Our purpose is to produce Christian materials that are both faithful to the Bible and inspired by the Holy Spirit. We seek not only to serve the Church but also the wider world and therefore aim to have our works available in both Christian and secular outlets.
Who are we?
Based in Lowestoft on the east coast of England, Phil Stoddart and Geoff Stevens run the business. Phil is responsible for writing, editing materials and sorting out distribution while Geoff designs, proof-reads and looks after production. Other people chip in from time to time as necessary.
How did we start?
Publication began in June 2008 with A12 to Heaven, an uplifting account from Phil of the goodness of God experienced through tragedy. His initial intention was to find a publisher but during the lead up to completion, he was prayerfully and prophetically encouraged to publish it himself. This became possible when Geoff, an experienced graphic designer with good industry contacts arrived from London and joined the church. Geoff offered his services but then even more encouragement came, even from people with no idea what they were doing, to extend the boundaries beyond the production of just one book into the setting up of a publishing ministry.
Development
With Phil’s story receiving national coverage and also links into New Frontiers, the book quickly sold out its initial publication of 3000 copies and entered into a 2nd edition. The profits enabled them in May 2009 to publish Life Issues by Wendy Virgo. Wendy is the wife of Terry who pretty much began the New Frontiers church movement and her book is a series of practical discussions for women on building healthy marriages, homes and families.
In February 2010 a third book arrived called He Loves Me Not? The author Joanne Robinson is a Christian counsellor and member of a Baptist church in Norfolk. It’s another title aimed at women but what makes it different to Wendy’s book is the focus on broken relationships. Jo has a wealth of experience in this area and uses biblical principles to show how God can heal the bruises and how to avoid getting them in the first place!
Later in the year, three more books entered into production. God’s Stump, by Nigel Measures from Cape Town, South Africa, received a number of glowing endorsements from international leaders including Edward Buriah, Steve Oliver and Bart Campolo. It brings a challenge to go further in loving people who are different to us and to help build a beautiful diverse church that brings glory to God in the world.
From the Inside Out by Mike Betts is a wonderfully practical guide to God’s gift of grace. Trying to live righteously is not easy and sometimes we behave inappropriately. This book is a wonderfully practical guide to knowing where we stand before God in such times and how grace can help us become more like Christ.
Courage to Dream by Coralita Martin is a life story that reviewer Wendy Virgo found utterly absorbing. Ill-treated from early childhood in Antigua, Coralita became a gifted teacher, but was forced into an abusive marriage. Eventually arriving in London’s East End with several children, she endured both deprivation and poverty. Her story is of outstanding courage and an unwavering faith in the power of God to sustain.
The future?
As well as the release of Keith Hazell’s book Whose word is it anyway, we are currently working with more authors, all of whom are leaders at the forefront of planting and building healthy churches. However, a major obstacle to our development is simply getting our books stocked in enough outlets for people to buy. This is where we need lots of support and goodwill to whoever is out there!!!