William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, an independent family-owned publisher since 1911, announced today that it has hired James Ernest as editor-in-chief. He will also join the board of directors as a vice president.

Ernest brings to Eerdmans more than two decades of experience in acquiring and editing academic books in biblical studies and related fields, most recently at Baker Publishing Group, where he was executive editor for Baker Academic and Brazos Press. He also worked previously at Hendrickson Publishers as acquisitions editor and associate editorial director and at H. W. Wilson Company. Ernest holds a doctorate from Boston College, a master’s degree from Boston University and a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

Despite closing all of its remaining brick-and-mortar stores in 2013, Cokesbury has remained dedicated to maintaining its retail presence through its online site, cokesbury.com, which has recently received an overhaul.

War Room, the highly anticipated fifth film from Alex and Stephen Kendrick (Fireproof, Courageous, Facing the Giants, Flywheel) will debut in theaters nationwide Aug. 28 from Sony Pictures Entertainment’s TriStar Pictures, distributor of Soul Surfer, Courageous and last summer’s faith-based hit Heaven Is For Real.

The film is accompanied by a suite of products releasing Aug. 1 from B&H Publishing Group, including a trade book by the Kendricks, who are New York Times best-selling authors, titled The Battle Plan for Prayer; a trade book titled Fervent by New York Times best-selling author Priscilla Shirer, who plays the female lead in the film; plus Bible study components, children’s books and other resources.

Two classic children's toys are being given a "faith lift" as Send The Light Distribution unveils special editions of the longtime favorites for the Christian market.

The Elizabethton, Tennessee-based distributor has announced exclusive partnerships for spiritually themed versions of Etch A Sketch and Toss Across.

Two-time GRAMMY Award-winning group Audio Adrenaline's latest album, Sound of the Saints (Fair Trade Services/Provident Distribution), debuted this week at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart. The album also enters the Billboard 200 at No. 69 for the week of May 23.

Produced by GRAMMY winner Seth Mosley (Jeremy Camp, for KING & COUNTRY) and Joshua Silverberg (Newsboys, Michael W. Smith), Sound of the Saints builds on the pop/rock foundation and lyrical themes which have hallmarked Audio Adrenaline’s repertoire for nearly three decades.

Integrity Music, the music publishing and recording arm of nonprofit global resource provider David C Cook, recently announced changes to its U.S. distribution operations.

Effective June 1, Integrity will distribute its own products through David C Cook’s current distribution platform, utilizing the 140-year-old organization’s Elgin, Illinois-based warehouse and the Integrity sales team reporting to Vice President of Sales Steve Nicolle.

Integrity already provides its own distribution within the United Kingdom through its Eastbourne (East Sussex) office and warehousing system, while also acting as the regional distributor for other non-Integrity artists including Amy Grant, Hillsong Music, Michael W. Smith and Chris Tomlin among others.

The label’s Canadian distribution is provided by the Paris, Ontario-based David C Cook Distribution Canada, that nation’s only Christian music distributor. All other distribution is coordinated through regional distributors and church/ministry partners around the globe, making Integrity’s music available in 160 nations.

Previously, Integrity’s products were distributed to U.S. Christian retail outlets through Provident Distribution and to U.S. mainstream outlets through Sony Music Distribution. 

“We have enjoyed a strong relationship with Provident and Sony for many years and are very thankful for their commitment. They have a great team of people,” said C. Ryan Dunham, president of Integrity Music. “Looking at the landscape of music channels of consumption, coupled with the fact that we already had distribution channels set up with Integrity Music accounts through our parent organization David C Cook, it only made sense to bring distribution operations in-house, using our own infrastructure … we believe this will help strengthen relationships with resellers and build additional services for our songwriters and artists within the U.S. and around the world.” 

Additionally, Integrity announces new staff appointments to its marketing, publishing and sales divisions, including the addition of Vice President of Marketing Greg Stielstra, a SESAC-represented songwriter and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience in the field of behavioral economics. Stielstra formerly served as a marketing executive with brand communications agency The Buntin Group and Christian publishers, Zondervan and Thomas Nelson. The author of the books PyroMarketing (HarperCollins) and Faith-Based Marketing (Wiley), Stielstra taught principles of marketing for Vanderbilt University and has addressed topics related to marketing and human behavior for SXSW, AdTech, TEDx, MIT and the Forbes CMO Summit.

Senior Manager of National (Radio) Promotions Dave Taylor and Song Marketing Manager Wisdom Moon also have joined the marketing department.

Taylor, who has been with Integrity for almost four years, moves from the role of production/operations manager to radio promotions, serving U.S. Christian radio stations and networks through promotion of Integrity's singles and artists.

Moon, who is a worship leader, songwriter and founder of the resource site allaboutworship.com, has been working with various Christian organizations and artists for the past seven years. As song marketing manager, he will promote Integrity’s song catalog to churches, worship leaders and ministries, working closely with Integrity’s resource partners including CCLI, PraiseCharts, MultiTracks, WorshipArtistry and more.  

Morgan Shirey, a recent graduate of Middle Tennessee State University, has joined Integrity’s publishing department as song publishing coordinator. In this new role, Shirey will support publishing operations by liaising with Integrity’s songwriters and production team and by assisting with the creation of song-related assets.

Stielstra, Taylor, Moon and Shirey will be based at Integrity’s Franklin, Tennessee, office.

Rick Thompson, former senior marketing manager for Integrity, will transition to his new role as senior sales manager and will be joined by newly hired Tele-Sales/Customer Service Representative Cody Wagner. Both Thompson and Wagner will be based at Integrity’s headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colorado, reporting to Steve Nicolle.

Tyndale House Publishers has announced the signing of a book deal with award-winning author Dr. Mary Manz Simon. Where Does Love Hide?, Simon's new full-color, lift-the-flap book, will release in spring 2016.

Tyndale Acquisitions Director Linda Howard notes that “Where Does Love Hide? makes use of beautiful imagery and easy-to-remember Bible verses, teaching children that love can be shown to friends and family in many different ways.”