Thomas Nelson’s division also marks 30 years of best-selling ‘God’s Promises’ brand

Thomas Nelson’s JCountryman gift book line recently celebrated a significant milestone, having sold more than 20 million copies.

“Our success has come because we continue to create beautiful gift books with great content that meet a felt need while being affordable,” said Jack Countryman, founder of JCountryman Gift Books. “Our books touch and change the life of the reader, giving the reassurance that God has an answer for everything.”

Thirty years ago with the help of his wife, Marsha, Countryman wrote God’s Promises at his kitchen table. Originally distributed from the trunk of their car, God’s Promises and his follow-up book, God’s Wisdom, quickly grew in sales. Countryman met with ministers and distributors across the country, creating new books in the line that developed out of those original titles. In 1986, he trademarked the JCountryman brand, essentially creating the Christian gift books business.

In December 1994, Countryman joined the Thomas Nelson family, turning a $2.5 million company into a $22 million company in four years. By 2001, JCountryman was the largest personal gift book publisher in the world, with 26,000 outlets.

Along with significant sales, 2013 also marks 30 years of the publisher’s God’s Promises brand.

“Jack is one of the most inspiring members of our publishing family,” said Mark Schoenwald, president and CEO of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. “The JCountryman book line is his legacy, and it’s an honor to have Jack and Marsha with us every day. They have impacted over 20 million people through their books, and played an integral role in helping us accomplish our mission as a company.”

In 2013, 16 Countryman books became CBA, Parable and Evangelical Christian Publishers Association best-sellers. Seven of his titles have sold more than a half-million units.