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Tara Powers, Brian Burch
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Increased Interest from Key Endorsers and Consumers Spurs Early Release Date
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., January 8, 2008 – Due to growing demand and overwhelming support from top Christian leaders, Zondervan today announced it has moved the shipping date up three weeks for The Faith: What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters, by Chuck Colson and Harold Fickett.
The Faith, which was originally scheduled to ship on February 1, has been endorsed by dozens of the most respected, world-renowned Christian leaders, including Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Frank S. Page, John Ortberg, and John Maxwell. They have called the book, "a compelling summary of what followers of Jesus actually believe," "the most important book Chuck has ever written," and "a highly readable guide to the world from the perspective of eternity."
"A surge of early demand and interest in The Faith has led us to decide to release the title three weeks early," said Scott Bolinder, executive vice president and publisher at Zondervan. "Those who have had the opportunity to read the book, including pastors, key influencers and other Christians, have discovered that The Faith is an unusually accessible (under 250 pages) and irenic resource for Christians at all stages of their walk with God. With Colson already having spoken on the book at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church the first weekend in January and his upcoming appearance at the Crystal Cathedral's ReThink conference, the demand for the book is surging. We want to be sure our retail partners benefit from this strong, early support for The Faith."
The Faith celebrates the unshakable tenets of Christian faith -- truths that offer a foundation for faith in uncertain times and invite reconciliation between denominations to face a world at war with God. It has been praised for its accessibility and willingness to explore the comprehensive and attractive nature of Christian belief at a time when the perceptions of Christianity are at an all-time low.
Colson preached at Saddleback Church on January 5-6, 2008 on the book's core tenants, launching a January series of sermons that Rick Warren is expected to preach on the basic beliefs of Christianity. Warren is also expected to urge all pastors in the Purpose Driven network to read and preach a series of sermons based on The Faith.
Colson is scheduled to speak at the 2008 ReThink conference on Thursday, January 17, 2008 at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, Calif. The conference will be simulcast via satellite to more than 5,000 churches in the CCN network.
The Faith (ISBN: 0-310-27603-9) will begin shipping to stores worldwide January 11, 2008. A carefully crafted Study Guide to The Faith written by one of Colson's most trusted theological advisors will be available as a free download from both the Zondervan and Prison Fellowship websites. Zondervan will release a DVD curriculum on The Faith that will feature Chuck Colson later this year.
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).