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Board hears success stories from Publishing House


Governing members of the United Methodist Publishing House contribute to the anti-malaria Nothing But Nets campaign during their spring meeting in Nashville, Tenn. UMNS photos by Kathy L. Gilbert.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*
March 30, 2007 | NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS)

 


Publishing House publisher and CEO Neil Alexander addresses the board of directors.

The United Methodist Publishing House is "living big," "transforming lives" and "still singing" with new publications for children and adults.

The church publishing agency is celebrating the successes of the children's Sunday school curriculum "Live B.I.G."; the stewardship study guide Treasures of the Transformed Life; and the African-American songbook Zion Still Sings.

The good news was reported to the Publishing House board of directors during its March 27-28 spring meeting.

Larry Wallace, senior vice president of finance and administration, reported a strong financial performance during the first two quarters of the fiscal year, which ended in January. Total sales were $55.7 million, exceeding budget by $1.1 million. Expenses were lower than budgeted by more than $800,000, and net operating revenue for the six-month period was $1.3 million ahead of budget.

New church offerings

Marj Pon, director of children's resources, said launching the new Sunday school curriculum required big risks that have paid off.

Seven months after its release, the curriculum is in more than 5,000 churches and "really reaching the children," she said.

Production of the interactive Sunday school curriculum "Live B.I.G." was more expensive than expected and a new staff had to be hired to produce the series. However, Pon said the feedback has been positive and shared some letters, calls and e-mails with board members.

"I just wish you could know just how deeply Live B.I.G. is touching the lives of our children and teachers," said Pam Cotton, director of children's ministries at Elmwood West United Methodist Church, Abilene Texas. "When I see a teacher crying because they are so touched by the Big Picture and the Big Sound, it warms my heart. That leads the teacher to interact with the children in a way that is real and the love of Jesus just flows."

The curriculum uses DVDs with colorful characters, hip music and travel segments designed to help children learn – and then live what they learn. A primary goal is to make children excited about attending Sunday school.

"I could not pass up the opportunity to tell you that our church school department just loves the Live B.I.G. curriculum. The students are all happy and the teachers are just as excited," said Carolyn Gooden, a Christian educator with St. Mary's United Methodist Church, Wichita, Kan.

Other new offerings generating positive feedback are Treasures of the Transformed Life, a 40-day, churchwide study focusing on stewardship, and Zion Still Sings! For Every Generation, a follow-up resource to Songs of Zion.

Written by the Rev. John Ed Mathison, pastor of Frazer United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Ala., and a member of the Publishing House board, Transformed Life shifts the focus from finances to individual spiritual development and Christian community. During the first seven months of its release, about 25,000 copies have sold.

Zion Still Sings! For Every Generation captures the changing musical dynamics of African-American worship and song and emphasizes new contemporary songs of praise and worship.


The Rev. Larry Hollon speaks about the Nothing But Nets anti-malaria campaign.

Scheduled for a May release, the songbook seeks "to bridge from the content of Songs of Zion into the present age," said the Rev. Myron McCoy, the project’s general editor. It pulls from African American spirituals, black gospel, traditional hymns, 21st century hymns, urban rap and hip hop.

The book will sell for $12, with an accompaniment edition priced at $55. It contains 250 songs – 80 percent of them copyrighted since 1981 – and includes specially commissioned pieces.

Mission and ministry

In a spirit of collaboration and shared ministry, the board affirmed a proposed four-pronged mission emphasis by which The United Methodist Council of Bishops and worldwide Connectional Table would set the future course of the denomination’s work and life.

The bishops, the executives of churchwide agencies and the Connectional Table have proposed that all levels of the denomination work together to transform the church and the world by promoting leadership development, starting new congregations, addressing global heath concerns and tackling root causes of poverty.

After a presentation on the anti-malaria campaign Nothing But Nets by the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive of United Methodist Communications, board members individually contributed $570 to buy insecticide-treated bed nets.

The people of The United Methodist Church are a founding partner in Nothing But Nets, which is taking aim at one of Africa's biggest killers of children by protecting families from disease-carrying mosquitoes. Other founding partners include the United Nations Foundation, the National Basketball Association's NBA Cares and Sports Illustrated.

For each $10 donation, a bed net is purchased and distributed to Africa, where education about its use is provided. The dream is to eradicate malaria.

"Not everything in the world has to be paralyzing; we can change some things," said Neil Alexander, publisher and CEO of the Publishing House, urging participation in the campaign.

Information about the new publications is available through Cokesbury Bookstores or online at www.abingdonpress.com.

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

Related articles

Publishing House adapts to market changes

Zion Still Sings! celebrates music across generations

It's B.I.G.! Publishing House unveils Sunday school program

Publishing House plans new materials, faces tougher market

Resources

United Methodist Publishing House

Cokesbury

Abingdon Press


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