Though LifeWay’s initial goal was to donate 100,000 Bibles to individuals in South Asia, the project has been enormously successful, with the company’s website reporting that more than 138,000 Bibles were purchased by customers through Nov. 16.

LifeWay, B&H Publishing Group and the International Mission Board have joined forces on The Thomas Project, an initiative geared toward printing and distributing Bibles to people in South Asia, many of whom do not have access to the Scriptures in their native Hindi language.

Author Patricia “Diann” Hunt died Nov. 29 following a long battle with cancer. She was 58.

Diann Hunt was the author of 25 books. A Hallmark Channel film adaptation of her novel For Better or For Worse (Thomas Nelson) will air July 12, 2014.

Total spending from Thanksgiving weekend is estimated at $57.4 billion, which is 2.8% less than last year’s $59.1 billion, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation. This marks the first decline in Black Friday weekend spending since 2009.

Black Friday was the biggest shopping day of the Thanksgiving weekend, as more than 92 million people shopped (65.2%) for apparel, electronics and other popular items, up from nearly 89 million last year. The NRF survey reported that more than 141 million unique shoppers hit stores during the four-day weekend, up from 139 million during the same time frame last year.

Paul Crouch, founder and president of the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world's largest Christian television network, died Nov. 30, at 79. Crouch battled degenerative heart disease for more than a decade.

Crouch and his wife, Jan, founded TBN in 1973 with one small low-power station in Southern California. Under his leadership of more than 40 years, TBN has grown into 26 global networks and affiliates, reaching every inhabited continent.

Pastor William McDowell’s album Withholding Nothing (Delivery Room/eOne Music) debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Christian and Gospel Top Albums chart after its release on Nov. 5.  Withholding Nothing has also hit No. 1 on the Current Gospel Overall chart, No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart and No. 28 on Billboard’s Top 200.

Withholding Nothing, a CD/DVD combination release, records the sounds of 2,000 people immersed in worship.  Throughout the two-hour long DVD, McDowell—who is also lead pastor at Orlando, Fla.’s Deeper Fellowship Church—introduces new worship anthems and songs of praise for today’s church.

Devin Maddox has been promoted to publisher of leadership books for B&H Publishing Group. Maddox previously served as B&H’s associate publisher for strategic partners.

“I am so thankful to the Lord for the incredible combination of gifts and experience that He has developed in Devin to make him a crucial member of the B&H Trade Books team,” said Selma Wilson, president of B&H.

Matthew West was awarded the American Music Award for Best Contemporary Inspirational Artist on Nov. 25 at Los Angeles’ Nokia Theatre, the American Music Awards (AMA) are determined by the fans through online voting.

“What an honor to receive the AMA award this year!” West said. “The fact that this is a fan-voted award makes it even more meaningful, and I'm grateful for all of the people who have made my songs part of their lives.”