2015 Press Releases

Missio Alliance Chooses Five IVP Titles for Its Top 10 Reading List of 2015

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:54:00 GMT

Missio Alliance has chosen five InterVarsity Press titles for its Top 10 Essential Reading List of 2015. The Missio Alliance editors wrote, “If you’re looking for books that seek to advance a theologically robust, diverse, and hopeful vision for evangelical witness amid the challenges and opportunities facing the North American Church in the 21st Century, we think these should be at the top of your list!”

The IVP titles that made the list include:

Prophetic Lament: A Call for Justice in Troubled Times by Soong-Chan Rah

Redeeming Sex: Naked Conversations About Sexuality and Spirituality by Debra Hirsch

Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys: A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way by Richard Twiss

The Vulnerable Pastor: How Human Limitations Empower Our Ministry by Mandy Smith

Where the Cross Meets the Street: What Happens to the Neighborhood When God Is at the Center by Noel Castellanos

Missio Alliance also chose Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0: Moving Communities Into Unity, Wholeness and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil as a bonus essential read. The editors wrote, “Roadmap to Reconciliation isn’t officially available until next month, but having had the opportunity to read an advance copy, we highly recommend you get this book ordered!”

Roadmap to Reconciliation 2.0: Moving Communities into Unity, Wholeness and Justice by Brenda Salter McNeil

JR Rozko, Missio Alliance codirector and editorial director, wrote, “We’ve heard it said, ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions.’ Sadly, ‘good intentions’ are all many of our churches can boast of when it comes to the ministry of reconciliation imparted to us by Christ. This book is a rare gift in holding forth not just a compelling vision for communities of reconciliation, but a practical course of action to achieve it. Following the Roadmap to Reconciliation, so powerfully and honestly laid out by Brenda Salter McNeil, has the potential to help restore the integrity of our churches as outposts of God’s kingdom. All we need now are leaders and churches willing to embark on a journey beyond good intentions!”

The Missio Alliance editors selected the books for its Essential Reading List of 2015 based on two criteria: they excel in championing the intersection of theological reflection and ministry practice, and they offer a needed and irenic exploration of a crucial issue facing the Church in North America.

See a complete list of IVP award winners.

InterVarsity Press Titles Honored with Christianity Today’s 2016 Book Awards

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 20:55:00 GMT

Results of Christianity Today’s 2016 Book Awards are in, and InterVarsity Press is pleased to announce that Fool’s Talk: Recovering the Art of Christian Persuasion by Os Guinness was chosen as the book of the year in the Apologetics/Evangelism category.

Joshua Ryan Butler, author of The Skeletons in God’s Closet, was a judge for the Apologetics/Evangelism category. He said, “Unlike many apologetics books, Fool’s Talk is not a series of quick-fix answers to questions most folks are no longer asking or one-size-fits-all ‘McTheories’ (Guinness’s term) to be applied to any situation. Rather, Guinness draws upon a lifetime of diverse experience to explore and invite us into the art of ‘creative persuasion.’”

Guinness writes, “Jesus never spoke to two people the same way, and neither should we.”Fool’s Talk is the fruit of forty years of thinking, honed by Guinness in countless talks and discussions at many of the leading universities and intellectual centers of the world. In this magnum opus, Guinness offers a comprehensive presentation of the art and power of creative persuasion.

Two other IVP titles were honored with special recognition as part of Christianity Today’s 2016 Book Awards. The Lost World of Adam and Eve: Genesis 2-3 and the Human Origins Debate by John Walton was given an Award of Merit in the Biblical Studies category, and Rejoicing in Christ by Michael Reeves was a finalist for the Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year Award.

Mark Strauss, professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary and a judge for the Biblical Studies category, said this about The Lost World of Adam and Eve: “Questions of human origins and the historical Adam are of intense interest to the church and the academy, especially in light of the Human Genome Project. Here, Walton follows up on his previous work (which reads the Genesis Creation account through the lens of Ancient Near Eastern cosmology) with a focus on Adam and Eve. Reading the Creation account through ancient Israelite eyes, he provides an intriguing alternative for those who see contemporary science as moving in a direction antithetical to traditional understandings of Genesis.”

New this year, the Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year Award honors the 2015 release that best embodies CT’s pursuit of truthfulness and loveliness. Rejoicing in Christ, written by the author of the award-winning Delighting in the Trinity, was one of the four finalists for this esteemed award.

Matt Reynolds, associate editor of Christianity Today, said, “I devoured every word of the four finalists for CT’s first-ever Beautiful Orthodoxy book award. What, you might wonder, is that high-sounding coinage supposed to mean? Think of everything that makes public discourse today a nails-on-chalkboard nightmare: the screaming matches, the hair-trigger outrage, the glib snarking and self-righteous peacocking. You might call ‘Beautiful Orthodoxy’ our shorthand for the opposite of that—for theological, political, and cultural expression that unites truthfulness and loveliness. The way the gospel does.”

See a complete list of IVP award winners.

Remembering M. Robert Mulholland Jr.

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:02:00 GMT

M. Robert Mulholland Jr., author of beloved books like Invitation to a Journey and The Deeper Journey, passed away on December 20, 2015, after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.

“Robert Mulholland’s books on the power and integrity of Scripture have shaped and encouraged thousands of readers in their spiritual formation journeys,” said InterVarsity Press publisher Bob Fryling. “Mulholland was a gentleman scholar who humbly taught and wrote out of his love for the written word of God. His writings remain but his presence will be missed.”

A graduate of the US Naval Academy, M. Robert Mulholland held a Master of Sacred Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary and a doctorate from Harvard Divinity School. Mulholland was emeritus professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary and served as pastor of Shirley Community Church in Shirley Mills, Maine.

During his extensive academic career, Mulholland served as adjunct professor at the Academy for Spiritual Formation and taught at several seminaries and universities around the world, including Wesley Theological Seminary, Harvard University, McMurry University, Moscow Evangelical Christian Seminary (Moscow, Russia), West Africa Theological Seminary (Lagos, Nigeria) and Baltic Mission Center Theological Seminary (Tallinn, Estonia). An elder in the Kentucky Conference of the United Methodist Church, Mulholland was a frequent speaker at Bible and spiritual renewal conferences. He and his wife, Lynn, have two children.

Ruth Haley Barton, president of the Transforming Center and a longtime friend of Mulholland, said, “Bob’s passing is a great loss for me personally and a great loss to the world of Christian theology and spiritual formation. He was my teacher and mentor in the early years of my life in ministry, and then became a dear friend and ministry colleague, along with his wife, Lynn. His contribution to the vision, mission and teaching of the Transforming Center is incalculable as he has been our teacher through his writings and his presence among us. In addition to our grief, his passing from this life to the next is an opportunity for great gratitude as we celebrate all the gifts God brought to the body of Christ through him.”

Mulholland’s most well-known book, Invitation to a Journey, was first published in 1993 and over time came to be known as a landmark spiritual formation book. Barton has revised and expanded on Mulholland’s work, and IVP will release this new version in June 2016.

“We are thankful for Mulholland’s writings and to be able to carry on the legacy of his work and heart for spiritual formation for many generations to come,” Fryling said.

Remembering Ian Howard Marshall

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:43:00 GMT

Respected New Testament scholar Ian Howard Marshall died on Saturday, December 12, 2015, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. The author or editor of at least thirty-eight books and more than 120 essays and articles, Marshall had a significant influence on both biblical scholarship and the church.

“Marshall was a great friend of IVP,” said Dan Reid, IVP Academic editorial director. “IVP Academic was privileged to publish several of I. Howard Marshall’s works. Some of these, such as his commentary on Acts and Luke: Historian & Theologian, were through UK publishers. Others were through our direct association with him. These include his editorial work on the first edition of the Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (1992), his commentary on 1 Peter (1991), his New Testament Theology (2004) and A Concise New Testament Theology (2008).” Marshall is also the coauthor of Exploring the New Testament: A Guide to the Letters & Revelation and coeditor of the New International Greek Testament Commentary series, as well as the author of the series’s volume on Luke.

Marshall was an evangelical Methodist who was born and lived most of his life in Scotland. He taught New Testament at the University of Aberdeen for thirty-five years and was a professor emeritus for sixteen years.

In a tribute to Marshall posted on the Gospel Coalition website, Ray Van Neste, associate professor of biblical studies at Union University, wrote, “Because of Marshall, Aberdeen was for decades a primary destination for postgraduate study for evangelical students from around the world. Among Marshall’s students are many of the leading evangelical New Testament scholars today as well as many lesser-known people who play key roles in majority world churches and schools. As postgrads in Aberdeen, we used to joke that only the oil companies rivaled Marshall for bringing the most internationals to Aberdeen.”

Reid said, “One of the remarkable features of Marshall’s ministry of scholarship is the number of his PhD students who have gone on to productive scholarly careers. Just among IVP Academic’s authors we can easily name Grant Osborne, Joel Green, Craig Blomberg, Darrell Bock, Philip Towner, Clinton Arnold, Mark Strauss, Dean Flemming,Gary Burge…and still have a strong sense that we have omitted a number of others. He played an important role in the flourishing of a generation of evangelical New Testament scholarship.”

Reid said that many have remarked on Marshall’s humility. “When he received word that his New Testament Theology had won a 2005 ECPA Gold Medallion award, and learned there would be an award plaque coming his way, Marshall replied, ‘My immediate reaction is to say: But I don’t want a plaque! What on earth would I do with it? No, I wouldn’t put it out for display.’ Those of us at IVP who knew him just smiled, knowing Marshall would respond just so. He was first of all a Christian. And a scholar who wore his learning lightly.”

The Gospel Coalition Names Two IVP Titles As Editors' Picks for 2015

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:41:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press received top honors in two of the eight categories for The Gospel Coalition's (TGC) inaugural Editors' Picks for 2015. IVP titles won in the Christian Living, and Faith and Work categories.

Same-Sex Attraction and the Church: The Surprising Plausibility of the Celibate Life by Ed Shaw was the editors' pick in the Christian Living category. Shaw experiences same-sex attraction and is committed to Scripture and the church's traditional position of fidelity in heterosexual marriage and celibacy in singleness.

HTGC editor Betsy Childs Howard wrote, "Ed Shaw has written winsomely and helpfully about what I consider to be the biggest discipleship issue facing the church: sexuality and identity in Christ. This is a book for the entire body of Christ, not just those who are same-sex attracted. Shaw accurately diagnoses nine false beliefs prevalent in our churches that have undermined a biblical view of sexuality and made it seem implausible. Yet the book left me hopeful and optimistic that the church can and must replace false beliefs with life-giving truth and love."

TGC editor Bethany Jenkins chose The Soul of Shame: Retelling the Stories We Believe About Ourselves by Curt Thompson as the winner in the Faith and Work category. She wrote, "You might not expect this to be a faith and work book, but it's amazing how much shame plays a part in our work. It's 'the emotional weapon that evil uses to (1) corrupt our relationships with God and with each other, and (2) disintegrate any and all gifts of vocational vision and creativity.' Thompson’s stories, which range from the personal to the professional, illuminate how shame causes us to isolate and alienate ourselves from one another. Yet his stories also have the power to expose shame in our hearts and in our relationships. This is a beautiful and hopeful book that's both intellectually and emotionally moving."

TGC editors selected the Editors' Picks for 2015 based on whether they offered gospel-centered argument and application, included faithful and foundational use of Scripture, both Old Testament and New Testament, fostered spiritual discernment of contemporary trials and trends and encouraged efforts to unite and renew the church.

See a complete list of IVP award winners at ivpress.us/award-winners.

InterVarsity Press Announces New Distribution Agreement with SPCK and Macmillan Distribution Limited

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:03:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press (IVP-USA) is pleased to announce a new distribution agreement with the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (SPCK). IVP-USA's stock will be available through Macmillan Distribution Limited (MDL) and SPCK will offer sales representation to key accounts and local shops in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.

IVP-USA was previously represented in Europe by Inter-Varsity Press in the United Kingdom (IVP-UK) through their Partnership Distribution program. In October, IVP-UK came under the management of SPCK and retained their current board of trustees in a newly established IVP-UK publishing board. Additionally, IVP-UK area development managers Samantha Cheddie and Julian Gittings will continue their work with existing customers under SPCK's management.

IVP-USA and IVP-UK both have their roots in the International Fellowship for Evangelical Students, known as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in the United States and the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship in the United Kingdom. They have historically been linked as the primary publishers in the United States and United Kingdom, respectively, for authors like John Stott and series like the New Studies in Biblical Theology and the Bible Speaks Today.

Jeff Crosby, IVP-USA Associate Publisher and head of international sales, said, "As with the US market, the changes sweeping through the UK book landscape call for adaptive leadership, and we are grateful for the work of SPCK in welcoming us into their fold and offering a new paradigm of representation and distribution that will provide a win-win model."

"This more focused sales relationship ensures our ability to maximize the sales of IVP and our smaller number of partners . . . while also keeping the highly respected and effective sales team of Julian and Samantha on the road," said Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK. Bob Fryling, IVP-USA's publisher, also praised the agreement, saying, "IVP-USA is delighted to forge this new partnership and synergy with SPCK."

For more information about IVP-USA's international sales reach, please visit ivpress.us/help/international-customers.

Remembering Leading Reformation Scholar, David C. Steinmetz

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:04:00 GMT

David C. Steinmetz, one of the world's leading Reformation scholars, died last week on the evening of Thanksgiving. He was the Amos Ragan Kearns Distinguished Professor Emeritus of the History of Christianity at Duke Divinity School. An ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, he held degrees from Wheaton College (B.A.), Drew University (B.D.), and Harvard University (Th.D.). He is a former president of the American Society of Church History, which awarded him its Distinguished Career Award in 2010. In 2006, he was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He was also a member of the editorial advisory board of InterVarsity Press's Reformation Commentary on Scripture (RCS).

John L. Thompson, who also served on the RCS advisory board and was volume editor for Genesis 1-11 in the series, was a student and friend of Steinmetz. He said, "As one of this generation's pioneers in reviving the study of the history of exegesis, David Steinmetz set a sterling example of careful scholarship, attention to historical context, resistance to easy stereotyping, and respect for the formative influence of Christian history for the church today. His students at every level enjoyed lectures filled with fairness, detail, and good humor. His doctoral students in particular came to form with him bonds of collegiality and common purpose of a sort that would be hard to find elsewhere."

Before he joined the faculty at Duke in 1971, Steinmetz taught at Lancaster Theological Seminary of the United Church of Christ. He was a visiting professor at Harvard and Notre Dame universities as well as the Alonzo L. McDonald Distinguished Professor at Emory University. He also served as a Guggenheim Fellow at Cambridge University and a National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow at the Duke August Library in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. In addition to his work on the RCS Steinmetz was the general editor of the Oxford Studies in Historical Theology since its founding.

Timothy George, the general editor of the RCS, studied with Steinmetz during his doctoral work at Harvard. He commented, "David Steinmetz was flat out the best classroom teacher I have ever had. Blessed with a brilliant mind, he taught with passion and insight and never lost sight of the larger context of the texts and traditions he was so adept at bringing to life. His 1980 essay 'The Superiority of Pre-critical Exegesis' was a landmark study that alerted a new generation of scholars to the history of biblical exegesis and paved the way for what we call now the theological interpretation of Scripture. When we launched the Reformation Commentary on Scripture several years ago, Steinmetz joined the project as a founding member of our editorial advisory board. It is not too much to say that the RCS would not have been possible without the pioneering work of David Steinmetz. Many of the RCS volume editors were Steinmetz's students and his legacy lives on in the work they and others are doing to advance the scholarly and pastoral reach of sixteenth-century exegetical comment."

IVP Academic Launches Three New Series

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 20:23:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press is thrilled to announce the publication of three new series in its IVP Academic line of books. The series—Missiological Engagements (ME), New Explorations in Theology (NET) and Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture (SCDS)—further expand and deepen IVP Academic's reach into a broad range of scholarship.

The first book of the three series is The Gospel and Pluralism Today, edited by Scott W. Sunquist and Amos Yong, published in October. Introducing the Missiological Engagements series, it explores the legacy left by Lesslie Newbigin in light of twenty-first century missions. This volume, as well as some of the planned future volumes, centers on presentations given at the annual Missiology Lectures at Fuller Seminary's School of Intercultural Studies.

Graham Hill writes, "In The Gospel and Pluralism Today, Scott W. Sunquist and Amos Yong bring together a remarkable collection of papers that reveal the ongoing value and contribution of Newbigin's work. But Sunquist and Yong's book doesn't stop at Newbigin's contribution. It builds on Newbigin's thought, and it explores critical cultural and missionary issues that have emerged in the twenty-first century. In brief, this book is an invaluable addition to missiology and to the study of Newbigin's pastoral-missionary paradigm."

Both Theology and the Mirror of Scripture (SCDS) and The Reality of God and Historical Method (NET) launched in November. These two series focus on introducing new scholars to the field of theology in the form of monograph level approaches to their various subjects.

Specifically, the SCDS focuses on bringing together the often estranged subjects of systematic theology and biblical studies. "As a result, scholars are forced to identify themselves in one camp or the other," says David Congdon, associate editor for IVP Academic, and project editor for all three series. "In recent years, however, a growing school of thought, often referred to as 'theological interpretation of Scripture,' has sought to overcome this boundary by encouraging biblical scholars to engage in dogmatic reflection and theologians to engage in biblical exegesis."

Theology and the Mirror of Scripture, the premier volume in the SCDS written by Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Daniel J. Treier, responds to increasing evangelical fragmentation, offering a clarion call to reconceive evangelical theology theologically by reflecting on the God of the gospel as mirrored in Scripture. Forthcoming volumes will tackle the doctrines of the church, creation and hell.

Likewise, the NET will further cement IVP's commitment to publishing constructive works that advance key theological conversations. IVP will be using this series to single out the best in new monographs and research and working to stimulate fruitful dialogue, while at the same time publishing volumes that are more attainable to a broader audience of scholars and general readers with attractive prices, robust marketing plans and the high production quality for which IVP is already known.

"A monograph and dissertation line is the bread and butter of an academic publisher," Congdon says. "As the IVP Academic line matures, it is essential to have a place to publish and nurture the work of young, new scholars. We look forward to publishing creative, constructive works in the disciplines of systematic, historical, philosophical and practical theology."

In the NET's first volume, The Reality of God and Historical Method, Samuel V. Adams engages the classic problem of the relation between faith and history from the perspective of apocalyptic theology in critical dialogue with the work of N. T. Wright. The second volume in this series, scheduled for release in March 2016, is Karl Barth's Infralapsarian Theology: Origins and Development, 1920–1953 by Shao Kai Tseng in which Barth will be brought into conversation with recent studies in Puritan theology.

All three of these new series titles will be available at the upcoming annual gatherings of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Society for Biblical Literature and the American Academy of Religion at the end of November. Visit ivpress.us for more information about these series and other volumes in the IVP Academic line.

The Pietist Vision Named a Finalist for Lilly Fellows Program Book Award

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:51:00 GMT

The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education (IVP Academic) by Christopher Gehrz was chosen from more than forty nominations as a finalist for the prestigious Lilly Fellows Program Book Award.

The biennial award honors an original and imaginative work from any academic discipline that best exemplifies the central ideas and principles animating the Lilly Fellows Program. These include faith and learning in the Christian intellectual tradition, the vocation of teaching and scholarship, and the history, theory or practice of the university as the site of religious inquiry and culture.

Works considered for this year's award address the historical or contemporary relation of Christian intellectual life and scholarship to the practice of teaching as a Christian vocation or to the past, present, and future of higher education. Authors and editors did not nominate their own works.

The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education: Forming Whole and Holy Persons presents a clear alternative to Reformed accounts of Christian higher education. In this groundbreaking volume edited by Gehrz, scholars associated with the Pietist tradition reflect on the Pietist approach to education. Key themes include holistic formation, humility and openmindedness, the love of neighbor, concern for the common good, and spiritual maturity.

"Pietism is frequently overlooked or dismissed in conversations about evangelicalism and Christian history more generally. As a result, the resources from this rich tradition are not mined for their potential insights into the issues facing us today," said David Congdon, associate editor for IVP Academic. "The Pietist Vision of Christian Higher Education is an attempt to rectify this gap in the conversation with respect to the challenges of Christian higher education. Christopher Gehrz brought together an exceptional group of contributors, and the result is a book that shows the relevance of Pietism for shaping the future of higher education. In a society that seems to grow more fractured with each passing day, the Pietist vision of forming 'whole and holy persons' is more timely than ever."

The Lilly Fellows Program Book Award is a part of the Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts, based in Christ College, the interdisciplinary honors college of Valparaiso University in northwest Indiana. This program seeks to strengthen the quality and shape the character of church-related institutions of higher learning in the twenty-first century.

For more information visit lillyfellows.org.

InterVarsity Press Publisher Announces June 2016 Retirement

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 20:36:00 GMT

After nearly nineteen years as the publisher of InterVarsity Press, Bob Fryling has announced that he will be retiring in June 2016. "This has not been a quick or easy decision as I still love IVP and our calling as a leading publisher of thoughtful Christian books," Fryling said. "Neither my passion nor my commitment to IVP has waned but as an entirely personal decision it seems like an appropriate time to allow others the privilege of leading IVP."

Jim Lundgren, interim president for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA (IVCF), is leading a search process for both internal and external candidates for Fryling's successor.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the work and people at IVP. Any and all successes of IVP have been because of these dedicated and talented colleagues who are committed to our authors, our books and to our God," Fryling said. "I have especially enjoyed the relationships with authors and being able to talk about IVP books with a wide variety of audiences in the church, the academy and the marketplace."

Fryling has been involved with IVCF and IVP for more than fifty years, starting as a student leader at Drexel University in 1964. He was in campus ministry for twenty-seven years, including fourteen as national director of campus ministries, and has been a vice president of InterVarsity for thirty years. He began at InterVarsity Press in July 1997. Fryling has also served for eleven years as a board member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA).

"For twenty-seven years, Bob Fryling served our work on campus with distinction in a number of vital roles; campus staff, regional director and national campus director," Lundgren said. "Then in 1997, he moved into the director and then the publisher role at InterVarsity Press. As publisher, Bob has built a strongly unified and gifted leadership team that has skillfully led our press in thriving even through some of the most challenging years in the history of Christian publishing. In addition, Bob has served with distinction as a vice president and member of InterVarsity's cabinet. In every way, Bob has brought a passion for our Lord and the mission of InterVarsity Press into all his leadership."

In addition to his work as publisher, Fryling has coauthored three books with his wife, Alice, including A Handbook for Engaged Couples, A Handbook for Married Couples, and Handbook for Parents. Respected for his leadership in various capacities, Fryling is also the author of The Leadership Ellipse: Shaping How We Lead by Who We Are.

Kathryn Helmers, a literary agent whose list with IVP goes back twenty years and includes such clients as Richard J. Foster, Tim Johnson, Mark Labberton and James Bryan Smith, said, "The only thing Bob Fryling is better at than leading a superbly talented publishing team with a remarkable list of high-quality, award-winning books is being a smart, funny, thoughtful and gracious human being. What a wonderful legacy."

Although Fryling does not yet have specific plans for his retirement, he said, "I am finding out more about the mystery of God than the blueprint of God. I look forward to what will come next."

As for his hopes for IVP's future he said, "I believe IVP has a significant calling and role in Christian publishing and the church. The tremendous breadth and depth of what IVP publishes is a tangible expression of the body of Christ serving her Lord in all of life. Because IVP is rooted in both the university world and in a missional movement it will always seek truth while demonstrating grace in being a winsome witness in the world. I trust that the future of IVP will always be inextricably linked with pursuing God’s Kingdom here on earth."

Filmspotting Co-Host Signs Book Contract with InterVarsity Press

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:47:00 GMT

Josh Larsen, co-host of the radio show and podcast Filmspotting, has signed a contract with InterVarsity Press for a book about movies as prayer to be released in Fall 2017.

"We are thrilled to welcome Josh Larsen to InterVarsity Press. His cinematic knowledge is astounding, as regular listeners to his popular Filmspotting podcast well know," said Helen Lee, associate editor for IVP Books and IVP Praxis. "In his forthcoming book, he will combine his insights on film and faith in a unique way, helping readers to see movies as representations of different kinds of prayers to God. Whether you are a serious cinephile or just someone who appreciates quality film, you will be captivated by what Josh has to offer in this book."

Larsen's book will identify ten different types of prayer and then place significant films within each prayer tradition. He writes: "Movies are our way of telling God what we think about this world and our place in it. Into the Wild praises God for the world's beauty. Watchmen laments its inherently fallen state. Sunrise is a pledge of obedience. Fight Club cries out in defiance. 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Wizard of Oz artfully plead to know him more.”

Larsen said, "This book will illuminate the richness of Christian prayer alongside the richness of the cinema. This idea was born of years sitting in two very different auditoriums: church sanctuaries and movie theaters. I spent many childhood Saturdays with my movie-fan parents at the theater, while the occasional Sunday found me tagging along with my dad to the church where he was serving as the guest preacher. Perhaps it was inevitable that films and faith would become intertwined in my head and I would pursue criticism as a career."

Larsen spent eleven years as a film critic for Chicago-based Sun-Times Media. In 2012 he became the co-host of the Filmspotting podcast, which also airs on the NPR affiliate WBEZ-FM in Chicago. He writes about movies at LarsenOnFilm and is editor of the faith and culture online magazine Think Christian. Larsen is also a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association, the Online Film Critics Association and the Podcast Film Critics Association. You can follow him on Twitter (@LarsenonFilm).

Andy Le Peau Announces 2016 Retirement from InterVarsity Press

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:49:00 GMT

After four decades of working on hundreds of books, Andy Le Peau, associate publisher for editorial at InterVarsity Press, has announced he will be retiring in February 2016. Le Peau has worked with respected authors like Rebecca Manley Pippert, N.T. Wright, Tom Oden, Christena Cleveland, Gary Haugen, Andy Crouch, Ken Bailey and countless others.

"It has been a privilege spending forty years nurturing books by such creative authors, investing in a mission I believe in, and working with very talented and committed colleagues," he said. "Working with our authors and reading our books—there is no better job for someone who loves being a lifelong learner."

IVP publisher Bob Fryling said, "Andy Le Peau has been a foundational presence at IVP. His editorial skills, his practical wisdom, his organizational abilities and his spiritual maturity have all combined to make Andy a deeply respected and admired leader at IVP."

After serving with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for two years, Le Peau joined IVP as an assistant editor in 1975. He became the managing editor in 1983, and was appointed to editorial director in 1985. That year the LifeGuide® Bible Studies he inspired were launched, which have now sold more than 15 million copies. In 1991, along with colleagues Dan Reid, Jim Hoover and Rodney Clapp, Le Peau instigated IVP's academic publishing program. He also spearheaded IVP's relationship with Logos Bible Software with The IVP Essential Reference Collection, the first of several CD-ROMs in 2000.

"Andy has had a great influence in Christian publishing," Fryling said. "He had the vision to form a successful training and communication network for editors which then morphed into the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association PubU track for editors. In addition, Andy and his wife Phyllis have authored several top-selling LifeGuide® Bible Study Guides and in retirement Andy will be finishing a lay commentary on the Gospel of Mark. We will greatly miss Andy, his sense of humor and his tremendous, faithful contributions to IVP."

Each with more than 25 years of experience as editors at IVP, Cindy Bunch and Dan Reid will carry on Le Peau's legacy. Fryling said, "I am delighted to announce the appointment of Cindy Bunch as IVP associate publisher for editorial beginning January 1, 2016. Cindy was involved with InterVarsity as an undergraduate student at Wake Forest and has been an editorial leader at IVP. She has championed the tremendously successful LifeGuide® BibleStudies, the significant and also successful Formatio line of books on spiritual formation and the new line of Crescendo books written by women on urgent topics of the day. Cindy has been the acquiring editor for many noted IVP authors including Richard Foster, Leighton Ford, Brenda Salter McNeil, Mark Labberton, James Bryan Smith and Ruth Haley Barton. She has both great institutional memory and vision."

Le Peau said, "Cindy loves working with authors and developing books that nurture heart and mind. She is widely respected for these qualities in the industry and beyond."

Reid will be the IVP academic editorial director beginning January 1, 2016. He has his PhD from Fuller Seminary. "Dan is as surefooted editorially as he is academically," Le Peau said.

"Dan brings not only well-honed editorial excellence to this job but one of the finest reputations for theological acuity and relational integrity in all of Christian academic publishing. Dan is the son of missionaries in Asia and embodies that missional dimension to his editorial work," Fryling said. "He is the editor for the award-winning seven-volume 'Black Dictionary' series on the whole Bible and has been a champion for including women and majority world authors in his editorial scope. Dan has been the E.F. Hutton of IVP Academic for many years and will now broaden his outstanding academic leadership at IVP."

Le Peau said, "With both Dan and Cindy continuing in their acquisition roles alongside their new responsibilities, I think we and our authors can all have confidence that the editorial department at IVP will be in good hands."

Twelve InterVarsity Press Authors to Speak at the Apprentice Gathering

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 20:25:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press will be partnering with Apprentice Institute and Renovaré for the annual Apprentice Gathering October 8–10 at Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. A dozen IVP authors will be featured speakers at the event.

James Bryan Smith, Executive Director of the Apprentice Institute, said, "The Apprentice Gathering has been a dynamic partnership between the Apprentice Institute and InterVarsity Press for the past five years. Each year this event has featured outstanding IVP authors on the stage and in the workshops, and this year proves the same. Along with myself, IVP authors such as Christena Cleveland, Alan Fadling, Todd Hunter, Gordon Smith, Tom Smith and Mae Cannon will be offering plenary talks and workshops. The theme is 'The Joy of Kingdom Living,' and these authors and speakers are well-versed on this subject. Come and join us!"

The Apprentice Gathering is an annual, national forum for followers of Jesus to learn new ideas, be inspired, make connections and walk away energized to make a difference in the world. This year's focus will be on the joy people experience when they live a balanced life of discipleship to Jesus. Each plenary session will examine the joyful aspect of the great traditions: the contemplative, holiness, charismatic, evangelical, social justice and incarnational expressions that have borne witness to a balanced Christian life.

Featured IVP authors include

James Bryan Smith, author of The Apprentice Series, including The Good and Beautiful Life, The Good and Beautiful God, and others
Richard Foster, author of Longing for God and Sanctuary of the Soul
Christena Cleveland, author of Disunity in Christ
Alan Fadling, author of An Unhurried Life
Gordon T. Smith, author of Courage and Calling and Called to be Saints
Todd Hunter, author of The Accidental Anglican and Christianity Beyond Belief
Mae Elise Cannon, author of Social Justice Handbook
Kai Nilsen, author of Renew Your Life
Tom Smith, author of Raw Spirituality
Bob Fryling, author of The Leadership Ellipse
Kent Carlson and Mike Lueken, coauthors of Renovation of the Church

InterVarsity Press and the Apprentice Institute have been working together for a number of years with the development of The Apprentice Series resources, authored by Smith, which help shape the work of the Apprentice Institute.

"All of us at InterVarsity Press are grateful for a long and fruitful relationship with James Bryan Smith and the Apprentice Institute team," Jeff Crosby, Associate Publisher and Director of Sales and Marketing at InterVarsity Press, said. "The Apprentice Gathering is one key element of that relationship. There is nothing more gratifying than to see our authors—through both plenary messages and in seminars—connecting with the hearts and souls and minds of the men and women gathered at this conference each autumn, knowing they walk away changed through the work of the Spirit."

Find out more about the Apprentice Gathering at apprenticegathering.org.

InterVarsity Press Receives Three Logos Book of the Year Awards

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:52:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press was honored with three 2015 Book of the Year awards by the Association of Logos Bookstores during its annual convention in June.

"The people who comprise the Association of Logos Bookstores have long been lovers of great books and good friends of InterVarsity Press," said Jeff Crosby, IVP's associate publisher and director of sales and marketing. "We’re grateful for the recognition they have given these works by Jen Pollock Michel, Os Guinness and Kenneth Bailey. All three are artful writers with substantive messages for the church today."

Teach Us to Want: Longing, Ambition and the Life of Faith by Jen Pollock Michel was honored with the award for Best Book in the category of Spirituality/Devotional. Michel writes in the book: "Reflecting on our desires asks us to address the more naked parts of who we are and why we do what we do. When we talk about desire, we undress our hearts. We worm our way into intention and hope to arrive at self-awareness. When we're stuck in patterns of chronic sin, we should think to ask, 'What must I be wanting to continually persist in these choices?' We usually know that something is driving our behavior, but the forces often feel imperceptible to us. The simple question, 'What do I want?' can lead to important change." Teach Us to Want was also named Christianity Today's 2015 Book of the Year in December.

Os Guinness received the Logos award for the Best Book in the category of Christianity and Culture for Renaissance: The Power of the Gospel However Dark the Times. Drawing on great thinkers like John Baillie, Christopher Dawson, C. S. Lewis, Thomas Cahill and others, Guinness shows that the church is in a moment of great transition, but it has been here before. In light of this, he encourages readers to rely God's provision, knowing that with it the Christian faith can continue to be the cultural influence it’s always been.

The Logos award for Best Book in the category of Theology/Doctrine/Reference went to The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament by Kenneth E. Bailey. Gary M. Burge, New Testament professor at Wheaton College, said, "Ken Bailey is the consummate expert on the cultural context of first-century life. And here he applies these skills to one motif—the shepherd—illustrating how it is employed in a variety of biblical stories and parables. His interpretations use a variety of tools unknown to many of us: ancient versions, original languages, cultural anthropology, ancient Middle Eastern writers who shared this ancient culture, and his own personal career embedded in a crosscultural life in the Middle East. Always insightful, always fresh, consistently surprising, Bailey has produced yet another book that will get many of us rethinking beloved passages of Scripture in completely new ways."

IVP Author Appointed as Director of the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 20:54:00 GMT

InterVarsity Press author Christena Cleveland has been appointed as associate professor of the practice of reconciliation and as the director of the Center for Reconciliation (CFR) at Duke Divinity School effective July 1. Cleveland is the author of Disunity in Christ: Uncovering the Hidden Forces That Keep Us Apart.

Cleveland is currently an associate professor of reconciliation studies in the department of anthropology, sociology and reconciliation studies at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and works in the field of social psychology. Her research seeks to uncover the underlying processes that affect relationships within and between groups, and to help leaders understand how to promote appreciation for diversity and build effective collaborations with diverse groups. In 2014 Christianity Today magazine named her one of "33 Under 33" (millennial leaders who are shaping the next generation of Christian faith), and JET magazine identified her one as of five "online shepherds to follow."

IVP publisher Bob Fryling said, "InterVarsity Press has a significant partnership with the Center for Reconciliation at Duke Divinity School, including the publication of seven books in IVP's Resources for Reconciliation series. So it is with great delight that IVP celebrates the appointment of Christena Cleveland as the new director of the Center for Reconciliation. Cleveland's book Disunity in Christ just adds to this common vision for meaningful reconciliation in a broken world and often a fractured church."

Disunity in Christ, a book about the unseen dynamics behind conflict and divisions among Christians, received a 2013 Leadership Journal Book Award. Combining her experience as a social psychologist with the latest studies and research, Cleveland shows why Christians who have a heart for unity have such a hard time actually uniting.

Cleveland is currently working on her next book, The Priesthood of the Privileged, which examines power and inequality in the church. She has also started writing a regular column for Christianity Today called "Truth Be Told."

Cleveland earned a BA from Dartmouth College and a PhD in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. An award-winning researcher, she has published numerous scholarly articles. She regularly coaches pastors and leaders on multicultural issues.

Prior to her appointment at Bethel University, Cleveland was an assistant professor of psychology at St. Catherine University, an assistant professor of psychology at Westmont College and a visiting assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

For more about Christena Cleveland visit christenacleveland.com.

IVP Author, "Folk Theologian" and Legendary Singer-Songwriter Garth Hewitt Starts US Tour

Fri, 22 Jul 2016 21:08:00 GMT

Legendary singer-songwriter and IVP author Garth Hewitt will be touring the United States April 29 through May 17. He will be performing and speaking in Tennessee, North Carolina and New Mexico. Hewitt is the author of Occupied Territories: The Revolution of Love from Bethlehem to the Ends of the Earth.

Known as a "prophet" for justice, Hewitt has spent his entire adult life singing about justice and working to bring justice to the world. Hewitt, a troubadour, gospel singer and protest singer, has released nearly forty albums in his storied forty-year music career. The author of ten books on spirituality, social justice and the arts, Garth passionately believes that it is time for people of all faiths to speak up and call for justice, especially for communities in developing or volatile nations.

"Through both song and written word, Garth Hewitt has long been a herald for the pursuit of justice, reconciliation and Christian discipleship as a three-braided cord that people of faith should aspire to if they want to live as Jesus did," said Jeff Crosby, IVP's associate publisher and director of sales and marketing. "I'm delighted to be working with Garth, the Garth Hewitt Foundation and Amos Trust on this series of events that will draw attention to the revolution of love that is needed in Bethlehem and to the ends of the earth."

In 1985, Garth founded Amos Trustto raise awareness of the situations of injustice he had witnessed on his travels. Many of the communities and situations he visited had never received any international attention or coverage, so Amos Trust was set up to tell their stories. Amos Trust promotes justice and hope for forgotten communities by partnering with local projects around the world to provide support, raise awareness and lobby for change. These projects include work with street children in South Africa, promotion of human rights and sustainable communities for Dalits in rural India, community development and education provision in Nicaragua, and working toward peace and reconciliation in Palestine and Israel.

In Occupied Territories, Hewitt recounts stories from a network of community projects around the world to raise awareness of and provide support for those working toward liberation, and to address the root causes of injustice and poverty. Gary Burge, author of Jesus and the Land and A Week in the Life of a Roman Centurion, said, "Garth Hewitt has been aptly named a 'folk theologian,' and perhaps this book is a perfect illustration of it. After years of looking at the conflict in Israel-Palestine, Garth provides a personal, passionate and honest examination of the way forward that Christians need to understand. Here you will meet many of the leading Christian voices within this struggle as well as the most important Palestinian Christian cry—Kairos Palestine—which expresses the same appeal we heard in South Africa in the 1980s. Well done, Garth. If both sides had voices like yours, this conflict would have ended long ago."

In addition to touring for his musical career and his international advocacy for the underprivileged, for over twenty-five years Garth served on the board of directors for the Greenbelt Festival, a British arts festival with a commitment to social justice that is now attended annually by over 25,000 people. He is a canon of St George's Anglican Cathedral in Jerusalem, and associate priest of St. Clement's Eastcheap in London. He is also a patron of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and a regular contributor to BBC Radio 2's Pause for Thought.

The dates and locations for Hewitt’s US tour are:

April 29, 6:30 p.m. Nashville, Tennessee, The Thistle Stop Café
May 2, 7 p.m., Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Binkley Baptist Church
May 3, 11:00 a.m., Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Binkley Baptist Church
May 3, 7 p.m., Burlington, North Carolina, Holy Comforter Episcopal Church
May 4, 7:30 p.m., Raleigh, North Carolina, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
May 8, 8 p.m., Cupertino, California, St. Jude’s Church
May 12-14, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Joy Junction

Visit garthhewitt.org for more information about his work and the US tour. Find out more about Amos Trust at amostrust.org.

IVP Receives Awards for Teach Us to Want, True Paradox and Visions of Vocation

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:45:00 GMT

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) and Foreword Reviews recently honored three InterVarsity Press titles as finalists for book awards. Teach Us to Want by Jen Pollock Michel was a finalist in the 2015 Christian Book Award® Program from ECPA in the category of new author. True Paradox by David Skeel and Visions of Vocation by Steven Garber were finalists in Foreword Reviews' INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards in the non-fiction religion category.

"It's been gratifying to see the level of engagement surrounding all three of these titles from media, award-giving organizations and, most importantly, readers," Jeff Crosby, Associate Publisher and Director of Sales and Marketing, said. "Jen, David and Steve have crafted books that we believe will stand the test of time and be referred to for years to come."

In Teach Us to Want: Longing, Ambition and the Life of Faith Michel guides us on a journey of understanding who we are when we want, and reintroduces us to a God who gives us the desires of our hearts. She writes: "Reflecting on our desires asks us to address the more naked parts of who we are and why we do what we do. When we talk about desire, we undress our hearts. We worm our way into intention and hope to arrive at self-awareness. When we're stuck in patterns of chronic sin, we should think to ask, 'What must I be wanting to continually persist in these choices?' We usually know that something is driving our behavior, but the forces often feel imperceptible to us. The simple question, 'What do I want?' can lead to important change."

ECPA will announce a winner in each category and the Christian Book of the Year™ on May 5 at the ECPA Awards Banquet held in conjunction with the ECPA Leadership Summit in Nashville. Teach Us to Want was also Christianity Today's 2015 Book of the Year.

True Paradox and Visions of Vocation were selected as finalists for the INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards. In the next three months, a panel of more than one hundred volunteer librarians and booksellers will determine the winners in sixty-three categories based on their experience with readers and patrons. Foreword Reviews is the only review magazine solely dedicated to discovering new independent books. Each year, Foreword Reviews shines a light on a select group of indie publishers, university presses and self-published authors whose work stands out from the crowd. INDIEFAB is Foreword's Book of the Year program and honors titles for their editorial excellence, production, originality, accuracy and contribution to their genre.

True Paradox: How Christianity Makes Sense of Our Complex World by David Skeel makes a fresh case for the plausibility and explanatory power of Christianity. Bart Swain of the The Wall Street Journal wrote: "True Paradox is written by a Christian in defense of Christianity, but most nonbelieving readers will not find it off-putting. Mr. Skeel expresses great respect for those with whom he disagrees—a good deal more respect, in fact, than some prominent materialists have accorded their believing interlocutors. Which may be precisely what this subject needs."

Vision of Vocation: Common Grace for the Common Good by Steven Garber offers a book for everyone everywhere—for students, for parents, for those in the arts, in the academy, in public service, in the trades and in commerce—for all who want to discover the virtue of vocation. Visions of Vocationwas also named the 2014 Book of the Year by Hearts & Minds Books and was one of four books to receive the 2014 Leadership Journal Book Award in the category of the Leader's Outer Life. Additionally, Garber's book received Christianity Today's 2015 Award of Merit in the Christian Living category.

A celebration of the INDIEFAB Book of the Year Award winners will take place during the American Library Association Annual Conference the last Friday in June.

IVP to Publish CaringBridge Cancer Journey of Steve and Sharol Hayner

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:07:00 GMT

Steve Hayner was healthy and fit and serving as president of Columbia Seminary when he found out he had pancreatic cancer. He and his wife, Sharol, embarked on a journey together with their children that soon included tens of thousands of visits from friends and acquaintances via CaringBridge. The overwhelming response to their posts on this website attested to the surprising and engaging way that they chose to live in the face of death. In the fall of 2015 InterVarsity Press will be releasing a compilation of those posts in the book Joy in the Journey: Finding Abundance in the Shadow of Death by Steve and Sharol Hayner.

Steve was always known for signing letters and emails, "Joyfully, Steve." These pages, including reflections from some of those closest to Steve and Sharol, will offer a glimpse into what it means to walk in honesty, with joy, even through great pain. "On the journey of life, we need scouts ahead of us who send back guidance and encouragement," Sharol said. "As scouts in the valley of the shadow of death, I hope that our discovery of God's faithfulness, presence and gift of joy especially on the darkest days will bring courage and the desire to trust Jesus in life and in death."

Steve was the president emeritus of Columbia Theological Seminary and an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), as well as a professor, author and the former president of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. He held a PhD in Hebrew and Semitic Studies from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. He served on the boards of World Vision and International Justice Mission, among others. Known by many throughout the world, Steve's passion was to prepare women and men to lead congregations toward the fulfillment of God's call as churches who are biblically faithful and growing steadily in their love for God, their love for each other and their love for Christ's work in the world.

"Steve Hayner has been first a hero and then a friend since I met him many years ago," said John Ortberg, senior pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. "He was a people magnet and an idea machine and an energy force. To follow the journey that he and Sharol traveled together through the valley of the shadow of death was a privilege and a heartbreak and an education in hope. I'm grateful their searing, aching, honest, inspiring words are now permanently available. I cannot imagine a human being who would not benefit from it."

Sharol has been serving in ministry for over forty years with her husband, Steve. She served as children's music director at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle and as children's music director and worship coordinator at Christ Presbyterian Church in Madison, Wisconsin. At age forty-eight she began seminary, and ultimately graduated from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. Ordained in the PCUSA, she served as associate pastor for discipleship at Peachtree Presbyterian Church and now serves as parish associate at Kairos Church, both in Atlanta. She has three children and five grandchildren.

"I worked at InterVarsity Press during Steve Hayner's tenure and saw the lasting impact he had on our organizational culture," said Cindy Bunch, editorial director for IVP Books. "It has been a privilege to work on this book project with Sharol, so filled with both beauty and pain. They are both, for me, mentors in the way of life and death."

Joy in the Journey will include forewords by Steve's close friends, Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California, and Alex Gee, pastor of Fountain of Life Family Worship Center and president and founder of faith-based Nehemiah Community Development Corporation, both in Madison, Wisconsin.

"Seldom have I been as moved as in reading these epistles from Steve and Sharol Hayner ending 'Joyfully yours,'" said Leighton Ford. "Through his life Steve helped so many to find life in all its fullness in Christ. Now, with his beloved Sharol, he guides us through the ending of life in fullness of hope. Thanks to InterVarsity Press for what I believe will become a classic."

Preaching Magazine Recognizes IVP Titles As Year's Best for Preachers

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 19:58:00 GMT

Preaching magazine included three InterVarsity Press titles among its lists of "The Year's Best Books for Preachers" and the "Top Books on Preaching."

R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, named A Change of Heart by Thomas C. Oden and God Dwells Among Us by G. K. Beale and Mitchell Kim among "The Year's Best Books for Preachers." Mohler chose ten books that are "representative of some of the best volumes that will add value to the preacher and the preaching ministry, long after the year has passed."

A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoirtells the story of how Thomas Oden, one of the twentieth century's most celebrated liberals, had a dramatic change in thinking and theology. "The great value found in reading this book not only is found in tracing Oden's personal pilgrimage, eloquently and vividly portrayed. To the contrary, the greatest value is in what the preacher will experience in the process of reading this book: a personal awareness of the transformations and shifts that have taken place in our own thinking," Mohler said. "More than anything else, this book will help every preacher come to a deeper understanding of what it means to embrace biblical Christianity despite facing a highly secularized age."

God Dwells Among Us: Expanding Eden to the Ends of the Earth considers the temple, a source of rich scholarship and theological reflection. But what does the temple mean for the church's ongoing mission in the world? Beale and Kim take temple theology off the bookshelf and bring it to our modern-day life, where the church is instructed and exhorted in its purpose. Mohler said, "This approach to biblical theology, soundly exegetical and powerfully persuasive, not only will help the pastor place every text of Scripture within the context of the entire canon, but also understand every text of Scripture in terms of the everlasting purposes of God."

Preaching magazine also listed "The Top Books on Preaching," which included IVP's Preaching in an Age of Distraction by J. Ellsworth Kalas. Michael Duduit, executive editor for Preaching, selected the titles for this list. "Kalas helps us step back and better understand our environment, and then offers counsel to help us respond wisely to the distractions of our age," Duduit said. "Kalas reminds us that while we spend our days immersed in biblical texts and theological thought, our people live in a different world. Facing such challenges, preachers must learn to deal with distraction in our congregations and in ourselves."

For a complete list of award-winning books from InterVarsity Press visit ivpress.us/award-winners.

Tommy "Urban D." Kyllonen Signs ReBuild Book Deal with InterVarsity Press

Tue, 26 Jul 2016 20:00:00 GMT

Pastor, author and recording artist Tommy "Urban D." Kyllonen recently signed a publishing deal with InterVarsity Press for his upcoming book, ReBuild: Reset Your Life. Renew Your Church. Reshape Your World.

ReBuild offers tools for people to rebuild their brokenness and help rebuild those around them. Kyllonen shares powerful stories from his personal life and ministry, including his church's incredible journey of rebuilding a 43,000-square-foot Toys "R" Us building in the heart of Tampa's urban community. The biblical story of Nehemiah is woven through the book, reminding us how Jerusalem was rebuilt physically, spiritually and economically.

ReBuild will be released in October of 2015 in time for the fifteenth annual Urban Leadership Conference "Flavor Fest" hosted at Crossover Church. This year's theme is "ReBuild." Urban D. will also be releasing his final full-length album, his eighth project, at the same time with the same title as the book. The album will feature songs with the same titles and concepts as the book chapters. The physical version of the album will also feature a full-length documentary (Space Cherry Films) about Crossover Church and its unique ministry of rebuilding people in the urban community. Additionally, Crossover Church will launch a six-week "ReBuild" message series from the new book in February 2016 and invite other churches to join them. They will provide free small group curriculum, video content and message outlines.

Kyllonen has been in full-time urban ministry for more than nineteen years at Crossover Church in Tampa and became the lead pastor thirteen years ago. Under his leadership, the church has grown from a handful of people to more than one thousand weekly attendees, making this innovative multiethnic, multigenerational and multieconomic church a model. Kyllonen has recorded seven hip-hop albums, written two books, published twenty-five issues of S.O.U.LMAG magazine and hosts S.O.U.LMAG TV on Trinity Broadcasting Network's JUCE TV. He has also coached more than fifty urban church planters/pastors through his Urban Coaching Network.

"We are delighted to welcome Tommy Kyllonen into the IVP family," said Helen Lee, associate editor for IVP Books/IVP Praxis. "His unique and extensive experiences both in church ministry and in the world of hip-hop will appeal to a wide range of readers, and his commitment to multiethnicity fits perfectly with our values as an organization. We are excited to partner with Tommy in bringing ReBuild to the marketplace, and we know that all who read his book will be challenged, encouraged and inspired."

For more information about Kyllonen, visit urband.org.