Helping Christians deal with life’s challenges is the theme of Brian Zahnd’s new book, Qué hacer en el peor día de su vida (What to Do on the Worst Day of Your Life, 978-1-599-79560-7, $8.99).

Casa Creación, under Strang Grupo Hispano, released the book March 10, a week after Strang Book Group’s Christian Life imprint launched the English version.

A historical novel written by a relatively unknown author in Uruguay has been published by Grupo Nelson, Thomas Nelson’s Spanish division, after winning the company’s first Christian fiction writing contest.

Columnas de humo: Un peregrinaje a la esperanza by Álvaro Pandiani Figallo (columns of smoke: a pilgrimage to hope, 978-1-602-55291-3, $18.99), which released March 10, is set in 1857 when a yellow fever epidemic swept through Montevideo, Uruguay—the author’s home city.

Despite having recorded nearly 20 albums, the Newsboys are not finished yet. The 6 million unit-selling band is back with In the Hands of God (8-04147-14542-2, Inpop Records/EMI CMG), which releases May 5.

The group has gone through various lineups since its formation in the mid-1980s, and its latest offering will please longtime fans of its signature sound. Lead singer Peter Furler called the album an autobiographical record of God’s providence in 20-plus years of making music.

Produced by Max Hsu (Superchick, Toby Mac), along with production assistance from Furler and the Newsboys’ Jeff Frankenstein, the album includes 10 tracks and some guest background vocals by Michael Tait of dcTalk and Jamie Rowe of Guardian.

The title track—and the first single released to radio—has already charted and was initially in the top 10 on iTunes’ Christian songs chart.

“ ‘In the Hands of God’ is a song that needs to be heard in times like these, and the success the song is seeing at radio and digitally sets a great precedent for the record,” said Shara Katerberg, director of marketing for Inpop Records. “Given the current state of our economy, everyone is dealing with hardship, and In the Hands of God is an album that reminds us that God was, is and will always be in control.”

The band is currently promoting the release on its 35-city “Join the Tribe” North American tour that runs through the end of April.

To order In the Hands of God, click here or call 800-877-4443.

Jars of Clay follows up its critically acclaimed 2006 album Good Monsters and its excellent 2007 effort, Christmas Songs, with The Long Fall Back to Earth, releasing April 21.

The GRAMMY- and Dove Award-winning band said the title of the album is not an admission these songs won’t measure up to its recent portfolio, but rather refers to the interpersonal issues the new recording addresses.

Christian apparel just got a lot cooler, with the help of a company that offers designer blue jeans with a positive message.

316 Jeans was established in 2007 by Justin Jenkins as a way to subtly show his faith and has already become known for its attention to detail, from the high-quality denim to the lasered scripture details.

With a background in the motorcycle industry selling Christian products like helmets and stickers, Jenkins didn’t set out to start an apparel company. But he noticed that while there were many Christian apparel companies offering T-shirts, no one was selling anything for the bottom half of the body.

Children’s brand The Gerkins is expanding its product line in the baby/children’s category.

The Gerkins, little pickle seeds who live in Gerkin Hollow and share some of the important lessons of life through the eyes of children, has debuted a new infant/toddler division called “Baby Gerkins.”

The Gerkins is a brand of children’s books, and BabyGerkins.com is the educational Web site that is home to the books and “Baby Gerkins” clothing line.