Lucinda Secrest McDowell, longtime Iron Stream Media author, passed away amid friends and family on Saturday, March 25, 2023.
Lucinda Secrest McDowell, MTS, was passionate about embracing life—both through deep soul care as well as living courageously to touch a needy world. A storyteller who engaged both heart and mind, she delighted in helping you choose a life of serenity and strength. A graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Furman University, McDowell was the author of thirteen books and contributor to more than thirty books. Her award-winning books include Soul Strong (2020) and Life-Giving Choices (2019), She was a member of the Redbud Writers Guild and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.
Lucinda received the Mount Hermon “Writer of the Year” award and wrote guest blogs for The Write Conversation, Blue Ridge Mountains Writers Blog, and (in)courage. Whether codirecting reNEW—retreat for New England Writing, pouring into young mamas, or leading a restorative day of prayer, she was energized by investing in people of all ages.
Lucinda’s favorites included tea parties, good books, laughing friends, ancient prayers, country music, cozy quilts, musical theatre, and especially her family scattered around the world doing amazing things. Known for her ability to convey deep truth in practical and winsome ways, she wrote from her home, affectionately known as Sunnyside Cottage, in New England and blogged weekly at EncouragingWords.net.
“My mission is to glorify God and live in His grace and freedom, and through the power of the Holy Spirit to use my gifts to communicate God’s faithfulness, extend His grace, and encourage others to trust Him fully.” ~ Lucinda Secrest McDowell
CHARLOTTE, NC– The Good Book Company announces that
BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Prayer is a gift—an invitation to talk with God. But prayer can also be a challenge. How do believers experience the joy and fullness of prayer when it is so often accompanied by questions and mysteries?
NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Pre-orders for the upcoming autobiographical release that tells the story of widely regarded entrepreneur Mignon François, founder and CEO of The Cupcake Collection (TCC) are now available at
Frankfurt am Main, March 21, 2023 – Bookwire, the leading global provider of digital services for publishers, and Podium, a digital-first publisher and one of the fastest growing audiobook publishers in North America, announce a new partnership.
“The Bookwire OS platform provides publishers with a powerful tool to optimize their digital distribution strategies in one solution. By leveraging Bookwire’s technology, Podium is gaining efficiencies and the ability to scale their business more easily. We are excited to offer this innovative technology to Podium as part of our partnership,” says Brittyne Lewis, Country Manager of the US at Bookwire.
While much of church planting today is approached as a new, innovative effort, church leaders can take comfort in the truth that they are simply stewards of what the faithful church has been doing for millennia. In Word and Sacrament: Ancient Traditions for Modern Church Planting (New Growth Press/May 1, 2023), Anglican church planting veteran Dan Alger shows pastors how the rich traditions of liturgical worship are a gift to the work of starting new churches.
In his new book “TRUST: Knowing When to Give It, When to Withhold It, How to Earn It, and How to Fix It When It Gets Broken” (Worthy Books, ISBN: 9781546003373, March 28, 2028), Dr. Cloud explores the five foundational aspects of trust that must be present for any relationship to function successfully and helps us to understand what can cause us to exercise faulty judgment in our trust decisions.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., March 27, 2023—It’s no secret that today’s teens face a multitude of challenges to their mental well-being, often leading to a spiral of unhealthy thoughts and doubts about their self-worth. These thinking patterns often leave young people feeling less-than and unvalued, contributing to feelings of anxiety and depression throughout their lives.
Chicago, IL –
March 27, 2023, Grand Rapids, Mich. – ECPA has presented to Dwight Baker, former ECPA board chair and president/CEO of Baker Publishing Group, its Chair Award for distinguished leadership to ECPA and the publishing industry.




