2020 Press Releases

IVP Honored with Beautiful Orthodoxy, CT Women, and Two More 2021 Book Awards

Mon, 14 Dec 2020 21:20:00 GMT

Christianity Today has released the winners of its 2021 Book Awards and has announced that Reading While Black has been chosen for the Beautiful Orthodoxy award, and Mother to Son was selected for the CT Women award. IVP titles were also winners in the categories of Christian Living/Discipleship and Theology/Ethics, and three titles received Awards of Merit in the categories of Spiritual Formation and Missions/Global Church.

“The Christianity Today Book Awards are annually among the year-end lists that my colleagues and I most look forward to, as CT and its judges invariably recognize writing and publishing of distinction,” Jeff Crosby, InterVarsity Press publisher, said. “We are honored and humbled by the Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year award for Esau McCaulley’s groundbreaking project and by each of the category winners and honorable mentions. They join a host of other books of substance and impact published and written by friends in the industry.”

As the Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year, Reading While Black was chosen as the title that “embodies CT’s pursuit of truthfulness and loveliness.” When CT first announced this award in 2016, they wrote, “You might call ‘Beautiful Orthodoxy’ our shorthand for . . . theological, political, and cultural expression that unites truthfulness and loveliness. The way the gospel does.”

In Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope Esau McCaulley calls the church to a dynamic theological engagement with Scripture, in which Christians of diverse backgrounds dialogue with their own social location as well as the cultures of others. Ekemini Uwan, cohost of the Truth’s Table podcast, said, “In Reading While Black, Dr. Esau McCaulley honors the beautifully rich triumvirate of doxology, orthodoxy, and orthopraxy, which has always had its home in the Black Christian tradition.”

McCaulley is assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, and a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. He is also the host of The Disrupters podcast. His publications include Sharing in the Son’s Inheritance and numerous articles in outlets such as Christianity Today, The Witness, and the Washington Post. McCaulley was also recently honored with the 2020 Emerging Public Intellectual Award.

As the winner of the CT Women award, Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope deals head-on with issues ranging from discipleship and marriage to biblical justice. Jasmine L. Holmes shares a series of powerful letters to her young son about her journey as an African American Christian and what she wants her son to know as he grows and approaches the world as a black man.

“These letters are personal and yet applicable to us all,” writes Jackie Hill Perry in the foreword. “With child or without. Brown or white. Married or single. We may not all understand what it is to be her, a black mother with a brown boy, but we all understand what it is like to love, to care so deeply for someone that affection becomes words.”

The CT Book Award winner in the category of Christian Living/Discipleship went to Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience by Sheila Wise Rowe. Dan B. Allender, founding president of The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, said, “Healing Racial Trauma is a magisterial gift for those who have suffered harm as persons of color, and it is also a revelation for those whose whiteness has served as a pair of blinders from racial trauma. Sheila Wise Rowe brilliantly exposes, narrates, honors, and calls forth from Scripture, clients, and her own life, the stories of violation and the power of hope.”

As a child, Sheila Wise Rowe was bused across town to a majority white school, where she experienced the racist lie that one group is superior to all others. Rowe, now a professional counselor, exposes the symptoms of racial trauma to lead readers to a place of freedom from the past and new life for the future. In each chapter, she includes an interview with a person of color to explore how we experience and resolve racial trauma.

The recipient of the CT Book Award for the Theology/Ethics category was “He Descended to the Dead”: An Evangelical Theology of Holy Saturday. “Matthew Emerson has ably recovered a theology of Holy Saturday, Christ’s descent into the place of death, for churches that are normally suspicious about ancient creeds,” said Michael F. Bird, academic dean and lecturer in theology at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. “He shows that it is biblical, theologically necessary, integral to the work of Christ, and even intrinsic to the very identity of the God we worship. A concise and convincing account of a contested topic.”

The IVP titles that tied for the Award of Merit in the Spiritual Formation category included Soul Care in African American Practice by Barbara L. Peacock and The Way Up Is Down by Marlena Graves.

In Soul Care in African American Practice Peacock illustrates how the practices of spiritual formation are woven into African American culture and lived out in the rich heritage of its faith community. Using the examples of ten significant men and women, Peacock helps readers engage in practices of soul care as we learn from these spiritual leaders. “As a spiritual director and a scholar, [Peacock] gives voice and vision to the rich Christian spiritual tradition that has undergirded the sustenance, liberation, and transcendence of African Americans. In so doing, she calls us once again to the fountain of living water that never runs dry,” said Bishop Claude Alexander, pastor of The Park Ministries, Charlotte, North Carolina.

In The Way Up Is Down: Becoming Yourself by Forgetting Yourself writer, professor, and activist Marlena Graves draws on the rich traditions of Eastern and Western Christian saints as she shares stories and insights that have enlivened her transformation. For Graves, formation and justice always intertwine on the path to a balanced life of both action and contemplation. Sharon Hodde Miller, author of Nice: Why We Love to Be Liked and How God Calls Us to More, said, “I know of no one who cares less for the superficial ‘worries of this life’ (Mt 13:22) than Marlena Graves. She is a voice calling out in our generation, beckoning us to a vision of Christ that has nearly been drowned out by the rise of self-help pseudo-Christianity. And this book? This book is her heart on paper. If you want to sit under a spiritual giant, and if you want to remember just what kind of freedom we are called to in Christ, do not miss this message.”

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

IVP Receives Three 2020 Gospel Coalition Book Awards

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 18:31:00 GMT

The Gospel Coalition has announced that three IVP titles were recipients of 2020 TGC Book Awards. The winning books include Exodus Old and New, Companions in Suffering and Analog Church. Two additional IVP books—Reading While Black and The Beautiful Community--were named Honorable Mention titles.

TGC editor Ivan Mesa wrote, “For some, with increased pressures at home and at work and perhaps even facing sickness and the death of others, [reading] seems fanciful. For others, reading has been a lifeline. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, at the end of 2020 it’s good to take stock of the year’s Christian titles and select the most helpful, edifying, and truth-filled books.”

TGC editors and contributors selected this year’s best titles based on the following criteria:

offers gospel-centered argument and application;
includes faithful and foundational use of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament;
fosters spiritual discernment of contemporary trials and trends; and
encourages efforts to unite and renew the church.

Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption by L. Michael Morales was the title that best fit these criteria in the Academic Theology category of the TGC Book Awards. “In this extraordinary book, Morales examines the redemptive-historical theme of exodus, a pattern with deep theological roots in Scripture that finds its apex in the resurrection of Jesus,” the judges wrote. “This volume is a pleasure to read. Every sentence is a victory, every paragraph a triumph, as Morales not only imparts theology but also inspires worship of the God who delivers his people.” Exodus Old and New is a volume in the Essential Studies in Biblical Theology series.

Companions in Suffering: Comfort for Times of Loss and Loneliness by Wendy Alsup received the 2020 TGC Book Award in the Christian Living category. The judges wrote: “This book is perfectly timed to help suffering Christians love one another well. The past year unexpectedly plunged many of us into isolation and compounded our preexisting trials, but Alsup provides a beautiful picture of how to suffer in community, how to serve fellow sufferers, and how God meets us through the body of Christ. Vulnerably disclosing her own hard experiences, she not only sympathizes with our common experience of human suffering but also points us to authentic faith in Christ amid trouble. In the pages of this accessible book, Alsup draws on psychological best practices while grounding her counsel in a rich exploration of Scripture and an emphasis on the importance of the local church. It would be a beautiful book for any season, but 2020 has made it essential reading.”

Jay Kim received the TGC First-Time Author Award for his book Analog Church: Why We Need Real People, Places, and Things in the Digital Age. “You might think the pandemic has rendered Jay Kim’s debut work obsolete,” the judges wrote. “What good is a book extolling the virtues of face-to-face life in the church when our faces spread sickness and death? On the contrary, nothing could better show ‘why we need real people, places, and things in the digital age.’ Many church leaders may wonder if they should embrace our digital future by moving more and more community online, even when ‘normal’ returns. This Bay Area pastor’s timely work will help them understand why this move will not make the body of Christ healthier. We need each other, face to face, as soon as possible. Read and ponder this book proleptically—you can’t put it into practice now, but you’ll need it to convince church members to opt back in and renew the habits of body life we lost in 2020.”

Irwyn Ince was also recognized in the First-Time Author category. His book, The Beautiful Community: Unity, Diversity, and the Church at Its Best, was listed as an Honorable Mention title. Jarvis J. Williams, associate professor of New Testament interpretation at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, commented, “Dr. Ince provides all Christians in the American context, and the churches in which they serve, an accessible and clear biblical and theological vision to help them work toward the unification of all things and all people in Christ. The book is grounded in a succinct and accessible biblical, theological, and historical vision for the 'beautiful community' and written with the prose of a concerned pastor who longs to see the people of God reach their redemptive potential in matters related to ethnic unity and racial conciliation.”

Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulley was an Honorable Mention title in the Popular Theology category. Reading While Black is a personal and scholarly testament to the power and hope of Black biblical interpretation. At a time in which some within the African American community are questioning the place of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice, New Testament scholar McCaulley argues that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition is invaluable for connecting with a rich faith history and addressing the urgent issues of our times. N.T. Wright, professor of New Testament at the University of St Andrews, said, “Esau McCaulley’s voice is one we urgently need to hear. This book is prophetic, biblical, measured, wise, friendly, and well-reasoned—and thus all the more hard-hitting.”

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

Jay Y. Kim Signs Contract with IVP for Follow-Up to Analog Church

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 19:30:00 GMT

Jay Y. Kim, author of Analog Church, has signed a contract with InterVarsity Press to release a second book, Analog Christian, in Spring 2022.

Ethan McCarthy, associate editor for IVP, said, “Jay’s first book, Analog Church, was released in March 2020, just as churches across the land were suddenly forced to grapple with its themes in new ways. What’s at stake in our trade-offs between digital and analog forms of church? What has the church lost in its acquiescence to our thoroughly digital culture? What finally makes the church the church? We’re so pleased to partner with Jay again on this new foray into the conversation--a conversation that’s taking on an ever-increasing sense of urgency in these days of isolation and Zoom.”

Kim said, “The digital age is dangerously undoing some of the most critical components of discipleship to Christ. Following Jesus in any particular era of human history has always posed challenges unique to that particular era and its particular cultural moments and mediums. It is no different in the digital age. The moments and technological mediums we’re experiencing and utilizing today have the potential to undo much of the work of Christ in us, if we continue to live unaware and unresponsive.”

In Analog Church Kim asked questions about how the digital age and its values might be undoing critical elements of what it means to be the church. Kim said, “In Analog Christian, a follow-up of sorts, I intend to ask the same question from a discipleship point of view. Specifically, as the digital age moves us toward discontentment, fragility, and foolishness, how are followers of Jesus to respond? What is the theological basis for living in creative resistance to the forces and ethos of our day? How might Christians cultivate contentment, resilience, and wisdom, in practical ways to not only survive but thrive as we navigate our unique moment in history?”

Kim is pastor of teaching and leadership at Vintage Faith Church in Santa Cruz, California. He also serves on the core leadership team of the ReGeneration Project and cohosts the ReGeneration Podcast. He lives in Silicon Valley with his wife and two children.

Nancy and Samantha Beach Sign Contract with IVP for Mother/Daughter Dialogue on the Future of the Church

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 19:45:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press has signed a contract with Nancy Beach and her daughter, Samantha Beach Kiley, for the spring 2022 release of their coauthored book tentatively titled Next Sunday: A Mother/Daughter Dialogue on the Future of the Church.

Ethan McCarthy, associate editor for IVP said, “Nancy and Samantha’s book promises to be a fascinating look at American evangelicalism from a multigenerational perspective. At IVP, we’re committed not only to the continual reassessment of where the church has come from, but also to looking together in hope to where it’s going. Next Sunday promises to do both.”

Next Sunday will provide a window into the perspectives of a Baby Boomer mother and her Millennial daughter as they examine what elements will be required for churches to thrive going forward. Nancy, a Boomer, was a key player in the megachurch movement that revolutionized global ministry during the eighties and nineties, while Samantha, a Millennial, is willing to abandon those massive buildings and celebrity cultures to see if the foundation holds. The goal of Next Sunday is to spark further dialogue and offer hope to men and women who care deeply about the church but are anxious about its future.

Nancy Beach has long been a champion for artists and leaders in the local church. As a part of launching the youth group of Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago, Nancy served as the programming director, building a community of artists who sought to create transformational moments in Sunday morning services. She was also a pioneer, serving as the first woman leader on the church’s management team and as the first female teaching pastor. With a front row seat and as a contributing voice for designing church with the “unchurched” in mind, Nancy became a global influencer, speaker, and author as other church leaders sought to learn from Willow Creek’s experience.

Nancy currently serves as a leadership coach with the Slingshot Group, helping church leaders and teams flourish in life and ministry. She also continues to teach at conferences and workshops for both artists and women in leadership and serves on the teaching team at Soul City Church in downtown Chicago. She is the author of An Hour on Sunday: Creating Moments of Transformation and Wonder (Zondervan, 2004) and Gifted to Lead: The Art of Leading as a Woman in the Church (Zondervan, 2008).

“Although I’ve known of Nancy Beach’s pastoral and literary work for many years, it was in the fall of 2019, when I heard her speak at a publishing conference on the future of the church, that I took notice in a new, earnest way,” Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said. “I came away from hearing that message not with a sense of despair but, rather, with a renewed hope and a vision for the questions not only those in church leadership but all of us who care about the church need to ask ourselves, reflect on, and respond to. Adding Samantha Beach Kiley’s voice through the mother/daughter, multigenerational dialogue was icing on the cake. Two wise and winsome people coming together to craft an important message for our day. I’m genuinely delighted and honored to be publishing this important work in the days ahead.”

Samantha Beach Kiley is an Austin-based writer and performer working at the intersection of art and faith. Samantha’s acting experience includes theater, voice-over, spoken word performance, and television. As a teaching artist, Sam works to encourage creativity, promote collaboration, and instill confidence in young people. She has taught at Northwestern’s National High School Institute and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, where she is the codirector of education. Currently, she works as a storytelling consultant for churches and nonprofits and is the creative arts pastor at Austin New Church.

Samantha’s plays have been produced in professional and educational settings and, most recently, in family rooms and children’s hospitals with the national tour of her miniature show, We the W(h)ee. Her YouTube video “Psalm 23 & Me” was shared widely and garnered tens of thousands of views on social media and youtube.com in early 2020. Samantha is writing a new musical and is a creative freelance writer serving a variety of churches. Her plays include The Snare, Thing 100, We the W(h)ee, and Mill Girls.

The #MeToo Reckoning Selected as One of Publishers Weekly’s Best Religion Books of 2020

Fri, 30 Oct 2020 18:59:00 GMT

As part of its Best Books of 2020, Publishers Weekly has selected The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church’s Complicity in Sexual Abuse and Misconduct by Ruth Everhart as one of the best religion books of the year.

The PW website posting says, “Everhart, a Presbyterian pastor, uses her own chilling story of sexual abuse to ground this resonant call to action for Christian communities to reject patriarchal systems and end widespread sexual abuse within American churches. Everhart’s voice is bold, and the many shocking statistics she cites bolster her affecting appeal for change.”

Al Hsu, senior editor for IVP, said, “When I saw the proposal for Ruth Everhart’s The #MeToo Reckoning, I knew that this was a prophetic word for us today. I was struck by her courage in telling her story and the strength of her no-holds-barred takedown of the religious power structures that have aided and abetted abusers. I am thrilled at this PW recognition, and I pray that the reckoning will continue to bring justice and healing to survivors. Congratulations, Ruth!”

Everhart shines a light on the prevalence of sexual abuse and misconduct within faith communities. She candidly discloses stories of how she and others have experienced assault in church settings, highlighting the damage done to individuals, families, and communities. In addition to addressing issues such as patriarchy and purity culture in the church, Everhart instructs religious leaders on what they can do to help pave a better way forward.

In an interview with PW in November 2019, Everhart said, “I didn’t choose to write about this; it happened to me. I wrote about my sexual assault in hindsight after 35 years of life in ministry and realizing that very few people were writing about such assaults from a faith perspective. I got so many messages from people; I heard so many stories. I wanted to broaden the lens out of personal story to larger themes, using other people’s stories and scripture. I didn’t have to go find a single story. They all came to me.”

The #MeToo Reckoning also received a starred review from PW that said, “These case studies are painful but particularly instructive, and Everhart argues ‘we must examine the system that allowed a predator to thrive and hide,’ specifically patriarchal church structures that concentrate more on ‘healing’ than on justice. She calls for churches to make the decisions required for them to become safe places, such as developing a formal system for victims or witnesses of abuse to come forward. Everhart’s unsparing analysis will be helpful for both ministers and lay readers who are concerned about sexual abuse.”

Everhart is an author, speaker, and pastor who has served Presbyterian (PCUSA) churches for more than twenty years. She has written for publications such as the Christian Century, Sojourners, and the Washington Post, and is the author of Chasing the Divine in the Holy Land and the Christianity Today award-winning memoir Ruined.

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

IVP Announces New Initiative to Amplify Voices of Color

Fri, 23 Oct 2020 17:38:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce a groundbreaking new initiative to continue its reputation as a leader in multiethnic publishing. The Every Voice Now (EVN) initiative features a sizable fund underwritten jointly by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and IVP for the purpose of supporting the development, marketing, and sales of books by authors of color as well as aiding in the recruitment of diverse staff and the deepening of the organization’s cultural competency.

“The Every Voice Now initiative is rooted in IVP’s long-standing vision and values, and it seeks to both pursue and elevate voices of color while also recruiting and retaining staff of color who will contribute to and help shape our company’s mission to the university, the church, and the world,” Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said. “I’m grateful for the Every Voice Now leadership team that has given wings to this dream, and I support it wholeheartedly.”

The initiative is led by a diverse group with more than seventy years of publishing experience among them:

Terumi Echols, Director of Finance, Fulfillment, and Operations
Al Hsu, PhD, Senior Editor
Maila Kim, Events Marketing Coordinator
Helen Lee, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives

In addition to the fund, the initiative will launch The Every Voice Now Podcast; hosted by Kim and IVP author Ed Gilbreath (Reconciliation Blues, Birmingham Revolution); it features stories of IVP authors of color on the road to the publication of their books. “The Every Voice Now Podcast reveals the challenges that writers of color face on their journey to becoming published authors,” said Lee, who serves as the producer of the podcast. “Our hope is that listeners will gain a greater appreciation for the work of these authors and better understand the ways in which systemic issues still create barriers for BIPOC in publishing.”

Season 1 featured authors include:

Esau McCaulley, Reading While Black
Robert Chao Romero, Brown Church
Chandra Crane, Mixed Blessing
Antipas Harris, Is Christianity the White Man’s Religion?
Juanita Rasmus, Learning to Be
Liuan Huska, Hurting Yet Whole
Nikole Lim, Liberation Is Here
A. D. “Lumkile” Thomason, Permission to Be Black
Mark Charles, Unsettling Truths

Authors of color who are well acquainted with IVP’s commitment to diverse authors have heralded the initiative as yet another positive step forward in an industry that is still largely white-dominated. Author, speaker, and pastor Brenda Salter McNeil said, “I am thrilled to learn about Every Voice Now. This initiative is yet another example of IVP’s long-standing commitment to support authors of color. I’m very proud of my own publishing journey with IVP and believe that EVN will provide even more support and encouragement to both new and established authors of color.”

“I’m excited to be a part of the Every Voice Now initiative,” said Robert Chao Romero, author of Brown Church and the leadoff guest for The Every Voice Now Podcast. “Many give lip service to the importance of diverse perspectives in the Body of Christ—this initiative is a tangible step.”

Dominique Gilliard, author of Rethinking Incarceration, said, “Every Voice Now is a vitally important initiative that will continue to open the door to BIPOC authors who have lacked equitable access in the world of publishing. EVN is the latest example of IVP’s enduring commitment to amplifying the scholarship of authors of color. IVP has a rich history of identifying, supporting, and creating space for authors of color—including myself—and this new initiative will only enhance their commitment. EVN will be a rich blessing to the church!”

Promotional efforts for the platform will begin the week of October 26; for more information about the Every Voice Now initiative, The Every Voice Now Podcast, and a listing of recent/forthcoming books by IVP authors of color, visit the Every Voice Now website or follow @EveryVoiceNow on Twitter or Instagram.

For more information regarding the initiative, please contact Krista Clayton, Associate Director of Publicity (kclayton@ivpress.com) or Helen Lee, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives (hlee@ivpress.com).

Terence Lester, Author of I See You, Receives American Express NGen Leadership Award

Thu, 08 Oct 2020 19:37:00 GMT

IVP author Terence Lester has received the 2020 American Express NGen Leadership Award. Each year Independent Sector presents the American Express NGen Leadership Award to one emerging leader age forty and under whose creative and collaborative leadership is accelerating transformative social and community change. Lester is an activist, systemic poverty thought leader, founder of Love Beyond Walls, and author of I See You and the forthcoming When We Stand.

Lester was among a pool of more than eighty nominees considered by IS staff and their selection committee. As the recipient of the award, Terence will receive an honorarium intended to support his work and/or further his leadership development.

Al Hsu, senior editor at IVP, said, “Terence continues to amaze and inspire us with his example of faith in action. Congratulations, Terence! May your work continue to bless many and encourage others to join you.”

In 2013 Terence founded Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit that provides dignity to the homeless and poor by offering a voice, visibility, shelter, community, and grooming and support services to achieve self-sufficiency in Atlanta and beyond. In 2019 he launched Dignity Museum, the first traveling museum in the United States that represents homelessness out of a shipping container, using interactive technology, research, storytelling, exhibits, and thought-provoking questions that help visitors confront their ideas of homelessness and the challenges of escaping it.

In March 2020 as the coronavirus started to spread, Lester came up with the idea to set up portable washbasins that are sold for RVs and camping. With the help of Grammy-winning artist Lecrae and Reach Records, Love Beyond Walls started the Love Sinks In campaign and now has handwashing stations in nearly thirty cities around the country. The inspiring story caught the attention of media outlets around the world, including CNN, Good Morning America, Today, Disney, The Weather Channel, International Business Times, NY Daily News, USA News Hub, MSN, Reader’s Digest, and countless others.

Having been homeless as a teenager, Lester knows the challenges of living on the streets. In an interview on The Bright Side with Katie Couric, he said, “My experiences with homelessness resulted in my life calling. . . . I feel very grateful each day I get up and I get a chance to do this work. I’ve devoted my entire life to this service.”

Lester writes about his call to help the overlooked in I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People. He describes personal encounters and real-life stories with the “invisible” in an effort to challenge others to become more informed about poverty and homelessness and to see the poor as Jesus does.

In May 2021 Lester will release his second book, When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together. He writes about the obstacles that prevent people from getting involved in pursuing justice and offers practical ways to accomplish more together as groups, families, churches, and communities. He helps people find their place in the larger picture, discerning the unique ways each person can contribute and make a difference. Lecrae said, “Terence Lester is a leader. His words about personal and societal change should not be taken for granted. This book is a gift.”

Hsu said, “When the world is paralyzed, Terence Lester acts. And his creative and compassionate actions inspire the rest of us to follow his lead.”

Esau McCaulley, Author of Reading While Black, Wins the 2020 Emerging Public Intellectual Award

Tue, 06 Oct 2020 16:37:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press is pleased to announce that Esau McCaulley, author of Reading While Black, was named the winner of the 2020 Emerging Public Intellectual Award. The award, hosted by Redeemer University and sponsored by Acton Institute, Cardus, the Center for Public Justice, the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU), and Henry Institute, is intended to recognize and foster emerging talent, those working in the Christian academy who excel in both academic and public spheres and whose work affects the common good.

“His work is profound and important, provocative, accessible, and of the moment,” said Dr. Stan Rosenberg, vice president for research and scholarship at the CCCU. “He not only challenges his readers to think critically and carefully, he asks the challenging questions in a manner that urges you to think and act together with him and the broader community. His work inspires us to seriously engage ‘Black ecclesial interpretation’ and in doing so reach toward a better Biblical hermeneutic sensitive to a greater depth and variety of cultural manifestations. We can then more honestly and adequately worship and read about the work of God that crosses cultures, deeply incarnates each in particular ways, and builds a bigger picture of God wherein each culture’s insights complement the others.”

Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope is a personal and scholarly testament to the power and hope of Black biblical interpretation. Growing up in the American South, McCaulley knew firsthand the ongoing struggle between despair and hope that marks the lives of some in the African American context. A key element in the fight for hope, he discovered, has long been the practice of Bible reading and interpretation that comes out of traditional Black churches. This ecclesial tradition is often disregarded or viewed with suspicion by much of the wider church and academy, but it has something vital to say.

At a time in which some within the African American community are questioning the place of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice, McCaulley, a New Testament scholar, argues that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition is invaluable for connecting with a rich faith history and addressing the urgent issues of our times. He advocates for a model of interpretation that involves an ongoing conversation between the collective Black experience and the Bible, in which the particular questions coming out of Black communities are given pride of place and the Bible is given space to respond by affirming, challenging, and at times reshaping Black concerns. McCaulley demonstrates this model with studies on how Scripture speaks to topics often overlooked by white interpreters, such as ethnicity, political protest, policing, and slavery.

“When I first met Esau three years ago, I sensed that his voice was an important one,” said Anna Moseley Gissing, associate editor for IVP Academic. “His passions for the Bible and for racial justice were clear from the start, and his vision for highlighting Black ecclesial interpretation was compelling. Since then, many have been attracted to Esau’s serious theological reflection and biblical interpretation combined with his charisma, courage, and authenticity. Reading While Black is resonating with a wide audience, and Esau is indeed emerging as a public theologian.”

Ultimately McCaulley calls the church to a dynamic theological engagement with Scripture, in which Christians of diverse backgrounds dialogue with their own social location as well as the cultures of others. Reading While Black moves the conversation forward.

“This type of interpretation has provided hope because when the enslaved Black and Brown people turned to these texts they discovered in them a God who is a friend and not an enemy,” says McCaulley. “The incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ stand at the center of all my hopes. Hope is not in this passage or that one. The whole of the Bible is bursting with possibility.”

McCaulley (PhD, St. Andrews) is assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, and a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. He is also the host of The Disrupters podcast. His publications include Sharing in the Son’s Inheritance and numerous articles in outlets such as Christianity Today, The Witness, and the Washington Post. McCaulley is a military spouse and is married to his beautiful wife, Mandy, a pediatrician. Together, they have four wonderful children.

McCaulley aims to point out that everyone comes to Scripture with different life experiences and cultural perspectives. “Black biblical interpretation simply puts a name to a common reality that we are all shaped by our experiences and we bring those experiences to the process of interpretation,” he said. “This does not mean that the text changes in meaning depending on your ethnicity or race. That would be a strange idea! But it does mean that I might have some insights because I came to the text asking a particular set of questions that others might not ask because they didn’t have those experiences. That is also true going the other way. Other cultures might be able to point out my blind spots. The goal is that together we might discern what God would have us do.”

This fall, Redeemer will facilitate discussion groups among students, faculty, and staff about McCaulley’s book and promote book clubs to the larger church community. “We’re looking forward to engaging in conversations about race and diversity from a Reformed Christian perspective and we’re excited to be able to use this book as a starting point for discussion,” says Dr. David Zietsma, provost and vice president, academic. “It provides a much-needed Black perspective at this time in history.”

Though McCaulley says his entry into the public square through speaking and writing has been unexpected, he wants people to know that anyone wondering about the church’s message in this moment could benefit from his book. “Although it is focused on the particular questions being raised by the African American community, it is not a book closed off from the rest of the church and the world.”

“I hope that my writing and speaking models a combination of rigorous theological reflection, careful biblical interpretation, and a realistic analysis of the present moment,” McCaulley said. “I hope that people can see that the Scriptures, the church, and most importantly God himself has something to say about every arena of thought and action.”

IVP Art Director Honored with Five 2020 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards

Thu, 15 Oct 2020 15:08:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press is pleased to congratulate art director, David Fassett, for his work on five designs that were chosen for 2020 Top Shelf Book Cover Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). Fassett received the most awards of all the designers represented.

“The InterVarsity Press publishing program encompasses a wildly diverse set of books that call for equally unique design approaches,” Jeff Crosby, IVP publisher, said. “Year after year, David Fassett’s skill set is more than up to the challenges placed before him, as the five 2020 Top Shelf Awards demonstrate. I join all of my IVP colleagues in congratulating him on a job well done and on designs that help open doors to reaching and engaging readers of our trade and academic books.”

Fassett’s winning covers include

A Prayer for Orion: A Son’s Addiction and a Mother’s Love by Katherine James

The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power by D. L. Mayfield

Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters by Sandra L. Richter

To Think Christianly: A History of L’Abri, Regent College, and the Christian Study Center Movement by Charles E. Cotherman

Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah

Fassett joined InterVarsity Press (IVP) as a marketing designer in 2009 and was promoted to senior graphic designer in 2014. He was appointed to the position of art director in May 2017.

“We are so thankful for David’s creativity and the understanding of each book that he brings to the design process,” said Lorraine Caulton, IVP’s director of creativity and customer engagement. “He is very deserving of these honors, and we are thrilled to celebrate these awards, his gifts, and his hard work.”

ECPA announced the winners of this year’s awards on October 1 during the closing session of Pub U Online. Winning book covers are featured at TopShelfAwards.org.

Esau McCaulley Kicks Off Second Season of The Disrupters with Special Guest Lecrae

Thu, 17 Sep 2020 20:16:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press is pleased to announce a second season of The Disrupters, a podcast series hosted by Fr. Esau McCaulley. The season will kick off on September 24 as McCaulley interviews special guest, Lecrae.

“Season two of The Disrupters comes at a time of crisis and uncertainty,” said Richard Clark, producer of The Disrupters and director of media innovation at Useful Group. “A global pandemic and racial protests have exposed our deep need for massive shifts in our approach to our neighbor and our world. That’s why I was so excited to reconnect with Esau to pursue conversations with some of the most urgent voices in the church today. This season is all about what to do when the disruption is well underway. What do you do next?”

The Disrupters focuses on a specific disruption—a break, interruption, or disturbance—in the church. McCaulley and his guests explore how that issue will reshape the church’s culture and its witness. In addition to Lecrae, confirmed guests for this season include:

Beth Moore, prolific author and Bible teacher, founder of Living Proof Ministries, a Bible-based organization for women, based in Houston
Justin Giboney, cofounder of the AND Campaign, an attorney, and a political strategist in Atlanta, coauthor of Compassion (&) Conviction
Taylor Schumann, a freelance writer and author of When Thoughts and Prayers Aren’t Enough: A Shooting Survivor’s Journey into the Realities of Gun Violence (IVP, June 2021)
Robert Chao Romero, associate professor in the Departments of Chicana/o Studies and Asian American Studies at the University of California at Los Angeles and author of Brown Church
David Swanson, pastor of New Community Covenant Church, a multicultural congregation in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood and author of Rediscipling the White Church

Clark said, “The conversations Esau has with the guests on The Disrupters are eye-opening and unvarnished. I’ve produced a number of interview podcasts, but I’ve never heard conversations as candid and bracing as these.”

McCaulley, who received his PhD from the University of St. Andrews, currently serves as assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. He is also a priest in the Anglican Church in North America and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times. His publications include Reading While Black (2020), Sharing in the Son’s Inheritance, and numerous articles in outlets such as Christianity Today, The Witness, and The Washington Post.

The Disrupters will be available via iTunes, SoundCloud, Google Play, and Spotify. For a sneak peek, check out the trailer for the second season of The Disrupters here.

Beyoncé’s Pastor Kicks Off Release of Learning to Be with Tina Knowles Lawson Instagram Live Interview

Fri, 11 Sep 2020 22:32:00 GMT

Tina Knowles Lawson, mother of Beyoncé, will feature an interview with longtime friend and IVP author Juanita Campbell Rasmus on Thursday, September 17, on her Instagram Live Talks with Mama Tina. This interview, with special guest Michelle Williams, will kick off the launch week for Juanita’s highly anticipated book Learning to Be: Finding Your Center After the Bottom Falls Out.

Tina Knowles Lawson and her family were some of the first members of St. John’s United Methodist Church in Houston, which Juanita and husband, Rudy, started in 1992. St. John’s is also where Beyoncé grew up singing in the choir. Thousands have joined the St. John’s family over the past twenty-eight years, making it one of the most culturally diverse congregations in the country.

Tina penned the foreword for Learning to Be and wrote, “I’ve experienced this light in my faith walk and with powerful, resilient people like Juanita Campbell Rasmus, a woman I met in 1986 when I opened my first salon, and she became a faithful client. She set an example for the power of prayer and worship, and I later became one of the first members of St. John’s Church. Over the years, I’ve witnessed Juanita navigate the highs and lows of marriage, motherhood, ministry, and womanhood. I’ve seen her journey from the self-professed ‘good girl’ to a leader who wholeheartedly seeks God with a level of authenticity, transparency, and grace that is unmatched. And in this book, she inspires us to do the same.”

After the official launching of Learning to Be on Tuesday, September 15, Juanita will be featured on Black Authors Matter TV that evening at 8:30 p.m. CDT. Juanita also has a TED Talk on the topic of her book titled Learning to Be: Why Is It So Difficult?

In Learning to Be Juanita describes what she called “the crash” and what her counselor labeled “a major depressive episode.” This experience landed Juanita, a busy pastor, mother, and community leader, in bed. In addition to exhaustion and depression, she experienced a spiritual dark night of the soul. When everything in her life finally came to a stop, she found that she had to learn to be—with herself and with God—all over again.

Juanita wrote, “I chose to share my story because all too often in Western culture, and especially in the church, we are reticent to discuss mental health along with the related spiritual implications. It is my hope that telling my story will shed light on the resources available to someone in the aftermath of a mental health diagnosis . . . and provide courage to wait in the darkness, because often that’s where the real treasures are stored.”

In addition to copastoring St. John’s, Juanita cofounded Bread of Life Inc., a nonprofit corporation, with Rudy in 1992. They began serving meals to the homeless in the sanctuary at St. John’s. Juanita most recently teamed up with Tina and Beyoncé to help forty thousand flood victims recover in the wake of Hurricane Harvey in Houston. In addition to addressing issues of health and disaster relief, Juanita launched the Temenos Community Development Corporation in 2006, which recently completed over thirty million dollars in housing development projects for the previously homeless in downtown Houston. She also founded The Art Project, Houston to empower the city’s homeless to become hope-filled painters and artisans who craft their own livelihood and create lives filled with new possibilities.

For more about Juanita visit JuanitaRasmus.com. Also tune into her Instagram Live interview with Tina Knowles Lawson, which will be posted on Tina’s Instagram profile page on Thursday, September 17, at noon eastern standard time.

Gordon College President Signs Contract with IVP for April 2021 Release of Hinge Moments

Thu, 27 Aug 2020 19:43:00 GMT

D. Michael Lindsay, president of Gordon College and author of the Pulitzer Prize nominee Faith in the Halls of Power, has signed a contract with InterVarsity Press to release his next book, Hinge Moments, in April 2021.

Lindsay said, “After years of working on a book project that examines the best way to manage change and transitions in our life, I am thrilled to be publishing my next book with IVP. InterVarsity Press has provided so many resources that have blessed me personally and professionally. I look forward to seeing Hinge Moments in print.”

The eighth president of Gordon College, Lindsay’s tenure has coincided with record years of opportunity and growth for the campus. Prior to arriving at Gordon, Lindsay was a member of the sociology faculty at Rice University, where he won multiple awards for both his teaching and scholarly research. Author of two dozen academic publications, Lindsay’s most recent book, View from the Top, won two awards and has been translated into Chinese and Japanese. As a scholar and educational leader, Lindsay has lectured on six continents and works tirelessly to create opportunities worldwide for Gordon students, faculty, and staff. He earned his PhD in sociology from Princeton University and graduate theological degrees from Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University and Princeton Theological Seminary.

In the forthcoming Hinge Moments, Lindsay leans heavily on dynamic anecdotes and storytelling to flesh out the importance of the pivotal moments that will define our lives moving forward. His hope is that the book helps readers navigate any number of life transitions, including job changes, the loss of loved ones, graduation and entering the professional world, and even the unexpected transitions that have come with a pandemic.

“There are particular moments in life that are very much like a hinge on a door,” writes Lindsay. “Sometimes we call them pivotal, but what we really mean is that whatever follows will hinge on the decisions made in these opportune times. Such moments are axial by nature. They represent a fixed time, place, or event that produces consequences for the rest of our days. Getting them right can change our lives for the better. Getting them wrong can pose problems for years to come. Each of us is given a finite number of these hinge moments in life. In total they may represent only a few hundred minutes out of our total lives of seventy or eighty years, but they have an outsized impact on the other thirty-seven million minutes of our time on earth.”

Edward Gilbreath, executive editor at IVP, said, “In this era of real-time anxiety about the future, Michael Lindsay is bringing a fresh perspective on recognizing and leaning into life’s defining moments. Transitions are never easy, whether personal or professional, but Michael’s inspiring storytelling and compelling insights will help readers navigate change in hopeful and redemptive ways. We’re excited that he has chosen IVP as his publishing partner for this important book.”

IVP and Seminary Now Announce Launch of New Online Educational Platform

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:36:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce the general-market release of Seminary Now (www.seminarynow.com), a new subscription-based online educational platform that gives pastors and lay church leaders access to on-demand video courses and certification programs from leading teachers and seminaries. IVP is the premier publishing partner for the platform, which launched in beta this spring and is now available for wide release.

“I continue to be deeply grateful for the chance to partner with the team at Seminary Now as together and in concert with other like-minded organizations we create and deliver thoughtful Christian content to pastors, students, and others who want to deepen their understanding of theology, ecclesiology, biblical studies, social justice, spiritual formation, and many other disciplines,” Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said. “The courses are exceptional in content and creative expression. I’m delighted to see the messages of so many of our authors given fresh life and realizing an expanded reach through the Seminary Now platform.”

“Our vision for Seminary Now began after church and denominational leaders expressed the need for on-demand training for pastors and church leaders unable to attend seminary,” says William Shiell, president of Northern Seminary, the primary institution underwriting the new endeavor. “We created Seminary Now in partnership with InterVarsity Press to benefit theological education as a whole. . . . We value IVP’s partnership because of our mutual commitment to women in leadership, multiethnic ministries, academic training, and biblical justice.”

IVP books are featured in a significant number of the initial course offerings. Key authors and courses available in July 2020 include:

Roger E. Olson, professor of theology at Baylor University’s Truett Theological Seminary (The Mosaic of Christian Belief)
Ruth Haley Barton, founding president, Transforming Center (Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership)
John H. Walton, professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College (The Lost World of Genesis One)
Brenda Salter McNeil, pastor and professor of reconciliation studies at Seattle Pacific University (Roadmap to Reconciliation)
Tremper Longman III, professor of biblical studies at Westmont College (Old Testament Essentials)
Tara Beth Leach, senior pastor of the First Nazarene Church in Pasadena, CA (Empowering Women in Ministry)
David E. Fitch, B. R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary, Lisle, IL (Faithful Presence)
Sandra Van Opstal, pastor of Grace and Peace Community in Chicago, IL (The Next Worship)
James Choung, vice president of strategy and innovation at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (Evangelism: Sharing the Big Story)
Dominique Gilliard, director of racial righteousness, Evangelical Covenant Church (Rethinking Incarceration)
Mary Hulst, chaplain of Calvin College (Ten Practical Ways to a Better Sermon)
Jonathan Brooks, pastor of Canaan Community Church in Chicago, IL (Church Forsaken)
Matthew Stanford, CEO of the Hope and Healing Center in Houston, TX (A Clinical and Biblical Perspective on Mental Illness)
Sarah Shin, PhD candidate, St. Andrews (Beyond Colorblind)
David Swanson, pastor of New Community Covenant Church in Bronzeville, Chicago, IL (Rediscipling the White Church)
Antipas Harris, president and dean of Jakes Divinity School (Is Christianity the White Man’s Religion?)

Jason Gile, the executive director of Seminary Now, added, “On-demand video courses present a unique opportunity for seminaries, publishers, and other organizations to collaborate in the shared mission to equip Christian leaders. By providing accessible and relevant theological teaching to Christians across the world, we believe Seminary Now has the potential for great impact on the church.”

In addition to partnering with IVP, Seminary Now is developing relationships with a wide range of seminaries and organizations with similar theological convictions that will provide content and access to potential consumers of the platform, such as Missio Alliance and the Christian Community Development Association.

Helen Lee, associate director of strategic partnerships and initiatives at IVP, serves as the main liaison between Seminary Now and IVP. “We have always considered the church to be a key audience for us to reach, and our involvement with Seminary Now will give us another channel to serve pastors, lay leaders, and ministry professionals with our high-quality, thoughtful, and compelling content,” Lee said. “I have appreciated the strong working relationship we have developed with Bill Shiell and Jason Gile on this project, and I look forward to seeing how the audiences respond to this new platform.”

Early users have already begun to share their praises for the relevance and value of Seminary Now’s content. David John Hailey, senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Oak Park (Oak Park, IL), began using the Roadmap to Reconciliation course at his church in the wake of recent continued acts of police violence against Black men and women. “As the pastor of a multiracial church devasted by the ‘catalytic event’ of the George Floyd murder, I needed a guide to steer our conversations,” he said. “Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil’s course forced us to grapple with the roadblocks in our personal lives and our congregation that keep us from seeking justice and reconciliation.”

Promotional efforts for the platform will begin the week of July 20 from all Seminary Now partners, including IVP. To view all available courses and see what offerings are coming in the future, visit www.seminarynow.com or follow @SeminaryNow on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. For more information regarding the program, please contact Jason Gile (director@seminarynow.com; ph: 630-620-2105) or Helen Lee (hlee@ivpress.com; ph: 630-734-4038).

J. I. Packer, Renowned Theologian and Author of Knowing God, Dies at Age 93

Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:39:00 GMT

J. I. Packer, one of the most respected and well-known theologians of our time, passed away on Friday, July 17, at the age of 93.

Once named to Time magazine’s list of the 25 Most Influential Evangelicals in America, James Innell Packer wrote what many consider the definitive classic evangelical book of the twentieth century, Knowing God, which has sold more than one million copies in North America alone.

Jeff Crosby, publisher for IVP said, “J. I. Packer was a man who knew and loved God and helped others to do likewise. Knowing God, which we first published in 1973, is but one example from his life of writing and teaching.”

“There’s a difference between knowing God and knowing about God,” Packer wrote. “When you truly know God, you have energy to serve Him, boldness to share Him, and contentment in Him.”

As the author of forty-seven books, as well as untold numbers of journal articles, book reviews, dictionary entries, and forewords, Packer’s prolific work has impacted countless pastors, thought leaders, theologians, and authors.

Jim Hoover, who served as an editor at IVP for thirty-five years, said, “Jim Packer was a remarkable presence. I had the privilege of meeting with him on various occasions over the years, and he always impressed me as a man of grace and humor, erudition and humility, a man who loved God and who, though he crafted what he said carefully even in casual conversation, never took himself overly seriously. He was extremely generous, some might say overly generous, almost never declining to provide endorsements in his support of young writers.”

Packer was born in a village outside Gloucester, England, on July 22, 1926. When he was seven, while being chased by a bully as he left school, Packer suffered a severe head injury in a collision with a van. Unable to participate in sports after the accident, Packer instead turned his attention to his love for reading. And when he turned eleven, Packer was gifted an old Oliver typewriter from his parents. Little did they know that their son would go on to craft every word of every one of his books on a typewriter.

Bob Fryling, former publisher for IVP, said, “I was privileged to know Jim Packer as a distinguished IVP author. He had a joyful countenance and a godly pastoral heart. But he used to joke about being hard-headed because he had a metal plate in his forehead from an accident in his youth. However, it was not by accident that Jim became known for his clear theological thinking and writing. He was always able to get to what he would say to be ‘the nub of the issue’ no matter how complex it was.”

Packer’s time studying at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, became another formative experience for his future as a prolific author and theologian. During his years at school he attended lectures by C. S. Lewis, whose thought became an influential part of Packer’s life and work. While at Oxford he also committed his life to Christ at an evangelistic service sponsored by the campus InterVarsity chapter.

Following the completion of his doctorate in philosophy, Packer went on to teach at Oak Hill Theological College in London before attending Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, where he underwent theological training for ordination into the Church of England. And in 1954 Packer married Kit Mullet and they had three children: Ruth, Naomi, and Martin.

During his time in England, Packer took on a number of theological college–based roles, including working as principal of Latimer House, Oxford, serving as principal of Tyndale Hall, Bristol, and then as associate principal of Trinity College, Bristol. In 1979, one of Packer’s friends from Oxford convinced him to teach at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia.

A tribute to Packer on the Regent College website reads: “Jim’s arrival helped to establish Regent as a theological destination. He remained what he described as a ‘Regent Man’ for the rest of his career. He was the first faculty member to hold the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Chair of Theology and he taught a wide range of classes, including Systematic Theology and Puritan Theology as well as theological expositions on his favorite Pauline letters.”

Packer preached and lectured widely in Great Britain and North America, and served as general editor of the English Standard Version of the Bible published in 2001, and as theological editor of the Study Bible version. In 2014, Packer was named Author of the Year by the Association of Logos Bookstores. He was a frequent contributor to and an executive editor of Christianity Today, and wrote numerous articles published in journals such as Churchman, SouthWestern Journal, Reformation & Revival Journal, and Touchstone. In addition to Knowing God, his books include Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (1961), Keep in Step with the Spirit (1984), A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life (1994), Weakness Is the Way (2013) and many others.

As an author with IVP for nearly a half century, Packer left a lasting impression on those he interacted with on various projects. Fryling said, “Jim was graciously articulate in giving wonderful endorsements to a multitude of authors and books. One day at lunch with some colleagues I asked him, ’Jim, how would you describe the uniqueness of IVP?‘ After a brief pause he said, ‘Some publishers tell you what to believe and other publishers tell you what you already believe, but IVP helps you to believe.‘ We were so grateful for not only his kind and generous affirmation, but we were a bit stunned that he had captured in a brief moment what indeed was integral to IVP’s vision and mission. He was a publisher’s dream!”

Packer is also remembered for being a lover of jazz music. “One of the most enduring memories I have of Dr. Packer is set in the most unlikely of places: Preservation Hall in the heart of the French Quarter in New Orleans," Crosby recalled. "We had invited Jim to come to the CBA International book convention in July of 2000 to promote his book Never Beyond Hope. Only half in jest he said he would come, so long as someone took him to hear the Preservation Hall Jazz Band! I and other colleagues gladly obliged, and as we sat together throughout the evening on rickety benches in the damp, musty, historic hall, the joy on the face of the life-long jazz music listener was absolutely radiant.”

The Regent College tribute page describes Packer as witty, disciplined, and faithful: “When he was writing daily, Jim wrote 2000 words (on his treasured manual typewriter) before breakfast. When asked if he wanted a dictionary loaded onto his iPad (a device he used as his eyesight deteriorated), he smiled sheepishly and admitted, ‘Well, I haven’t needed one so far.’

“For all his accolades and accomplishments, Jim’s focus was always, always, on Christ. He said The Book of Common Prayer’s Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer services at the beginning and end of each day, often arising at 4 a.m. to do so. Even recovering from a broken pelvis in his last year, he would sink to his knees to pray preceding the Eucharist.”

Cindy Bunch, associate publisher and director of editorial for IVP, said, “In July 1988 I started working at InterVarsity Press while finishing seminary. That summer I took Dr. J. I. Packer’s week course on puritanism at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Little did I know that some years later I would acquire two books with him: Never Beyond Hope and Praying. I was also able to collaborate with him on a number of Knowing God-related books and Bible studies. And now his experience of knowing God is fully realized.”

Packer himself sums up his life, faith, and eternity best: “There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God, and God has known them, and that this relationship guarantees God’s favor to them in life, through death and on forever.”

IVP Launches the AND Campaign’s Book Compassion (&) Conviction Alongside “Books on Politics & Government” Webpage

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 15:40:00 GMT

As the country moves into the 2020 election season InterVarsity Press has announced that it is releasing and providing resources to equip voters in understanding as well as engaging the issues of our day from a faith perspective. On Tuesday, July 21, IVP will release Compassion (&) Conviction: The AND Campaign’s Guide to Faithful Civic Engagement, which will be included among the titles on the newly launched webpage “Books on Politics & Government” at ivpress.com.

Jeff Crosby, publisher at IVP, said, “As a publishing house, we desire to speak thoughtfully and in a balanced but bold manner to questions on the integration of faith, discipleship, and politics, on what constitutes the common good and building a just society—not only in election years but every year. That mission is hopefully reflected in the titles we’ve gathered for our ‘Books on Politics & Government’ webpage.”

Coauthored by Justin Giboney, Michael Wear, and Chris Butler, Compassion (&) Conviction will serve as an especially timely resource that addresses the current political divisions within the United States. The authors represent the AND Campaign, which exists to educate and organize Christians for faithful civic and cultural engagement. With diverse backgrounds and political experience within the Obama White House, all three authors bring a unique perspective to what it means to stay true to your faith and engage in the public square today. They insist that not only are we called to love our neighbors through the political process but also that doing so requires us to transcend the binary way the debates are usually framed. In simple, understandable language, they lay out the biblical case for political engagement and help Christians navigate the complex world of politics with integrity, from political messaging and the politics of race to protests, advocacy, and more.

Wear is chief strategist of the AND Campaign and founder of Public Square Strategies LLC. He is the author of Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America. He said, “In a political environment rife with manipulation, propaganda, and conflicting narratives, Compassion (&) Conviction provides a framework that can help orthodox Christians think and act faithfully in our politics for the good of [our] neighbors. There’s a lot of theory and ruminations about politics out there, but with this book we wanted to provide a practical guide for how Christians can make a difference in our politics while staying true to [our]selves and [our] faith.”

The “Books on Politics & Government“ webpage will feature twenty-seven additional titles covering a range of topics from cultural criticism and history to spiritual formation and political engagement. The newest books include

“Here Are Your Gods”: Faithful Discipleship in Idolatrous Times by Christopher J. H. Wright
The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of Our Neighbor by Kaitlyn Schiess
The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope by Munther Isaac
The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety, and Power by D. L. Mayfield

Crosby said, “Books are vehicles for promoting liberty, for shedding light in darkness. They help us, the citizens of our country, sort out issues related to this messy, fragmented, exercise we know as politics and faithful civic engagement. In a time when many of us are distracted by clickbait and popular opinion, books still have a tremendous impact. Here’s to reading widely, thoughtfully, carefully, deeply—to engaging voices from the margins, voices we may disagree with, voices who may have something of importance to say to us.”

IVP Signs Suzanne Stabile as Enneagram Daily Reflections Series Editor

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 13:16:00 GMT

Suzanne Stabile has signed a contract with InterVarsity Press to serve as the series editor for Enneagram Daily Reflections that will provide daily readings for those who want to learn more about the Enneagram, a personality typing system. The first two books in the series on the Enneagram numbers two and three are scheduled to release on October 6, 2020.

Suzanne Stabile is the author of The Path Between Us and coauthor, with Ian Morgan Cron, of the bestseller The Road Back to You. She is also the creator and host of The Enneagram Journey podcast. As an internationally recognized Enneagram Master, Stabile has conducted more than five hundred Enneagram workshops over the past twenty-seven years. Along with her husband, Rev. Joseph Stabile, she is cofounder of Life in the Trinity Ministry, a nonprofit, nondenominational ministry committed to the spiritual growth and formation of adults.

“I am so pleased to have Suzanne Stabile onboard as series editor,” said Cindy Bunch, associate publisher and director of editorial at IVP. “Suzanne has been offering Enneagram training for the past twenty-five years and understands the intricacies of each number. Her wise and compassionate approach to the Enneagram will offer a grounding context for the series.”

The Enneagram Daily Reflections series will build on the current interest in the Enneagram and add new voices and perspectives to an already rich conversation about each personality type expressed through the Enneagram. The complete series will have nine volumes, one volume for each Enneagram number. Each volume will be written by a different Christian author, representing their own personality type and providing unique and personal reflections on daily living within the context of that number. The volumes will include

Forty Days on Being a One, Juanita Campbell Rasmus (Spring 2021)
Forty Days on Being a Two, Hunter Mobley (October 6, 2020)
Forty Days on Being a Three, Sean Palmer (October 6, 2020)
Forty Days on Being a Four, Christine Yi Suh (Fall 2021)
Forty Days on Being a Five, Morgan Harper Nichols (Spring 2021)
Forty Days on Being a Six, Tara Beth Leach (Fall 2021)
Forty Days on Being a Seven, Gideon Yee Shun Tsang (Winter 2021)
Forty Days on Being an Eight, Sandra Maria Van Opstal (Fall 2021)
Forty Days on Being a Nine, Marlena Graves (Winter 2021)

Stabile said, “The authors in this series write from experiences that reflect racial and cultural difference, and they have been influenced by different faith beliefs. In working with spiritual directors, therapists, and pastors they identified many of their own habits and fears, behaviors and motivations, gifts and challenges. And they courageously talked with those who are close to them about how they are seen and experienced by others.

“From a place of vulnerability and generosity they each invite us to walk with them for forty days on their journeys toward transformation. It is our hope that you will not limit your reading to only your number. Read about your spouse or a friend. Consider reading about the type you suspect represents your parents or your siblings. You might even want to read about someone you have little affection for but are willing to try to understand. Keeping in mind that the Enneagram is ancient wisdom and some say it is always helpful.”

The Victory of the Cross Wins 2020 Word Guild Award

Fri, 26 Jun 2020 16:38:00 GMT

The Victory of the Cross by James R. Payton Jr. has won the 2020 Word Guild Award in the Academic Non-fiction category. The Word Guild Awards are given out each year to encourage the pursuit of excellence in writing and to help to raise the profile of Canadian writers who are Christian.

David McNutt, associate editor for IVP Academic, said, “We are thrilled that Dr. Payton’s most recent IVP Academic book has been recognized with this award from the Word Guild. It is a tribute to his insights into Eastern Orthodoxy and the doctrine of salvation, which are a gift to the whole body of Christ.”

In The Victory of the Cross: Salvation in Eastern Orthodoxy Payton, a Western Christian with a sympathetic ear for Eastern Orthodoxy, explores the Orthodox doctrine of salvation. John A. McGuckin, Oxford University faculty of theology, said, “James Payton is a theologian skilled in patristic and contemporary thought. He is also a careful and sympathetic reader in all things to do with Eastern Christianity, an area in which he has immersed himself in a deeply insightful manner. In this present study he has surveyed Orthodox thought on salvation in Christ, and the result is an elegant and masterful survey of a major theme at the very heart of the Christian message. His approachable style is unfailingly clear, and this important study will surely be a new standard on the reading lists.”

Payton was recognized by the Word Guild for three previous books: Light from the Christian East, Getting the Reformation Wrong, and A Patristic Treasury.

IVP also had three titles and one book cover selected for 2020 Word Guild Short Lists. They included The Gospel According to Eve: A History of Women’s Interpretation by Amanda W. Benckhuysen (Academic), Surprised by Paradox: The Promise of “And” in an Either-Or World by Jen Pollock Michel (Apologetics/Evangelism and Best Book Cover), and Bloody, Brutal, and Barbaric?: Wrestling with Troubling War Texts by William J. Webb and Gordon K. Oeste (Biblical Studies).

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

Revolution of Values Named a 2019 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 14:22:00 GMT

Revolution of Values by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove was chosen as the 2019 Foreword INDIES Book of the Year in the Political and Social Sciences category.

Al Hsu, senior at IVP, said, “In this moment of advocacy and activism, we all need to know that we are building on the work of those who have gone before, and that we are not alone in our hopes. Revolution of Values is a book of encouragement for all those awakened to a vision for a better world. Congrats, Jonathan!”

As part of its mission to discover, review, and share the best books from university and independent publishers, Foreword Magazine Inc. hosts an annual awards program each year. Finalists represent the best books published in 2019. After more than two thousand individual titles spread across fifty-five genres were submitted for consideration, Foreword’s editorial team determined the list of finalists. Then an expert team of booksellers and librarians—representing Foreword’s readership—from across the country, decided the winners.

In Revolution of Values: Reclaiming Public Faith for the Common Good Wilson-Hartgrove explores how religious culture wars have misrepresented Christianity at the expense of the poor, and how listening to marginalized communities can help us hear God’s call to love and justice in the world. He highlights people on the frontlines of issues ranging from immigration policy and voting rights to women’s rights and environmental stewardship. Through these narratives, we encounter a recovery of values that upholds the dignity of all people.

Wilson-Hartgrove has brought the themes from this book into action in a number of ways, including articles and op-ed pieces in places like The Washington Post, NBCNews.com, Religion News Service, Time, and countless others. He has also been interviewed on the themes within the book for MSNBC’s Am Joy, CBS Religion & Culture Series, Democracy Now, InterFaith Voices, CNN, PBS News Hour, and more.

William J. Barber II, president of Repairers of the Breach and cochair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival, said, “Jonathan has served as a scribe for the moral movement in America today. In Revolution of Values he tells the truth about how the Bible was hijacked by the religious Right. But more importantly, he highlights the people who are challenging a false moral narrative and shows us how faith can revive the heart and soul of this democracy.”

Wilson-Hartgrove and his wife, Leah, founded the Rutba House, a house of hospitality in Durham, North Carolina. He directs the School for Conversion, a popular education center in Durham committed to “making surprising friendships possible,” and is an associate minister at St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church. Wilson-Hartgrove is the author or coauthor of more than a dozen books, including Reconstructing the Gospel, The Third Reconstruction, Strangers at My Door, Common Prayer, The Awakening of Hope, The Wisdom of Stability, The New Monasticism, and Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers.

Read an excerpt from Revolution of Values at ivpress.com/revolution-of-values.

IVP Donates Proceeds from I See You to Love Sinks In Campaign’s Handwashing Stations for Homeless

Mon, 01 Jun 2020 21:39:00 GMT

In March 2020 as the coronavirus started to spread and experts emphasized the importance of handwashing, Terence Lester, author of IVP’s I See You and executive director of the nonprofit Love Beyond Walls, took notice of the homeless population. How would they wash their hands?

Lester came up with the idea to set up portable washbasins that are sold for RVs and camping. With the help of Grammy-winning artist Lecrae and Reach Records, Love Beyond Walls set up the first fifteen handwashing stations in Atlanta. Since early April, the Love Sinks In campaign has expanded to fifteen states, seventeen cities, and is supported by twenty-five partners. The inspiring story caught the attention of media outlets around the world, including CNN, Good Morning America, Today, Disney, The Weather Channel, International Business Times, NY Daily News, USA News Hub, MSN, Reader’s Digest and countless others. Most recently, Love Beyond Walls was also selected by AbbVie, a research-based global biopharmaceutical company, as one of twenty-six nonprofits to be supported by their Community Resilience Fund. Because of this, Lester and Love Beyond Walls will be able to place one thousand handwashing stations across the United States.

Starting June 1, IVP will also join the campaign to help “see” and address the needs of the homeless population during this time by donating a portion of all proceeds from Lester’s book, I See You, to the Love Sinks In initiative.

“In his book I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People, author Terrence Lester conveyed a powerful message calling us all to open our eyes to invisible people,” Jeff Crosby, IVP’s publisher, said. “The Love Sinks In campaign, designed to bring portable handwashing stations to the areas of our country with a high population of homeless persons who are especially vulnerable during the pandemic, is a tangible expression of the work we are called to do and of the people we are called by Scripture to see and serve. I am grateful for the chance to partner with Terrence by donating a portion of the proceeds of the sales of I See You to the Love Sinks In campaign during this time of great need in our world.”

Lester writes about his call to help the overlooked in I See You, in which he also calls us to see the invisible people around us. He writes about personal encounters and real-life stories with the “invisible” in an effort to challenge others to become more informed about poverty and homelessness, and to see the poor as Jesus does. Al Hsu, senior editor at IVP, said, “When the world is paralyzed, Terence Lester acts. And his creative and compassionate actions inspire the rest of us to follow his lead.”

Lester said, “Covid-19 has presented us with many challenges but has also presented us with a huge opportunity to see the people that have been invisible and overlooked in society and culture. It has awakened us to the realities that have persisted for far too long for people living on the streets and experiencing poverty in our country. We are being called now to affirm the value that each image-bearer possesses no matter where they live in society. God has called us to build longer tables and destroy higher walls.”

Lester told Good Morning America, “Recognizing those experiencing homelessness as ‘people’ and not ‘problems’ is important. I hope this leads us to think about how we can adequately address this issue nationally.”

You can contribute to Love Sinks In by purchasing a copy of I See You and by donating directly to Love Sinks In at LoveBeyondWalls.org.

Unsettling Truths Wins 2019 ASM Book Award for Excellence in Missiology

Fri, 15 May 2020 20:16:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press is pleased to announce that Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah won the 2019 American Society of Missiology Book Award for Excellence in Missiology.

Al Hsu, senior editor at IVP, said, “We at IVP congratulate Mark and Soong-Chan on this important award. Given the ongoing impact of Western imperialism and colonialism, the future of missiology depends on our willingness to reckon with the mistakes of the past. So I am glad that Unsettling Truths can contribute to a more just and holistic vision for mission today.”

Written by United States independent presidential candidate Mark Charles and coauthor Soong-Chan Rah, Unsettling Truths reveals the damaging effects of the Doctrine of Discovery and calls the nation and churches to a truth-telling that will expose past injustices and open the door to conciliation and true community.

Together Charles and Rah put in nearly a decade of research, three years of writing, and another year of editing. Jeff Crosby, publisher for IVP, said, “Unsettling Truths is an unsettling book because it challenges its readers to evaluate what we have long been taught and perhaps blindly accepted regarding American history and our country’s notion of its ‘exceptionalism’ and forces us to consider another viewpoint. It also helpfully and with precision probes questions regarding the intersection of Christian doctrine and a faithful pursuit of justice. While we may not agree with all of Mark’s and Soong-Chan’s interpretations and applications, we will benefit—as individuals, as communities, and as a nation—from giving the work careful, reflective attention.”

Charles, a man of Navajo and Dutch descent, is a speaker, writer, and consultant on the complexities of American history, race, culture, and faith. He and his family live in Washington, DC. Rah was born in Seoul, South Korea, and immigrated to the United States shortly after his sixth birthday. He currently serves as Milton B. Engebretson Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. Rah is the author of Prophetic Lament, The Next Evangelicalism, Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church, and others.

Charles and Rah wrote, “The coauthors of this book have been friends for many years. . . . Our connection stems from our mutual love for Jesus and our mutual passion for Justice, both of which have found expression in our mutual lament for the church. In our journey together, we have discovered the power of developing common experiences and a common memory, which moves us toward a common purpose.”

Darrell Whiteman, publisher for the American Society of Missiology, said, “The discipline of missiology and the field of mission studies and world Christianity has entered a new era of reflexive examination replacing a former spirit of triumphalism. Deeply committed to understanding and participating in God’s mission in the world, we now realize that much of our worldview and our methods of mission and evangelism became wedded to Christendom and fell far short of following Jesus. We are therefore delighted to choose Unsettling Truths as the 2019 American Society of Missiology Book Award for Excellence in Missiology. In so doing we recognize the significant contribution of Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah in furthering our understanding of how mission studies are examined, understood, and interpreted.”

As the ecumenical professional association for mission studies in North America, the American Society of Missiology includes more than six hundred academicians, mission agency executives, and missionaries in a unique fellowship of scholarship and mission. The ASM also publishes the quarterly journal Missiology: An International Review.