InterVarsity Press author Peter Heltzel was honored with the 2014 Nelson Mandela Community Activist Award for his ongoing work to make a difference in New York City. The award was presented by the New York City Clergy Roundtable at the Nelson Mandela Tribute & Award Ceremony, held March 7 at First Corinthian Baptist Church in New York.

Co-authored with fellow pastor Alexia Salvatierra, Heltzel’s Faith-Rooted Organizing: Mobilizing the Church in Service to the World (IVP Books) released in December 2013.

Sandy Ralya’s The Beautiful Wife: Focused on Christ, Fulfilled in Marriage (Kregel Publications) has reached the milestone of 10,000 copies in print. 

Published in 2012, The Beautiful Wife was born out of Ralya's desire to guide and encourage any wife looking for God's best in her marriage. Discussing subjects ranging from romance and money to communication and sex, the book challenges women to share their journeys so that together they can see God's plan for their marriages.

Often people celebrate Lent by giving up chocolate, coffee, meat or some other luxury, but Christian music expert Al Menconi has a retailer-friendly suggestion to help believers prepare for Easter.

The author of The Christian Music Challenge: Find Peace and Purpose in a Chaotic World recommends giving up “secular” music until April 17.

Charisma Media launched this week a new content-sharing website, ChristianLife.com. The site features a daily stream of videos, images and memes that are funny, inspirational, encouraging, worshipful and evangelistic.

“David After Dentist” creator David DeVore—the voice behind the camera of one of YouTube’s most-watched videos of all time and Time magazine’s No.3 greatest viral video ever—is director of the new site. His “David After Dentist” video, recorded in 2008 when his son David Jr. returned medicated from a dental procedure, quickly became a pop-culture icon and to date has been viewed more than 123 million times. Since 2008, DeVore and his son have appeared on many major TV news, talk and late-night shows, and have leveraged the global spotlight to raise money for Operation Smile.

Baker Publishing Group announced that Mark Rice has been appointed executive director of marketing for Baker Books and Bibles.

American consumers powered through the winter weather, lifting retail sales in February. Last month’s retail sales—which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants—increased 0.2% adjusted month-to-month and 2.3% unadjusted year-over-year, according to the National Retail Foundation (NRF).

“Today’s positive retail sales report indicates that the economy is primed for growth,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “Retailers and consumers endured the harsh winter and they’re hoping both the natural and man-made obstacles to growth will leave with the snow.

Erin Mackenzie has been named Marketing Manager of Multilingual Resources for Concordia Publishing House (CPH). In this role, she will manage the sales and marketing activities for the multilingual product group.

Mackenzie’s primary responsibility will be the creation and implementation of the annual business plan and achievement of sales goals. She will work closely with other members of the multilingual team in the development of new products.