‘Jeremiah Study Bible,’ John Hagee lead with strong sales

Worthy Publishing Group (WPG) grew 84% in 2013 versus its already strong start of 64% growth from 2011 to 2012. In the company’s first full year of business, its list of trade books, along with new releases from imprints Ellie Claire, WorthyKids and Inspired, helped WPG establish an aggressive growth profile for the young publishing house.

WPG released The Jeremiah Study Bible right before Thanksgiving, shipping more than 140,000 copies at launch. The release was celebrated by a sell-out crowd at an event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City, featuring David Jeremiah, MercyMe, Kari Jobe and The Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers. This month, Dr. Jeremiah and the Worthy team celebrated a milestone achievement as The Jeremiah Study Bible hit No. 1 on the CBA best-seller chart.

“The enthusiastic support from LifeWay, Family Christian, Barnes & Noble, CBD [Christian Book Distributors], Walmart and so many others is deeply appreciated,” said Worthy President and Publisher Byron Williamson in a Feb. 3 statement. “At the current rate of sale, Dr. Jeremiah’s study Bible will soon surpass 300,000 in print.”

John Hagee’s Four Blood Moons, which had more than 375,000 copies in print by early February, became a New York Times best-seller shortly after its October release.

“Pastor Hagee’s book has captured readers’ imaginations with its message that ‘something is about to change’ on this earth,” Williamson said.

The coming series of four lunar eclipses predicted by NASA are signs from the heavens of things to come, according to Hagee.

Worthy titles slated for release in 2014 include books from authors including Jeremiah, Ted Dekker, Ralph Reed, Bob Coy, Les and Leslie Parrott, Bob Buford, Rudy Rasmus and Stephen Mansfield.

WorthyKids, a new division of WPG, recently signed an expanded publishing deal with DreamWorks Animation for additional rights to VeggieTales. New titles will be releasing throughout the year.

Changes come as family-owned company enters 40th year of publishing

Harvest House Publishers has announced a strategic corporate restructuring plan designed to generate new sales opportunities and inject more innovation and efficiency into the company. In response to an ever-changing publishing climate, Harvest House is seeking to better employ the strengths of key personnel.

“God has gifted our company with incredibly talented people, and there were opportunities to implement their strengths in exciting new ways that will benefit the company and our authors as we continue to exercise a forward-thinking outlook in everything we do,” said Harvest House President Bob Hawkins Jr. “With this restructuring, I am confident Harvest House will realize new sales growth, an even more invigorating corporate culture and the achievement of the company’s short- and long-range goals and initiatives.”

The first of the corporate changes was the promotion of Vice President of Editorial LaRae Weikert to executive vice president/editorial. In her expanded executive role, Weikert, a 28-year veteran of Harvest House, will handle more corporate-level responsibilities as she applies her leadership abilities and market insights to the company’s publishing program.

In addition, Barb Sherrill, vice president of marketing, was promoted to vice president of product development. In this newly created position in the Editorial department, Sherrill will utilize her more than 25 years of industry experience to lead a team of editors in the acquisition and development of gift, youth and children’s books, and will oversee the growth of the company’s fiction line and the establishment of e-products.

In a key change to its infrastructure, Harvest House also combined the Interactive Media and Design department (IMD) with Marketing, creating the newly formed Marketing Services department. Bryce Williamson, manager of IMD, will now serve as director of marketing services. Williamson brings significant graphic design and marketing experience to this position, as well as an innovative mind-set from his eight years as graphic design manager.

Serving alongside Williamson is Aaron Dillon, former publicist, in his new capacity as marketing services manager. Dillon will assist Williamson in the development of marketing strategies and ensure their efficient implementation.

Other changes at the company include the promotion of Heather Green to manager/corporate development and strategy, and Jeff Marion to the position of covers project manager.

Harvest House is entering its 40th year as an independent, family-run Christian publishing house.

Word of Faith preacher’s books launched the charismatic publishing company and have sold millions

Author and Word of Faith preacher Charles Capps died Feb. 23. He was 80.

Capps’ best-selling books, including The Tongue: A Creative Force and God’s Creative Power Will Work for You (both Harrison House), have sold millions of copies and are still in demand. The latter gave birth to the “God’s Creative Power” series, which alone has sold more than 5 million copies.

Capps was a retired farmer, land developer and Bible teacher who traveled extensively throughout the United States and several foreign countries sharing the truths of God’s Word. He taught Bible seminars for more than 35 years, emphasizing the authority of the believer, faith and the power of words.

Capps and his wife, Peggy, had roots in the rich farmland of Lonoke County, Ark. Having been raised by parents who were farmers, Capps began farming cotton, soybeans and rice immediately after graduating from high school and marrying in 1951.

Three-and-a-half months older than Capps, Peggy had to sign as the adult on his behalf when he wanted to take flying lessons at the age of 17. They joined an organization known as the Flying Farmers and gained experience going to “fly-ins” and national meetings across the United States.

Neither knew that this skill of flying would be such an asset later, when Capps began teaching personal evangelism in the 1960s. He spoke on the subject of soul-winning in churches not only in the U.S., but also flew his twin engine Piper Comanche to the Bahamas to teach students of Youth With a Mission how to share Christ with others.

After reading a book by Kenneth E. Hagin entitled Authority of the Believer, Capps’ life took on a new dimension of travel and ministry as he became known for his teaching gift and insight on the subjects of faith and confession.

Invitations to minister to the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International began to pour in, eventually leading to the publication of Capps’ teachings in book form. The Tongue: A Creative Force and God’s Creative Power Will Work for You became best-sellers after Buddy Harrison, Hagin’s son-in-law, launched his publishing company—Harrison House—with the two titles.

Capps’ Concepts of Faith daily national radio broadcast and a weekly television broadcast aired on several networks, satellite and the Internet.

Capps is survived by his wife, Peggy, and daughters, Annette and Beverly.

Abingdon Press ‘honored by the support of our retail partners’

Abingdon Press author and pastor Adam Hamilton claimed five spots on the March CBA Top 50 best-sellers list. 

Hamilton’s award-winning The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus took the No. 10 spot, with Final Words From the Cross (No. 34); 24 Hours That Changed the World (No. 35); The Way: 40 Days of Reflection (No. 36); and Love to Stay: Sex, Grace and Commitment (No. 45) also making the list. 

“Our publishing house has always believed in and championed the writing and ministry of Adam Hamilton, and have enjoyed a long-standing history with him,” said Tamara Crabtree, executive director of marketing and sales at Abingdon Press. “We are honored by the support of our retail partners for Adam’s books and resources. Likewise, we are pleased to know that through our partnership with authors such as Adam, we are meeting the needs of customers for life-changing and application books and studies.”

The March CBA list reflects sales through Feb. 1 in Christian stores as reported through CROSS:SCAN.

Popular Scripture-based app inspires line of ‘life-changing resources’

Barbour Publishing announced an exclusive partnership with Back to the Bible on Feb. 6. Under the new agreement, negotiated by Greg Johnson of WordServe Literary Group, Barbour will work with Back to the Bible to launch the goTandem book imprint to provide quality nonfiction resources especially for churches.

These resources will complement the successful goTandem mobile app, which provides daily biblical encouragement, catered to individual needs. 

“We’re thrilled to be aligned with one of the most trusted ministries serving the church today,” said Barbour CEO Timothy Martins. “This unique opportunity to develop practical and life-changing resources with such a passionate and talented team is a privilege.”

The first book release is scheduled for November, with another 12 titles to follow in 2015. The goTandem imprint aims to provide churches with a solid and relevant selection of books that address the unique needs of congregations large and small.

The mission statement of Back to the Bible is to meet people where they are and help them connect with God through daily Bible engagement. It is this strategy that drives the launch of the new imprint, according to Arnie Cole, CEO of Back to the Bible.

“There are few publishers who can combine value with meeting high felt needs of readers, few who can distribute to a broad array of outlets with a sharp eye toward editorial and packaging,” Cole said. “Barbour’s history of creating Bible-oriented books makes them the perfect partner to work with churches to meet the ever-changing needs of local congregations.”

Titles from the new imprint will be distributed by Barbour to churches and bookstores.

Charisma House announced today the God Less America Retailer Contest, a unique opportunity for trade bookstores to win $5,000 in cash prizes upon the May release of Todd Starnes’ God Less America.

Participants must register for the contest and submit a photo of their in-store display of God Less America. Upon the determination of online votes for each photo, the winning store receives a cash prize. Two winning stores will receive $2,000 each, and the runner-up in each category will receive $500 each. See the official contest rules at godlessamericathebook.com/Contest.html.

Image Books is celebrating 60 years of publishing works by leading Catholic clergy and laity.

Founded in 1954 to provide quality religious titles to readers at an affordable price, Image has a rich history of publishing current and classic Catholic-interest authors, including Pope Francis, Pope Benedict XVI, Pope John Paul II, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop Charles Chaput, Father Robert Barron, Mother Angelica, Mother Teresa, John L. Allen Jr., Raymond Arroyo, Colleen Carroll Campbell, Bill Donohue, Scott Hahn, Ronald Rolheiser and Teresa Tomeo.