Program features design-focused tours of the museum’s collections, expert speakers, and the official introduction of the Society of Bible Craftsmanship

WASHINGTON — On August 27, Museum of the Bible will host the first-ever Bible Craftsmanship Conference. The Society of Bible Craftsmanship (SoBC) celebrates beauty, creativity, and innovation in Bible publishing.

The Society’s mission is to nurture and highlight excellence in the industry and help the general reader discover and appreciate all that goes into the finest examples of Bible craftsmanship—in all languages and media.

Sponsored by Tyndale House and Cambridge University Press, the one-day event will include design-focused tours of the museum’s collections, expert speakers, and the official introduction of the Society of Bible Craftsmanship.

The steering committee of the Society of Bible Craftsmanship includes Dr. Jeffrey Kloha, chief curatorial officer of Museum of the Bible; J. Mark Bertrand, Bible design author and creator of Lectio; and Klaus E. Krogh, president and CEO of 2K/DENMARK. “The Bible is the most important book ever to be published,” said Kloha. “It is also one of the most challenging in terms of design and production. The innovation displayed in meeting these challenges is at an all-time high, and the society will showcase the best examples in Bible publishing today.”

A central task of the society is to gather and exhibit new Bible publications from around the world. The society’s awards program will recognize the finest work in a broad range of categories, with winners exhibited at Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC.

“The knowledge of the craftsmanship of 2,000 years of handwritten Bibles and 500 years of printed Bibles is exciting in itself,” said Krogh, president of the Society of Bible Craftsmanship, “Still, it is only when this knowledge becomes an active design foundation for today’s craftsmen that we ensure future Bibles also present Scripture readably, functionally, and with gentle authority.”

In partnership with publishers and industry professionals, the society will host events and virtual seminars through Museum of the Bible to explore every aspect of craftsmanship, illuminating the work of translators and editors, designers and typographers, printers and bookbinders, and many others.

“We are living in a golden age of Bible publishing,” said Bertrand, chair of the Society’s Award Committee. “The landscape has never been more exciting, and the Society of Bible Craftsmanship aims to raise awareness of the work of Bible craftsmen, encouraging professionals in the industry and recognizing excellence in the field.”

Tickets to the Bible Craftsmanship Conference are available here. Registration to join the Society of Bible Craftsmanship will open following the official launch of the society on August 27.

Museum of the Bible is an innovative, global, educational institution whose purpose is to invite all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible. Website | museumoftheBible.org Twitter | @museumofBible Instagram | @museumofBible Facebook | /museumofBible

Contact: press@mbible.org 202.602.0895

INDIE PUBLISHER RABBIT ROOM PRESS INTRODUCES EVERY MOMENT HOLY, VOLUME ONE, IN PADDED HARDCOVER GIFT EDITION

Nashville, Tennessee (August 16, 2022) – Fans of the Every Moment Holy book series have snatched up more than 250,000 leatherbound copies since the first volume arrived late in 2017. Every Moment Holy: New Liturgies for Daily Life, Volumes 1 & 2, are bestselling titles for Rabbit Room Press, and a new gift edition launches this October (Volume One, 4” x 6” padded hardcover, $18.99, ISBN 978195187213). Books are available at the Rabbit Room store (store.rabbitroom.com) and Amazon and are distributed to booksellers via Ingram and APG.

Every Moment Holy: New Liturgies for Daily Life features original liturgies and prayers written by lyricist and author Douglas Kaine McKelvey, with original illustrations by Ned Bustard, an award-winning artist. Previously available only in leather-bound hardcover or flexible leather binding, a new gift edition of Every Moment Holy Volume One arrives this fall. The new, smaller format includes all liturgies from Volume One plus a brand-new illustration by Ned Bustard for “A Liturgy Before Taking the Stage.”

Enthusiastic word of mouth from readers, families and influencers quickly made Every Moment Holy, Volume One a favorite for gift giving. Volume Two released in 2021, offering liturgies for death, grief and hope, and the new volume was eagerly embraced by readers weary of pandemic life and loss. Pete Peterson, Executive Director of The Rabbit Room and Publisher of Rabbit Room Press, is eager to bring this gift edition to market: “Every Moment Holy Volume One commemorates the daily touchpoints of life that build upon each other to shape a meaningful life. Sales of the original editions exceeded all our expectations, and this smaller, more affordable gift edition now makes these liturgies for every day even more accessible.”

Douglas Kaine McKelvey, an author, scriptwriter and lyricist, has penned more than 350 lyrics recorded by artists such as Switchfoot, Kenny Rogers, Sanctus Real, and Jason Gray. McKelvey explains, “Every Moment Holy is designed to help readers practice the constant presence of God and tune their ears to the eternal echoes that resound in every moment of life. The church has long possessed a wealth of liturgies for sacramental occasions like baptism or marriage, but Every Moment Holy purposely shines a sacred light on the ordinary events of daily living.”

The Every Moment Holy series opens space for prayer and reflection in a variety of seasons and settings. Some liturgies are designed to be read aloud by multiple readers while others are crafted for personal use, read either silently or aloud. Some prayers are intended for daily or routine recitation while others are for use on special, memorable, difficult or even tragic occasions.

Every Moment Holy Volume One shares original liturgies for the ordinary events of daily life, such as “A Liturgy for Feasting with Friends” or “A Liturgy for Laundering” or “A Liturgy for the First Hearth Fire of the Season.”

Every Moment Holy Volume Two offers new liturgies for seasons of death, grief and hope, including “A Liturgy for the Scattering of Ashes” or “A Liturgy for the Loss of a Spouse,” or “A Liturgy for the Wake of a National Tragedy.”

The Every Moment Holy gift edition launch is supported by a marketing campaign which includes print and digital advertising, a national publicity push and outreach to social media influencers. Author Douglas McKelvey is available for interview this fall.

DOUGLAS KAINE MCKELVEY is an author, song lyricist, scriptwriter, and video director. He has penned more than 350 lyrics recorded by artists such as Switchfoot, Kenny Rogers, Sanctus Real, and Jason Gray. Doug and Lise McKelvey, the parents of three young adults, live near Nashville, TN. everymomentholy.com

NED BUSTARD is a graphic designer, illustrator, and printmaker for World’s End Images, the creative director for Square Halo Books, Inc., and curator of the Square Halo Gallery. He is on staff with CIVA (Christians in the Visual arts), is on the boards of the ASCHA (Association of Scholars of Christianity in the History of Art) and The Row House, Inc. worldsendimages.com

THE RABBIT ROOM cultivates and curates stories, music, and art to nourish Christ-centered communities for the life of the world. Conceived in 2007 as an experiment in creative community, The Rabbit Room put down roots in a 150-year-old farmhouse in Nashville, Tennessee. As of 2022 the community’s creative ventures include a podcast network, a music and book store, Rabbit Room Press, and live events including its annual Hutchmoot conference. rabbitroom.com

EVERY MOMENT HOLY: NEW LITURGIES FOR DAILY LIFE VOLUMES ONE & TWO
Written by Douglas McKelvey
Illustrated by Ned Bustard
Published by Rabbit Room Press
EveryMomentHoly.com | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

NEW GIFT EDITION: EVERY MOMENT HOLY, VOLUME ONE
Available October 1, 2022
ISBN 978195187213 | 4” x 6” padded hardcover | $18.99 | 300 pages

For interviews and review copies, contact:
Pamela McClure, MMPR: pamela@mmpbulicrelations.com, 615-294-5073

Ada, Mich. (August 17, 2022)—Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, is pleased to announce that they have signed a contract with Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee, New York Times bestselling authors of A Bright and Blinding Sun (Brotherton) and The Line Between (Lee).

Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home, which is scheduled for a May 2023 release, is a coming-of-age story of friendship, sacrifice, love, and the power of unrelenting hope. Based on the lives of three friends, The Long March Home follows the friends’ journey from Mobile, Alabama, to the Philippines during World War II, covering not only the lives and loves they left behind but also the impossible odds they face as they struggle to survive what has become known as the Bataan Death March.

“Reading this novel was an evocative, rich literary and emotional experience that these authors worked seamlessly together to provide,” said Kelsey Bowen, Revell senior acquisitions editor. “Editing this novel was a highlight of my entire career.”

“Normally I write nonfiction,” Brotherton said. “But I’ve discovered that some people read only fiction or read only for the sake of a story. It’s important to get the message out about the war in the Pacific to let people know that events such as these truly happened. Years ago, many people endured much so we can live in freedom today.”

Lee said, “It’s an honor to shine a light on the Defenders of Bataan and hope this story brings greater awareness to this chapter of World War II history and its Allied heroes.”

Marcus Brotherton is a New York Times bestselling author and coauthor dedicated to writing books that inspire heroics, promote empathy, and encourage noble living. His most recent nonfiction book on World War II in the Pacific, A Bright and Blinding Sun, was lauded as “storytelling at its best” by Heather Morris, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz. His commendations include the Christopher Award for literature “that affirms the highest values of the human spirit.” For more information, please visit www.marcusbrotherton.com.

Tosca Lee is a New York Times bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Line Between, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, Iscariot, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker. Her work has been called “superior storytelling” by Publishers Weekly, translated into seventeen languages, and optioned for TV and film. Her commendations include two International Book Awards, Killer Nashville’s Silver Falchion, and ECPA Fiction Book of the Year. To learn more, please visit toscalee.com.

Revell Books provides books that inspire and equip readers, offering them hope and help for daily life. Learn more at www.RevellBooks.com.

Contact: Karen Steele, (616) 676-9185 x 100, ksteele@bakerpublishinggroup.com

AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association) announced the winners of the 2022 Golden Scroll Awards at the Golden Scroll Banquet, Sunday, August 14, at the Lexington Convention Center in Lexington, Kentucky. Awards were presented by Linda Evans Shepherd, founder and CEO of AWSA, and Rebecca White, author.

This is the 14th year that AWSA has presented the Golden Scroll Awards. The Golden Scroll Awards are open to the nearly 800 members of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

• Sharon Tedford was named AWSA of the Year.
• The Jennifer Kennedy Dean Award went to Lee Ann Mancini.
• Eva Marie Everson was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Everson is the author of over 40 books, a former nurse and a seminary graduate. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s running Word Weavers International, an international membership group of writers who, using the art of critique, become iron sharpening iron.  She’s one of the original members and a founding board member of AWSA and the director of the Florida Christian Writers Conference. She speaks at writers conferences across America and to women’s groups as well as to congregations. She’s written some amazing books, including The Third Path—Intimacy with God on the Path of Questioning, her latest novel, Five Brides, her new children’s book, My God is Bigger Than That (with Michelle Medlock Adams) and The Potluck Club series (with Linda Evans Shepherd).

• The Golden Scrolls Book of the Year was awarded to Julie Coleman for “On Purpose: Understanding God’s Freedom for Women through Scripture” (Kregel).
• The Nonfiction Book of the Year Award went to Michelle Nietert and Denise Pass for “Make Up Your Mind: Unlock Your Thoughts, Transform Your Life” (Randall House).
• The Novel of the Year Award went to DiAnn Mills for “Trace of Doubt” (Tyndale).
• The Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Teresa Janzen, illustrated by Samuel But Agot, for “Little Mango in a Big World” (Abundance Books LLC).
• The Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Susan U. Neal, illustrated by Courtney Smith, for “Eat God’s Food” (Elk Lake).

Second place for Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Julie Lavender, illustrated by Shahar Kober for “Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime” (Random House). Third place went to Karen Whiting and Jesse Florea for “Devos for Brave Boys” (Tyndale).

• The Children’s Fiction Book of the Year was awarded to Tricia Goyer and Amy Parker, illustrated by Monica De Rivas for “The Grumbles” (Running Press Kids).

Second place for Children’s Fiction Book of the Year went to Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Ana Sebastián, for “Dachshund through the Snow” (End Game Press). Third place went to Jeanne Dennis, illustrated by Jeannie St. John Taylor, for “Matt’s Compusonic” (Elk Lake).

• The Christian Education Book of the Year was awarded to Karen Whiting for “52 Weekly Devotions for Family Prayer” (RoseKidz).

Second place for Christian Educational Book of the Year went to Rebecca White and Karen Whiting for “The Super-Sized Book of Bible Craft Gifts” (RoseKidz). Third place went to DiAnn Mills for “Exploring the Art of Plotting” (Bold Vision Books).

• The Christian Living Book of the Year went to Tracy Hester for “Get Up, Girl, Let’s Go: Getting Unstuck and Living Free” (Elk Lake).

Second place for Christian Living Book of the Year was a tie with Lynn Eib for “When God and Cancer Meet” (Tyndale) and Tricia Goyer for “Heart Happy” (Salem Books). Third place went to Jennifer Hand for “My Yes Is on the Table” (Moody).

• The Bible Study Book of the Year was awarded to Karen Whiting for “Growing a Mother’s Heart Bible Study” (AMG).

Second place for Bible Study Book of the Year went to Shadia Hrichi for “Tamar: Rediscovering the God Who Redeems Me” (Leafwood). Third place went to Andy Lee for “Radiant Influence: How an Ordinary Girl Changed the World” (CrossRiver Media).

• The Memoir of the Year was awarded to Sandra Flack for “Orphans No More” (Brookstone Publishing).

Second place for Memoir of the Year went to Kris Rystrom Emmert with Julie Voudrie for “Providing Promise: A Navy Widow’s Journey to Hope” (Carpenter and Son). Third place went to Lucinda Kinsinger for “Turtle Heart: Unlikely Friends with a Life-Changing Bond” (Elk Lake).

• The Inspirational Gift Book of the Year was awarded to Kathy Howard for “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith” (Tyndale).

Second place for Inspirational Gift Book of the Year went to Karen Whiting for “Growing a Mother’s Heart: Devotions of Faith, Hope, and Love from Mothers” (AMG). Third place went to Blythe Daniel and Helen McIntosh for “I Love You, Mom!” (Tyndale).

• The Devotional Book of the Year went to Grace Fox “Keeping Hope Alive: Devotions for Strength in the Storm” (Aspire Press).

Second place for Devotional Book of the Year Danita Jenae for “When Mountains Crumble: Rebuilding Your Life after Losing Someone You Love” (Moody). Third place went to Ava Pennington for “Reflections on the Name of God” (Revell).

• The Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year was awarded to Kimberley Woodhouse for “Bridge of God” (Barbour).

Second place for the Mystery/Suspense Novel of the Year went to Lynette Eason for “Peril on the Ranch” (Love Inspired Suspense). Third place went to Lisa Betz for “Fountains and Secrets” (Redemption Press).

• The Contemporary Novel of the Year was awarded to Terri Gillespie for “Really Bad Hair Day: The Hair Mavens, Book 3” (Terri Gillespie).

Second place for Contemporary Novel of the Year went to Cynthia Ruchti for “Facing the Dawn” (Revell). Third place went to Christina Suzann Nelson “Shaped by the Waves” (Bethany House).

• The Historical Novel of the Year was awarded to Tricia Goyer for “The Elder Sister” (Guideposts).

Second place for Historical Novel of the Year went to Jocelyn Green for “Drawn by the Current” (Bethany House). Third place went to Cynthia L. Simmons for “Reflecting Gold” (Elk Lake).

• The Romance Novel of the Year was awarded to Lane Jordan for “Evangeline” (Elk Lake).
• The Novella of the Year was awarded to T. E. Bradford for “Awakened” (Elk Lake).
• The Arise Daily Writer of the Year was awarded to A. C. Williams.

AWSA’s official magazine, “Leading Hearts,” won their eighth straight Evangelical Press Association Merit award. The “Leading Hearts” Contributor of the Year went to Cynthia L. Simmons. Feature Article of the Year went to Christine Trimpe for her article “Protégé to Published Author.” The EPA Higher Goals Award went to Mabel Ninan for her article “Lockdown Lessons: How the Pandemic Reshaped My Understanding of the Church.”

The 2022 graduating Certified Coaches were recognized: Lauren Crews, Loretta Eidson, Virginia Grounds, Sarah Hatmaker and Lisa Worthey Smith.

New ASWA P.O.W.E.R. Speakers were recognized: Sandy Austin, Sandi Banks, Karin Beery, Joan Benson, Penny Carlevato, Laine Craft, Julie Coleman, Cheri Cowell, Tammy Dove, Joy Dunlap, Catherine Finger, Donna Frisinger, Tricia Goyer, Teresa Janzen, Janet Johnson, Betty Kulrich, Lee Ann Mancini, Michele McCarthy, Laura McPherson, Edie Melson, Susan Neal, Carolyn Newell, Cindy Noonan, Joy A. Schneider, Evelyn Taylor and Jessica Van Roekel.

This is the third year to present the Christian Market Book Awards. These awards are open to all authors who publish in the Christian market.

• The Christian Market Book of the Year was awarded to Natalie Ford for “Seeking Answers—Finding Peace” (Elk Lake).
• The Christian Market Christian Living Book of the Year was awarded to Edie Melson for “Soul Care When You’re Grieving” (Bold Vision Books).
• The Christian Market Devotional of the Year was awarded to Michelle Medlock Adams and Andy Clapp for “Springtime for Your Spirit: 90 Devotions of Hope, Joy & New Beginnings” (Good Books).
• The Christian Market Children’s Book of the Year was awarded to Julie Lavender, illustrated by Shahar Kober for “Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime” (Random House).
• The Christian Market Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Bethany Jett and Victoria Duerstock for “Navigating Mindfields” (End Game Press).

Second place for the Christian Market Children’s Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Caris Snider for “Anxiety Elephants for Tween Girls: A 90 Day Devotional” (End Game Press). Third place went to Caris Snider for “Anxiety Elephants for Tween Boys: A 90 Day Devotional” (End Game Press).

• The Christian Market Children’s Fiction Book of the Year was awarded to Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Ana Sebastián, for “Dachshund through the Snow” (End Game Press).

Second place for the Christian Market Children’s Fiction Book of the Year went to Nancy I. Sanders, illustrated by Felia Hanakata, for “Bedtime with Mommy” (End Game Press). Third place went to Teresa Janzen, illustrated by Samuel But Agot, for “Little Mango in a Big World” (Abundance Books LLC).

• The Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year was awarded to Dr. Craig von Buseck for “Victor! The Final Battle of Ulysses S. Grant” (Iron Stream Media).

Second place for the Christian Market Nonfiction Book of the Year went to Kathy Howard for “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Acts” (Bold Vision Books). Third place went to Christine Trimpe for “Seeking Joy through the Gospel of Luke: A Christmas to Calvary Advent Countdown” (Redemption Press).

• The Christian Market Novel of the Year was awarded to Kimberley Woodhouse for “A Deep Divide” (Bethany House).

Second place for the Christian Market Novel of the Year was awarded to Anne Greene for “Trail of Tears: The Story of John Ross” (Elk Lake). Third place went to Janet Morris Grimes for “Solomon’s Porch” (Elk Lake).

• The Christian Market Bible Study of the Year was awarded to Leigh Powers for “Unforgotten: Lessons from Lesser-Known Women of the Bible on Leaving a Legacy of Faith” (AMG).

A parody, written by Martha Bolton, was performed by Sharon Tedford. Eva Marie Everson delivered the keynote address.

AWSA, the sponsor of the Golden Scroll Awards Banquet, is an outreach of Right to the Heart Ministries and consists of nearly 800 top women authors who both publish and speak nationally. See www.AWSA.com.

Iron Stream Media is excited to announce two finalists and three semifinalists in two Serious Writer Contests. Serious Writer is a club of writers and literary agents with a goal of providing free and affordable education as well as providing networking opportunities for authors of clean Christian books. Winners will be announced this fall.

Book of the Year (published January through December 2021):

SEMIFINALISTS:

Tempest: The Veil Chronicles, Book 1 by C.J. Campbell
ISBN: 9781563094460

Victor! The Final Battle of Ulysses S. Grant by Craig von Buseck
ISBN: 9781645263159

Book of the Decade (published January 2011 through December 2021):

FINALISTS:

I Am Cyrus: Harry S. Truman and the Rebirth of Israel by Craig von Buseck
ISBN: 9781946016980

Anxiety Elephants 31 Day Devotional by Caris Snider
Brookstone Publishing Group ISBN: 9781949856194

SEMIFINALIST:

The Cheesehead Devotional by Judy DuCharme
ISBN: 9781938499234

Iron Stream Media derives its name from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” This sharpening describes the process of discipleship, one to another. Iron Stream Media provides a variety of solutions for churches, missionaries, and nonprofits that include in-depth Bible study curriculum, Christian book publishing, and consultative services. Iron Stream Media is the home of Iron Stream, Iron Stream Fiction, Iron Stream Harambee Press, Iron Stream Kids, and Brookstone Publishing Group. Through the popular Life Bible Study and Student Life Bible Study imprints, they also provide web-based, full-year, and short-term Bible study teaching plans as well as printed devotionals, Bibles, and discipleship curriculum.

Book any of these authors as a guest speaker or for book signings by contacting Kim McCulla at kim.mcculla@ironstreammedia.com. A limited supply of giveaway copies is available for special events and interviews. Books can also be ordered through your distributor or by calling 888-811-9934.

(Nashville, TN) August 18, 2022—Thomas Nelson today announced Andrew Stoddard will be joining as the publishing group’s new v-p, publisher of the Nelson Books imprint. Thomas Nelson is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, the world’s largest Christian publisher.  Stoddard, who previously served as the editorial director for Waterbrook & Multnomah, Christian imprints for Penguin Random House, will begin his leadership at Nelson Books on September 7, 2022.

“It is an honor to step into this role at Nelson Books, an imprint with such a rich cultural, literary, and spiritual heritage,” commented Stoddard.  “I am looking forward to working with the talented team and our thoughtful agent partners to champion authors with powerful, life-changing messages. I am committed to leading this imprint to publish creatively compelling, commercially impactful, and consistently faithful books for our readers.”

As the publisher for Nelson Books, Stoddard will be stewarding today’s most well-known Christian thought leaders, including #1 New York Times bestselling author Lysa TerKeurst and international bestselling author Max Lucado, both with new titles releasing this fall—TerKeurst’s much anticipated Good Boundaries and Goodbyes (November 8, 2022) and Lucado’s Help is Here (September 13, 2022). Nelson Books is also home to many New York Times bestselling authors including Bob Goff (Undistracted), Christine Caine (How Did I Get Here?), John Eldredge (Resilient) and more.

Stoddard’s nine-year tenure in publishing includes acquiring and working with  New York Times bestselling authors John Mark Comer, Michael Todd and Tim Tebow. He has seen titles published under his editorial direction receive esteemed honors such as the ECPA Christian Book Award for Christian Living.  He consistently appears as a top ten Deal Maker in all Nonfiction Religion for Publishers Marketplace and has been ranked as the #1 Deal Maker in that category.

Don Jacobson, senior v-p and group publisher for HarperCollins Christian Publishing said, “It is my pleasure to now work with Andrew and welcome him to HarperCollins Christian Publishing. I’ve known Andrew for almost ten years and after identifying him early on as a rising star in our industry, I have kept a close watch on his career. Andrew’s strengths begin with his love for the written word and its ability to shape hearts and minds.  He is sincere in his dedication to authors, and he creates strategies that align with their ministry and organizational goals. Andrew is both strategic and a visionary; relational, genuine, and kind.”

Thomas Nelson, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., is a world-leading provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product for more than 200 years. The publishing group provides multiple formats of award-winning Bibles, books, gift books, children’s books, and digital content, with distribution of its products in more than 100 countries. Thomas Nelson is headquartered in Nashville, TN. For additional information, please visit www.thomasnelson.com.

Contact: Casey Harrell, VP, Corporate Communications, casey.harrell@harpercollins.com

August 2022 | WESTMONT, IL—The Martin Institute for Christianity & Culture and the Dallas Willard Research Center (MIDWC) at Westmont College has announced that Relational Spirituality by Todd W. Hall (with M. Elizabeth Lewis Hall) is the winner of the MIDWC Book Award for 2021.

Mark Nelson, who is on staff with the Martin Institute, said, “Relational Spirituality was chosen because of its lucid, convincing presentation of an interpersonal paradigm of Christian spiritual transformation.”

Dallas Willard (1935–2013) was a thinker, pastor, and author of such books as The Spirit of the Disciplines and The Divine Conspiracy. Now regarded as modern spiritual classics, these works have inspired thousands of ordinary Christians to become extraordinary Christ followers, and have influenced a generation of writers and teachers, especially on the topics of Christian spiritual disciplines and formation. The MIDWC Annual Book Award Program was created in 2015 to help place an enduring emphasis on the intellectual legacy of Dallas Willard by recognizing original written work that shares his vision that invisible things such as soul, spirit, and the kingdom of God are part of reality, and that spiritual transformation is possible, especially through spiritual practices and disciplines.

Drawing on historical theology, biblical interpretation, clinical psychology, and neurobiology, Hall and Hall take a multidisciplinary approach to Christian spiritual formation seeking to overcome the historic split between theoretical knowledge of doctrine and experiential knowledge of Christian life. They argue that trinitarian theology, psychological attachment theory, and connectionist accounts of the mind converge on a view that reality is fundamentally relational, that we are prewired for attachment to other humans and God, and that real spiritual transformation takes place in community. Hall and Hall write how in properly functioning spiritual communities, “we are loved into loving, and as this occurs, we grow into the image of God as exemplified in Christ.”

“With Relational Spirituality, Todd Hall and Elizabeth Hall have, with erudition and mercy, given us a masterpiece that not only tells us who we are but also points us in the direction of who we long to become,” said Curt Thompson, author of The Soul of Desire. “Broad in its scope, prophetic in its conviction, beautifully imaginative in its synthesis of multiple domains of human experience, and accessible in its application, this is sure to become a wellspring of hope and transformation—one that could not come at a more timely moment.”

Todd W. Hall (PhD, Rosemead School of Psychology) is professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, where he teaches courses on the integration of psychology and theology, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and positive psychology. He is a faculty affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program at Harvard University and a founding partner at Flourishing Metrics. Hall is also an award-winning researcher, focusing on relational approaches to spirituality, virtue, and leadership. He is the author of The Connected Life and coauthor of Psychology in the Spirit and Relational Spirituality. Hall is also the developer of several widely used spiritual assessments and codeveloper of the Flourish Assessment.

Elizabeth Lewis Hall (PhD, Rosemead School of Psychology) is professor of psychology at Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University, where she teaches courses on the integration of psychology and theology. She has published over one hundred articles and book chapters and serves as associate editor for Psychology of Religion and Spirituality.

The Halls’ book joins other recent MIDWC Book Award winners, including Barbara Peacock, Soul Care in African American Practice; Angela Carpenter, Responsive Becoming; Gary Moon, Becoming Dallas Willard; Katherine Thompson, Christ-Centred Mindfulness; and Mark McMinn, The Science of Virtue.

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners

Media Contact: Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com

WESTMONT, IL—Two IVP Kids titles have been named finalists for the first annual Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards. Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit and The Celebration Place are two of five finalists in the religion category.

The Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards are sponsored by the National Black Book Festival (NBBF) and were established in honor of the late Jerry Pinkney, a world-renowned children’s book illustrator. Nominated titles for the award must be copyrighted in 2021 or 2022 and be either written by an African American author or have an African American theme.

Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit was written by Esau McCaulley and illustrated by LaTonya Jackson. This IVP Kids book tells the story of Josey, who is spending the day with her dad, getting her hair braided at Monique’s Beauty Shop, and picking out a new red dress for Pentecost Sunday. In the process, she learns to celebrate the differences she sees all around her as part of God’s plan for his creation.

Benjamin Watson, author of Under Our Skin and The New Dad’s Playbook, said, “God has created beauty in diversity. But in a world that can be uniquely unkind to our Black girls, I have known the responsibility and privilege of intentionally celebrating their inner and outer glory. In Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit, Esau McCaulley reminds me of deep conversations with my own beautiful daughters, appreciating their differences, affirming God’s love, and telling them they are valuable beyond measure. This message is for today.”

The Celebration Place: God’s Plan for a Delightfully Diverse Church was written by Dorena Williamson and illustrated by Erin Bennett Banks. Told in a delightful rhyme, this colorfully illustrated children’s book also includes tools to help parents engage in conversation about the book’s theme of God’s vision for justice and unity.

Natalie Grant, singer, songwriter, and cofounder of Hope for Justice, said, “Dorena has such a beautiful yet compelling way of writing about these most important topics of justice and unity. Yes, The Celebration Place will inspire children to walk this message out better than the generation before them did. But I also believe it will help challenge the parents, teachers, and leaders of these children that it’s not too late to do the same.”

The award winners in each category will be announced on October 22 at the 2022 National Black Book Festival in Houston. At that time, a grand prize winner will also be announced and receive a $250 grand prize.

More information about the Jerry Pinkney Children’s Book Awards is available at www.jerrypinkneybookawards.com

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

Contact: Krista Clayton | 630.734.4013 | kclayton@ivpress.com 

New Masterful Suspense From New York Times Bestselling Author Jerry B. Jenkins: Dead Sea Conspiracy Book 2 in the Dead Sea Chronicles Series

“Jerry B. Jenkins is not only my dad (and my hero), but he’s also the writer of dozens of books I’ve devoured. I know you’re going to love his latest novel, Dead Sea Conspiracy.”
-Dallas Jenkins, Creator/Director, The Chosen

NASHVILLE, TN—Readers looking for a master storyteller will find none better than best-selling author Jerry B. Jenkins. The thrills continue in his new release, Dead Sea Conspiracy, the second novel in his Dead Sea Chronicles.  Readers will be excited to continue the journey of archeologist Nicole Berman, who they met in Dead Sea Rising, when she was preparing for her first dig in Jordan. In Dead Sea Conspiracy, the adventure ramps up, as Nicole is awarded a permit to dig in Saudi Arabia. Being the first woman to do so only increases the pressure, and as the dig continues the stakes are raised as she finds what she believes to be the key to unifying the three major religions.  Jenkins adds another layer, a parallel story where readers are launched back into ancient Ur, and the story of young Abram—who will become the father of nations.  Readers will be eager to figure out what ties together these parallel story lines.

“The challenge, and the joy, of being a novelist is that I get to, in essence, be the characters I invent and write about,” Jenkins says. “In the case of Dead Sea Conspiracy, I loved being a late-thirties woman archaeologist with two earned doctorates – about as far from my daily reality as one could get. But in alternating chapters, I also got to be the father of Old Testament patriarch Abraham from four millennia ago – again, except for gender, eons from my own identity. The fact that my character (Terah) had a son whose life literally intersected with Noah’s sons allowed me to imagine the boy talking with a man and his wife about their experiences on the ark.  That the contemporary story and the ancient one resonates with each other makes this novel complex and, I hope, compelling for the reader. I had great fun with it and believe the message is timeless. “

Just in time for the perfect late summer read, in Dead Sea Conspiracy fans of Jenkins and new fans alike will come along on the adventure of a lifetime. Readers will also love reading about Abram, and will quickly figure out why the parallel story is so important to the times we live in.  From the Prelude, which covers Dead Sea Rising, to the Postlude, which readers will not want to miss, Jenkins has done it again in Dead Sea Conspiracy, sharing his amazing ability to entertain, educate, and challenge through the power of story.

Jerry B. Jenkins‘ books have sold more than seventy million copies. Twenty-one of his titles have reached the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. The phenomenally bestselling Left Behind series inspired a movie starring Nicolas Cage. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek and his writing has appeared in Time, Reader’s Digest, Guideposts, and dozens of other periodicals. He owns the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, coaching thousands of aspiring writers in both fiction and nonfiction. Jerry and his wife, Dianna, have three grown sons and live in Colorado. More information can be found at www.JerryJenkins.com.

Dead Sea Conspiracy
Jerry B. Jenkins
Worthy Books
ISBN13:  9781546014225
August 23, 2022, Hardcover
320 pages, $15.99

Media Contact: Jeane Wynn, 918-630-9695, Jeane@wynnwynnmedia.com