Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe by Oklahoma megachurch pastor Craig Groeschel debuts on PW’s Religion Nonfiction chart at #2 following media coverage on The Dave Ramsey Show, The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast, LightWorkers, and Jesus Calling Magazine. Promotions for the book also included influencer mailings, a book trailer, and blurbs from Christian authors such as Bob Goff, Steven Furtick, and Lisa Bevere. Proverbs 31 Ministries also picked up Dangerous Prayers for its April online Bible study.
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham comes in at #4 on the fiction list with his new book, The Hope of Glory, which closely examines the last seven sayings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. In addition to media attention from NPR, Today.com, The New York Times, and more, the book was promoted on social media as well as through Random House’s website and e-newsletters.
Bestselling author and Bible teacher Beth Moore takes #6 with her newly released Chasing Vines: Finding Your Way to an Immensely Fruitful Life. Pre-order incentives for the book, which PW describes as “a smart, engaging metaphorical exploration of the connection between Christianity and viticulture” in its review, included free individual and group study materials. Additional marketing and publicity for the book included author appearances at the IF: Gathering conference for women, as well as interviews with Christian media outlets such as The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey podcast.
Following just behind Jonathan Cahn’s The Oracle at #1 and Francine Rivers’s Redeeming Love, The Wedding Dress author Rachel Hauck’s new The Fifth Avenue Story Society debuts at #3 on PW’s Religion Fiction bestsellers list. The romance novel, which PW calls “exhilarating” in its review, was promoted via a Facebook Live launch event as well as at the Public Library Association (PLA) Conference in Nashville in late February.
