Posts Tagged ‘non-fiction’

Former PBS Exec Shares Inspirational Stories in New Devotional

posted on by Susie

Author leaves corporate comforts to serve homeless and prisoners

For immediate release: Jim Brissey spent 16 years rubbing elbows with Mister Rogers, Captain Kangaroo and Cookie Monster during his time at PBS. But one day while sitting at a traffic light God instructed him to leave his cushy lifestyle and six-figure income to work full-time in ministry. “I resigned from my job the next morning,” recalls Brissey. “It was the best decision of my life.” After nearly two decades in ministry Brissey created a collection of meditations, poems and stories in the new devotional A Shepherd’s Heart (Ambassador International; March 2014; $11.99, paperback).

A Shepherd's HeartAs the Senior Pastor of Higher Ground Ministries Brissey serves in many areas of the community, including prison ministry. Brissey and his team have held hundreds of meetings in 12 different prisons in the US and two in Honduras. One of the book’s powerful passages tells the story of Manny Valle, a man convicted of killing a police officer during a traffic stop more than 30 years ago. After meeting with Valle regularly  Brissey led him to Christ and prayed with Valle’s family during his 2011 execution. “Just a few days before he was executed I spent a few hours with Manny,” says Brissey. “He was clothed in the peace that passes all human understanding.”

A Shepherd’s Heart received many endorsements from recognizable names including Bob D’Andrea, Founder of the Christian Television Network; Bill Glass, College Football Hall of Famer and Champions for Life Founder; and Murf the Surf, the world’s most famous reformed jewel thief and Christian speaker. Gigi Graham, Billy Graham’s daughter said of The Shepherd’s Heart, “These stories inspired, encouraged, challenged and blessed me.”

About the Author: Jim Brissey and his wife Jean are Senior Pastors of Higher Ground Ministries in DeLand, Fl. Jim earned his Bachelor of Biblical Studies through Omega Seminary. Jean is a graduate of Spirit Life School of Theology. The couple has been married for 37 years. Jim and Jean have spearheaded hundreds of outreaches throughout the U.S. and abroad and have witnessed thousands giving their hearts to Jesus.

For more information about the author visit SteveWhigham.com. To connect with the author please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].

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Book Exposes Dangers of Legalism

posted on by Susie

Pastor points readers to true holiness based on biblical motivations

For immediate release: From banning beards to requiring perfect Sunday school attendance, legalism is evident throughout the Christian community. Its results can be devastating as author Robert Pruitt points out in his new book Robots or Rebels: The Dangers of Growing Up a Legalist, and Biblical Motivations for True Holiness (Ambassador International; February 2014; $14.99, paperback.) The book is designed to help readers determine whether or not they have been adversely impacted by a legalistic family, church or parachurch ministry.

Robots or RebelsPacked with information about sources of legalism and the types of legalism, one thing readers will not find in the pages of Robots or Rebels is a list of legalistic ministries or organizations. “Isn’t that specificity one of the problems that accompanies legalism?” asks Pruitt. “Legalists want everything listed for them so they do not have to think, but this book is intended to encourage the hard work of thinking, and hopefully in a biblical way.” Some of the forms of legalism discussed in the book include:

  • Legalism is an error that equates law-keeping with salvation.
  • Legalism demands current obedience to Old Testament regulations that have been done away with by Christ.
  • Legalism is the error of creating extra-biblical standards but giving them biblical authority, thus placing them on an equal plane with truly biblical commands.

Pruitt says eventually life for these legalistic robots becomes lifeless. “The robot has been so thoroughly overwhelmed by the call for more and more stringent standards that he either cannot think biblically or he refuses to think biblically for fear of being thought of as a rebel,” writes Pruitt.  The book also dives into the characteristics of pleasure-seeking rebels who are often angry, prideful and materialistic. Pruitt aims to steer Christians away from either title, robots or rebels, into a longing to live in true holiness based on a love for Christ.

About the Author: Robert Pruitt has been serving as the pastor of Coloma Bible Church, in Coloma, MI, since the spring of 2005. Prior to that he pastored churches in Missouri, Virginia, and Kansas. In addition to his pastoral ministry he has also been involved in Christian camping ministries where he has been privileged to interact with many teenagers and pre-teens. He and his wife, Michele, have two daughters and three grandchildren.

To connect with the author please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].

 

Top Christian Authors to Watch in 2014

posted on by Susie

It’s a new year and 2014 is already proving to be a great one for books! Vyrso.com recently released their list of “Top 15 Authors to Watch in 2014” and Ambassador International is thrilled to report that three of our authors are on the list! Here’s what Vyrso has to say: “Honestly, we couldn’t be more excited about the talent coming out this year. From names you’ve probably never heard before (but will soon), to already-burgeoning stars, this list represents our top 15 picks (in no particular order) of authors to watch in 2014.” To see the full list of 15 authors visit blog.vyrso.com. Here are the three Ambassador authors from the list:

 

An Infinite Journey5. Dr. Andrew Davis

Although not a household name quite yet, Dr. Davis was recently  given the honor of speaking alongside some big-name Christian authors at the CrossCon conference, including John Piper, David Platt, David Sitton, and others. His first book, An Infinite Journey, has already received a glowing review from D. A. Carson and is expected to receive even more praise once it’s released January 10.

 

7. David SittonReckless Abandon

After publishing Reckless Abandon and founding an organization that sends missionary teams to plant churches across the globe, Sitton has even bigger plans for global outreach in 2014. He has two new books slated to come out this year: a biography on his late mentor, Joe Cannon, a global missionary, followed by Ekballo—a book about being called to missions work and sharing God’s good news with the world.

 

Love Into Light14. Peter Hubbard

Love Into Light: The Gospel, the Homosexual and the Church was one of Vyrso’s bestselling books of 2013 and was also just listed in Tim Challies’ Top Books of 2013. Even though this was Hubbard’s first major book release, he wasn’t afraid to tackle one of the church’s most controversial topics—homosexuality— with both passion and care. At the cusp of 2014, this book is still gaining traction and is getting the author fired up for a followup title.

After Christmas Sale: 6 Books, $2.99 Each

posted on by Susie

Kindle ChristmasDid you get a Kindle for Christmas? Load it up with some amazing Christian books for just $2.99 each! The discounted titles include:

These offers expire January 7.

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Five Things About Author Steve Whigham

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Steve WhighamLearn more about your favorite Ambassador authors with our “Five Things” series. Author Steve Whigham wrote the recently released book Eclipse of Faith: When Doubt Overwhelms Religious Belief, available now. Here are Steve’s “five things”:

  1. I have spoken on this subject on three continents already. I’m amazed at how many people struggle with doubt. Most do not feel confident enough — or free enough — to discuss their doubt with others. I know how they feel. I went through the same struggle myself, which I wrote about in my book. You just don’t want to vocalize your doubt about faith just in case it may alienate people you are very close to.
  2. I love music. I’ve been playing piano, drums and guitar for many years now. I’ve played in all kinds of bands, even orchestras: classical, opera, jazz, rock, blues, folk, and even a bit of country. Whenever I need to relax and decompress, all it takes is a few minutes behind the keyboard and I’m renewed. There is something special about music. The crazy thing is, I can’t sing on tune. I can play instruments. I just can’t sing.
  3. You just never know who is embroiled in doubt. I met a bright, young Christian leader just a couple weeks ago. He’s struggling with his faith in profound ways. From the outside he looks all put together — a model 20-something actively leading Bible studies, church functions, etc. He just doesn’t know what he truly believes any more. And he was scared to admit it. I got to talk witEclipse of Faithh him for a couple hours over coffee and give him tools to deal with his doubt. When we finished, he looked so relieved. I’m praying for the joy of his faith to return to him soon.
  4. I got to talk to a former Captain of the Soviet Air Force in Odessa, Ukraine a couple years back while there on business. He must have been at least 80 years old. He clapped his boot heels together and saluted me with pride. He spoke no English. I spoke only rudimentary Russian. But we both spoke enough German to have a pleasant conversation. He is a follower of Christ now and attends an active church right in the heart of Odessa. His eyes danced with joy. That day, I got to experience history folding down upon itself and reveal the human stories behind the dry accounts of history. When you get past the stereotypes, how much alike we all are!
  5. I have to admit it, I’m a reading geek. I can’t get enough reading time in. I’ve got so many books I’m currently reading encompassing so many subjects: history, politics, philosophy, arts, science, cooking, fiction, autobiographies, business, theology, technology, and the list goes on. I should be more focused — but maybe not. I’m an eclectic reader and I think it gives me a broader perspective. It sure makes entertaining dinner conversation!

Learn more about Steve and his struggle with doubt in his new book Eclipse of Faith. Thank you Steve for sharing your “five things” with us!

Professor Reveals His Drift Into Doubt

posted on by Susie

Eclipse of FaithAuthor Takes Readers on Exploration of Other Religions and Atheism and Reveals His Unexpected Return to Faith

For immediate release: Big questions about faith and the existence of God terrorized Steve Whigham’s dreams. Not for a night or even a month. For years he quarreled with religion. In his new book Eclipse of Faith: When Doubt Overwhelms Religious Belief (Ambassador International; October 2013; $24.99, hardback) Whigham takes readers through his own unsettling quest for truth. “I see people all around buying lattes and walking their dogs, blissfully content to avoid asking the big questions: Why am I here? What is this life all about? What kind of story am I in- if it’s even a story at all?” states Whigham. “Whether or not Christianity is true or not haunted me. I don’t want to live my life based on a lie and I’m confident most adults don’t want to either.”

When Whigham’s study of Jesus in John’s Gospel failed to hold any resemblance to the sermons and deacons’ actions at his local church, he began to have very sour thoughts. In Eclipse of Faith, Whigham dives into prickly issues of the Christian faith, peppering God with pointed questions. What if the Bible is not completely reliable? Are we basing the Christian faith on the right foundation? Have I accepted Christianity just because I grew up in a Christian home? He pokes around in the worlds of Islam, Mormonism, Buddhism and even atheism, but a very real encounter with God ultimately draws him back to Christianity.

Eclipse of Faith asks difficult questions and equips readers with the ability to stop blindly following Christianity. “My seeking to pull away from God ended up giving me the fortitude to believe in His truth with greater certainty,” explains Whigham. “I hope readers walk away with an even stronger faith in God.”

About the Author: Steve Whigham is a college professor, business consultant, and a former university administrator and lay pastor. Over the past thirty years, Steve has traveled extensively through North America, Europe, and Asia as a university guest lecturer and keynote business speaker. Steve has written one other book: the award-winning, Throw Open the Floodgates. Steve is married to his high school sweetheart, Beth. They have four adult children together.

For more information about the author visit SteveWhigham.com. To connect with the author please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].

 

 

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New Book Gives Teens “A Map for the Middle”

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Map for the MiddleAuthor covers Timely, practical topics like Popularity, Insecurity and Social Media Pitfalls

for immediate release: Three in five middle schoolers say they have been bullied, according to Pew Research. More than half of teens using the internet say they’ve given out personal info including photos to people they don’t know. Nearly 60 percent of schools require middle schools to teach about pregnancy prevention, according to the School Health Policies and Programs Study. The point is, middle schoolers are forced to deal with some very grown up issues. A Map for the Midle (Ambassador International; October 2013; $8.99, paperback) combines scriptural truth and wisdom for today’s adolescents.

Written by Matthew Sink, a teacher-turned-minister, A Map for the Middle provides a roadmap for success for middle school students covering hot topics like popularity, insecurity and sex. “The decisions students make in middle school are critical in setting the direction for their lives,” explains Sink, a father of three kids between the ages of 10-13. “I wrote this book to offer advice to these young adults about how to navigate the next few years.”

While A Map for the Middle is written for young readers, Sink believes it will be a useful tool for parents who often struggle with communication through the middle school years. “The book features two voices,” explains Sink. “One is mine, as someone who remembers vividly what it’s like to be a teen and who has spent countless hours with them in the classroom. The other voice is God’s, revealed through scripture.” Every chapter of the book includes a short scripture reference and devotion designed to open the lines of communication between parent and child.

About the Author: Matthew Sink taught for 14 years in North Carolina public schools. He’s now a minister at Pinedale Christian Church in Winston-Salem. He lives with his wife and three children, all between the ages of 10-13, in Lexington, North Carolina.

To learn more about author Matthew Sink and his book A Map for the Middle visit Facebook.com/MapfortheMiddle. To receive a review copy of A Map for the Middle or to connect with the authors please contact publicist Alison Storm by email at [email protected].

 

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Letting Revelation Change the Way You Live

posted on by Susie

A Confident PeaceNew Book Uses Revelation to Help Readers Recognize God’s Holiness, Satan’s Deception in Their Lives

For immediate release: When persecuted by ungodly governments, hurt by the sins of others and impacted by disease and death of a fallen world, author and pastor Dr. Mark Becton encourages believers through the words of Revelation, the Bible’s final book. In A Confident Peace: Letting Revelation Change the Way You Live (Ambassador International; October 2013; $17.99, paperback) Becton explains how this book is more than prophetic timelines or tales with apocalyptic images. “Revelation gives us confident peace to recognize Satan’s deceptions, overcome our sinful inclinations and honor God with our lives today,” says Becton.

The book of Revelation contains more than 550 Old Testament references, compared to Matthew with 92 and Hebrews with 102. God uses the book to answer questions like, is the Bible God’s Word? Is Jesus the ultimate authority? Is full surrender to Jesus worth it? Is time short? Through his intense study of this book, Becton relates the lessons of Revelation to the American church and our lives today.

A Confident Peace offers a clear explanation of the second coming and even a crash course in spiritual survival that includes tips for overcoming Satan’s tactics in the end times. “Satan attacks us daily,” explains Becton. “Though he attacks aggressively today, Revelation alludes to the fact that he becomes fiercer in the end times.” A Confident Peace gives us God s big picture. It reminds us the One who started it all wins it all.

About the Author: Dr. Mark Becton has served as senior pastor 30 years for churches in Texas, Oklahoma and Virginia. Dr. Becton holds a Doctor of Philosophy, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He now leads the historic Grove Avenue Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, a 140 year old congregation. His messages are televised live each Sunday throughout central Virginia on The Victory Hour, the oldest existing live broadcast of a worship service in the nation.

For more information about the author and his ministries go to groveave.net or wordsofvictory.net.  To connect with the author please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].

 

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Fast-Paced Spiritual Thriller Shares True Story of Survival for Christian Family in Communist Romania

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Willing to DieNEW BOOK SHOWS HOW FAITH IN GOD CAN LEAD CHRISTIANS THROUGH HARDSHIP

For immediate release: Imagine living under the constant danger of the Secret Police bursting into your home, and taking you—or someone you love—to prison, never to be seen or heard from again. Imagine watching your country suffer from the brutality of the Communist regime that swept through Eastern Europe in the wake of World War II. That was John Muntean’s reality in Romania. That is what he fought for years to escape. And that is what he fears is coming to America.

A fast-paced spiritual thriller, Willing to Die (Ambassador International; September 2013; $13.99, paperback), reveals the persecution John Muntean and his wife, Stela experienced, uncovering the evil that accompanied Communist ideology to Romania. Through fear, loss, and pain, the amazing power of God’s love provided a way for them not only to survive, but to prosper. And perhaps most importantly, this book shows all readers that many of the things John and Stela suffered to escape from in Romania are now appearing in America. “History appears to be repeating itself as Communist tendencies become more apparent in American politics,” warns Muntean.

Throughout this powerful story of John and Stela’s escape from Romania, both of them kept the simple but absolute faith that God was in control. Co- author Josephine Walker says, “John and Stela’s story shows that even in the most dangerous times God can be trusted. He will even use your enemies to be a blessing and part of His plan and purpose. The most important point however, is that through the telling of John’s story, God has a critical message to America and His people.”

About John Muntean: Born in Romania when it was still the beautiful, vibrant, productive Breadbasket of Europe, John Muntean and his family made a harrowing escape to America in 1982. He and his wife Stela have lived in the same Costa Mesa home since 1985 which they now share with their Dachshund Toby.

About Josephine Walker: Josephine Walker currently lives in Cody, Wyoming, where she enjoys the nature around her and focusing on her writing. To learn more about Josephine Walker, visit her website at www.josephinewalker.com.

To connect with John Muntean or Josephine Walker, please contact publicist Alison Storm at [email protected].