Suspense novelist Robin Parrish is writing a novelization for the upcoming film, Persecuted, to be released alongside the movie in Spring 2014. Persecuted: I Will Not Be Silent (Bethany House/Baker Publishing Group) is based on the upcoming political thriller starring James Remar, Bruce Davison, Dean Stockwell and Fred Thompson, and explores the topics of government scandal, corruption and religious persecution.

Persecuted is the story of a modern-day evangelist named John Luther—the last holdout for a national endorsement to make sweeping reform in freedom of speech. As the government is mandating political correctness while covertly waging a war against religious organizations, a U.S. senator and his political allies create a sinister plan of denial and scandal to frame John Luther for murder. Luther’s quest to clear his name brings him face-to-face with the coming storm of persecution that will threaten the moral ethics and freedoms of America.

Focus on the Family and Tyndale House have released a new Radio Theatre production, C.S. Lewis at War, that takes listeners behind-the-scenes to the events and settings that laid the foundation for C.S. Lewis’ seminal work, Mere Christianity.

Mere Christianity, one of the most influential Christian books of the twentieth century, was created as a series of British radio broadcasts in a time of great conflict and adversity—the darkest days of World War II.

CBS Sports has picked up the title track from GRAMMY-nominated and platinum-selling rockers Skillet’s latest album RISE (Atlantic/Word) as the theme song for a series of new promos. For the next six months “Rise” will be featured in regular custom spots among college hockey promotions on CBS and the CBS Sports Network.

Logos Bible Software has tapped Greg Monette to serve as the company’s ambassador in Canada. A native of Nova Scotia, Monette will help Canadian churches and ministry groups learn how to best use Logos Bible Software, Proclaim Church Presentation Software, the Faithlife Study Bible and related products to further biblical engagement.

“Outside the U.S., Canada is our largest customer base,” said Bob Pritchett, Logos’ president and CEO. “Greg Monette understands the church in Canada and will be able to represent us in person more often, helping us better serve our users there.”

LifeWay President and CEO Thom Rainer apologized for a LifeWay Vacation Bible School program that has been criticized for being offensive to Asian-Americans. Rainer’s apology at the Mosaix conference in Long Beach, Calif., on Nov. 6, addressed the controversy surrounding the “Far Out Rickshaw Rally: Racing to the Son” VBS program, which was derided by critics upon its release a decade ago as promoting racial stereotypes.

“Ten years ago LifeWay’s Vacation Bible School material used racial stereotypes that offended many in the Asian-American community,” Rainer said in a video apology played at the gathering of more than 1,000 multiethnic church leaders. “I wasn’t part of LifeWay then, but I am now. And I’ve recently learned that decade-old offense is still a point of hurt for some.”

B&H Kids will release The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook on November 15 in an attempt to engage the tech-savvy younger generation in innovative ways.

The book features 146 stories and full-color illustrations that interact with a free Augmented Reality app that is available for download from the Apple or Android app stores. When scanned with the app, each image digitally “pops up” and an audio narration about the story is played. Also included are 18 QR codes within the book that connect readers to Bible Story videos.

To mark its 30th year in book publishing, Brewster, Mass.-based Paraclete Press has announced several new initiatives that aim to position itself for a more global reach and impact in the coming decade. Each is an outgrowth of the mission of the publishing house as an outreach of the Community of Jesus in nearby Orleans, Mass.

First, Paraclete will be launching a new imprint, Mount Tabor Books, which will focus entirely on liturgical worship, art and art history, ecumenism and the first millennium church. The first Mount Tabor titles will be published in late 2014 and will carry the dual geographical notice of Brewster, Mass. and Barga, Italy, signaling the expansion of Paraclete Press to Europe.