A New Era for the ESV Bible
The English Standard Version (ESV) Bible continues to experience unprecedented growth, with worldwide sales and distribution increasing four-fold over the past two years. This surge in popularity has propelled the ESV to the number three position on the CBA bestseller list. To meet the growing demand, Crossway Books and Bibles has announced a new organizational structure, focusing on two publishing divisions and a strategic plan for sales and marketing.
Two New Publishing Divisions
As of July, Crossway will be organized into two major publishing divisions: Crossway Bibles and Crossway Books. Randy Jahns, formerly Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing, will lead the new Bible publishing division. Jahns has been instrumental in the successful launch of the ESV Bible over the past six years. Allan Fisher, Vice President for Book Publishing, will continue to lead the book publishing division, which has expanded its publishing program from 40 to 65 titles per year.
New Leadership in Sales and Marketing
Geoff Dennis has taken on new responsibilities as Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Dennis brings 15 years of experience to his new role and will provide leadership for a significant new sales and marketing strategy. “Our goal is to increase our effectiveness in serving established markets while expanding our reach into the rapidly changing ‘new marketplace,’” Dennis notes.
Reaching a New Generation
The ESV Bible has experienced remarkable growth, with over 100% annual growth in the Christian retail market for four consecutive years. The ESV Literary Study Bible, a unique edition featuring literary features for Bible study and devotional reading, is scheduled for release in September. The ESV is also available through over 50 e-media providers and can be accessed online at esv.org, where over 3 million searches are conducted each month.
Partnerships and Collaborations
The growth of the ESV has been fueled by partnerships with Bible societies around the world, including the British Bible Society, United Bible Society, and American Bible Society. Collaborations with Bible-based ministries in the US, such as Back to the Bible and Campus Crusade for Christ, have also been crucial.
A Legacy of Faithfulness
The ESV Bible stands in the tradition of “essentially literal,” “word-for-word” Bible translations, dating back to William Tyndale’s New Testament and the KJV. The translation process involved seven levels of review and comparison against the earliest Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. First published in 2001, the ESV seeks to combine faithfulness to the original languages, beauty of expression, and depth of meaning.
Crossway’s Mission
As a leading not-for-profit publisher of Christian books and Bibles, Crossway is driven by a passion to reach the world with the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ. With a vision to publish materials that will help Christians apply the truth of God’s Word to all of life, Crossway has had the privilege of publishing many significant Christian books and authors over the years.
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