Tag: Stan Gundry

(Grand Rapids, Mich.) October 7, 2022 — Today, Zondervan announced the promotion of Katya Covrett to vice president, publisher for the publishing group’s academic imprint, Zondervan Academic. Covrett, who has been serving the imprint as associate publisher for the past year, will lead the acquisition, editorial development, and overall title strategy moving forward.

Covrett has more than 20 years of editorial experience at Zondervan, specifically focusing on academic, ministry, and reference books. Throughout her tenure, Covrett has been part of the editorial team responsible for works including The Story of God Bible Commentary series edited by Tremper Longman III and Scot McKnight, The New Testament in Its World by N. T. Wright and Michael F. Bird, and The Mission of God’s People by Christopher J. H. Wright. Her institutional pedigree includes a Bachelor of Arts in English linguistics from Khabarovsk State Pedagogical University, a Master of Theological Studies from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in systematic theology and biblical studies and she is now a PhD candidate in the New Testament at the University of Aberdeen.  

“Katya has already proven herself in all areas of the publishing industry and she is greatly appreciated by her colleagues and the authors she works with,” commented Stan Gundry, senior v-p, Group Publisher, and Zondervan editor-in-chief. “She brings extensive publishing experience, impressive academic credentials, and a passion for her work. I look forward to seeing the ways Zondervan Academic develops under her leadership.”  

Covrett remarked, “I am thankful to the company’s leadership for the recognition of the work I have invested in our academic program over the past twenty years. I feel a deep personal resonance with the mission of Zondervan Academic—to reflect the breadth, both theological and global, of the great Christian tradition and the diversity of the worldwide Body of Christ. In this new role, I look forward to continued partnership with the scholarly community, with my authors and my colleagues to create excellent books in service of the academy and the church worldwide.”  

To learn more about Zondervan Academic, visit www.zondervan.com/zondervanacademic/.  

Zondervan 

Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is based in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Media Contact:

Casey Harrell

Vice President, Corporate Communications 

[email protected]

(Nashville, Tenn.) November 1, 2021—Today, HarperCollins Christian Publishing announced Ryan Pazdur’s promotion to v-p and publisher for Zondervan Reflective and Study Resources. In this role, Pazdur will lead and manage the publishing programs for both product groups, including the acquisition, editorial development, and overall title strategy.

Pazdur joined Zondervan 13 years ago and has spent the past 10 years serving as associate publisher and executive editor. Pazdur began his tenure at the company acquiring and editing church, ministry, and academic books, and in 2019 helped lead the launch of the Zondervan Reflective imprint. Prior to this he spent 11 years as a pastor, while also working as a freelance editor. As associate publisher, Pazdur worked on New York Times bestseller The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby, as well as with award-winning authors Timothy Keller and Pete Scazzero. He has also developed and shepherded publishing partnerships with the Exponential Network, The Gospel Coalition, Saddleback, North Point Ministries, and Seedbed Publishing. Pazdur earned a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and Bachelor of Science in engineering from Hope College, a Master of Divinity from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Master of Theology in systematic theology from Calvin Theological Seminary.

“Ryan’s education, pastoral experience, and editorial expertise have prepared him well to take on the publishing leadership of Zondervan Reflective and Study Resources,” commented Stan Gundry, senior v-p, Group Publisher, and Zondervan editor-in-chief. “Ryan has not only acquired and edited bestsellers but has been the driving force in launching and guiding the Zondervan Reflective imprint. I have full confidence in his ability to lead this capable team.”

Pazdur remarked, “I’m grateful every day for the work I do—partnering with our authors and our amazing team to bring timely and significant content to our readers. I’m excited to step into this new role and continue serving our authors and readers by publishing books that encourage, challenge, and stretch their thinking while helping them better engage God’s Word in everyday life.”

To learn more about Zondervan Reflective, visit zondervan.com/zondervanreflective.

Grand Rapids, Mich. (November 6, 2020)– Zondervan today announced Matt Estel’s promotion to senior editor for Zondervan Academic and Zondervan Reflective, both nonfiction imprints for Zondervan.

Estel joined Zondervan in January 2017 as a production editor, focusing on books in biblical and theological studies, including the award winning two-volume Justification by Michael Horton; Jemar Tisby’s New York Times best-seller, The Color of Compromise; and Tisby’s forthcoming How to Fight Racism (on sale January 2021). He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and in May 2019 completed his PhD in systematic theology at Calvin Theological Seminary.

As senior editor, Matt will continue to work in production editing, while also acquiring and shaping new projects related to theology, the branches of philosophy of religion, and church history.

“Matt is a versatile, productive, accurate, and knowledgeable editor,” commented Stan Gundry, senior v-p, publisher, and Zondervan editor-in-chief. “He improves the manuscripts he edits while preserving the author’s voice, and he has a sharp eye for spotting potential problems related to biblical interpretation and theological nuances. I look forward to great things from Matt in his expanded role.”

Zondervan

Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different  genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is based in Grand Rapids, MI.  For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Chelsea Taff, Assistant Manager

               Corporate Communications

               tel:   615.902.2137

               web: [email protected]

Grand, Rapids, Mich. (Sept. 14, 2020)— Zondervan Reflective, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, today announced The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism by Jemar Tisby has sold more than 100,000 copies in print, audio and digital formats.

“We are so pleased that The Color of Compromise has reached this milestone. We are proud to be Jemar’s publisher and thankful that his message is resonating with readers at this crucial moment in American history,” said Stan Gundry, senior vice president and publisher of Zondervan Academic and Reflective. “It is our hope that Jemar’s words will change the hearts and minds of everyone they touch.”

In The Color of Compromise, Tisby surveys America’s racial past, from early colonial days through slavery and the Civil War, Jim Crow laws and the Civil Rights era, to the Black Lives Matter movement, uncovering the roots of sustained injustice. He exposes the concrete and chilling ways people of faith have actively worked against racial justice, and the deafening silence or overt opposition of the white evangelical majority. Tisby also charts a path forward with intriguing ideas that challenge readers to reverse these patterns and systems of complicity with bold, courageous, and immediate action.

“I’m feeling a mix of emotions,” said Tisby, who is co-founder and  president of  The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, and a Ph.D candidate in history at the University of Mississippi. “Hitting this milestone is great news. But at the same time, knowing what it took to get here and what sparked this renewed interest in the topic of racial justice is sobering.”

Nearly 18 months after its release, The Color of Compromise landed on the New York Times Best Seller list in June 2020, in the Paperback Nonfiction category where it remained for three weeks. It also appeared on the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists and is a Library Journal’s Best Books and The Englewood Review Book of the Year 2019 winner.

In his next book, How to Fight Racism: Courageous Christianity and the Journey Toward Racial Justice, Tisby enables readers to become proactive initiators of racial justice by offering an array of actionable items to confront racism in everyday life. Far more than a simple list of items to do, it also provides a simple framework to help readers consistently interrogate their own actions and maintain a posture of anti-racist action. How to Fight Racism releases in January 2021.

About the Author:

Jemar Tisby (BA, University of Notre Dame; MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is president of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, where he writes about race, religion, politics, and culture and cohosts the Pass The Mic podcast. His writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, and CNN. His latest piece for The Atlantic is “The Familial Language of Black Grief.” Tisby is a PhD candidate in history at the University of Mississippi with a focus on race, religion, and social movements in the twentieth century.  

About Zondervan:

Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich.  For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:  Amy Bigler

                 Senior Manager of Publicity

                 [email protected]

Long-time Zondervan senior v-p and publisher receives industry’s top honor

Nashville, Tenn. (February 24, 2020) — HarperCollins Christian Publishing (HCCP) congratulates senior v-p, publisher, and Zondervan editor-in-chief, Stan Gundry, for being recognized as this year’s recipient of the Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award from the Evangelical Christian Publisher’s Association (ECPA), announced on  February 17, 2020. The award will be presented at the ECPA Leadership Summit on May 5, 2020 in Nashville, Tenn.

Recognized for his forty-year dedication to the Christian publishing industry as both a publisher and author of seven published works, Gundry’s name is synonymous with the Zondervan publishing program. Gundry joined Zondervan in 1980 to develop the Zondervan Academic publishing program, today one of the most highly recognized and world-renowned Christian theological imprints used in colleges, universities, and seminaries across the globe. Throughout his tenure, Gundry has acquired many leading Christian academic scholars including Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology), Tremper Longman (Introduction to the Old Testament), D. A. Carson and Douglas Moo, (Introduction to the New Testament), Moises Silva (New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology and Exegesis), Willem VanGemeren (New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis), William Mounce (Basics of Biblical Greek), Daniel Wallace (Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics), and John R. Kohlenberger and Edward W. Goodrick (The NIV Exhaustive Concordance). Gundry also acquired numerous bestselling trade books including New York Times bestselling authors Rick Warren (The Purpose Driven Life) and Ben Carson (Gifted Hands).

Gundry consistently brings biblical and theological focus to the Zondervan brand, as well as vision to keep pace with technological changes in publishing. Under his leadership, the Zondervan Academic team has pioneered new developments in online education, becoming an industry-leader with nearly 100 online courses and streaming video studies now available.  Over the past two years, Gundry has steered the development and launch of Zondervan Reflective, a new trade imprint specializing in books for thoughtful readers on topics related to leadership, ministry, and the intersection of faith and culture. It is home to authors including Andy Stanley (Deep & Wide), Jemar Tisby (The Color of Compromise), and Nabeel Qureshi (Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus).   

Although Zondervan plucked Gundry out of academia forty years ago, he continues to impact the next generation of biblical scholars as an adjunct professor of historical and systematic theology at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary.

“Stan Gundry is a pillar in the Christian publishing world,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HCCP. “He has dedicated his life to our mission to inspire the world by meeting the needs of people with content that promotes biblical principles and honors Jesus Christ, and because of his dedication to his craft millions of lives have been introduced to or impacted by God’s Word. We are thrilled to see him receive this well-deserved honor.”

“I never planned or expected to go into publishing. At age 40 I had completed my formal education and was happily settled in as a college and seminary professor of theology,” said Gundry. “I expected that I would spend the rest of my career teaching, while occasionally doing a bit of editing and writing of my own. However, unbeknownst to me but providentially, everything in my background was leading toward and preparing me for something else – publishing. I am so honored that the ECPA has bestowed on me, the ‘accidental publisher,’ this prestigious recognition.”

The Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a leader from within the Christian publishing profession whose lifetime of achievement goes above and beyond: leading with exemplary Christian character, initiating innovative programs and products, and contributing to the mission and advancement of the Christian publishing industry. ECPA has presented Lifetime Achievement Awards since 1981 to those who have significantly impacted the industry.  Recipients listed at ECPA.org/page/lifetime.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world’s leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., comprises the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups, Olive Tree Bible Software, BibleGateway.com, FaithGateway.com and ChurchSource.com.  The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space.   Bible Gateway is the world’s largest Christian website with more than 20 million unique monthly visitors. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in the U.S. and Mexico.  For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.   

Justification by Michael Horton named Theology/Ethics Book of the Year

(Nashville, Tenn.) December 12, 2019—Zondervan is honored to have four books recognized in the 2020 Christianity Today Book Awards, which were announced on December 10. Annually, Christianity Today chooses books in twelve main categories that are “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.” 

The following Zondervan titles were recognized:

• Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World by Paul M. Gould – Award of Merit (Apologetics/Evangelism) Zondervan Academic
• One Big Heart: A Celebration of Being More Alike Than Different by Linsey Davis – Award of Merit (Children and Youth) Zonderkidz
• Spirit and Sacrament: An Invitation to Eucharismatic Worship by Andrew Wilson – Award of Merit (The Church/Pastoral Leadership) Zondervan Reflective
• Justification (2 vols.) by Michael Horton – Book of the Year – (Theology/Ethics) Zondervan Academic

“Given the criteria by which Christianity Today selects books for recognition, that three books from the Zondervan Academic and Zondervan Reflective imprints were given either Book of the Year or the Award of Merit recognition testifies to the wisdom and success of our commitment to publish well-researched and well-written works that model irenic discussion, represent a variety of viewpoints, and yet stay within the boundaries of our commitments to the historic doctrines of orthodox Christianity and biblical authority,” said Stan Gundry, senior v-p, Zondervan Academic and Zondervan Reflective publisher. “I would be remiss if I did not also give credit to our authors who earned this recognition—Michael Horton, Andrew Wilson, and Paul Gould.”

“We are delighted for this recognition of Linsey Davis’ One Big Heart, with the big message for children that God’s love connects all of us and makes us more alike than different,” said Laura Minchew, senior v-p, Children’s and Gift Group publisher.

To read the full 2020 Book of the Year Awards announcement from Christianity Today, please click here.

***

Zondervan is a world-leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications. Zondervan, as part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, MI. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact:

Chelsea Taff, Assistant Manager

Corporate Communications

tel:   615.902.2137

web: [email protected]

Zondervan Academic providing dozens of academic resources, including online courses, to support efficient and accurate Bible translation work around the world

Grand Rapids, Mich., March 8, 2018 — Zondervan Academic is pleased to announce their support of SIL International®, a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to serving language communities worldwide. Zondervan Academic is providing to SIL some of the world’s top biblical resources to support efficient and accurate Bible translation work around the world.

SIL has developed Translator’s Workplace, a product built on the Logos Bible Software platform, so that those in a Bible translation role who are part of a private, managed group can access resources to aid their translation efforts. Translator’s Workplace acts like a library with unlimited loaning and loan periods. Zondervan Academic, which already distributes many of its titles digitally through Logos, has granted permission to Logos to provide a large library of its scholarly digital content without charge to users of SIL’s Translator’s Workplace.

Zondervan Academic and BibleMesh also are making available at a significant discount many Zondervan Academic Online Courses to SIL and the community of Bible translators and consultants it serves. The courses include Old Testament and New Testament Surveys and Basics of Biblical Greek, Hebrew, Ugaritic, Aramaic, and Syriac. Zondervan Academic Online Courses are adapted from award-winning Zondervan Academic textbooks, feature professionally filmed video lectures, and can be used by professors in the classroom, or by individual learners.

“One of our current initiatives is to foster greater understanding of biblical languages among translators and consultants,” says Paul O’Rear, SIL associate international translation coordinator. “We are grateful to Zondervan for their ministry-minded heart and support of Bible translation. Their books and online courses will be of tremendous value to translation consultants and consultants-in-training worldwide.”

“Our aim as a publisher is to support the academy and the church, and I am so pleased that we are able to bring these aims together in providing these resources to the worldwide church through the services of SIL International,” says Stan Gundry, SVP and publisher, Zondervan.

Zondervan Academic titles provided to SIL include:

• Africa Bible Commentary
• Expositor’s Bible Commentary
• Halley’s Bible Handbook
• NIV Zondervan Study Bible
• South Asia Bible Commentary
• Word Biblical Commentary Series
• Zondervan Atlas of the Bible
• Zondervan Biblical Languages Collection
• Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible
• Zondervan Exegetical Commentary
• Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
• Zondervan Reference Collection

To learn more about SIL International and to support their translation efforts, visit www.sil.org/translation.

Contact:     Trinity McFadden

Senior Manager of Publicity

tel:   616-698-3514

web: [email protected]

About SIL International®: SIL is a faith-based nonprofit organization committed to serving language communities worldwide through research, translation, training and materials development. SIL works alongside ethnolinguistic communities and partners in nearly 100 countries to harness the power of language to address challenges communities face—social, cultural, political, economic and spiritual. SIL staff serve as researchers, trainers, literacy consultants and translation advisors; more than 1000 SIL staff hold advanced degrees. SIL has been an official NGO partner with UNESCO since 1993 and has had special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1997. Learn more at www.sil.org.

About Zondervan Academic: Zondervan Academic, a division of Zondervan and HarperCollins Christian Publishing, has provided scholarly works for teachers and students of the Word since 1931. Zondervan Academic is privileged to partner with the scholarly community in providing Christ-honoring resources in service of the academy and the church worldwide. Together, they produce academic works in various areas of biblical-theological studies that exhibit faithfulness to historic Christian faith, cultural relevance, and excellence. Their biblical and theological books are used in academic institutions, churches, and personal studies worldwide. As a broker of ideas, the Zondervan Academic publishing program seeks to reflect the breadth and diversity—both theological and global—within evangelical scholarship while maintaining their commitment to the heart of orthodox Christianity. To learn more, visit www.ZondervanAcademic.com.

About Zondervan: Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.

The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism to release January 2019

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 14, 2018 — Jemar Tisby, president and co-founder of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, has signed on to publish his first book, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the American Church’s Complicity in Racism, with Zondervan in January 2019.

Tisby will reveal the chilling connection between the church and racism throughout American history. He will survey the many ways Christians have reinforced theories of racial superiority and inferiority, and he will provide motivation for readers to take a series of bold actions—which must be performed to forge a future of equity and justice.

Tisby has written about race, religion, and culture for The Washington Post, CNN, Vox, Christianity Today and The New York Times. He is the co-host of the Pass The Mic podcast, which is frequently rated as one of the top 100 religion and faith podcasts on iTunes.

Tisby is a PhD student in history at the University of Mississippi, studying race and religion in the 20th century, and he has spoken to thousands at colleges, conferences, and churches across the country on such topics as “Understanding the Heart Cry of Black Lives Matter,” “The Historical Politics of Race in America,” and “The Image of God and the Minority Experience.” In 2017, the Religion News Association recognized him for excellence in student religion reporting for his articles on the police-related killings of unarmed black citizens.

“I could not be more pleased to have Jemar publishing with Zondervan,” says Stanley N. Gundry, SVP and publisher, Zondervan. “For the last 35 years I have been committed to giving a publishing platform to African-American Christian leaders. Jemar’s voice and expertise is a welcome addition to this publishing program, and the message of this, his debut book, is urgently needed at this moment in our nation.”

The Color of Compromise was acquired for publication by Zondervan’s team responsible for Reflective books. Tisby is represented by Erik S. Wolgemuth of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc. The Color of Compromise will be supported by national advertising and publicity campaigns.

About Zondervan:

Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian communications.  Zondervan, part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc., delivers transformational Christian experiences through its bestselling Bibles, books, curriculum, academic resources and digital products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and translated into nearly 200 languages. Zondervan offices are located in Grand Rapids, Mich. For additional information, please visit www.zondervan.com.