STORIES NEEDED ON INTERNET EVANGELISM

I am writing a book on the Internet Evangelism phenomenon for Broadman and Holman Publishers. The book is tentatively titled, "NetCasters: Harnessing the Internet to Make Fishers of Men." I'm looking for testimonies of people who have come to Christ through relationships built online -- or by watching or reading a gospel presentation on the Web.

There are now dozens of ways that people can communicate on the Internet -- whether it be through e-mail, a chat room, a message board, a social network like MySpace or Facebook, or through an affinity Web site. Internet evangelists are using all of these various methods -- and more -- to share the Gospel with seekers online.

Do you know someone who has come to Christ through a relationship built on the Internet? Or perhaps they came to salvation after watching an online video or reading a Gospel presentation online. I'd like to share their story.

If you know of a story like this that I could use in this book, please feel free to e-mail it to me at craig@vonbuseck.com. Or you can send me the contact information and I would be happy to contact the person and conduct an interview.

My deadline for the book is June 15th, so if you have a story that you could send me in the next couple of weeks it would be most appreciated. Please feel free to e-mail with any questions.

Craig von Buseck, D.Min.
Director of Ministries
977 Centerville Turnpike · Virginia Beach, VA 23463
Tel: (757) 226-3557 · Fax: (757) 226-3575
craig.vonbuseck@cbn.org · www.cbn.com

CHRISTIAN SCI-FI & FANTASY BLOG TOUR

The Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy Blog Tour runs May 19-21st. The group is mainly comprised of ACFW members who write and promote speculative fiction.

This month the group is touring 'MindFlights' a speculative webzine that pays its contributors. The website address:

http://mindflights.com/index.html

The CSFF Tour repeats every month. Each month we read one of the following; a published novel, magazine, short story, webzines, etc., then post our reviews and comments on our blog sites. We also leave comments on each other's site. This has proven to be an effective means to promote this exciting genre. And anyone can participate!! Hint! Hint! :)

Even if you don't write speculative fiction, but enjoy reading it you're welcome to come on board. Nor do you have to participate every month.

I encourage you to drop by and read my musings on MindFlights. Next month we will review: Kathryn Mackel's Vanished.

If you'd like more Intel on CSFF you can email Rebecca Miller at: rluellam@earthlink.net

And check out the CSFF Site: http://csffblogtour.com/

FINALISTS FOR GOLDEN SCROLL AWARDS

Finalists for the 2008 Golden Scroll Awards Announced By Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA)

The Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) recently announced the 2008 finalists for the Golden Scroll Awards for Publisher, Editor, and Fiction Editor of the Year. Finalists will be honored at the eighth Annual Golden Scrolls Award Banquet July 13th from 1 pm to 3 pm, at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida. This year's Golden Scroll finalists are:

Publisher of the Year Award — Crossway Books, Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, and New Hope. Editor of the Year — Philis Boultinghouse of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, Judi Perry of Beacon Hill, and Ramona Richards of Thomas Nelson Publishers. Fiction Editor of the Year— Nick Harrison of Harvest House, Sarah Long of Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, and Krista Stroever of Steeple Hill.

NAVPRESS RETURNS TO ROOTS

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., May 12 -- Everything old is new again at NavPress, the publishing arm of The Navigators. Over its 30-year history NavPress has had its share of ups and downs in the modern world of publishing.

"As with most organizations that have been around for a while, there comes a time when you need to get back to your core and re-discover what it is that makes you unique," says Mike Miller, the new Executive Publisher with NavPress. "Moving forward, there will be significant changes in the way we do publishing."

Miller brings a wealth of experience outside of publishing to his new position at NavPress. The former Baptist minister and LifeWay executive was one of the founders of GodTube, the Christian alternative to the wildly popular Internet site YouTube.

When asked what brought Mike to NavPress, he answers without hesitation. "It's because of the 75-year history and heritage of The Navigators. The Navigators are known for being a people who have been transformed by the Gospel of Jesus and carry in their hearts the passion for life transformation. The NavPress brand is highly regarded and respected throughout the world for publishing the spiritual-formation, life-altering messages of The Navigators," says Miller.

The ministry of The Navigators began in the 1930s through the call of God to a young Californian, Dawson Trotman. Trotman's vision was to teach to others, one-on-one, the biblical principles of discipleship he found beneficial in his own life. He began to teach high school students and local Sunday school classes. In 1933 he and his friends extended their work to reach out to sailors in the U.S. Navy. From there Trotman met and established a partnership with the then up-and-coming preacher/evangelist, Billy Graham.

"The rest is history. The Navigators' influence is everywhere," Miller observes. "Many of the largest and most well-known faith-based organizations throughout the world have been seeded by the ministry of The Navigators. Other publishers are stand-alone and not connected to anything," Miller continues. "At NavPress we are first and foremost Navigators." Miller is the first Executive Publisher at NavPress to sit on The Navigators National Leadership Team.

"We must be intentional about distributing culturally relevant, biblically based materials that engage individuals wherever they are on their journey toward God," Miller concludes.

MARGARET REID POETRY CONTEST

This year marks the fifth contest sponsored
by WinningWriters.com which was selected
as one of "101 Best Websites for Writers"
(Writer's Digest, 2005-2007).

Deadline: Monday June 30,2008

CATEGORY: Poetry, Traditional Verse

FEE: $6 for every 25 lines

PRIZES:
First prize: $2,000.
Second prize: $1,000.
Third prize: $500.
Fourth prize: $250

ADDITIONAL PRIZES:
Five (5) High Distinction Awards - $200 ea. +
Five (5) Most Highly Commended Awards - $100 ea.

WINNERS: Also published at WinningWriters.com
(boasts over one million page views per year).

POEMS SUBMITTED: Must be in traditional verse form
(i.e. sonnets, free verse, etc.)

ACCEPTS: both published and unpublished work.

MAKE ENTRY FEE payable to Winning Writers.

JUDGES: J.H. Reid, D.C. Konrad.

SUBMIT ENTRIES either online or by mail.

CONTACT INFO:
Winning Writers
ATTN: Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
351 Pleasant Street
PMB 222
Northampton MA 01060

Website: http://www.winningwriters.com/margaret

CHRISTIAN CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEWS

Here is a review resource for Christian children's book authors. It is a blog that exclusively reviews children's picture books with Christian themes. Go to: Christian Children's Book Review ( http://www.CCBReview.blogspot.com ). They work with many of the big names in Christian publishing, and have been honored with several Litty Awards. Kristina Seleshanko is Managing Editor.

CHRISTIAN WRITERS GUILD AT BOOK EXPO IN DALLAS

Christian Writers Guild Participating in ECPA’s Christian Book Expo Dallas 2009

Phoenix, AZ—The Christian Writers Guild has announced that it will host its Christian Communicators Seminar during Christian Book Expo (CBE) Dallas 2009. The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is the host for CBE, a first-ever Christian book show in Dallas, Texas, on March 20-22, 2009. The book show is open to everyone interested in Christian books, and groups such as The Christian Writers Guild are making the most of an opportunity to extend their brand to avid readers.

“Book reading and book writing go hand-in-hand. We believe the Christian Book Expo will be a great place for us to connect with writers,” says Jerry B. Jenkins, owner of the Christian Writers Guild.

Jenkins, widely known as the co-author of the popular Left Behind book series, will be leading, with a variety of other Guild professionals, the Christian Writers Guild’s sessions. Currently, some of the topics for the sessions include fiction, non-fiction, creativity, speaking and magazine writing. The Christian Writers Guild will also host a booth on the CBE show floor to market its program to writers.

ECPA is particularly pleased with the Guild’s participation: “The Christian Book Expo will be a magnet for book lovers, some of whom are also aspiring authors. So the Guild’s presence helps us present an expanded view of the publishing process,” says ECPA President Mark Kuyper. “This is one more opportunity for CBE to connect readers with the authors and books they love.”

The Christian Book Expo is the only consumer book show for Christian books. Held March 20-22, 2009, in Dallas, CBE is expected to attract thousands of book lovers and authors.