Contact:  Jason Jones, Lead Publicist
tel:(615) 902-2344
e-mail:  jjones@thomasnelson.com
Twitter: @Book_Publicist

(Nashville, Tenn.) – Thomas Nelson will publish two trade books by Pastor Mark Driscoll, it was announced today by Brian Hampton, Senior Vice President and Publisher of Thomas Nelson Publishers’ Non-Fiction Trade Group.  The first is a hardcover book about marriage to be co-authored by Driscoll’s wife, Grace. It is tentatively scheduled for release in January 2012 and will be, as is Driscoll’s style, a candid discussion of issues that most Christian books don’t address as directly, including sex and intimacy.  The book, as yet untitled, will draw on the Driscolls’ personal story, Scripture, statistics, and cultural analysis to both equip singles and couples for marriage and revive those marriages that have lost or are missing essential connections in their relationship.  The book will be launched with a comprehensive ministry campaign, and will include a small-group curriculum package featuring a study guide and video that will also be developed.

Driscoll is the co-founder and preaching pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, with 10,000 people in weekly attendance, and the co-founder of the Acts 29 Network, an organization that has planted over 400 churches.  He also helped launch The Resurgence, the most highly trafficked Christian leadership blog online.

“I’m so excited to be working with Mark and Grace Driscoll. The impact of their ministry has been profound and enduring. And I believe people desperately need what the Driscolls’ new book will deliver—candid, real-world, biblical teaching about marriage, sex, and intimacy,” said Hampton.  “They don’t pull punches or gloss over difficult issues … and that’s what’s going to make this book unlike any that’s come before it."

Mars Hill, currently preparing for an Easter service at Qwest Field – home of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks – that could be the largest church service ever conducted in the Pacific Northwest, was named recently by Outreach magazine as one of the country’s most innovative and fastest-growing churches, with more than thirteen thousand people meeting on Sundays, across ten locations in two states (Washington and New Mexico).  One of the world’s most downloaded and quoted pastors, Pastor Mark Driscoll was named in May 2010 as one of the 25 most influential preachers of the past quarter century by Preaching magazine.

“It is a tremendous honor and privilege to be working with Thomas Nelson. They have been incredibly supportive, encouraging, and helpful,” said Driscoll.  “I am confident that with their help and God’s grace, together we’ll produce life-changing books. This partnership marks a new season of my life and ministry. I’m humbled, honored, and excited.”

Driscoll’s sentiment regarding the deal was echoed by Sealy Yates, senior partner at Yates & Yates, who represents Driscoll’s literary interests.  

“This new relationship between Pastor Mark and Thomas Nelson is an important step in the expansion of his outreach and effectiveness. It is going to be especially rewarding to work with him and his wife, Grace, on their book on the subject of marriage,” he said.  “It’s just such a privilege to represent them.  Pastor Mark is one of the finest leaders in the evangelical church community today and he is making a substantial impact for Christ.”

Finding Pastor Mark:
Twitter: @PastorMark (over 120,000 followers)
Facebook: Mark Driscoll (over 97,000 page “likes”)

 For more information, contact:
Jason Jones, jjones@thomasnelson.com or via DM on Twitter: @Book_Publicist

Thomas Nelson is a leading provider of Bibles, products, and live events emphasizing Christian, inspirational and family-value themes.  For more information, visit our website www.thomasnelson.com.