(Nashville, TN) Outreach Magazine announced in its May/June 2008 issue that the 3:16 family of products (Thomas Nelson) has been named Outreach Resource of the Year for 2007. Outreach Magazine noted “With an unprecedented number of entities promoting the 3:16 campaign, inspired by Max Lucado’s book 3:16 The Numbers of Hope, it should be no surprise that we found it to be the 2007 resource with the biggest impact on evangelism and outreach in America-and the greatest potential to continue that impact.” Outreach Magazine, published by Outreach Marketing, presents annual awards for the best Christian evangelism resources in a number of categories along with one Resource of the Year. Outreach Marketing is one of the licensing partners of 3:16 product, creating banners, note cards, and many other resources.

Outreach Magazine’s readership is comprised of pastors, lay leaders, para-church leaders, and others. It is these readers who vote on the resources that receive the annual Outreach awards. Church leaders, who make up 80% of Outreach’s demographic, are constantly seeking the most relevant and helpful resources to reach out to their community. In addition to receiving the Resource of the Year award, 3:16 resources earned accolades in the following categories as well:

• LifeWay’s 3:16 The Church Experience won the award for Small Group Outreach. This product included several elements: Travis Cottrell’s 3:16 musical CD, the 3:16 Trade Book, the 3:16 Promise evangelistic booklet, and 3:16 The Code for Your Life, which is a children’s puzzle, game and activity book featuring the entire Gospel of John.

• 3:16 The Numbers of Hope trade book won the award for Personal Evangelism.

Author Max Lucado responded to the awards with a longing for more outreach opportunities. “My prayer would be that 3:16, the verse, would become a cause. It offers the greatest gift we can give to non-Christians: hope.”

All 3:16 products are based upon the bestselling book by Max Lucado, 3:16—The Numbers of Hope, which released from Thomas Nelson on September 11, 2007. Since that time, Thomas Nelson Inc. has released several more 3:16 branded products including a Spanish edition of the trade book, a DVD curriculum, an evangelistic booklet, group study resources, Bible products, and children’s and youth book releases. Additional 3:16 products have been created and marketed by 3:16 licensees which include Outreach Marketing, Kerusso, Indelible Creative Group, Lionsgate, LifeWay Church Resources, LifeWay Worship, Hallmark/Dayspring, Good News Publishers, Bob Siemon Designs, and others. To see a full listing of 3:16 resources visit www.ThreeSixteen.net.

Chris Thomason, President and CEO of Indelible Creative Group, which created the 3:16 musical CD, notes: “Indelible is honored to be a part of the 3:16 initiative. These products have become and continue to be tools that reach people with the life-changing message of John 3:16 and encourage all of us in our daily lives. We see continued momentum as churches, ministries, and individuals use these products to share their faith.”

Bret Robbe, Director of Leadership and Adult Publishing at LifeWay Church Resources, commented: “LifeWay’s partnership with Thomas Nelson and Max Lucado continues to touch millions of people. Now Outreach Magazine joins a chorus lifting up the most famous verse in the most famous Book, John 3:16. Most importantly, Jesus Christ is being lifted up (John 3:14) and now we pray all people will be drawn to Him.”

With more than 50 million books in print, Max Lucado’s titles are read worldwide in more than 20 languages. Christianity Today magazine dubbed Lucado “America’s Pastor,” and Publishers Weekly, the general market publication for books and bookselling, recently proclaimed “there aren’t many authors bigger than Lucado.” In 2005, Reader’s Digest recently called him “America’s Best Preacher.”.” His books are regular fixtures on national bestseller lists including The New York Times, USA Today and Publishers Weekly. Lucado has been featured in a wide range of media, including USA Today, “Fox & Friends”, “Larry King Live” and “NBC Nightly News,” and has spoken at the National Prayer Breakfast before the President of the United States. For more information on 3:16 The Numbers of Hope or Max Lucado, visit www.ThreeSixteen.net or www.MaxLucado.com.

Contact: Dave Schroeder
Director of Marketing
tel: (615) 902-2127
fax: (615) 902-2746
web: www.thomasnelson.com
e-mail: dschroeder@thomasnelson.com

This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 at 12:08 pm and is filed under Awards, Corporate Releases, Lucado, Milestones, Press Release. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.