The Week's News in Christian Publishing

Christianity Today 2024 Book Awards

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CAROL STREAM, Ill., July 10, 2023 — Christianity Today is calling for submissions for the 2024 Christianity Today Book Awards. The CT Book Awards, along with our “Beautiful Orthodoxy” Book of the Year, will be announced in December at ChristianityToday.com.

Winners will be featured prominently in the January/February 2024 issue of CT and widely promoted in CT newsletters and on the site. Publishers of the winning books will also have the opportunity to participate in a promotion organized by CT’s marketing team.Here are this year’s awards categories:

1. Apologetics/Evangelism

2a. Biblical Studies

2b. Bible and Devotional

3a. Children

3b. Young Adults

4. Christian Living/Spiritual Formation

5. The Church/Pastoral Leadership

6. Culture and the Arts

7. Fiction

8. History/Biography

9. Marriage and Family

10. Missions/The Global Church

11. Politics and Public Life

12a. Theology (popular)

12b. Theology (academic)

Nominations:
To be eligible for nomination, a book must be published between November 1, 2022, and October 31, 2023. We are looking for scholarly and popular-level works, and everything in between. A diverse panel of scholars, pastors, and other informed readers will evaluate the books.Publishers can nominate as many books as they wish, and each nominee can be submitted in multiple categories. There is a $40 entry fee for each title submitted in each category. To enter your nominations, please click the following and follow the prompts. (Note: You will be directed to upload a PDF of each book you wish to nominate.) https://christianitytoday.typeform.com/to/ZXV3MKdW

Finalist Books:
If your book is chosen as one of the four finalists in any category, we will contact you and ask that you send a copy of the book directly to the four judges assigned to that category. We will provide mailing addresses for each judge.

Deadline:
The deadline for submitting nominations is Monday, July 31, 2023.

Any questions about any aspect of the process? Email us at bookawards@christianitytoday.com.

CONTACT: Jordyn Hibdon, jhibdon@christianitytoday.com

Tyndale Kids to publish Parent Guides to Connecting in Chaos with Axis, a parenting resources ministry

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Carol Stream, Ill. (July 12, 2023) —Tyndale House Publishers, in partnership with Axis, is set to release the next five guidebooks in their series designed to help parents bridge generational gaps in conversation with their teens. These guides also include parent questions for personal reflection and teen discussion questions for honest conversations. These booklets will release for individual purchase on October 17, 2023, and the Parent Guides to Connecting in Chaos bundle will be available on November 21, 2023. 

A Parent’s Guide to Tough Conversations

Gain practical strategies and tips to impact conversations with your kids.

Features:

  • How to naturally initiate difficult conversations
  • How to determine when, where, and what topics to discuss
  • How to use encouraging language to help your kids open up
  • How to forgive yourself if you’ve messed up tough topics in the past 

 

 

 

A Parent’s Guide to Cancel Culture

Mainstream media’s cancel culture can have devastating effects on people’s jobs, relationships, and reputations. Learn how to skillfully address cancel culture without compromising biblical truth.

Features:

  • What does it mean to be canceled?
  • What is concerning about cancel culture?
  • What biblical truths combat cancel culture?
  • What does it look like to respectfully disagree?  

 

A Parent’s Guide to Racism in the United States

From its foundation to the present day, the United States has been marred by racism. Learn how to discuss this hot-button issue compassionately.

Features:

  • Definitions of race-related terms such as racism, white privilege, and Black Lives Matter
  • Concise summary of the history of the US Civil Rights Movement
  • Biblical support for respecting people of all races
  • Practical strategies for pursuing racial justice as a family
  • Shame-free discussion questions for honest conversation

 

A Parent’s Guide to Walking through Grief

Whether it’s a friend moving away, a breakup, or a death, this sensitive guide offers reassuring explanations to commonly asked questions about how to handle grief.

Features:

  • What is grief, and how do teens typically respond?
  • What happens when we don’t deal with grief?
  • What does healthy grieving look like? 

 

 

 

A Parent’s Guide to Talking about Death  

Learn practical strategies to process the pain of loss by gently addressing commonly asked questions with confidence.

Features:

  • Why is talking about death so hard?
  • Why should you talk about death?
  • How should you talk to your teen about death?

 

 

 

A Parent’s Guide to Tough Conversations | ISBN: 978-1-4964-6774-4 | Softcover: $4.99

A Parent’s Guide to Cancel Culture | ISBN: 978-1-4964-6778-2 | Softcover: $4.99

A Parent’s Guide to Racism in the United States | ISBN: 978-1-4964-6782-9 | Softcover: $4.99

A Parent’s Guide to Walking through Grief | ISBN: 978-1-4964-6786-7 | Softcover: $4.99

A Parent’s Guide to Talking about Death | ISBN: 978-1-4964-6790-4 | Softcover: $4.99

October 2023 | Tyndale.com

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

Contact: Kristen Schumacher, kristenschumacher@tyndale.com, 630.784.5103

Worthy releases new book by Amanda Held Opelt, “Holy Unhappiness”

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What does it mean to be blessed?  Are Christians entitled to happiness, fulfillment, and perfect peace?  Holy Unhappiness (Worthy, July 18, 2023, ISBN: 9781546001928) explores these questions and challenges the false beliefs many in the church hold about “the good life” and what it means to walk in communion with God.

American Christians have developed a long list of expectations about what life with God will feel like.  Many Christians rightly deny the Prosperity Gospel—the idea that God wants you to be healthy and wealthy— but instead embrace its more subtle spin-off, the Emotional Prosperity Gospel, or the belief that God wants you to always experience happiness and fulfillment. Our society has become increasingly averse to sadness and emotional discomfort. Too often, people of faith assume that difficult feelings are a result of either God’s judgment or our own lack of spiritual maturity.  Some even equate happiness with holiness.

In Holy Unhappiness, Amanda Held Opelt, author of A Hole in the World, grapples with her own experience of disillusionment when life didn’t go the way she expected.  She examines some of the historic, religious, and cultural influences that led to the idolization of positive feelings and the marginalization of negative feelings.  Unpacking nine elements of life that have been tainted by the message of the Emotional Prosperity Gospel – including work, marriage, parenting, calling, community, and church – she points to a new path forward, one that reimagines what the “blessed” life can be like if we release some of our expectations and seek God in places we never thought to look.

While Opelt acknowledges the dignity of desiring happiness, she ultimately pleads for the normalization of sadness, anger, grief, disappointment, and other uncomfortable feelings as a part of the Christian experience, making a case that there is holiness to be found even in our unhappiness.

Four new releases to the Ask the Christian Counselor Series to release September 4, 2023

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The Ask the Christian Counselor series from New Growth Press is a series of compact books featuring biblical counseling answers to many of life’s common problems. This series walks readers through their deepest and most profound questions. Each question is unpacked by an experienced counselor that gives readers the tools to understand their struggle and how the gospel brings hope and healing to the problem they are facing.

Each book in the series is longer than our popular minibooks, but still short enough to not be overwhelming to the reader. These books can be read by individuals on their own or used within a counseling setting.

Moving Forward After Abortion: Finding Comfort in God by Camille Cates

Counselor Camille Cates points women who may be facing hurt, confusion, and unanswered questions after an abortion to finding grace and mercy in God’s love.   

Even though each woman’s story is different, the challenges that follow an abortion can be similar. How can you find healing and renewal for where you are now? How do you process the variety of emotions you may be experiencing, such as anger, grief, or perhaps numbness?

Camille Cates has spent many years counseling women, helping them to answer those questions. In Moving Forward after Abortion, she helps you to see that God is forgiving, gracious, merciful, and loving, and offers comfort to those who come to him to experience restoration instead of brokenness. Reflecting on an abortion story can be intimidating, but you do not have to do it alone. God is near—and plans to use your story for good.

READ A PREVIEW

About the author:
Camille Cates is a biblical counselor and a public speaker with a passion for ministering to women in crisis. She has written and spoken extensively on the topics of pregnancy care ministry, post-abortion trauma counseling, sexual abuse, and God’s design for sex and sexuality. She is the author of Moving Forward after Abortion and the minibook Pregnancy Crisis: This Wasn’t the Plan. Camille and her husband, Troy, have three adult children and reside in the metro Cincinnati, OH area.

Someone I Know Is Grieving: Responding with Humility and Compassion by Edward T. Welch

Bestselling author and counselor Edward T. Welch walks readers through the difficult task of coming alongside grieving people with genuine compassion and humility.

When someone is grieving, it can be hard to know what to say or do. We want to be helpful, not hurtful, but it’s easy to go wrong. The good news is that we can learn to approach those who are grieving with the same compassion that Jesus shows us when we are grieving. It starts with humility and listening well and expands into practical support as the Spirit leads us.

In Someone I Know Is Grieving, Edward T. Welch leans on his many years of counseling grieving people to help readers learn from their compassionate Savior how to respond to people’s sadness and hard times without advice or trying to “fix it,” but to instead hear their story, learn from others’ experiences, and depend on the Spirit for wisdom for what to say and do.

READ A PREVIEW

About the author:
Edward T. Welch, MDiv, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and faculty member at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). Ed has been counseling for over forty years and has written extensively on the topics of depression, fear, and addictions. His biblical counseling books include Shame Interrupted, When People Are Big and God Is Small, Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave, Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness, Running Scared: Fear, Worry, and the God of Rest, A Small Book about a Big Problem, A Small Book for the Anxious Heart, A Small Book about Why We Hide, I Have a Psychiatric Diagnosis, and Someone I Know Is Grieving.

I Have PTSD: Reorienting After Trauma by Curtis Solomon

Counselor and trauma expert Curtis Solomon helps those who have suffered the disorienting effects of a traumatic experience to reorient their lives to the path God has for them. 

Anyone who experiences a traumatic event feels confused, lost, out of control, unsure, and unsteady—disoriented. This kind of suffering leaves marks, sometimes on the body, always on the soul, and sometimes both. In I Have PTSD, Curtis Solomon helps both those who have suffered trauma, as well as their loved ones,  to understand the physical, emotional, and spiritual effects of trauma, while offering gospel hope and practical ways to make that hope real in their lives.

Trauma can come into our lives through any number of circumstances, but those circumstances do not derail the plans of God nor determine the trajectory for the rest of your life. God can and does utilize the most horrific suffering imaginable to accomplish his great plans for his people.

READ A PREVIEW

About the author:
Curtis Solomon, PhD, serves as the Executive Director of the Biblical Counseling Coalition and Program Coordinator for Biblical Counseling at Boyce College. He holds a BA from The Master’s University, an MDiv, ThM, and PhD from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Redeem Your Marriage: Hope for Husbands Who Have Hurt through Pornography and I Have PTSD: Reorienting after Trauma. He and his wife Jenny cofounded Solomon SoulCare. The Solomons and their two delightful sons live in Kentucky.

My Spouse Was Unfaithful: Finding Strength in God’s Presence by Robert D. Jones

Counselor and pastor Robert D. Jones shares wise and biblical next steps in the aftermath of infidelity.

How should you respond to the devastating disappointments that adultery and other forms of betrayal have brought into your marriage? It’s natural to feel a wide range of emotions, including anger, confusion, grief, sadness, jealousy, anxiety, embarrassment, and regret. The consequences of your spouse’s sin cast wide effects on your relationship, family, and future. Counselor Robert D. Jones has walked with many couples in your situation and provides ten steps for moving forward from this betrayal with God-given hope.

My Spouse Was Unfaithful provides biblical principles for handling this betrayal and confronting your spouse, and it offers a guide for working through a potential repentance and restoration process. While God doesn’t promise restoration with your spouse, he does promise to be with you and help you—whether your spouse chooses to repent or not. God can use this experience to draw you closer to him and bring greater good to your life.

READ A PREVIEW

About the author:
Robert D. Jones, DTheol, DMin, serves as a biblical counseling professor and department at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, having previously served as a pastor in West Virginia and North Carolina, as well as a professor at Southeastern Seminary. Bob has written several books, including My Spouse Was Unfaithful, Uprooting Anger, Pursuing Peace, Anger: Calming Your Heart, and The Gospel for Disordered Lives (coauthored). His minibook titles include Restoring Your Broken Marriage, Single Parents, Freedom from Resentment, When Trouble Shows Up, Contentment, and Do I Need Counseling?

*Scheduling interviews to air September and beyond. Ebooks available now for review. Physical books available to be mailed the second half of August.

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

Reformation Lightning licenses S. D. Smith’s “The Green Ember” for the UK and Commonwealth

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Leyland, UK – From August 2023, Reformation Lightning, 10Publishing’s fiction imprint, will publish the first series in S. D. Smith’s renowned children’s fiction saga, The Green Ember, in the UK and Commonwealth (excluding Canada).

The Green Ember is a bestselling adventure saga aimed at 9-12s, with over 1 million books sold across all three series. Families in the UK have been longing to get hold of the novels that follow rabbitkind as they try to liberate themselves from oppressive preylords. And now they will be able to.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Story Warren in this way,” said Editorial Director of 10ofThose, Jonathan Pountney. “Much like our other Ref Light novels, The Green Ember series is Christ-honouring, quality writing that has sprung from the author’s biblical worldview. The Christian themes have been holding out gospel hope to many children in the US and we’re excited to extend that opportunity to children in the UK and Commonwealth too.”

He continued, “This partnership will help us continue to fill the gap in the Christian trade space with quality Middle Grade and YA fiction that presents the truth and beauty of the gospel.”

Reflecting on the licensing, S. D. Smith said, “We are delighted to be sharing The Green Ember stories with readers in the UK and beyond alongside our partners at Reformation Lightning. These are truthful, faithful, thrilling adventures and it’s an absolute privilege to share them in the birthplace of so many figures of literature who have delighted me as a reader and inspired me as an author.”

The first two books in the first series, The Green Ember and Ember Falls, about rabbit siblings Heather and Picket, will be available from 10ofThose in August, with the second two books following in March 2024.

As well as the addition of The Green Ember, Ref Light is releasing six new titles from September 2023. Notably, a three-book series about Siamese kittens for 5 – 8-year-olds by Michael Haykin, professor at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a novella in H. R. Hess’ popular Callenlas Chronicles.

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

Two David C Cook titles named national bestsellers

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Natalie Runion’s Raised to Stay and Bryan Clark’s God’s Not Like That rank near top of USA Today’s bestseller list

July 14, 2023 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado – Christian publisher David C Cook celebrates author Natalie Runion’s first book Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away successfully placing on USA Today’s bestseller list, garnering the #1 spot in the religion category, ranking 21st in all books, #5 in nonfiction.

Additionally, Raised to Stay made the Publisher’s Weekly bestseller list, placing #23 in the trade paperback frontlist category.

Bryan Clark’s book, God’s Not Like That: Redeeming Inherited Beliefs and Finding the Father You Long For placed at #2 in the religion category, #9 in the non-fiction category, and #37 in all books on USA Today’s list. Both books released on July 4, 2023.

In Raised to Stay, Runion explores the disappointment many are feeling and the hurt experienced in the Church today. With leaders and laypeople leaving churches across American in droves, the message is clearly resonating with faith audiences, as well as readers across genres. She invites Christian pastors and volunteer leaders to acknowledge “the hurt and the hard” of ministry so they can move toward “hope and healing.”

“I feel so blessed to share the message of hope and healing with so many who have experienced hurt within the Church—a heartbreak I myself walked through personally,” said Runion. “I am humbled and overcome with gratitude for every Stayer who has committed to keep their eyes on our good Father who is faithful to complete every work He begins in us.”

Bryan Clark’s book, God’s Not Like That, is a practical guide for overcoming barriers and experiencing the abundant life Christians long for, but often struggle to find. Clark does this by helping readers identify the wrong beliefs about God we receive from our families of origin and replace them with truth.

“It’s not a question of if you learned about God from your family of origin. It’s a question of what you learned about Him—and a faulty view of God will always be a barrier to a satisfying spiritual life,” writes Clark. “Finding abundant life has nothing to do with money or prosperity or a life free from pain. It has everything to do with a right view of God that sustains us in the best of times and the worst of times.”

Bryan Clark is Senior Pastor Emeritus of Lincoln Berean Church in Lincoln, Nebraska. His voice is familiar to thousands across the country as a Bible teacher for Back to the Bible radio. He also has a podcast with Dan Whitney (a.k.a., Larry the Cable Guy) called “Talk’n Truth” under the Back to the Bible brand.

“The fact that both of these books are resonating with Christian readers is no surprise to us,” said David C Cook Executive VP, Chadd Miller. “Many Christ followers today are looking for healing and ways to deepen their spiritual life. Both Natalie and Bryan draw from their own personal experience coupled with scripture to offer hope to a generation that is struggling to find renewed faith and connection within the Church.”

For interviews or more information, please contact Cathy Herholdt, VP of Communications, at cathy.herholdt@davidccook.org.

David C Cook is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping the global church with leadership, discipleship, and worship resources to help Christians grow in faith and pass it along to the next generation. Read more about David C Cook and its global ministry outreach at www.davidccook.org.

Media Contact: Cathy Herholdt, VP of  Communications, cathy.herholdt@davidccook.org, 719.533.3011

The Christy Award® program to host online fall events featuring Christian novelists, seminars, and award presentations

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Legendary authors Janette Oke and Davis Bunn will keynote Winners Gala on November 16

The Art of Writing webinar series presented Thursday evenings, October 19 to November 9

The Christy Award®July 17, 2023, Tempe, AZ – The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has announced the program for THE CHRISTY AWARD online fall events that include webcasts announcing the finalists and winners of the industry’s top award for Christian fiction – and a four-part ART OF WRITING series for writers, publishers, creatives, and fans.

To be more accessible, the events will return to a virtual format this year in order to extend the opportunity for more authors and fans to participate.  The event will return to an in-person affair next year and will be held in Chicago following ECPA PubU.

The Christy Award finalists will be revealed in a free webcast on Thursday morning, October 12th at 11am CT with host, radio announcer, and award-winning author Chris Fabry.

Hosted by Christy Hall of Fame author Chris Fabry, The Christy Award Winners Gala will be held Thursday, November 16th at 7pm CT via free webcast to recognize the finalists and announce the winners of The Christy Award in nine categories, Book of the Year, and Amplify Award.

The event will feature two literary greats, Christian fiction legacy authors JANETTE OKE and DAVIS BUNN.

Award presenters will include Christy winning authors Amanda Cox, Toni Shiloh, Nicole Deese, Patricia Raybon, Jocelyn Green, Sarah Sundin, Terri Blackstock, Karen Witemeyer, Sharon Hinck, and Kara Swanson.

Leading up to the Gala, a series of weekly Thursday evening webinars on October 19, 26 and November 2 and 9, will be presented as the ART OF WRITING conference.  The four-part series will bring together writers, creatives, and publishing curators for training and connection around these topics:

  • Dispelling the Myths Around Christian Fiction
  • Going Deep with Award-Winning Authors
  • How Great Books Can Improve Your Novel and Your Life
  • Publishing Doesn’t Have to Terrify You!

“It’s always a joy to host an event that both honors excellence in Christian fiction and offers the creative community practical instruction, encouragement, and light on the path of the writing life,” Jeff Crosby, ECPA president, said. “The Christy Gala and Art of Writing sessions will do that and more.”

For more information and to sign up to receive updates about these programs, visit TheChristyAward.com. Registration for all events will open next month.

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Janette Oke is the bestselling author celebrated for her significant contribution to the Christian book industry. Her novels have sold more than 30 million copies, and she is the recipient of the ECPA President’s Award, the CBA Life Impact Award, the Gold Medallion Award, and The Christy Award. Janette and her husband, Edward, live in Alberta, Canada.

Davis Bunn is the award-winning author of numerous national bestsellers, with sales totaling more than 8 million copies. His work has been published in 20 languages, and his critical acclaim includes four Christy Awards for excellence in fiction. He and his wife, Isabella, live in England. www.davisbunn.com

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality. He has written more than 80 books for adults and children and is a member of the Christy Award Hall of Fame. He is host of the daily radio program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. His latest novel is Saving Grayson, to be released November 7. Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

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The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. ECPA.org

The Christy Award® is the foremost award honoring and promoting excellence in Christian fiction since 1999, and is named for Catherine Marshall’s novel, Christy, which has sold over 10 million copies since its publication in 1967. ECPA assumed ownership and administration of the award in 2017 to focus and grow the unique opportunity of fiction in Christian publishing. TheChristyAward.com FB ChristyAward TW @ChristyAward  IG @thechristyaward

Media contacts:
Jeff Crosby, ECPA President and CEO, jcrosby@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 101
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards & Recognition Manager, ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998 ext. 103

Bestselling author, speaker & pastor unlocks keys to change the world in “The Secret Power of Kindness”

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Greg Atkinson Draws from Personal Experience with Mental Illness, Church Hurt, and Childhood Abuse to Encourage Readers to Choose Kindness 

PLANO, Texas (June 6, 2023) – Bestselling author, speaker, and pastor Greg Atkinson challenges readers to be the kind of change they want to see in the world in his new book, The Secret Power of Kindness: 10 Keys to Unlocking Your Capacity to Change the World, available now from Invite Press.

Recognizing we live in a world that values kindness but struggles to actually be kind, Atkinson helps readers overcome unforgiveness and division, cultivate inner qualities of kindness toward self and others, and make the world a better place starting from the inside out.

“The secret power of kindness, when released, can solve most of our problems, not only personally but as a nation collectively,” said Atkinson. “We have the power within us to be extraordinarily kind, to be the people of God we were meant to be, to demonstrate over-the-top kindness that goes the extra mile, to start a ‘kindness movement’ that spreads and multiples. But first, we must learn to tap into that ‘secret’ place within us where kindness, love, and peace dwell.”

Throughout the book, Atkinson shares vulnerably about his own pain in his life, from being deeply hurt and abused by his father and suffering childhood sexual abuse at the hands of a daycare worker to struggling with mental health and losing his job as a pastor because of it. Through each example, he proves that kindness begins with forgiveness, both for yourself and others.

“How you deal with the trauma and pain in your life—including how you respond to it—will shape your life presently and in the future,” said Atkinson. “The bottom line is that you have a choice—you can become bitter or better. Kindness is the remedy, and forgiveness is the antidote.”

Each chapter of The Secret Power of Kindness is dedicated to a different key of kindness, beginning with forgiveness and followed by generosity, composure, acceptance, rest, wisdom, empathy, patience, love, and unity. Atkinson encourages readers to embrace each to be part of a movement to change the world and make it a better place.

The Secret Power of Kindness includes a foreword by Mark Batterson, New York Times bestselling author of The Circle Maker, and is endorsed by leaders including Bob Goff, Dr. Richard Blackaby, Jon Gordon, Faith Eury Cho, and Danielle Strickland, to name a few. The book already landed on several Amazon bestsellers lists even prior to its official June 6 release, including claiming No. 1 in both the “Christian Families” and “Christian Dating and Relationships” categories.

“Kindness may seem old-fashioned, but in truth, it’s omnirelevant,” writes Batterson in the foreword. “As Greg so aptly points out, be kind to yourself. We often forget that the Great Commandment is three-dimensional. We know we need to love God and love people. But it’s hard to love others if you don’t like yourself. The hardest person to forgive is the person who stares back at you in the mirror every day! Be kind to that person, and you’ll be kinder to others.”

For more information about The Secret Power of Kindness, visit secretpowerofkindness.com.

Greg Atkinson is a bestselling author, speaker, pastor, coach, and consultant who has worked with churches of all sizes, including some of the largest and fastest growing in the country, as well as organizations such as Josh McDowell Ministries. He is a contributor to many magazines and websites, including Relevant Magazine, Christianity Today, Pastors.com, ChurchLeaders.com, and Outreach Magazine, as well as a member of the Forbes Coaching Council and a Forbes featured contributor. Atkinson is the Founder of the First Impressions Conference and Worship Impressions and Co-Founder of the Social Media Church Conference. His website is gregatkinson.com.

Invite Press is a premier publisher of books to help readers grow in their Christian faith. It publishes books that matter to the everyday life of following Jesus as well as those that apply to the work of full-time ministry. Invite Press is an imprint of Invite Resources, which exists to build a like-hearted community of influencers who are high on Jesus, low on politics, and biased toward innovation. Visit inviteresources.com for more information.

Iron Stream Media releases “TIMELESS: The Living and Enduring Word of God” by Carol McLeod

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New Book Examines How the Bible, a Book Written Nearly Two Millennia Ago, Still Speaks to a Current Generation of Readers

Birmingham, AL – Is it possible for a book written nearly 2,000 years ago can still have intrinsic value to the daily lives of its readers?  TIMELESS: The Living and Enduring Word of God, the 16th book by beloved author, podcast host, and speaker Carol McLeod shares how the Bible in general, and the book of I Peter specifically, has never ceased to create a vital, timely impact on each generation of readers. TIMELESS is available June 27 at all major retailers and online, and is published by Iron Stream Media.

Carol says “I love the Bible! As I was reading 1 Peter one day, I understood that Peter, through the unction of the Holy Spirit, was writing to a bullied church in the midst of a Godless culture. I also realized that Peter was writing to our church today.” Rarely can a book written nearly two millennia ago speak to a current generation of readers. However, the book of 1 Peter is practical, hopeful, and as up-to-date as anything written today. She continues, “This book is different from other Bible studies because, while it is theology, it is also personal, practical, and hopeful. TIMELESS makes the black-and-white Word of God jump off the page in technicolor enthusiasm.”

The stunning component that sets the Bible apart from other pieces of literature is that, while written on paper through the hands of ordinary men, the Holy Spirit wrote it. Carol explores how the Holy Spirit divinely inspired the entire scripture, and focuses specifically on the writings of Peter, the rock upon which Christ would build His church, and how these words can hold dynamic power for your life today. “I hope that women fall in love with the Word of God,” she exclaims. “I hope it will light a fire in their hearts to lovingly handle scripture and to be amazed at the truth in the Word of God. I also hope that TIMELESS will give women the tools to make it through the searing fires in life with great joy.” TIMELESS: The Living and Enduring Word of God is published by Iron Stream Media and is available at all major book retailers and online on June 27, 2023.

Carol McLeod is a sought-after speaker, best-selling author of 16 books, and the host of two successful podcasts: “Jolt of Joy” and “Significant Women.” Her weekly blog “Joy for the Journey” has been named to the Top 50 Faith Blogs for Women, her weekly TV show The Joy Life is viewed by thousands weekly, and her YouVersion devotionals have been enjoyed by nearly 4 million people around the world.  Known for her great joy and enthusiasm, Carol encourages and empowers women with passionate and practical Bible-focused messages, interspersed with her own special brand of hope and humor.  CarolMcLeodMinistries.com

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, to one 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 series. Iron Stream Media is the home of Iron Stream Books, Brookstone Creative Group, Iron Stream Kids, Iron Stream Harambee Press, and Iron Stream Fiction. Through the popular Life Bible Study imprint, they also provide web-based year and short-term Bible study teaching plans as well as printed devotionals, Bibles, and discipleship curriculum.  https://www.ironstreammedia.com/

For more information: Lori Heiselman, Lori@BiscuitMediaGroup.com, 714-553-5181

Book design firm, Faceout Studio, gets a facelift

by

JULY 10, 2023 — Book design firm, Faceout Studio, has updated its logo and launched a new website this week. “The letters are playful and the look is sort of mid century with a contemporary twist. It’s a fun and engaging celebration of the printed book in all of its glory, standing confidently, face out,” says creative director, Tim Green.

Most books are arranged side-by-side in a book store with only the spine showing. The studio’s name reflects those unique books that get featured “face out” in the store. This term captures this idea of standing out on a crowded book shelf, and also of looking outward and forward toward bright possibilities.

“We’re excited to embark on a new season of growth following our brand re-fresh. We’ve been in business for over 25 years, but continue to identify things we can improve on and new areas of opportunity. It’s not easy finding time for internal projects of this size and scope. But finally … here we are. New brand logo, new website, new collateral, new store items and some new service offerings we’ll be rolling out these next couple weeks, including some AI tools,” says principal, Torrey Sharp.

Faceout Studio has designed well over 12,000 books since its founding in 1996. The studio works with hundreds of the world’s top media companies, mid-size publishers, university presses and individual authors. Over the years their work has been recognized by Communication Arts, the AIGA, Print magazine, Eye magazine, Graphis, CMYK, Graphic Design: USA, ECPA, The Chicago Book Clinic, the New York Book Show, the AUP and the American Advertising Federation.

For more information, please contact:
Torrey Sharp, Owner / Principal, Faceout Studio, torrey@faceoutstudio.com

https://www.faceoutstudio.com/
https://www.instagram.com/faceoutstudio/

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