a dozen academic articles in theological journals. He is also coeditor the Dictionary of Paul and His Letters (Second Edition).

Peeler is the Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies at Wheaton College and a priest in the Episcopal Church (USA). Author most recently of Women and the Gender of God (Eerdmans, 2022) and the Hebrews commentary in the Commentaries for Christian Formation series (Eerdmans, 2024), she continues to research and teach on these topics and others across the New Testament.

With Gupta and Peeler as series editors of Hard Sayings of the New Testament, they will feature contributions by nearly twenty contributors. “What sets this apart from a commentary or other reference work is that each section is focused on a ‘hard saying’ or tricky passage, so it’s going after common felt needs of readers more than what each scholar thinks is important,” Boyd said.

Gupta said, “I remember purchasing Hard Sayings of the Bible when I was in seminary, twenty years ago. It was an invaluable resource for Bible study. The opportunity to produce a new version for a new generation is a dream come true. Curious Bible readers today are asking some new and different questions about the Bible; Dr. Peeler and I are excited to bring together a team of experts to engage those meaningful questions.”

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Zondervan today announced that Andrea Palpant Dilley is joining the company as senior acquisitions editor for Zondervan Books. Zondervan Books is the home to multiple award-winning books and bestselling authors including Rick Warren, Shauna Niequist, Craig Groeschel, Lee Strobel, and Rebekah Lyons.

Palpant Dilley is joining Zondervan from Christianity Today, where she served most recently as online managing editor, overseeing cultural commentary, opinion, and critical essay content for CT’s international audience. She has worked closely with a broad array of Christian authors, including Philip Yancey, Fleming Rutledge, Esau McCaulley, Tish Harrison Warren, and many others.

As the new senior acquisitions editor for Zondervan Books, Palpant Dilley will help identify, acquire, and develop new captivating authors for the imprint’s portfolio. “I’m thrilled to join forces with the talented people at Zondervan Books,” says Palpant Dilley. “While moving my book collection from work to home recently, I was reminded of the many authors who’ve been friends, conversation partners, and even pastors to me over the decades. I’m enormously grateful for the chance to join Zondervan in acquiring books that offer the same friendship, conversation, and care to readers across the globe.” Her first day will be November 6, 2023.

“Andrea has deep experience in identifying new Christian voices who speak richly and deeply to our time,” commented Webster Younce, VP and publisher of Zondervan Books. “We are thrille that she is joining Zondervan.”

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

Contact: Devin Duke, Senior Publicity Manager, Zondervan Books, Devin.Duke@HarperCollins.com