Philosopher was ‘one of the great reformers of Christian thought’

Dallas Willard, philosopher, professor and best-selling author of the spiritual formation classic The Divine Conspiracy (HarperOne), died of cancer May 8. He was 77.

Willard was “one of the great reformers of Christian thought of the past century,” and “his most powerful lessons were in how he lived an unhurried life with God,” said Gary Moon, director of the Dallas Willard Center for Spiritual Formation at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, Calif. 

The Divine Conspiracy was Christianity Today’s Book of the Year for 1999. Additionally, Willard’s Renovation of the Heart (NavPress) won Christianity Today’s 2003 Book Award for Spirituality and the Association of Logos Bookstores’ 2003 Book Award for Christian Living. His other books included Hearing God and A Place for Truth (both InterVarsity Press) and The Spirit of the Disciplines (HarperOne). 

Willard had taught philosophy at the University of Southern California since 1965, and headed the department from 1982 to 1985.

He believed passivity was a widespread problem in the church, and his greatest goal was to make true disciples of Jesus. His writing focused on spiritual formation, not merely behavioral modification.

“Dallas thought about his faith, and he talked about his faith, but, most importantly, he talked about Jesus, whom he called the ‘smartest man who ever lived,’ “ said InterVarsity Press (IVP) Publisher Bob Fryling. “I am deeply indebted to Dallas for his winsome example and rich teaching on how to be a spiritual person as a disciple of Jesus Christ.”

Cindy Bunch, IVP’s associate editorial director, added: “[Author] James Bryan Smith has shared with me of how Dallas would encourage him not to reference him so much, saying, ‘If it was any good, it did not come from me, but from the Holy Spirit, so consider it public domain.’ ” 

HarperOne Senior Vice President and Publisher Mark Tauber said Willard “was a busy guy and a guy who knew how to preserve his own space to think and just be, so we said no a fair amount [to speaking],” Tauber said.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jane; two children, John and Becky; and a granddaughter.

Apologist had ‘bold yet loving approach to discern and deliver the truth’ 

Dave Hunt, an apologist, best-selling author, speaker and radio commentator, died April 5 with his wife, Ruth, at his side. He was 87.

Noted for his research on cults, the occult and New Age doctrines, which began creeping into the church during the 1980s, Hunt was renowned for his controversial 1985 best-seller, The Seduction of Christianity (Harvest House Publishers), which he co-authored with T.A. McMahon. 

A prolific author of more than 40 books with at least 4 million copies sold, many translated into 50 languages, Hunt’s other titles include Yoga and the Body of Christ (The Berean Call); A Woman Rides the Beast (Harvest House Publishers); and Debating Calvinism: Five Points, Two Views (Multnomah Publishers). Hunt founded The Berean Call, an apologetics ministry, in 1992.

He also wrote two novels: The Mind Invaders (formerly The Archon Conspiracy, The Berean Call) and Sanctuary of the Chosen (Harvest House). Additionally, Hunt wrote a children’s book, The Money Tree (Harvest House), with his daughter Karen. His videos include Israel, Islam & Armageddon and A Woman Rides the Beast. Hunt also hosted two radio program, “Search the Scriptures Daily” and “According to God’s Word.”

Hunt had 29 titles published by Harvest House, with total sales of more than 2.5 million copies, company officials said.

“Dave’s bold yet loving approach to discern and then deliver the truth is evident in everything he did,” The Berean Call website said. “His love for Jesus, for Israel and for people in general was obvious to all. His enthusiasm for the truth, along with his anger over the sin and wickedness that he knew was robbing people of what God wanted for them, flamed his desire to share the Lord with anyone with whom he had contact.” 

Hunt is survived by his wife of 63 years. A private burial service was held, and Hunt will remembered during the summer Bible conference of The Berean Call on Aug. 23-24 in Bend, Ore. 

Amy Grant's first full studio project in 10 years debuted at No. 1 on Christian SoundScan and No. 12 on the Billboard 200 for the week of June 1.

Her 18th studio album, How Mercy Looks From Here (Sparrow Records/Capitol Christian Distribution), has sold more than 26,000 units since its May 14 release.

Grant "has delivered a beautiful record of compelling songs that document her life experiences over the past decade since her last studio record," said Capitol Christian Music Group President Peter York. "It's an authentic album of songs she's written that allow the listener to peer deeply into her heart and connect emotionally with her journey."

How Mercy Looks From Here, which features James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Will Hoge, Carole King, Eric Paslay and Grant's husband, Vince Gill, has won praise and national media attention.

Grant, a six-time GRAMMY winner, is scheduled to appear June 20 on The View and July 19 on The Chew, both on ABC.

To read our Meet the Artist conversation with Grant from the May issue of Christian Retailing, visit https://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/product-news/197-meet-the-artist/25504-meet-the-artist-amy-grant.

GRAMMY-winning and multi-Platinum recording artist Chris Tomlin recently completed the most successful tour of his 13 year career.

Tomlin's Burning Lights Tour, which saw a 53% increase in average show attendance above his 2011-2012 tour, included sell-out shows in New York City, Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago, according to organizers. Additionally, shows in Houston, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh and Seattle saw more than 10,000 tickets sold at each venue.

The tour's final stop, a sell-out show at the Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver on May 4, was filmed for Tomlin's first live DVD project. The two-disc Burning Lights Deluxe Tour Edition is due in October and will also include the Burning Lights CD (both sixstepsrecords/Capitol Christian Distribution).

In January, Tomlin's latest album landed on the top spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart, with more than 72,000 units sold. It marked only the fourth time ever that a Christian album hit No.1 on the main U.S. album chart, but the second time since September when TobyMac's Eye On It (ForeFront Records/Capitol Christian) also debuted on the top spot.

Tomlin has announced the continuation of the Burning Lights Tour this fall, which will hit 21 cities across the country beginning Oct. 3. It will again feature Passion founder and pastor Louie Giglio.

Visit www.ChrisTomlin.com/tour for more information on the tour.

To read our interview with Tomlin about Burning Lights, visit https://www.christianretailing.com/index.php/product-news/197-meet-the-artist/25099-meet-the-artist-chris-tomlin.

Crossway has made an urgent last-minute appeal for financial support in the wake of the company suffering extensive damage from flooding last month.

In a video, Lane Dennis, president and CEO of Crossway, asked donors to help raise $360,000 by the end of the company's fiscal year, May 31, for "priority projects."

Crossway's offices in Wheaton, Ill., incurred substantial flooding, forcing closures April 17-18. About 2 feet of water poured into the publisher's 32 first-floor offices, and repairs and rebuilding are expected to take four to six months, he said.

"I would deeply grateful if you consider making a generous gift at this critical moment," Dennis said in the video posted on Crossway's website. "Our goal is to raise by $360,000 by May 31. I know this is a pretty big goal, but I'm confident that the Lord can help us reach this goal with your help if the Lord should lead you in this way."

He added that the financial assistance will pay for three areas: damage not covered by insurance; installation of new safeguards to flood-proof Crossway's building; and "crucial Bible ministry projects."

"Your support will make it possible especially for us to continue moving forward with the following priority projects: translation costs for the ESV Chinese Study Bible, to be published in mainland China; printing costs for 60,000 copies of the Chinese-English ESV bilingual Bible, also for publication and distribution in mainland China; completion and global distribution of the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible this fall; development of the "Knowing the Bible" studies, to be offered free digitally worldwide," said Dennis, who previously sent a similar appeal to supporters via email.

"Your willingness to stand with us today will help Crossway recover and carry forward our not-for-profit ministry, and our strategic efforts to reach the world with the gospel and the truth of God's Word."

Visit www.crossway.org/group/support to watch the Crossway video.

A former Cokesbury store in North Carolina was acquired by the Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center and re-opened with a new name earlier this month. Terms of the acquisition were not released.

Located in Lake Junaluska, N.C., the Lake Junaluska Bookstore and Cafe will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 5.

"We offer a full slate of organic and fair trade coffees, fresh lemonade, tea, pastries, books, gifts and more," said Craig Bishop, director of retail sales at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. "We will also host book signings by local and international authors. Two are already on the calendar."

The store features "products with a purpose" such as scarves and swing purses made in India, and cards made from recycled paper by Filipino girls and Rwandans, who receive a portion of the profits.

"We offer fair trade items as well as local products made by local artists," said Bishop, noting that locally made items include pottery, carved wooden items and jewelry.

"I think the atmosphere, with the uniqueness of the coffee bar and gift shop, is a good balance and combination," he said. "We're not totally dependent on books. We are here for the community and our conference guests as well." 

The United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH), Cokesbury's parent company, closed all of the historic chain's 57 stores April 30. The UMPH board of directors announced the move in November, deciding that the CokesburyNext retail division will sell through www.Cokesbury.com, the Cokesbury Call Center and through its more than 40 sales representatives, as well as conferences, meetings and church events.

Visit www.lakejunaluska.com/bookstore for more information.

Munce Group has expanded and improved its summer reading program thanks to the marketing group's partnership with Christian Authors Network (CAN).

"Maintaining and developing long-term readers and book buyers is critical to the success of independent Christian retailers," said Munce Group President Kirk Blank. "We are excited to incorporate the creativity, knowledge and passion of the Christian Authors Network into the Munce Group's Summer Reading program."

The program, which runs through July 31, encourages customers to visit one of the 115 participating Munce stores for prizes, coupons, in-store readings and book clubs.

Parents can buy a book, then receive a reading form with coupon from the store. After reading the book, children must write a brief report on what they've read and bring in the completed form for a prize and a coupon for $5 off the purchase of $25 or more.

Available resources for the program include a summer reading article by authors Ava Pennington and Karen Whiting plus daily devotional blogs by CAN authors at mtlmagazine.com.

Bridgestone Multimedia Group, Scripture Candy, Lighthouse Christian Products, Abingdon Press and Big Idea provided giveaway prizes for the children, and the program also includes in-store readings and activity sheets provided by CAN authors. Stores will also offer group mission activities to encourage world literacy.

Munce Group formed a partnership in June 2012 with CAN, a marketing co-op with more than 100 members, which seeks to educate authors and promote their books. Munce serves nearly 500 stores nationwide.