In today’s era of superhero movies and video games, teaching the Bible can sometimes be challenging. But with The Action Bible series, it’s easy to engage readers both young and old, thanks to an illustrated approach that brings Bible stories to life.
The latest edition in the series of comic-book adaptations—The Action Bible: Faith in Action Edition from publisher David C Cook—was created to reach “a generation who easily engages with social and video technology while remaining anchored in the timeless power of God’s Word,” says Rick Rekedal, president of David C Cook. “Creative thinking and immersive storytelling that shares the love of God has always been at the heart of what we do at David C Cook.”
Founded in 1875 in Chicago, David C Cook published its first visual Bible in 1978 with The Picture Bible. Updated in 2010 with new illustrations, The Action Bible brings the historical stories to life in a vibrant style. Since then, The Action Bible has sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 83 languages, most recently into Hebrew. Also, The Action Bible Spanish Edition is the bestselling Spanish illustrated Bible.
“We want to inspire readers of all ages with God's Word, empower them to apply godly attributes in their lives, and guide every young person to put their faith in action,” Rekedal says.
The upcoming The Action Bible: Faith in Action Edition, which drops in February 2024, is fully refreshed with an immersive reading system that invites readers to explore the Bible through a series of themes: courage, faith, hope, love, service, trust, and wisdom. “Readers will see real-life examples of how ordinary people from the Bible put their faith into action, and then connect to aspects of their own faith more deeply,” says Rekedal.
David C Cook has plans to expand the reach of the physical book by creating 230 new pieces of digital content at theactionbible.com. The new digital content is designed to add a multimedia experience to the books. “We want to make this Bible accessible to anyone who is interested in reading a great story, experiencing visually captivating illustrations, and going deeper to learn about God,” Rekedal says. The illustrations are designed to help engage readers with the stories in more depth.
“The vibrant colors and action images draw readers in,” says Rekedal. “With quick movement and realistic dialogue just like a live conversation, the stories feel as if you are experiencing them in real time. Why is this important? Because the Word of God is alive, and so the Bible should be experienced as if it is and made to feel that way.”
The latest edition also introduces a new reading and tracking system, a kind of road map for discovering the various histories of people during Bible times in a relatable manner for today’s readers. “Through the years, this book has proven to appeal to a broad group of fans, including teens and adults who love the comic book approach,” Rekedal says. “We consistently hear from fans of all ages about how The Action Bible finally allowed them to read the whole Bible and served as a steppingstone into a relationship with God.”
