RICHMOND, Va. (BP)–More than 140,000 copies of Beth Moore’s new devotional book “Voices of the Faithful” have sold nationwide since its release Aug. 2. The book shot up the bestsellers list and stayed in the top five for at least two months in Christian Retailing and was first on the list for at least two weeks.
Byron Williamson, president and CEO of Integrity Publishers, presented a plaque to Jerry Rankin, president of the International Mission Board, in recognition of the first 100,000 books sold. Rankin accepted the award during a “Voices of the Faithful” celebration at the International Mission Board Oct. 24.
“We are getting a tremendous response,” Rankin said. “We cannot begin to imagine the power that is unleashed to touch a lost world -– and inspire others to join these missionaries as they lift up their voice.”
The excitement surrounding the book is contagious, Williamson said.
“The nature of the book is that as churches begin using Voices of the Faithful, they will be moved by it and start telling others,” Williamson said. “Word of mouth will continue to drive this book. Once people are infected by the message, they will share it whether they want to or not.”
Along with the book, the companion pieces -– the worship CD and DVD -– have sold 26,000 and 3,000 respectively.
When Integrity Publishers saw the text and the International Mission Board’s idea for churches to use the book, Williamson knew the book needed a companion worship CD.
“For this message to fully engage the public, it needed music,” Williamson said.
Travis Cottrell, worship leader for Beth Moore’s Living Proof conferences and artist & repertoire (A&R) for the Voices of the Faithful CD, led the praise music for the Voices of the Faithful celebration.
“I pray that as the enemy heats up his game in our nation, and in every nation, that we would rise to the calling to heat up our game in prayer, and that we would give and serve,” Cottrell said. “I love to see how God takes what we offer -– no matter what size it is, no matter how much it is -– and turns it into beauty.”
Churches across the United States already have started using the devotional book.
First Baptist Church of St. George Island, Fla., which has about 100 members, has ordered 240 books to use as daily devotionals. The church is encouraging members to buy extra copies to share with family and friends.
In Boulder, Colo., Larry Dramann, pastor of East Boulder Baptist Church, is using the devotions in his sermons with topics ranging from persecution to prayer and witnessing.
“After the last [devotional] I used, I saw a woman in the church who had just returned from a trip to South Africa -– God has really placed a call in her heart for missions,” Dramann said. “She was walking out of the building carrying the book.”
After reading the devotion for his birthday, a 14-year-old boy from Muskogee, Okla., could not put the book down. He kept reading devotion after devotion.
“This is a good book,” he said. “Anyone would like to read this.”
The response has encouraged the book’s creators.
“We never dreamed there would be a CD and other products and that over 100,000 people would already have this book,” said Kim P. Davis, compiler of Voices of the Faithful.
“I am thrilled about the Lift Up Your Voice prayer initiative that will begin in earnest in January,” Davis said, “when thousands of people will be praying for God’s work across the world as they read Voices of the Faithful and participate in small group discussions and intercessory prayer.”
Through the yearlong prayer emphasis, Southern Baptist churches will partner with the International Mission Board to pray for missionaries around the world. Lift Up Your Voice will encourage individual church members or families to use Voices of the Faithful at home during daily devotional times. Then church groups, with the help of a facilitator’s guide, will meet monthly to pray and discuss what God has been teaching them.
In January 2006, Beth Moore, Jerry Rankin and musician Travis Cottrell will conduct a simulcast broadcast for churches already involved in the Lift Up Your Voice call to prayer and to stimulate others to join in praying for overseas missionaries.
Lift Up Your Voice resources include: Voices of the Faithful, planning guide, small group facilitator’s guide, e-newsletter, poster, map, bulletin insert and companion CD and iWorship DVD from Integrity Music.
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Voices of the Faithful is available for $18.99 (suggested retail) through local retailers and through the International Mission Board for $15.30 at http://voicesofthefaithful.com or 1-800-999-3113. Special pricing is available for bulk orders. The planning and facilitator’s guides can be downloaded free at http://voicesofthefaithful.com. Go online at www.ccn.tv/cnn/voice.htm for more information about the January simulcast event.
