Partnership Launches High-Engagement Scripture at the Cost of a Greeting Card
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., January 8, 2008 – Authentic Publishing, a division of IBS-STL Global and Zondervan, a world leader in Christian communications, have partnered to produce the first NIV Scriptures available through Christian retail that are designed specifically to help Christians reach out to friends and family with the life-changing Word of God (www.zondervan.com/outreach).
The partnership will launch Finding God, a one-of-a-kind line of high-engagement, feature-rich but low-cost complete New Testaments, based on the best-selling, most trusted New International Version (NIV) translation. The New Testaments will offer quality paper, attractive covers, easy-to-read text, and be available exclusively in Christian retail stores for the first 12 months.
"Scripture is the most important resource believers have, so this isn't just about introducing a product line -- it's about equipping a movement," says IBS-STL Global Publisher Steve Johnson. "By providing Christian retailers with a high-engagement, high-impact Scripture resources, we can help them help the believers in their communities reach out and share God's Word."
Zondervan and Authentic Outreach, an imprint of Authentic Publishing, will release four editions in the new line that will retail for $4.99 each: Finding God for Men; Finding God for Women; and Finding God for Young Adults. The New Testaments feature an extensive in-text note system designed specifically for each targeted audience. Three individual tracks support the New Testament, including sections titled "The God Who Seeks You," "The God You Seek," and "True Encounters."
For more than 30 years, IBS-STL and Zondervan have collaborated to resource Christians with NIV Bible products. The Finding God New Testaments represent the first time IBS-STL has been able to provide this kind of resource to Zondervan for the retail market. Zondervan will handle initial sales to the trade for the Finding God New Testaments, and STL Distribution (IBS-STL) will cover replenishment. Every copy sold supports IBS-STL's Bible translation and distribution efforts around the world to put Scripture into the hands of people who need it.
"We've been blessed to share a tremendous partnership with IBS-STL for decades and are thrilled to expand our partnership with a line of Bibles that are designed to help transform lives," says Paul Caminiti, Vice President of Bibles for Zondervan. "For the cost of a greeting card, Finding God New Testaments are the perfect gift to share with family, friends, and neighbors. We're confident that retailers will get behind this product line in a major way, as they are truly one-of-a-kind and are perfect for engaging the hearts of those who seek direction from God."
Finding God New Testaments will release in February 2008 at a suggested retail price of $4.99. More information can be found at www.zondervan.com/outreach. They feature the NIV translation, the most popular modern English translation of the Bible in the world. With more than 300 million copies in print worldwide, the NIV celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2008.
About Authentic Publishing/IBS-STL Global
Authentic Publishing is the publishing arm of IBS-STL Global, the merged organization of International Bible Society and Send The Light. The combined organization delivers more Bibles into the hands of more people, in more countries, more efficiently than either could individually. IBS-STL holds the copyrights to the New International Version® (NIV), the Today's New International Version® (TNIV), and New International Reader's Version® (NIRV) Bibles. Visit IBS-STL online at http://www.ibs.org/ and http://www.stl.org/.
About Zondervan Bibles
Zondervan is the world's leading Bible publisher. With a vision to see more people engaging the Bible more, Zondervan offers bestselling study, devotional, reference, text, audio, software, and digital Bibles designed to inspire readers at every age and each stage of life. Zondervan holds exclusive North American publishing rights to the New International Version (NIV) which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2008. The most popular modern English translation of the Bible, the NIV has more than 300 million copies in print worldwide. Zondervan also publishes Bibles in the TNIV (Today's New International Version), NIrV (New International Reader's Version), KJV (King James Version), NRSV (New Revised Standard Version), NASB (New American Standard Bible), the Amplified Bible, and parallel Bibles featuring The Message. Visit Zondervan Bibles on the Internet at www.zondervan.com/Bibles.
Zondervan, a HarperCollins company, is a world leader in Christian communications and the leading Christian publishing brand. For more than 75 years, Zondervan has delivered transformational Christian experiences through general and academic resources by influential leaders and emerging voices, and been honored with more Christian Book Awards than any other publisher. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, Mich., with offices in San Diego and Miami, Zondervan conducts events and publishes its bestselling Bibles, books, audio, video, curriculum, software, and digital products through its Zondervan, eZondervan, Zonderkidz, Youth Specialties, Editorial Vida, and National Pastors Convention brands. Zondervan resources are sold worldwide through retail stores, online, and by Zondervan ChurchSource, and are translated into nearly 200 languages in more than 60 countries. Visit Zondervan on the Internet at www.zondervan.com (mobile site: zvan.mobi).
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