Re-Encounter the Gospel in ‘Evangelism: For the Care of Souls’

Sean McGever’s Biblical Wisdom on Being ‘Evangelized and Re-Evangelized’ for Leaders in the Faith

BELLINGHAM, Wash., May 1, 2023 — Urging ministers see the Gospel as the heart of soul care, author Sean McGever has released his latest book, “Evangelism: For the Care of Souls,” available on May 17 within Lexham Ministry Guides, a series of resources designed to offer practical, proven wisdom to those in ministry leadership. Edited by esteemed author Harold L. Senkbeil, this valuable piece of literature written by McGever brilliantly builds upon Senkbeil’s previous award-winning book, “The Care of Souls.”

In “Evangelism: For the Care of Souls,” McGever reminds ministers that announcing—and re-announcing—the good news of Jesus is central to pastoral care. Not only does the Gospel change us at the very moment of our salvation, but it also transforms us throughout the course of our lives, serving as the ongoing balm and cure of our hearts throughout our lifetime.

“Evangelism is not a one-time confrontational conversation, though it can be,” writes McGever. “Evangelism is at the heart of the ongoing work of pastoral care, inviting outsiders into the flock of the church and reminding insiders of the heart of the ongoing life of faith.”

Avoiding a simplistic, manipulative or guilt-inducing message, “Evangelism: For the Care of Souls” presents a vision and strategy for ministers to evangelize in a way that is refreshing, biblical and sustainable.

Speaking deeply to the hearts of leaders in ministry, McGever offers profound wisdom on how the Gospel compels Christians to “announce Jesus” to the world in their everyday lives, within and beyond their local church communities, in order to spread revival. He also dives into the concept of the “urgent patience” produced from authentic, transformative salvation in Jesus, a worship-filled mindset that leads believers continually back to the cross, seeking the heart of God through His Word and prayer.

“Revival happens every minute, hour, day, week, month and year,” McGever shared in a recent Logos blog post. “This is because God is always active in bringing life to people. Humans are brought to life when the Word is presented through the power of the Spirit.”

“Evangelism: For the Care of Souls” is available on May 17 from Lexham Press. For more information, visit https://lexhampress.com/product/231114/evangelism-for-the-care-of-souls.

About Sean McGever
Sean McGever is area director for Young Life in Phoenix, Arizona, and an adjunct faculty at Grand Canyon University. He is the author of The Good News of Our Limits and Born Again: The Evangelical Theology of Conversion in John Wesley and George Whitefield. He speaks, teaches, and ministers across the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Lexham Ministry Guides
The Lexham Ministry Guides, edited by Harold L. Senkbeil, offer practical, proven wisdom for the church. But wisdom takes time. The authors in this series developed their wisdom through years of ministry experience and conversations with colleagues. These books invite you to enter into these conversations to better serve the Savior’s sheep and lambs with confidence. You will find hands-on tools, lessons from years of ministry experience, and an array of resources to apply to your own ministry context.  Learn more about the other titles in this series.

About Lexham Press
Lexham Press seeks to increase biblical literacy, thoughtful Christian reflection, and faithful action around the world by publishing a range of Bible study materials, scholarly works, and pastoral resources. For information, visit lexhampress.com.

Media Contact:  Lauren Briggs, 972-267-1111, lauren@alarryross.com

Wimee Creates with Vehicles and Colors Releases July 2023

Grand Rapids, MI—April 19, 2023.  Zonderkidz is pleased to announce a new series of books featuring Wimee the Robot, a nationally-recognized character as seen on PBS-TV affiliates in the kids TV show “Wimee’s Words.” The first book in the series, Wimee Creates with Vehicles and Colors, arrives in bookstores and online July 18, 2023.

This series of books based on the Wimee character will be both entertaining and educational in nature. The simple concepts and bright, unique characters will appeal to children ages 3 and up and inspire creativity and learning.

Created by Michael Hyacinthe, an entrepreneur and U.S. Navy Seabee veteran, with master puppeteer Kevin Kammeraad, and written by Stephanie Kammeraad,  this simple concept book teaches rhyming and colors, as well as prepositions and action verbs, and encourages readers to create their own unique rhymes and images. In addition, Wimee Creates with Vehicles and Colors includes a resource for parents and educators on how to use Wimee creatively to further learning and grow imagination. The illustrator is Mattia Cerato.

This three book deal with Hyacinthe of Wimage LLC was acquired by Katherine Jacobs, Senior Acquisitions Editor for Zonderkidz/HarperCollins, with Karen Neumair of Credo Communications representing the creators/authors. Additional announcements on future titles will follow in late 2023.

“This partnership with Michael and the Wimee team and their unique brand has far-reaching potential. We see this as a perfect fit for our mission of providing imaginative, innovative, and educational books that inspire young readers. Our hope is that these books will be the first step in a long and fruitful collaboration,” says Megan Dobson, Vice President and Publisher of Zonderkidz.

Hyacinthe’s passion for this project shines: “Eventually, our goal would be to expand this brand in formats varied from leveled readers to activity books to digital-only titles and premium picture books.” More information on Wimee, and the creators can be found at www. https://wimee.tv

The American Library Association (ALA) has selected the creators and author to present at the annual ALA conference in Chicago June 25 on “Securing Community Library Partnerships and Scaling Up to a National Presence.” Thousands of librarians will be able to hear the Wimee team’s inspiring story and learn how to replicate that success for their own library systems. The TV show “Wimee’s Words” first began during the pandemic as a way to connect younger library patrons with innovative learning programming and is now being watched in over 30 markets on PBS stations. Kent District Library, in Kent County, Michigan, is the program’s library partner.

The book is now available for pre-orders wherever books are sold. Advance review copies of the book and media interviews are available upon request; please contact Publicity Director Jessica Westra at jessica.westra@harpercollins.com.

About the book:
Wimee Creates with Vehicles and Colors
Series: A Wimee’s Words Book
Created by: Michael Hyacinthe and Kevin Kammeraad; written by Stephanie Kammeraad
Illustrated by: Mattia Cerato
$12.99 hardcover, e-book will also be available
Release date: July 18, 2023
Publisher: Zonderkidz

About the Creators/Authors:

Michael Hyacinthe is the CEO of Wimage, LLC, the creator of Wimee the Robot. He is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and uses his experiences with wounded veterans to find creative and therapeutic outlets for them to express themselves. As an entrepreneur, this effort connecting with veterans compelled him to create the Wimage application, which he then discovered was a good fit for the educational market.

Kevin Kammeraad is the co-producer and lead puppeteer on the Wimee’s Words show and serves as a Bookmobile Operator for the Kent District Library as part of their Community Engagement Team. Kevin is a master puppeteer and has spent his career performing educational shows at schools, libraries and festivals around the country.

Stephanie Kammeraad is the co-producer and one of the content organizers and writers for the show. She holds a degree in Special Education and has taught and coordinated numerous classes and camps for kids in preschool through middle school throughout West Michigan.

Michael grew up in Bronx, NY, Stephanie in Metro Detroit, MI, and Kevin in West Michigan. They all currently live in Grand Rapids, MI.

About Wimee the Robot and Wimee’s Words:
Wimee is a fun, lovable robot that inspires kids to learn through creativity!  Wimee’s Words is an interactive mixed media show for preschoolers that inspires kids to learn through imagination, vocabulary building, and storytelling through playful puppetry, silly music, wacky wordplay and fun technology. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the show can be seen on numerous PBS TV affiliates around the country: https://www.pbs.org/show/wimees-words/

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.

Media Contact: Jessica Westra, Director of Publicity, Zonderkidz, Jessica.westra@harpercollins.com

Birmingham, AL – Best-selling author Becky Harling is poised to release her new project  ROOTED JOY, the first in a series of “Girlfriend Gathering” books.  Rooted Joy will release May 2 through Iron Stream Media.

Grand Rapids, Mich., April 2023 – Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce a reduction in 300 million printed pages since switching their New International Version (NIV) Bibles to their exclusive Comfort Print typefaces.

NIV Comfort Print is a highly readable typeface that is also spatially efficient, directly contributing to the company’s initiative to reduce its carbon footprint and reduce unnecessary paper usage. Zondervan partnered with 2K/DENMARK, the foremost Bible type foundry, to create this typeface to complement the world’s bestselling modern-English Bible translation—the NIV.

“We are delighted that in our quest to develop readable, elegant Bible typefaces, we continue to contribute to long-term sustainability,” said Melinda Bouma, vice president and publisher of Bibles for Zondervan. “It is gratifying to know that around 4,000 trees were saved due to the development of these proprietary typefaces.”

What does 300 million pages look like?

• Stacked up, the pages would be more than three miles high, or roughly 12 Empire State Buildings.
• Placed next to each other, they would cover 2,000 football fields.
• If the pages were laid end-to-end, they would stretch further than 1.5 times around the earth.

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.

About Comfort Print:
Zondervan Bibles teamed up with 2K/Denmark, the world’s foremost Bible typeface foundry, to create exclusive Comfort Print Bible fonts. NIV Comfort Print Bibles are easy to read at any size because the typeface was designed to be both efficient and readable. Zondervan Bibles believes that the beauty of the message should be reflected in the physical form of the book. Choosing the right typeface is one significant element in creating beautiful Bibles.

About the NIV:
The New International Version (NIV) is the world’s bestselling modern-English Bible translation—accurate, readable, and clear, yet rich with the detail found in the original languages. The NIV is the result of over 50 years of work by the Committee on Bible Translation, who oversee the efforts of many contributing scholars. Representing the spectrum of evangelicalism, the translators come from a wide range of denominations and various countries and continually review new research in order to ensure the NIV remains at the forefront of accessibility, relevance, and authority. Every NIV Bible that is purchased helps Biblica, a nonprofit ministry organization, translate and give Bibles to people in need around the world. To learn more, visit www.thenivbible.com

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

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO. (April 21, 2023) – Seeking God, written by Trevor Hudson and published by NavPress, has been named a finalist in the annual book awards program from the Martin Institute’s Dallas Willard Research Center (MIDWRC).

Since 2015, this annual award has honored new resources that share Willard’s vision of invisible things—such as soul, spirit, and the Kingdom of God—being knowable via experiential interaction.

In his book, Hudson, who was honored in 2022 as the inaugural winner of the Richard Foster Award in Spiritual Formation by George Fox University, draws on his long friendship with Willard and the deep spirituality of the Ignatian exercises to show how God draws near to people as we draw near to God. “Seeking God” is, in Hudson’s characterization, both an activity and a description of God’s character.

“Seeking God is a great representation of what The Navigators refer to as spiritual generations,” said NavPress publisher David Zimmerman. “The way that Trevor’s faith was shaped by Dallas’s influence and personal care and the way that the Ignatian exercises make spiritual maturity more experiential and achievable taken together offer us a wonderful vision of a robust generational discipleship. We’re proud of Trevor for this recognition and grateful for his book in our catalog.”

The MIDWRC will announce the winner this summer.

For additional information about Seeking God, as well as other NavPress products, visit navpress.com.

For inquiries or questions, please contact Katie Dodillet: katiedodillet@tyndale.com.

NavPress is a business ministry of The Navigators. With a rich catalog of bestselling books, discipleship resources, and The Message® Bible, NavPress supports readers as they know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same.®  Since 2014 NavPress has been in a publishing alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, one of the largest independently owned Christian publishers in the world. NavPress resources are sold, distributed, and marketed worldwide through Tyndale House Publishers.

CAROL STREAM, Ill. (April 21, 2023)—Tyndale House Ministries (@tyndalehouse) has announced that Paul Hendrickson, publisher of Hendrickson Publishing Group (HPG), will retire on April 30 after serving at the company for 10 years. Hendrickson Publishing Group was acquired by Tyndale House Publishers in 2021.

Scott Mathews, Tyndale CEO, shared, “Paul came into the publishing industry to serve and help Hendrickson. His service has never stopped; not only touching Hendrickson, Rose, and Tyndale, but the larger industry and beyond. His influence and passion will be missed, but I have no doubt his presence and legacy will continue to be felt.”

Paul Hendrickson served as general manager of the Hendrickson Publishing Group, a Christian publisher focusing on Bibles, biblical reference, academic, and thoughtful trade materials. HPG includes the imprints of Rose Publishing, LLC, acquired by Hendrickson in 2017. Rose is known for conveying biblical reference materials in colorful, visual products, ranging from pamphlets and wall charts to substantial reference books and RoseKidz products. HPG is noted for original biblical language materials, academic reference titles, and a wide variety of Bible products using most available English language translations.

Under Paul’s leadership at HPG, new strategic alliances were developed with the German Bible Society, Carta Jerusalem, eTeacher Group, the Theology of Work Project, and Second Baptist Church in Houston.

In addition to his work at HPG, Paul served on the boards of directors of ECPA, Hockey Ministries International, Lexington Christian Academy, and Parkside Christian Academy.

Before HPG, Paul served as director of new business development for Christian Book Distributors, LLC—the largest Internet and catalog retailer of exclusively Christian products. He developed the Christianbook Partner Services Group, which offers a complete outsourced e-commerce and fulfillment service for over 50 Christian organizations, including BibleGateway, Max Lucado, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, iDisciple, Kregel Publishers, Community Bible Study, and Stonecroft Ministries.

Prior to joining Christianbook/HPG, Paul was a managing partner of Creative Information Concepts (CIC) for over 25 years. CIC is an international management consulting company with a resource base of senior professionals in the United States and Europe that serves many of the largest global financial institutions. His clients included global leaders such as J.P. Morgan, American Express, Citicorp, AIG, Prudential, Pan-American Life, Deutsche Bank, Putnam Investments, Commerzbank, First Chicago, Cole Taylor Bank, and Bank of America, as well as technology suppliers such as Microsoft, IBM, Stratus Computer, Pegasystems, and Tandem Computers.

Commenting on his retirement, Hendrickson shared, “I’ve been privileged to be a part of Christian publishing for many years and hope to continue my work by contributing to various organizations and people in a consulting or advisory capacity.”

A celebration to express appreciation for Paul’s dedication to his work and his legacy will take place on April 25 at the HPG offices in Peabody, Massachusetts.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@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.

Salem Books celebrates the life of author and speaker Sheri Rose Shepherd as she is now in the presence of her Savior. While we mourn the earthly loss of our friend, we are thankful that she is at peace and her body is completely healed. During her battle with cancer, Sheri Rose never stopped trusting in and believing in Jesus. Daily she pointed people back to the Savior she deeply loved through her testimony.

We were honored to have been one of her publishing partners, having worked with her on two books: His Princess Every Day Devotional: Love Letters From Your King and Beyond the White Picket Fence: What do to When Your Life is Dismantled. Her legacy will live on and continue to inspire many, always pointing them to Jesus.

Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and close friends during this time.

Hendersonville, Tenn. (April 10, 2023) – Popular Christian artist and singer-songwriter Tasha Layton released her first trade book on April 21st, “Look What You’ve Done: The Lies We Believe & The Truth That Sets Us Free” (K-LOVE Books). She celebrated the book’s release day with a book signing at the Barnes & Noble store in Hendersonville, Tennessee, near her hometown of Franklin, Tennessee.

When she arrived at the store, Layton was greeted by a line of fans and followers that had already formed. Layton signed books and took photos with a full crowd of fans who attended the signing throughout the evening. The book’s release marks the end of a successful pre-order campaign, where K-LOVE Books offered the audiobook, read by Tasha, to all who purchased the book from any retailer.

“Look What You’ve Done” is a diverse collection of stories and intimate self-reflections to encourage readers to follow where God leads them, with the foreword penned by bestselling author Bob Goff. Inspired by her powerful hit song of the same title, the book delves into Tasha’s journey of finding freedom in Jesus through life’s twists and turns. Tasha takes readers through her early days in small town South Carolina, to her big breakthrough as background singer on stage with Katy Perry, to the mission field in Kenya and beyond. Across many countries and all her days, the truest constant in Tasha’s life has been the presence of God in both the highs and the lows.

“When I set out to write this book, I wanted to talk about what God had done in my life. Though I didn’t even know it during my years of wandering, God was busy writing a beautiful story for me—and I am confident that God has an amazing adventure planned for each and every soul,” Layton said. “This book is not a how-to guide or a manual for living. What it is, however, is an example of a journey with all its challenges and triumphs. I like to think of it as bits and pieces of wisdom about navigating our paths while looking to God for direction. We learn about ourselves and God through every mountain and every valley.”

“It has been encouraging to see how God has used Tasha and her story. She has had a full music career leading worship in churches, appearing on American Idol, touring the world with Katy Perry, and her pursuit of truth, to ultimately finding Jesus,” said Dave Schroeder, Publisher of K-LOVE Books. “Like her amazing voice, Tasha’s heart is big and on a mission to help her readers to address the lies they believe and ultimately point them to the truth.” Layton just wrapped up the Hits Deep Tour with TobyMac and others and has a full schedule of shows and women’s ministry events throughout the year where she will continue promoting the book.

For more information, go to books.klove.com.

TASHA LAYTON is a contemporary Christian musician who finds her identity and purpose in her personal relationship with Jesus. After four years touring as a back-up vocalist for Katy Perry, Layton was first named one of Billboard’s Top 5 female Christian artists of 2020 on the heels of her breakthrough single, “Into The Sea (It’s Gonna Be OK).”  Now, her 2021 smash hit “Look What You’ve Done” testifies on radio stations across the country to the incredible transformation God has brought to her life. Delivered from suicidal thoughts, Tasha now walks in the joy and freedom of Jesus. In 2023, she launched her new online show, Boundless, with K-LOVE OnDemand. Look What You’ve Done: The Lies We Believe & The Truth That Sets Us Free is her first trade book.

K-LOVE BOOKS, an imprint of EMF Publishing, has published bestselling books such as “The Way of the Father” by Michael W. Smith, “Out of the Dark” by Mandisa, and most recently “On Our Knees” by Phil Wickham and “Believe for It” by CeCe Winans. Educational Media Foundation (EMF) is the parent organization of K-LOVE and Air1 radio and the AccessMore podcast network.

Publicity contact: Ashley Harris, ashley.harris@dexteritybooks.com

Grand Rapids, Mich., April 2022 – Zondervan, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is pleased to announce the release of Zondervan’s Thompson® Chain-Reference® Bible, Revised and Updated in the New King James Version (NKJV). This is the third updated and revised edition of a Thompson Chain-Reference Bible since Zondervan acquired the Bible line from Kirkbride Bible Company in 2020.

APRIL 11, 2023—Trailblazing country singer/songwriter, Granger Smith, announced today via his wildly popular social media accounts that he has decided to exit the music touring business to move towards a new chapter in his life.

“I’ve been so nervous to make this video, but I’m making this post to announce that this summer is my last ever tour,” said Granger, who has toured for 24 years. “I have felt a strong desire to pursue ministry. This doesn’t mean I’m going to start a church, but this is a time of learning and growing for me.

“I’m so hopeful about this future. Amber and I have been totally united on this. I know there are going to be a lot of questions and I’m going to try to stay engaged. I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to be here,” added Granger.

Smith’s “Like A River” farewell tour begins April 13 and runs through August 26. Tour dates and tickets can be found at grangersmith.com, with more shows being added in the coming weeks.

In conjunction with this monumental life change, Smith also announced the upcoming release of his memoir, Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache, on August 1, 2023 (W Publishing Group, and imprint of Thomas Nelson).

“Getting here hasn’t been easy, and it hasn’t been quick,” writes Granger in the book’s opening chapter, in reference to his family’s journey through grief following the tragic passing of his young son, River. “Learning to live after loss is not a simple or straightforward process, but I’m here to help you discover that it is possible. This is a book about that process. It’s about learning to live after loss, which actually comes to all of us at some point in life—one way or another. It’s also about my journey toward purpose on the other side of debilitating pain.”

It was important for Smith to bill his final music tour “Like A River,” the same title as his book, so that the heart behind his new direction would be clear. “I want to be able to provide my fans with one last chance to see me tour. They’ve been such a huge part of my life and I will serve them the best way I can this summer.”

Compelled by the call to ministry, Smith intends to serve his local church under the teaching, council and leadership of his pastor and elders while he continues work on a master’s degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary along with public speaking and authorship.

In a People.com exclusive, Smith opened up more extensively about how his personal journey of grief and faith led him to his life’s true calling.

Like a River is available for pre-order wherever books are sold. For more, visit www.grangersmith.com

ABOUT GRANGER SMITH:  Granger Smith is an award-winning, platinum-selling, American country music singer-songwriter who fell in love with music at an early age. Over the course of his groundbreaking career, Granger has amassed a massive and rabid audience known as Yee Yee Nation, built through heavy touring and grassroots fan engagement. He has released ten studio albums, one live album, and two EPs. Granger has charted over eight singles on the Billboard country charts, including the number one hit “Backroad Song.” He is a highly sought-after speaker, actor, author, and host of the nationally syndicated iHeartRadio show After Midnite with Granger Smith. In 2017 he started the Granger Smith Podcast, where he discusses matters of faith, family, music, and the outdoors, while spreading messages of integrity, honor, truth, and restoration grounded in a Christian worldview. Granger’s social media following exceeds twelve million, with more than one billion online video views. Granger and his wife, Amber, live north of Austin, Texas, with their kids London, Lincoln, and Maverick.

ABOUT W PUBLISHING, AN IMPRINT OF THOMAS NELSON:  Thomas Nelson is a world leading publisher and provider of Christian content and has been providing readers with quality inspirational product 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 www.thomasnelson.com.

Media Contacts:
Allison Carter, W Publishing Group, allison.carter@harpercollins.com
Nicole Gaia, NPG PR, nicole@npgpr.com