Marking 75 years in business, book and Bible publisher Crossway hosted a banquet room full of guests "in celebration of God's eternal faithfulness."

The company's president, Lane Dennis, welcomed guests Monday to the banquet, held in the Renaissance St. Louis Grand Hotel across from America's Center Convention Complex, where the International Christian Retail Show is being held.

Along with the singing of hymns—arranged by Crossway CEO Geoffrey Dennis and accompanied by a church worship team, including his playing guitar and leading—guests heard remarks delivered by video from J.I. Packer, veteran author and general editor for Crossway's English Standard Version of the Bible, on the faithfulness of God and His Word.

The evening's other two speakers were Crossway authors Bryan Chapell and Kevin DeYoung. Chapell,senior pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Ill., and president emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary, is author of numerous Crossway books and is general editor of the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible, to be published in September. Chapell addressed the subject of "Christ in All of Scripture, Grace for All of Life."

DeYoung, senior pastor of University Reformed Church in East Lansing, Mich., is a blogger and speaker whose forthcoming Crossway book, Crazy Busy, is slated for August publication. He offered the keynote address, "What Is the Mission of Christian Publishing?"

Reflecting on how the apostle Paul fulfilled his mission and how Christian publishers can do the same, DeYoung talked of the need to find new converts, establish new communities and nurture churches. He observed that in Romans 15, Paul said there was no more work for him to do and considered how to get to that point. He also shared what gospel-centered publishing is not, including publishing to "grind axes," to "make constituents happy" and "to help people keep their jobs."

Considering what a publisher's priorities need to be, DeYoung amused the crowd when he declared that "the hard thing is to have posteriorities," things on "the back end you're not going to do" so the company's focus can be where it truly should be.

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