Barbour Publishing has launched a social media campaign aimed at generating a buzz for a new book—and is donating Bibles in the process.

To celebrate the Feb. 1 release of Only God—Change Your Story, Change the World by Dwight Mason, the publisher's "Share Your Story. Share a Bible." campaign encourages readers to help change the world by sharing their "Only God stories."

"An 'Only God story' is a personal experience that is so amazing, so miraculous and so incredible that it could have only come from God Himself," company officials said. "For each story shared, Barbour will donate a Bible to one of several nonprofit organizations across the country."

Running now through Feb. 22, the campaign can be found on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ExperienceOnlyGod or on Twitter at @OnlyGodBk using the hashtag #OnlyGodBook. If a person does not feel comfortable sharing his or her story, the individual can just share a quote or review of the book to participate.

In Only God, Mason, lead pastor of NewPointe Community Church in Dover, Ohio, shares how God can use a local church to transform people, communities and the world in an extraordinary way.

Click here for more information on the Only God social media campaign.

Gregory Slayton's Be a Better Dad Today! has sold almost 65,000 copies in 2012—making it the best-selling fatherhood book in the U.S. in more than 10 years, according to the book's publisher, Regal Books.

The book was also ranked No. 2 in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's top 50 Christian titles for last year, following Sarah Young's devotional Jesus Calling (Thomas Nelson) on the list that tracks sales from Christian retailers exclusively.

Detailing 10 tools of fatherhood, Be a Better Dad Today! drew rave reviews from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, Arizona Sen. John McCain and Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman among others. Release last April, the book is now in its third printing, and plans are underway for a Fire Up Fathers program with churches nationwide for Father's Day.

Be a Better Dad Today! has filled "a huge unmet need in our country," Slayton said.

"There are tens of millions of dads in America who want help on the fatherhood front, but don't know where to turn," he added. "Guys know that the right tools are key to getting any job done right. The style of the book is positive and encouraging, because with the right tools we can all be better dads."

Click here for more information on the Fire Up Fathers program.

Help choose the top products in the Christian Retailing’s Best awards

Christian Retailing invites anyone involved in the business of Christian products to vote in the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards. Let your voice be heard by voting online in the awards, formerly known as the Retailers Choice Awards.

Introduced in 2001, Christian Retailing’s awards have been increasingly acknowledged as an important way of recognizing some of the most significant new, life-changing products in the industry.

In this year’s refreshed program, Christian retailers are now joined by authors, editors, literary agents, distributors, gift designers and others in the Christian products industry to vote for what they think are the best Christian products released in the previous year. Owners and managers of Christian retail stores should note that voting is open to all of their team members, including volunteers.

Suppliers have entered their products in a large number of categories for books, Bibles, gifts, music, DVDs and more. Those involved in the industry can vote from March 1, 2013 to March 31, 2013. To vote, go to <a href="http://www.christianretailingsbest.com" target="_blank">www.christianretailingsbest.com</a> and click on the link for the online survey ballot.

Products nominated for the 2013 Christian Retailing’s Best awards have been published or newly on sale in stores in 2012, with the exception of nominations in the Backlist category.

Voters will be asked to judge nominations on the impact they have had on staff and customers, including their ability to:

• ?speak to people’s hearts and evoke emotion
• ?open people’s minds to new ways of thinking
• ?encourage and affirm Christ-like living.

Finalists will be announced April 8, and winners will be announced at the International Christian Retail Show to be held June 23-26 in St. Louis.

Bridge-Logos Inc. has announced that three new owners have acquired the Alachua, Fla.-based charismatic publishing company. The former owner was Catherine “Kitty” Morrell, co-founder of the company, who died in 2009.

The new owners are: Suzanne Wooldridge, daughter of Guy and Kitty Morrell; Ed Harding, former president of New Wine Ministries in the United Kingdom; and Lloyd Hildebrand, Bridge-Logos’ publisher. The new leadership is “firmly committed to continuing the tradition of excellence that was set forth by the company’s founders,” company officials said.

In addition to its “Pure Gold Classics” series featuring titles by Andrew Murray and Charles Spurgeon, Bridge-Logos has also become known for publishing books by evangelist Ray Comfort, Liberty Savard, David Yonggi-Cho, Kathryn Kuhlman, Vinson Synan, Nicky Cruz and Dennis and Rita Bennett.

As president and CEO of Bridge-Logos, Hildebrand said that he is “very excited” about the future of the company, which began nearly 45 years ago.

“Publishing plans for 2013 are well under way, and we expect God to bless our books and authors as they reach out to people all over the world,” said Hildebrand, author of 2012: Is This the End? and Prayers That Change Things (Bridge-Logos). “Our owners have more than 75 years of combined experience in Christian publishing, and with God’s help, we are keeping up with the current trends in the marketplace. Our goal remains the same as our founders put forth years ago—to publish the changeless Word for a changing world.

Meanwhile, Shawn Myers, who previously served as publicist and sales and marketing manager, has been appointed as chief operations officer.

Myers “has proven herself to be an extremely valuable employee and leader,” Hildebrand said.

Jonathan Cahn’s prophetic, warning-to-America novel has sold more than 1 million copies in a year

Messianic rabbi Jonathan Cahn’s novel, The Harbinger, marks a milestone in 2012 as the longest-running Christian title on the New York Times Paperback Trade Fiction list. The book has also sold more than 1 million copies.

The FrontLine/Charisma House Book Group title has ranked for 55 weeks on the best-seller list, placing at No. 12 on the Feb. 3 list. Cahn told Christian Retailing that The Harbinger was “a God thing.”

“I knew that the story of The Harbinger would go forth,” he said. “What surprised me is how it became a best-seller. The whole phenomenon has amazed me. I’m sure there will be a sequel to The Harbinger. As far as the timing, I’m waiting on the Lord. There’s so much more to tell. Since The Harbinger came out, what is in the book is coming true.”

Released Jan. 3, 2012, the novel has gone to print 17 times.

“The success of The Harbinger is not just to be attributed to the efforts of our company or to Jonathan Cahn’s impeccable skills as a communicator and teacher,” said Tessie DeVore, executive vice president, Charisma House, the book group of Charisma Media.

The prophetic novel that is a warning to America has ranked on USA Today’s Best-Selling Books for 54 weeks and was No. 87 on the Jan. 24 list.

In the Christian market, the book has placed regularly on the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Christian Best-sellers list, ranking at No. 1 on the February 2013 Fiction list and at No. 11 on the General list. It was also No. 6 on the latest CBA best-seller list.

“Selling more than 1 million copies of The Harbinger is a reflection of the interest by many who have been gripped by the uncanny scriptural parallels to what’s happened in current events,” said Tessie DeVore, executive vice president, Charisma House, the book group of Charisma Media. “What makes this milestone even more gratifying is to know that people are not only learning about these mysteries, but are also praying for America.”

The Harbinger Companion With Study Guide, also from FrontLine, gives the story behind the story, taking readers deeper into the prophecy in the novel. Featuring a 13-week study guide, photos of the actual harbingers, articles, maps and more, the companion work was released Jan. 8.

Eleonore Forder was co-founder with husband Reg of American Christian Writers, launched in 1988

Eleonore Forder, co-founder of the American Christian Writers (ACW), died Jan. 24 at home in Nashville after being diagnosed with terminal cervical cancer last month.

“A hospice caregiver and I were with her when she passed,” said Reg Forder, her husband who co-founded ACW in 1988. “There was no struggle. She slipped away peacefully when she simply stopped breathing. We were married almost 30 years, and she was just a few days short of her 68th birthday.”

Two days after Christmas, Forder was diagnosed with cancer.

“They said it was so advanced that there was nothing they could do for her,” Reg said. “So they sent her home for myself and hospice to care for in her final three weeks. It happened that I took her to Florida for most of December, and told her I would give her a vacation she would always remember. We went on two cruises—she loved those—along with some other things she always considered special.”

Forder was referred to as the “First Lady” of the ACW conferences for the past 25 years.

“The ACW family grew into the thousands, and she loved every one of them,” said Reg, noting that ACW has chapters in 31 states and holds conferences nationwide.

Since the Forders have no family in Nashville, there will not be a funeral there, but will be a private service later this year in Canada, where most of their relatives live.

Reg will continue with ACW, but said it won’t be easy without his wife by his side.

“She was my princess,” he said.

Managing director of Kingsway was ‘a dedicated visionary’ who mentored and developed songwriters

Christian music pioneer John Paculabo died Jan. 22 in Eastbourne, England, after a six-month battle with cancer. Managing director of Kingsway for more than 20 years, Paculabo was 66.

“The impact of his vision and legacy will continue to be felt through the worship of local churches on a global scale,” said officials for Kingsway, a worship music company in Eastbourne that is now part of David C Cook. “Even though we know he ran a good race (2 Tim. 4: 6-8), we miss him dearly.”

Originally from Liverpool, England, Paculabo was signed by Kingsway in 1971 as an artist/writer with his band Parchment. A year later, the group enjoyed mainstream success with “Light Up the Fire,” a song still used in school assemblies.

In 1976, Paculabo was appointed A&R manager of Pilgrim Records, where he produced hundreds of albums. In the 1980s, he moved into copyright acquisition and management, relocating to Eastbourne in 1988 to accept a position at Kingsway as director of music.

Within two years, he became managing director. In 2008, Paculabo received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Christian Booksellers Convention in the U.K.

“John’s gentle spirit, relaxed approach, great sense of humor and love of people was matched by his desire to live with purpose and passion, with a tenacity to see lives transformed,” Kingsway officials said. “John was much loved and respected, particularly for his ability to empower, support and serve others with humility. … He was a dedicated visionary who was determined to mentor and develop songwriters.”

Paculabo established Thankyou Music as a global publisher, working in partnership with Capitol CMG Publishing. He is credited with helping inspire songs such as “In Christ Alone,” “All Heaven Declares,” “Here I Am to Worship,” “Everlasting God” and “Heart of Worship.”

Paculabo is survived by his wife of 33 years, three children and one grandchild.