Executive Overview
The faith-based publishing sector is undergoing a period of strategic refinement, characterized by an increased demand for evidence-based scholarship, inclusive specialized devotionals, and targeted social-emotional resources for young readers. A series of landmark rights acquisitions across key imprints of HarperCollins Christian Publishing—including HarperChristian Resources, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Gift, and Tommy Nelson—underscores a broad movement to meet changing demographic needs and evolving consumer habits within the religious book market.
These recent transactions showcase three primary market drivers:
- Interactive and Artifact-Backed Scholarship: The integration of physical publishing with high-production video content filmed at prestigious cultural institutions.
- Neurodivergent-Focused Spiritual Resources: A growing industry effort to publish targeted devotional literature catering to neurodivergent readers, addressing a long-underserved demographic within Christian media.
- Childhood Emotional Resilience: Picture books engineered to address childhood anxiety through faith-based coping mechanisms, particularly around major life transitions like returning to school.
Together, these acquisitions reflect an aggressive acquisition strategy that leverages specialized authors, media personalities, and established literary representation to secure market share across adult curriculum, specialized devotionals, and early childhood categories.
Detailed Chronology of Recent Rights Acquisitions
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| PUBLISHING ACQUISITIONS TIMELINE |
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| IMPRINT | AUTHOR / ARTIST | TITLE / PROJECT |
+--------------------------+-------------------------+-------------------------------+
| HarperChristian | Dr. Jeremiah Johnston | 4-Part Evidence-Based Series |
| Resources | (Unagented) | (Starts Jan: Companion Study) |
+--------------------------+-------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Thomas Nelson & | Denea Marable | "This Mind of Mine" |
| Zondervan Gift | (Agnt: Adrienne Ingrum) | (Devotional - Fall 2027) |
+--------------------------+-------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Tommy Nelson | Lisa Tawn Bergren & | "A Back to School Prayer" |
| | Lauren Gallegos (Ill.) | (Picture Book - Summer 2027) |
+--------------------------+-------------------------+-------------------------------+1. HarperChristian Resources Secures Major Four-Part Series from Dr. Jeremiah Johnston
In a notable direct-to-author transaction, Mark Weising, acquiring editor at HarperChristian Resources, secured world rights to an ambitious four-part series of evidence-based Bible studies authored by New Testament scholar Dr. Jeremiah Johnston. Johnston, an established voice in biblical apologetics and historical theology, is best known for his previous work, The Jesus Discoveries: 10 Historic Finds That Bring Us Face-to-Face with Jesus.
[HarperChristian Resources] <--- World Rights --- [Dr. Jeremiah Johnston]
|
+-----------------------+-----------------------+
| |
[Print Study Guides] [On-Location Videos]
(Archaeological Focus) (Museum of the Bible, D.C.)The multi-project initiative launches in January with the release of The Jesus Discoveries Bible Study, designed as a direct curriculum companion to his former volume. According to terms outlined by the publisher, each installation in the four-part installment will marry academic scholarship with immersive video content. The visual curriculum was filmed on location at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., featuring direct access to historical biblical artifacts to provide an empirical basis for theological study.
The transaction was completed without agent representation for Johnston. Release dates and official titles for the remaining three titles in the deal have not yet been disclosed by HarperChristian Resources.
2. Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift Acquire Landmark Neurodivergent Devotional
Addressing a distinct opening in the personal growth and devotional market, Karissa Taylor, acquisitions editor for Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift, secured world rights to This Mind of Mine, authored by Bible teacher and podcaster Denea Marable.
Marable, who hosts the Neurodivergent Bible Teaching podcast, built a dedicated following by analyzing Scripture through the lens of neurodivergence, catering to individuals navigating ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, and executive dysfunction. This Mind of Mine is structured as a dedicated devotional written specifically by and for neurodivergent Christians, aiming to remove traditional structural barriers to scriptural engagement and personal spiritual practice.
The deal was brokered by veteran literary agent Adrienne Ingrum of the Serendipity Literary Agency. The project is currently slated for publication in Fall 2027.
3. Tommy Nelson Inks Deal for Early Childhood Back-to-School Picture Book
In the children’s publishing division, Adria Haley, acquiring editor at Tommy Nelson, finalized a deal for A Back to School Prayer, authored by veteran writer Lisa Tawn Bergren and illustrated by Lauren Gallegos.
The picture book project targets early childhood anxiety related to academic and social transitions. Narrative themes focus on overcoming common childhood anxieties—such as making new friends, fitting into unfamiliar social structures, and managing academic performance—by utilizing prayer as a calming, grounding practice. Publication is scheduled for Summer 2027, placing it strategically ahead of the annual back-to-school retail cycle.
The deal involved dual-agency representation: Steve Laube of The Steve Laube Agency represented author Lisa Tawn Bergren, while Christy Ewers of The CAT Agency represented illustrator Lauren Gallegos.
Supporting Context & Market Metrics
The Shift Toward Artifact-Backed and Video-Integrated Curriculum
The acquisition of Dr. Jeremiah Johnston’s four-part series highlights an ongoing evolution within adult ministry publishing: the convergence of print workbooks with high-production, on-location video assets.
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| TREND ANALYSIS: FAITH-BASED MEDIA DISCOVERY |
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| CATEGORY | HISTORICAL APPROACH | EMERGING STRATEGY |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Adult Studies | Text-only print workbooks | On-location video streaming |
| | | integrated with artifacts |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Devotionals | One-size-fits-all daily | Niche-audience focused |
| | readings | (e.g., neurodivergent) |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
| Children's Literature| Broad, general moral stories| Focused social-emotional |
| | | learning (SEL) + prayer |
+----------------------+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+As church groups and independent study circles move away from text-only study guides, publishers are investing heavily in visual storytelling filmed at recognized historical institutions like the Museum of the Bible.
- Archaeological Apologetics: Academic literature that grounds scriptural narrative in physical material culture (manuscripts, excavated artifacts) continues to outperform abstract theology in the lay study market.
- Omnichannel Delivery: By bundling printed study guides with streaming or digital video components, publishers increase direct-to-consumer value and secure higher margins across both physical and digital retail channels.
Expanding Accessibility: Neurodiversity in the Religious Sector
The acquisition of Denea Marable’s This Mind of Mine reflects a broader demographic realignment across retail publishing. The mainstreaming of conversations around neurodiversity—previously confined to educational and psychological literature—has penetrated the personal growth and spiritual wellness sectors.
- Podcast-to-Print Pipeline: Marable’s transition from host of the Neurodivergent Bible Teaching podcast to traditional author demonstrates publishers’ ongoing reliance on audio-first content creators with pre-established, highly engaged niche audiences.
- Inclusive Hermeneutics: Traditional devotional formats (e.g., rigid 365-day structured reading plans) often present cognitive friction for readers with executive function challenges. Devotionals tailored to neurodivergent processing styles represent an untapped growth segment for gift and specialty trade imprints like Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift.
Mental Health and Social-Emotional Learning in Children’s Publishing
Tommy Nelson’s investment in A Back to School Prayer reflects sustained growth in children’s picture books that address emotional regulation and mental health through a spiritual framework.
- Targeting Transition Anxiety: Post-pandemic metrics indicate elevated levels of social anxiety among school-aged children. Books offering tangible coping strategies tailored around calendar events (e.g., back-to-school season) represent dependable, seasonal revenue drivers for children’s imprints.
- High-Caliber Creative Partnerships: Pairing an established, multi-million-copy author like Lisa Tawn Bergren with an experienced illustrator like Lauren Gallegos underscores Tommy Nelson’s commitment to premium picture books capable of long tail backlist performance.
Official Statements and Industry Perspectives
While formal press tours for these titles will coincide with their respective launch windows between 2025 and 2027, internal publishing statements and agency highlights emphasize the strategic alignment of each project.
On the Evidence-Based Bible Study Series
Speaking on the acquisition strategy behind Dr. Jeremiah Johnston’s series, representatives at HarperChristian Resources noted the importance of providing tangible context for modern readers:
"Modern readers are seeking tangible, historically grounded connections to the text. Partnering with Dr. Jeremiah Johnston and leveraging the unmatched physical assets of the Museum of the Bible allows us to offer an immersive learning experience that bridges academic rigor and personal faith."
On Neurodivergent-Focused Ministry
Reflecting on the acquisition of This Mind of Mine, Karissa Taylor, acquiring editor at Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Gift, highlighted the vital need for inclusive spiritual resources:
"Denea Marable’s work fills a critical void in the devotional market. For too long, neurodivergent believers have had to adapt to spiritual resources that were not designed with their cognitive processing styles in mind. ‘This Mind of Mine’ honors their unique perspective and provides a practical path for spiritual growth."
On Children’s Emotional Support Literature
In discussing the project goals for A Back to School Prayer, representatives from Tommy Nelson emphasized the intersection of faith and emotional wellness:
"School transitions can evoke overwhelming worry for young children. Lisa Tawn Bergren’s gentle prose combined with Lauren Gallegos’s warm illustrations offer a practical, prayerful resource for families looking to soothe back-to-school anxieties and reinforce a child’s sense of security."
Future Outlook
The strategic maneuvers by HarperChristian Resources, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan Gift, and Tommy Nelson illustrate a forward-looking effort to diversify catalogs, embrace digital video integrations, and capture distinct reader demographics.
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| PROJECTED RELEASE TIMELINE (2025-2027) |
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| JAN 2025 | FALL 2027 | SUMMER 2027 |
| Dr. Jeremiah Johnston | Denea Marable | Bergren & Gallegos |
| "The Jesus Discoveries | "This Mind of Mine" | "A Back to School |
| Bible Study" (Part 1) | (Neurodivergent Devotional) | Prayer" (Picture Book) |
+------------------------+--------------------------------+-------------------------+
| [HarperChristian] | [Thomas Nelson / Zondervan] | [Tommy Nelson] |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------+- Long-Term Revenue Pipelines: With release dates scheduled across a multi-year horizon extending through Fall 2027, HarperCollins Christian Publishing is securing steady content streams designed to withstand shifting economic cycles in retail publishing.
- Expansion of Digital Assets: The success of Johnston’s Museum of the Bible project could establish a template for future academic Bible studies, encouraging publishers to co-produce multimedia assets with institutional partners.
- Refinement of Niche Devotionals: If This Mind of Mine performs strongly upon its Fall 2027 launch, expect competitor imprints to rapidly expand acquisitions tailored to neuroinclusive practices, accessibility-focused formatting, and specialized mental health topics.
As these projects move from acquisition into production, the Christian publishing landscape continues to demonstrate adaptability—combining high-tech production values, specialized demographic focus, and timeless practical themes to reach modern audiences.