remembering

Remembering Jan Berenstain

 

In remembrance of Jan Berenstain, 26 July 1923 – 24 February 2012.

Jan and Stan Berenstain

It has been an honor and a privilege to work with Jan Berenstain. Her obvious love of family and life, children and reading … all are reflected in the artwork she has created for so many books over the years.

After working with Mike and Jan Berenstain for three years as an editor for the Berenstain Bears Living Lights series, I was finally able to meet Jan face-to-face this past fall. When I met Jan I was struck almost immediately by her vitality. Though petite in stature, Jan had a spirit and a smile as big as Mama Bear’s! I was pulled into her circle just as easily as most of us Berenstain Bear fans have been pulled into the Bear family and their stories and lessons. Listening to her relate memories of the early Berenstain Bear books and the story of the Bears and their development, and then later having the opportunity to watch as she painted a current project for the Living Lights series, I remember thinking that I was watching a children’s literature icon hard at work. Blessed with a marvelous sense of humor and artistic talent, Jan has brought to life characters that have become friends, family members, and favorite teachers for many of us readers over the past 50 years.

 

This is how I am going to remember Jan … a big smile and a hug, with paints smudging her fingertips … thinking in that sharp mind about the next action-filled, colorful scene on the next spread of the next book …

- Mary Hassinger, Acquisitions Editor, Zonderkidz

 

It has been a childhood dream and an adult privilege for me to work with Jan and Mike Berenstain over the years. I remember the first birthday card sent to Jan from our team and her response, “I love this year’s signed birthday card. Thanks! I’m beginning to understand why readers enjoy getting their books signed — it’s great!” Jan was a kid at heart. She will always be that bubbly person to me. The world is a better place because of Jan Berenstain.

- Annette Bourland, Publisher, Zonderkidz

Image: Jan & Stan Berenstain, via www.harpercollins.com.

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Celebrating the Life and Legacy of John Stott

 

John R. W. Stott

The Zondervan family wishes to express our sincere condolences on the passing of Reverend John Stott. Reverend Stott is widely regarded as one of the great evangelical leaders of his time and he has left a significant lasting legacy having played a major role in shaping 20th-century evangelical Christianity through his writing, preaching and global ministry efforts. He was a prolific writer and author and Zondervan was privileged to publish several of his influential books and to help share his voice with the world.


Reverend Stott was credited with having a great heart and passion for supporting and mentoring Christian scholars and leaders. We have also been fortunate to publish some of those great voices he mentored, including the talented Dr. Christopher Wright,

 

As the world grieves the loss of this great and humble man, we should also celebrate his full and rich life which was fully devoted daily to serving God and the church through his tireless work.

We would like to share with you two excerpts by Reverend Stott. We feel they exemplify his vibrant hope in Christ, and his passionate pursuit of better knowing, sharing, and living the Gospel.


From Understanding the Bible:

Whenever we read the Bible, we must look for Christ. And we must go on looking until we see and so believe. Only as we continue to appropriate by faith the riches of Christ which are disclosed to us in Scripture shall we grow into spiritual maturity, and become men and women of God who are “thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17).


From Issues Facing Christians Today:

It seems to me that we [Christians] need to repent of two particularly horrid sins. The first is pessimism, which is dishonoring to God and incompatible with Christian faith. To be sure, we do not forget the falleness, indeed the depravity, of human beings. We are well aware of the pervasiveness of evil. We are not so foolish as to imagine that society will ever become perfect before Christ comes and establishes the fullness of his rule. Nevertheless, we also believe in the power of God – in the power of God’s gospel to change society. We need to renounce both naïve optimism and cynical pessimism and replace them with the sober but confident realism of the Bible.

The second sin of which we need to repent is mediocrity, and the acceptance of it. I find myself wanting to say, especially to young people: “Don’t be content with the mediocre! Don’t settle for anything less than your full God-given potential! Be ambitious and adventurous for God! God has made you a unique person by your genetic endowment, upbringing and education. He has himself created you and gifted you, and he does not want his work to be wasted. He means you to be fulfilled, not frustrated. His purpose is that everything you have and are should be stretched in his service and in the service of others.”

 

We would love to hear how John Stott has touched your life. Share your reflections in a comment.


-Zondervan

 

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Remembering John Stott

In honor of John R. W. Stott, 27 April 1921 – 27 July 2011.

 

Basic Christianity

It was 1998 when I first read John Stott in a small group. Our leader selected Basic Christianity as our book of study for the year. I had certainly heard of John Stott before as my father had studied Theology and Church History and often would mention St. Francis, Stott, Luther, and other leaders of Christian thought over dinner. However, as a teen my perception was that Stott was just an old guy that wrote some books.

As we studied and discussed Basic Christianity I quickly realized how wrong I was. Stott had put on paper God's truth in plain language. It was impactful to say the least. And it helped form the foundations of my faith and formed my desire to learn more and more.

Years later I had an opportunity to pay this foundation forward, as I led a group of young men in a similar study and discussion.

It is sad to hear of John Stott's passing today. Yet, I am reminded to rejoice in the legacy and impact that he has had on entire generations of Christians. I trust that he heard the words, "Well done good and faithful servant."

Read more about John Stott at Christianity Today.

-Caleb Williams, Zondervan Internet Team

 

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Dr. Kwame Bediako In Memory

Dr. Kwame BediakoDr. Kwame Bediako passed away this week. Kwame was one of the most remarkable senior African leaders I have ever met. He had a surpassing level of scholarship (two doctorates – one in English and one in French). He had a range of knowledge of the history of the church in Africa (and Europe) that could keep us spell-bound for hours just listening to his stories. And he had a most profound understanding of the relationship between the gospel and African culture. He also had a huge passion to bring African Christians together to affirm their Christian identity in authentic ways that would overcome some of the worst legacies of the colonial era. And yet he wore all this learning with such a light touch. His twinkling eyes and sparkling humour and laughter were a constant tonic. It has been such a joy and privilege to know him for many years.

The Akrofi Christaller Memorial Centre for Mission Studies, that he established at Akropong, Ghana, has a fine record of research and publication in African Christianity and contextual theology, and just recently got its charter from the government of Ghana for the awarding of degrees including doctorates.

So we shall miss him greatly. He is a sad loss to Ghana, to Africa, and indeed to the world church.

Please pray for his wife (known to some as Gillian and to others as Mary), who has been totally involved in all the work that Kwame did, and is herself a writer and editor of immense experience.

It is hard at a time like this to understand the ways of the Lord. But the legacy that Kwame Bediako leaves is simply enormous, and we pray that his ministry and contribution will now be multiplied even further through those whom he has mentored and inspired over the years.

Rev Dr CHRIS Christopher J H Wright
International Director
Langham Partnership International

Dr. Kwame Bediako graciously spoke at Zondervan on May 7, 2008.  Below is a video of Dr. Bediako speaking on the topic of "Understanding the Unity of the Church."

Dr. Kwame Bediako, a historian and theologian from Ghana, was one of three theological advisors for the Africa Bible Commentary. Dr. Kwame Bediako held doctorates from the Universities of Bordeaux (French Literature) and Aberdeen. He was an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Founder/Director of the Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Centre for Mission Research and Applied Theology, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana, and Founder Secretary of the Africa Theological Fraternity. He was a Director of the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies and Honorary fellow of the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the Non-Western World, New College, Edinburgh. He was also Honorary Professor in the School of Theology, University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Dr. Bediako was author of Christianity in Africa: The Renewal of a Non-Western Religion; Jesus in Africa: The Christian Gospel in African History and Experience; and Theology and Identity: The Impact of Culture upon Christian Thought in the Second Century and Modern Africa.

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Remembering Ruth Bell Graham

Zondervan is grieving, along with the rest of the world, at the passing of a truly great woman, Ruth Bell Graham. Her husband, Rev. Billy Graham, with whom she shared a lifetime of love, has called her his soul mate and best friend.

Ruth was instrumental to the success of her husband’s ministries. And while she faithfully supported him through every one of his global evangelistic campaigns, she grew to become a beacon to the world in her own right. Ruth was an active contributor to the children’s hospital that bears her and her husband’s names, but her most powerful ministry was her writing and poetry. With a ready and warm smile, she expressed her faith openly and encouraged the most downhearted among us to enjoy life even during the darkest of times.

She imparted to all of us a love for God, for his Word, and for others. She taught us to turn to God to meet our needs and to cultivate an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Ruth allowed God to flow through her words and actions to touch countless lives for good. We already miss her dearly, but we know our loss is heaven’s gain. She has left a legacy of love, which will remain alive forever.

We extend our thoughts and prayers to Rev. Graham, the children, and the rest of the Graham family.

Bruce Ryskamp
President & CEO
Zondervan

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