Defending the faith, thinking practically and looking up
Recommended reads for your business life

The Case for a Creator: A Journalist Investigates Scientific Evidence That Points Toward God by Lee Strobel (Zondervan, 978-0-310-24144-7, 2004).

This book has really helped me in strengthening my faith in God. There was a time when I questioned His existence because I was being bombarded by the “facts” of evolution and secular theories. I would recommend this book to anyone who is seeking knowledge in defending his or her faith. 

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis (HarperCollins Publishers, 978-0-060-57263-1, 2003) 

No matter how many times I read this book, I always reach a new revelation. Lewis uses practical thinking, which is golden in our world of philosophizing and over-analyzing. Pull out a pen, put on the audiobook and get ready to think!

Heaven by Randy Alcorn (Tyndale House Publishers, 978-0-842-37942-7, 2004)

Heaven is one of those books that can change the way you live. It is rare to find theological research on the topic of heaven. Based on Scripture and a life dedicated to the study of life after death, Alcorn paints a vibrant and tangible picture of heaven. For the first time, it's like heaven is a real place to me, not just some floaty, cloudy thing!

Then Sings My Soul: 150 of the World’s Greatest Hymn Stories by Robert J. Morgan (Thomas Nelson, 978-0-785-24939-9, 2003)

This is for every writer of any kind! It's a book of hymns, their history and their composers. There is something about a hymn that brings me to a simple appreciation for the cross, and learning about the struggles of their writers just gives me a deeper love for the Jesus they sing about. 

Fiction that draws on heritage of the American West appeals to men and women

Cowboys and Indians may be the stuff of Gunsmoke and Bonanza reruns, but readers may be hard-pressed to find Westerns in the Christian retail market—that is, Western fiction in the traditional sense.

The committee that oversees the Christy Award—the well-recognized honor given to writers of fiction from a Christian worldview—only offered an award in the Western category in 2002 and 2003.

“There simply weren't enough entries to have a viable category, especially compared to the other categories, so we moved westerns into historical,” said Donna Kehoe, executive director of the awards program.

The late Stephen Bly was dominant in the category then and was a Christy Award winner. His wife and other family members helped to finish his last novel after his death, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, released by Greenbrier Books in March.

Western fiction does seem to be experiencing a bit of a resurgence of late. A touch of romance seems to have enlivened the category—for female readers at least.

COWBOY CRUSHES

Charlene Patterson, acquisitions editor, fiction for Bethany House, finds Western a “difficult category to describe.”

“Some people define Westerns as primarily male-focused, with gunfights and sheriffs and battles with Indians, along the lines of the movies Open Range or 3:10 to Yuma,” Patterson said. “Others define Westerns as anything set on the Western frontier, like Love Comes Softy or Tracie Peterson’s current series, ‘Land of the Lone Star.’ We don’t think of ourselves as publishing Westerns at Bethany House, but we do publish many historical romances with a Western setting that defines the story.”

The Baker Publishing Group division doesn’t expect to publish many classic Westerns in the future, she said, because “they haven’t proven popular with our readership.” Instead, it is opting for “historical fiction with cowboys, ranches, frontier settings and, of course, romance will continue to be among the core type of book we publish.”

Two of the house’s relatively new, but increasingly popular authors in this genre are Karen Witemeyer, who, Patterson said, “uses frontier Texas settings in her books, and readers respond well to her rugged heroes and strong heroines,” and Mary Connealy, who is gaining a following for her “romantic comedy with cowboys.”

In Connealy’s fiction, “you’ll find everything from ranches to Indians to gunplay to rowdy cowboys in her stories, though they are underscored by humor and sweet romance,” Patterson noted.

Robin Lee Hatcher (Betrayal, Zondervan) observed that “women had a great deal to do with the settling and civilizing of the West. Romances are about hope for the future––and it was hope for the future that drew so many to begin again in the West.”

“The American cowboy has always been a strong romantic figure and history gives us endless tales of the resilient women who tamed the west alongside them,” said Regina Jennings (Sixty Acres and a Bride, Bethany House). “Expansive settings, determined characters and perilous journeys provide all the elements needed for a hearty romance. Besides, assumedly any bachelor living in town in the 19th century was either on his way to the altar or being stalked by mothers with marriageable daughters. In contrast, the elusive cowboy who wandered into civilization represented an unknown that sent hearts a-fluttering. He’s tough, he’s lonely … but he values his freedom. What woman could resist such a challenge?”

BRAND OWNERSHIP

When it comes to Westerns, branding doesn’t just refer to the practice of claiming cattle as the rancher’s own. An author’s ownership of his or her own brand may mean name recognition and higher sales, though some authors have chosen to stray off the ranch.

Abingdon Press has published two Western romance series by Shelley Gray (“The Heart of a Hero”) and Margaret Daley (“The Men of the Texas Rangers”), two authors who have written other types of fiction as well. Gray is known for her Amish fiction, while Daley has written romance and romantic suspense.

“Westerns have had limited popularity in recent years, so many writers have had other genres that have helped pay the bills,” said Ramona Richards, senior acquisitions editor, fiction, at Abingdon Press. But, she added, “specializing does help build the brand, and I am hoping to acquire writers in the future who specialize in this brand.”

Patterson of Bethany House believes strongly, though, that branding is key in Western and other fiction.

“Most of our historical writers stay within their genre and within similar story settings, which is something we encourage,” she said. “A brand is a very important thing. Readers want to know what they are getting when they pick up a book, and strong branding makes it easier for booksellers to make recommendations to their customers.”

SIX FEET UNDER

When Sherri Shackelford (Winning the Widow’s Heart, Love Inspired Historical) started writing five years ago, she was told the Western was “dead and buried.” But she believes that “the popularity of Christian fiction, especially Christian romantic fiction, has created a vast new audience for the Western.”

Darlene Franklin was “part of Moody’s reentry into fiction” with the six-book series “Texas Trails,” with books written by Franklin, Susan Page Davis and Vickie McDonough. With its stories spanning four generations of a Texas family, the series was published under new imprint River North.

“With the explosion of Christian romance in recent years, more and more authors are writing Westerns than ever before,” Franklin said. “Love Inspired, in particular, remains hungry for new voices with their expanded Historical line and the addition of Heartsong (formerly with Barbour).”

Abingdon Press is also seeing a significant number of authors who want to contribute to the genre, Richards said.

Perhaps Witemeyer (Short-Straw Bride, Bethany House) best sums up the state of Christian Western fiction.

“There are fewer new authors for true, non-romance-centered Westerns,” she said. “The market for these stories has been shrinking since the days of Louie L’Amour and Zane Grey. However, in the realm of Western romance, there are new authors being added all the time.”

HEROES AND VILLAINS

One critical element of the Western genre is setting.

“Setting is key,” Witemeyer said. “Texas, Wyoming, Montana, Colorado—places known for their cowboy heritage. Harsh landscapes that cause their own hardships for the characters add to the flavor of the novel. Horses, boots, guns—all necessary ingredients. However, the most essential element is a cowboy hero who follows the cowboy code: honor, chivalry, integrity.”

Victoria Bylin (Brides of the West, Love Inspired Historical) also believes a good western needs a strong hero.

“I want the hero to be brave, principled and strong in the face of danger,” she said. “In some ways, this is a statement of the Christian faith, and it’s why westerns fit so well in the inspirational market.”

Davis also sees setting as crucial, “whether it’s an accurate picture of a particular area and moment, or a representation of the average American’s idea of the West,” she said. “Personally, I need historical accuracy before I’ll dub a book a ‘good’ Western. But action is nearly as important as the setting. A slow-moving Western won’t make it in today’s market.”

Abingdon’s Richards points out that in a Western, “the West really must be a distinct third character, and an author should understand it as much as she/he does the hero and heroine.”

“Setting is often a villain in these stories as characters band together against the harsh elements,” Shackelford said. “There's a sense of wildness surrounding the Western genre—untamed people against an untamed land.” 

A BREED APART

As with any category, retailers familiar with the authors and the works themselves can build sales as they recommend Westerns to customers looking for a new read.

“Don’t separate out the westerns and send them to a little corner of their own,” Davis said. “There are many fine historical novels out there that happen to be westerns. Present them as the newest good book, not the latest western.”

Erica Vetsch (A Bride’s Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas, Barbour Publishing) offered several suggestions for stores, including posting author-comparison lists and appealing to women looking for a gift for their husbands, fathers or sons.

“Offer a classic movie night at the store,” Vetsch said. “Show a movie like Shane or She Wore A Yellow Ribbon or El Dorado, then over some refreshments, talk about some of the new western fiction in the CBA [market] and encourage the patrons to talk about favorite westerns, books and movies.”

Frontliners should take note of the two different kinds of Western readers before making their recommendations.

“Readers of straight westerns are a different breed than readers of western romance,” Witemeyer said. “With such a large percentage of Christian readers being women, the level of romance in a book might be a bigger selling point at first. However, if readers get hooked on the western settings and rugged heroes found in romance, they might be more open to the grittier storylines of the straight westerns.”

Overall, growing readership for the category may mean emphasizing the universality of its themes. Henry McLaughlin (Journey to Riverbend, Tyndale House Publishers) said he believes the genre can capture new readers “by exploring universal themes such as good and evil, right and wrong through interesting characters; themes that apply across all genres, by keeping the stories exciting through plot twists, character growth in responding to challenges and making the stakes as high as possible, including physical death or spiritual loss.”

Davis also believes the category has broad appeal.

“Western fiction resonates with many, many people,” Davis said. “Most Americans view the West as a vital part of our heritage, even if they are only familiar with it through films and television. Many of us can identify with one of the iconic western characters—the intuitive scout, the loyal cowpuncher, the troubled drifter, the determined pioneer. I don’t think this genre will ever go away.”

Getting back to the lost art of making disciples

Publish. The word is defined as “to make public, or generally known; the activities, process or business models of a publisher.” As publishers, we are in the midst of the most significant and rapid change this industry has ever seen. Dr. Leonard Sweet calls it “moving from Gutenburg to Google.” We all know the process and business models are changing at a mind-numbing pace, but the goal remains the same: take the messenger’s message and make it public or generally known. Still, some days it’s easy to feel like this challenge is new and unprecedented. It is, but it’s not. Let me try and explain.

I love to ride my Harley through the mountains of Colorado. Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Harley Davidson museum in Milwaukee, Wis. I was curious to learn the history behind this truly American success story. While there I found these words etched in display glass next to the first motorcycle they built in 1903:

“The pace of change in the technological progress in the final decades of the 19th century was dizzying. Electricity was tamed, the gasoline engine, the radio, the telephone, and dozens of new devices were invented in quick succession. Life in Milwaukee was changing just as fast. Having made its name from processing the fruits of the land, milling grain, packing meats, and brewing beer, the city earned a new reputation for making iron and shaping it into machinery. By 1900 Milwaukee had so many shops, mills, and foundries that it took the nickname ‘Machine Shop of the World.’ Aspiring inventors Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson were working in Milwaukee machine shops, both dreaming of building a motorized bicycle. They were in the right place at the right time to realize their vision.”

Those last two lines about bowled me over. Bill Harley and Arthur Davidson found themselves in a time very similar to our own. But they held fast to their aspirations and dreams and discovered they were right where they needed to be to see those become reality. But they had to stay with it and not give in to fear.

I couldn’t get away from the parallels for Christian publishing. As Christian publishers, we find ourselves moving at this dizzying pace, oftentimes not knowing the next best step. We’re all having to learn new ways of doing things, but our aspirations and dreams are constant: to make the message known. So the challenge for all us—from CEOs to copyeditors to online marketing specialists to authors and speakers—is to believe that we’re also in the right place at the right time, and if we’re faithful, the vision will be realized.

In some ways, it’s not unlike the time when Jesus prepared to ascend back to the Father’s side. I bet the disciples thought the pace of those days was dizzying and everything was about to change. What did Jesus do? He told them not to be afraid and then He told them His dream, His aspiration: that they would go and make disciples. He left, but He promised to always be with them and that His Kingdom would be realized.

Here at David C Cook, the process of publishing has changed, and we are diligently embracing the changes and new opportunities to do our part to equip local churches on a global scale, for making and teaching disciples who obediently transform today’s generations. That’s our mission, our dream, and we believe we’re in the right place at the right time.

When I arrived at David C Cook over six years ago, I had a word in my head I could not shake. I believed it defined our organization’s reason for existence. Today, I’m more committed to that word than ever because I believe it is also the primary purpose of the church. That word is “DiscipleShaping.”

I have to tell you that word came from a long season of wrestling to clearly hear God’s voice. I had been journaling for some time and I clearly remember writing down the question: “How am I listening to God?” I was convinced that God was trying to speak to me on a single matter, one focused on how God would have me best serve the local church on a global scale. This wrestling began years before I came to David C Cook. I knew God was preparing me for a change, but it turned out it wasn’t the change I was looking for. Deep in my spirit, I heard “No, Cris, you’re not listening.”

I’ll never forget that Thursday evening at the Opryland Hotel, after many months of intentional work to reduce the clutter of other voices from books, magazines, TV and newspapers, and all the music that surrounded me in those days. I had walked back to my hotel room and in angry frustration called out to God: “What are you trying to tell me, God? How much longer must I wait?” As I was heading home the next day, I made a quick stop at the office and received a phone call, one still I refer to as a “blinding flash of the obvious.” In order to do what I knew God wanted me to do, I was going to have leave my current position and my hometown and take the helm of a 135-year-old organization known as David C Cook. And this is where I would receive instruction on the word—DiscipleShaping—as God’s agenda for David C Cook.

If asked to define that word, I’d say this: DiscipleShaping is “to equip the Church with Christ-centered resources for making and teaching today’s disciples who obediently transform today’s generations.” Essentially we are here to publish leadership and discipleship resources to the Church with a capital ‘C’ through the church with a small ‘c’ on a global scale. We are focused on God’s great dream, the Great Commission: DiscipleShaping!

Things have not been easy these six years. We’ve been through difficult days like many of our fellow publishers, and I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of them. But each day begins with a choice: fear or faith. If faith is the essence of things unseen, then this time in the history of publishing is tailor-made for faith. Rather than give in to the pressures and anxieties, we’re fixing our eyes on Christ and taking each new step one day at a time.

We’ve been privileged to partner with such godly communicators as Francis Chan, Leonard Sweet, Tullian Tchividjian, Britt Merrick, James MacDonald, Stasi Eldredge and Becky Harling. These and others are helping us help them as we all do our part to publish—to make the message known. And its not just any message, but the good news, the joy-filled truth that God so loved this world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will never die but have everlasting life.

Is it a dizzying time? Sure. I’ve about decided it always has been. But the daily choice of faith over fear allows God the freedom to work through our efforts to bring transformation to a world desperately looking for a dream to believe in. And we have the distinct opportunity to present the message the world has always needed. It’s the right time and you’re in the right place. Don’t give up the good fight!

Helping parents lead their families

MICHELLE ANTHONY is family ministry architect at David C Cook. A wife and mother, she also serves as the family ministry ambassador for ROCKHARBOR Church in Costa Mesa, Calif.

In what ways has God specifically impassioned your heart for the family and today’s generation?

I feel impassioned that they would hear God’s voice in a personal relationship, and be able to discern His voice among all the other voices clamoring for their attention. I also long for this generation to have a desire to obey God’s voice when they hear it—aligning their will to His call. Lastly, my hope would be that children and families would learn to obey God in the power of His Spirit and the strength He offers, rather than merely adopting a “try-harder” type of Christianity. All of these things are deeply rooted in relationship rather than religious behavior.

Many people are describing the focus on family ministry in today’s churches a movement of God. Do you agree with this and why?

I do agree. I think that one reason we describe it as a movement of God is based on the breadth of it. Before there was a champion or before there were adequate resources, God was awakening His people to this passion all across the globe. There are churches and individuals in cities and countries too numerous to count with common language and vision for families—that’s a God-sized phenomena.

Secondly, I see this focus on family as a movement because of the depth of it. Partnering with parents in the current definition of “family” is choosing to walk into deep waters with them. I believe that out of God’s love and grace, He has initiated healing in our families. But, the issues facing the 21st-century family are something that only God can heal, and no clever program or eloquent author will be able to address the level of redemption that is needed without Him at the helm.

You seek to inspire the church and parents to each play their unique roles in passing on their faith to the next generation. How do you see their roles as distinct and as complementary?

These roles are distinct in that God designed the family to be the heartbeat of faith formation (Ps. 78, Deut. 6). The home was God’s design for faith to be passed on from generation to generation. However, sin corrupts and distorts God’s perfect plans for us, and parents, even in biblical eras, neglected to succeed in this endeavor. The church was commissioned to spread this good news and equip the saints to do the work of the Lord (Eph. 4).

Practically speaking, their roles are complementary in that both the home and the church are instruments of proclaiming Christ to a new generation. But it is the church that is tasked with making sure that our ministries strategically equip parents and grandparents to have the tools necessary to raise spiritually healthy families.

You have used the term “spiritual parenting” to refer to the type of parenting that we need in our homes today. What do you mean by this, and how does one become a spiritual parent?

Well, first of all, “spiritual parenting” is not perfect parenting. Often we think of something spiritual as something that is more holy. Yet, “spiritual parenting” is parenting with an eternal perspective—parenting with eternity in mind, rather than just trying to make it through another day. As parents, we can become consumed with the temporal things in raising children—household duties, meals, homework, errands, sporting events and so on. But, God calls us to see every moment as an opportunity to impact faith formation. He wants us to redeem the time for something greater than today.

We become “spiritual parents” when we align our efforts with God’s plan. We ask ourselves in every moment, “God, what are you doing in the life of my child, and how can I come alongside of that?”

What are some of the greatest challenges ministry leaders will face in faith formation of today’s generation? How can leaders overcome these?

Ministry leaders are dealing with extraordinary challenges in our churches today. There is an apathetic, and even antagonistic, condition in this generation toward the gospel. We are dealing with more addiction, depression and sexual promiscuity than the generations that have preceded us. The family unit is complicated and fragmented, and young people are busy, distracted and disengaged. All of these issues create an unbelievable vortex of complexity for ministry leaders who are often ill-prepared for this type of mission field.

The hope that ministry leaders will have in reaching this generation will be in joining forces in laser-focused efforts, that cross-denominational, generational and programmatic barriers to present the gospel authentically through discipleship. We will need to eliminate the excess in our ministries and become united and focused in order to have a lasting impact.

In what ways do you feel that the church has become misguided or distracted in their mission to a young generation?

We have become misguided in that we have not accurately understood how faith formation works. Unfortunately we got off track when we largely adopted a religious system in our Christian education programs and called that faith. We focused on a model that encouraged behavior modification through memorization, information and attendance, while often neglecting spiritual formation through genuine discipleship, inward transformation and community.

We have been distracted by preservation. When a previous generation seeks to “preserve what they had,” their eyes are focused in the rearview mirror instead of the windshield. The windshield shows us where we are going and is a bigger perspective. The rearview mirror is small and, while important, keeps us tethered to the past.

How can Christian retailers assist congregations who are making an effort to come alongside parents in learning to spiritually lead their families?

Christian retailers play a significant role in assisting churches, attendees and leaders in providing resources that are current and relevant to the topics that are most beneficial to the Christian community. Often retailers lead the way in helping churches to even understand what these issues are in the first place. The resources are important, but even further, retailers can hold book signings or partner with local churches for conferences and events to help promote conversations about the topics that effect leadership.

For the issue of parents leading their families spiritually, retailers can provide books, family night resources, as well as provide local opportunities that engage parents in a local church that might provide message series, classes and events to enhance spiritual conversations and faith in the family.

You are passionate about how we teach God’s Word to children. Explain how your approach can impact young hearts and minds and why it’s important to you.

I am passionate about God’s Word and its impact on children. I believe that it’s important for children to see the Bible as one story of love and redemption where God is the main character. Often, we teach His Word as a collection of stories where Moses is the main character one day and Peter is the main character another. In reality, those people merely play a supporting actor role in God’s big story, and when told in a chronological manner, we can ask ourselves at every page, “What do I know about God from this?” rather than, “How can I be more like so-and-so?” It is then that we begin to see ourselves as playing a part in a huge storyline that is still being written. This is important because one way will allow kids to understand history, while the other will engage kids to actually be a part of it.

Some have said that your concept of “creating environments” in their home is freeing to them as parents. What are these environments, and how do they bring spiritual health and freedom to parents?

The environments are described in my book Spiritual Parenting and really have to do with how we view our role as parents. If it is God’s role to do [handle?] the supernatural and bring about transformation in my child (at best, I can only control behavior), then it begs the question, “What is my role?” I see the role of parenting as one of creating an environment in my home where God can do what He does best—change hearts and lives.

It’s freeing because I am no longer the one trying to manufacture faith through good behavior or controlling circumstances, but rather focusing on a climate in my home that puts God and His character on display. My children simply get to live in the path of the divine, and it’s His divinity, through grace, that changes them.

What do you feel is the greatest obstacle in parents assuming their God-given role to spiritually lead their families?

This obstacle is multifaceted because there are many contributing factors, but the greatest obstacle is that parents are not awakened to this God-given role. Christian parents have historically felt satisfied if they dropped their children off at a weekly Sunday school program, led and taught a moral life, and included prayer at meals and bedtime.

Biblically speaking, a Christian parent is one who is actively engaged in spiritual conversations and teaching in every moment throughout the week, erasing the line between sacred and secular, while choosing to disciple their children in active engagement of spiritual disciplines, which include prayer, reading and studying God’s Word, service, community, confession and worship, just to name a few. Unfortunately parents are too busy and ill-equipped to assume this type of a role and will need the church to come alongside to help them, with God’s Spirit to become awakened [in them].

Read more of this Q&A online at www.christianretailing.com/anthony.

Managing our response to inevitable change

Paradigm shift, downsizing, long tail, “co-opetition,” change management—the buzzwords created and used in business today are just a way of helping us cope with and describe our response to the changes that are being thrust upon us. In spite of the last entry on the list above, many of the changes that life throws our way aren’t really manageable, are they? Instead, many times what we are forced to do in business, as in life, is manage our response to change.

I have been around the Christian bookselling world for more than half of my adult life (yes, I am over 40). Starting out in the early ’90s as a book buyer for an independent Christian bookstore was an eye-opening experience. The industry was in its heyday and Christian bookstores (we were still called that back then) all seemed to be doing very well. I was around during the “stack-’em-high and watch-’em-fly” craze all the way through to the “Just-In-Time inventory management” days (a much-needed change-response to bloated inventories and high-return rates).

In 2006, I moved to a new position with the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), where I learned that publishing and retailing are completely different worlds. That’s not to say that there aren’t competent, skilled, dedicated and mission-minded individuals in both arenas, only that the actual business processes conducted by each were completely different, and necessarily so. The lines that separated the two were distinct, the roles were well-rehearsed and executed.

Last year I made yet another move, this time to David C Cook. Designated the director of digital content, my new job included the role of “strategist,” someone who could evaluate all of the changes taking place and recommend a course of action, a change-response, to the rapid expansion occurring in the digital marketplace. It’s in this role that I can finally see the common change-response that publishers and retailers must adopt.

I propose that our common change-response should be as follows: To survive in the digital age, publishers and retailers must add value between the author and the consumer.

Consumers seek out value, plain and simple. Notice I didn’t say gimmicks and tricks, but true value. In publishing, that value exists in the way we connect content creators to our expert ability to help craft a story, design a product and bring it to the marketplace.

Retailers have the same challenge before them, respond to the change by leveraging the ways you add value to the equation. There are many ways a retailer can do this, and they are as unique as each individual market they serve. Having said that, I don’t want to leave you without some practical ideas of what this might look like.

Here are three strategies you might consider:

Dig deep. As a Christian bookseller, readers need to know that you are a content expert. Consider placing more emphasis in your store on merchandising hand-selected backlist and lesser-known authors. These titles can practically serve as an exclusive product, as you can be sure your digital competition isn’t doing anything to feature them.

Welcome the little children. The digital space just doesn’t have a good solution for delivering printed content to children. Besides this, kids are tactile creatures; it’s why we’re always telling them, “Look with your eyes, not with your hands.” Make sure your kids’ section is front and center. Let kids touch and then follow up those touches with a gentle nudge to mom or dad who will help them make that purchase decision.

Host the party. Some of my fondest memories as a retailer were the impromptu Bible studies, prayer meetings and discussion groups that would just “happen” in our store. This is really something I think Christian retailers should capitalize on—make your store the place for folks to gather. Be careful though, doing this intentionally means you cannot meddle too much in what it looks like. Instead, seek out “tribal leaders” in your community—people who are leading the discussions—and offer them your store as a place to visit.

It’s true that the digital shift has brought about unprecedented change. With that change are sure to come more adjustments to your product mix, but it should not affect how you add value—by intentionally loving and serving your customers.

Leading people, adapting to change and staying healthy

Launching a Leadership Revolution: Mastering the Five Levels of Influence by Chris Brady & Orrin Woodward (Business Plus, 978-0-446-58071-7, 2007)

Sooner or later, we are all called to lead in some capacity. Leadership skills are vital in corporate settings, small businesses, church or community organizations and even within the home. Brady and Woodward have recognized this need and have jointly created an in-depth, step-by-step guide for developing leadership skills.

Utilizing an abundance of historical examples, the authors have developed a unique five-step plan that charts a course for creating and maintaining strong leadership in any organization. The plan guides the reader through the “Five Levels of Influence”:

• Learning: a leader must be able to learn from anyone
• Performing: persevere through failure to find success
• Leading: extend your ability by expanding your team
• Developing Leaders: learn to trust your people 
• Develop Leaders who Develop Leaders: create a legacy

This book is full of prescriptive advice, quotes and anecdotes that illustrate the authors’ principles.

This is the best book I’ve read on leadership to date! It addresses the priorities and practical issues of what a leader is, what a leader brings to his team/organization, what a leader does and how a leader grows, all the while using historical examples from real people like Winston Churchill, William Wilberforce, the apostle Paul, Theodore Roosevelt and more.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Steven R. Covey (Free Press, 978-0-743-26951-3, 2004)

Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed anecdotes, he reveals a step-by-step pathway for living with fairness, integrity, service and human dignity—principles that give us the security to adapt to change and the wisdom and power to take advantage of the opportunities that change creates.

When I first read this book as a young man, it completely changed the way I viewed managing time and leading people. This is an absolute must-read for future leaders. Just last week I gave this book to my nephew, who is a youth pastor in a small church in Michigan.

Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda by Henry & Richard Blackaby (B&H Books, 978-1-433-66918-7, 2011)

Drawing on their own extensive leadership experience as well as their ministry to leaders in all walks of life, the authors Blackaby offer insightful counsel into the ways God develops, guides and empowers spiritual leaders. Clear guidance is given as to how leaders can make a positive impact on the people and organizations they are currently leading.

One of the best reads on vision came from this book in the chapter “The Leaders Vision: Where Do Leaders Get It and How Do They Communicate It?” The other chapter that spoke to me was “The Leader’s Schedule: Doing What’s Important.” These two chapters alone were worth the price of the book!

None of These Diseases: The Bible’s Health Secrets for the 21st Century by S.I. McMillen, M.D., & David E. Stern, M.D. (Revell/Baker Publishing Group, 978-0-800-75719-9, 2000)

Asserting that the truth of the Bible holds the key to healthy living, None of These Diseases identifies how many life-threatening medical conditions could be prevented through living a committed Christian life and following the instructions in the Old and New Testament.

As a young man, the examples in this book of how we get and prevent diseases served to strengthen my faith in the creator God and validate the more obscure passages in the Bible, particularly in Leviticus. They also helped me understand the absolute and profound wisdom of God in the creation of the human race and how I could better care for my body as the temple of the living God.

‘Umbrella’ speculative fiction category covers the gamut from sci-fi to steampunk

Frank Peretti has been credited with starting today’s trend in Christian speculative fiction with This Present Darkness (Crossway, 1986), with names like Tosca Lee, Stephen Lawhead, Mike Duran and Jill Williamson following his lead, building the category that includes supernatural fiction as one of its offshoots.

Jeff Gerke, who founded a company that specializes in what’s come to be known as “spec-fic,” said that it is “an umbrella term that encompasses science fiction, fantasy, supernatural fiction, paranormal, time travel, superhero, urban fantasy, horror, alternate history, steampunk and pretty much anything else weird.”

The head of Marcher Lord Press said that “at least two subgenres” are added in the Christian market: End Times fiction and spiritual warfare fiction.

SUSPENDING DISBELIEF

“Both speculative and supernatural fiction ask the reader to suspend disbelief and engage with story elements that are outside the range of standard experience,” said Amanda Bostic, acquisitions editor at Thomas Nelson. “In spec, that may include the more fantastical elements of travel to alternate worlds, interaction with unknown species or the currently popular dystopian stories that imagine a future where society is vastly different than the one we know. Supernatural fiction involves a very specific suspension of disbelief in that the unseen in the spiritual realms becomes seen.”

Along with angels, evil beings, science fiction, fantasy, spiritual warfare and allegory, Julie Gwinn, marketing manager for fiction at B&H Publishing Group, observes that spec-fic may include “even the manifestation of spiritual gifts in the form of ‘powers.’ ”

Author Steve Rzasa (Crosswind, Marcher Lord Press) further explains the distinction between speculative and supernatural fiction.

“Supernatural fiction brings to mind works that take place in the here and now, but pull back the veil to reveal the workings behind the face of our world—angels and demons, yes, and all manner of spiritual warfare,” he said. “Supernatural answers the question, what could be happening that we don't see? Speculative answers the question, what if?”

GAINING GROUND

Speculative fiction has “massive” readership in the general market, said best-selling author James L. Rubart (Soul’s Gate, Thomas Nelson), who is hopeful it will grow more in the Christian market.

Author Kat Heckenbach (Seeking Unseen, Splashdown Books) notes that the genre appeals to readers from all walks of life: “You may think it’s the guy that dresses up as a Star Trek character at a science fiction convention—and you’d likely be right. But it’s also businessmen, homeschool moms, teens. The readers of spec-fic span so many demographics.”

John W. Otte (Failstate, Marcher Lord Press) agreed that there is a wide range of readers.

“While it may seem like this is a genre that would appeal mostly to men, I was involved with a blog tour and the participants were mostly women,” he said. “But the one demographic that this seems to appeal to most is young adults. If you go the Teen Fiction section in a bookstore, most of them would fall under the category of speculative fiction.”

With a middle-American mom as her protagonist, novels by Sharon Hinck (The Restorer, Marcher Lord Press, first published by NavPress) were “targeted at the core CBA readership of adult women,” she said. “I’ve had great response from this demographic, as they enjoyed an imaginative story and identifying with the main character. However, I soon learned that a strong secondary readership of teens enjoyed the books. After several book tours, lots of emails from readers and various speaking events, I’ve found many homeschool families seem to embrace speculative fiction—all ages in the family.”

Although early pioneers of spec-fic may include G.K. Chesterton, J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Madeline L’Engle, Bostic sees This Present Darkness as the starting point of the genre in the Christian market, but said its growth is hard to quantify.

“It’s difficult to put an exact figure on the growth since most reports don’t break out either speculative or supernatural as their own categories, but the number of titles that include these elements is a clear indicator of the interest in the genre,” she said. “The fact that supernatural fiction delves into the mysteries of our faith and can so easily be infused into other genres is a large part of the reason these novels have been of interest to readers for the past 35 years.”

However, Gerke has observed that some Christians—and not just readers—wish to avoid this category.

“In Christian publishing, there has been a resistance to speculative fiction by Christian authors,” he said. “I think this is due to the suspicion, in certain corners of Christendom, of magic. Publishers and bookstore managers—and the people who shop at those stores—may have had negative reactions to such things, especially as they had been presented in the ’60s and ’70s, so Christian novels that ‘seem New Age’ to those folks are looked down upon and effectively boycotted.”

While certain authors seem to “get a pass for some reason,” he said, “their popularity has not resulted in a warmer welcome for other books like those from different authors.”

Rather than the “bonnet and buggy” crowd, the reader who prefers Christian speculative fiction may be described “the Christian geek,” Gerke said. “I like to define the target readership for Marcher Lord Press as Christians who would go to Comic-CON if given half a chance. Christians who shop at ThinkGeek.com. Christians who watch Big Bang Theory. It’s essentially the Christians who love the same things their secular counterparts do—Star Wars, The Hunger Games, etc.—but who prefer to see it coming from the Christian worldview and perhaps without the objectionable content.”

In business now for four years, Marcher Lord is releasing its first hardcover Dec. 1, Vox Day’s Throne of Bones. Book one of a series, Throne of Bones is “the Christian answer to the epic fantasy of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones,” Gerke said, referring to the novel on which an original HBO series was based.

“There is a market for this type of storytelling, and to make it work in CBA, we need to add biblical truth to these stories as the underlying thread that holds it together,” B&H’s Gwinn said.

MARKETING CHALLENGES

Works in this genre have often come from independent publishers or small presses, and fans often find each other online through blogs such as Where the Map Ends, The Anomaly or the Lost Genre Guild.

A former software developer, author Kerry Nietz (Freeheads, Marcher Lord Press) believes the genre has grown significantly in the last few years “because the delivery mechanisms—both POD [print on demand] and e-books—have become so much more accessible.”

The category seems to have a strong future, particularly considering the draw it has for today’s youth. Heckenbach, who teaches a creative writing class for homeschoolers teens, can attest to its popularity.

“All eight students are Christians, and six of those eight prefer to read and write spec-fic. I've found that pretty representative of the Christian teen writers I know in general.

“What is going to happen to the Christian market when all these teens grow up and flood the market with their manuscripts? I'll tell you what—those same once-teens-now-adults will also be taking active roles in publishing and marketing, and our footing will solidify because the demand will be taken more seriously by some real out-of-the-box thinkers.”