Common English Bible Broadens Its Appeal

NASHVILLE, Jan. 5, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- As 2012 dawns, the new Bible translation Common English Bible (CommonEnglishBible.com) is establishing itself on multiple websites, celebrating its second consecutive month as a best seller, creating a growing buzz among bloggers, and is twice considered by journalists as being one of the top religion stories of 2011.

BibleGateway.com, the highest ranked (according to Alexa) website in the world for Bible search activity, is now featuring the Common English Bible (Twitter @CommonEngBible --twitter.com/CommonEngBible) in its Verse of the Day free email subscription (www.biblegateway.com/newsletters). And Patheos.com, the international online hub for faith communities, is now featuring the Common English Bible as its Daily Verse, appearing on its Library Bible Resources page (www.patheos.com/Library/Bible-Resources.html), Evangelical Portal (www.patheos.com/Religion-Portals/Evangelical.html), and Progressive Christian Portal (www.patheos.com/Religion-Portals/Progressive-Christian.html).

The free-to-search text of the Common English Bible, including the Apocrypha, is available online at the translation's website, Bible Gateway, and YouVersion. A Bible Passage Lookup widget is also available for placement on personal websites.

The Common English Bible is on the January CBA Bible Translation Best Seller list (based on actual unit sales in Christian retail stores in the United States through Dec. 3, 2011) (cbaonline.org/nm/documents/BSLs/Bible_Translations.pdf). Its debut on the list in December came after being in stores just less than three months.

More than 150 international bloggers are currently participating in the three-month long "Thank You-Come Again-I Promise" blog tour (from November 2011 through January 2012). The tour's Twitter hashtag is #CEBtour (twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/%23CEBTour). The complete tour schedule, and information about joining the tour, is available atCommonEnglishBible.com/CEB/blogtour.

And the completion of the Common English Bible after four years of translation work was named one of the top 10 religion stories of 2011 as decided by leading international religion journalists in the 30th annual Religion Newswriters Association survey (www.rna.org/news/79176/2011-Top-10-Religion-Stories-of-the-Year.htm) and by editors of the Associated Baptist Press (www.abpnews.com/content/view/7035/53/).

"There's a reason the Common English Bible is receiving such a positive and popular reception," says Paul Franklin, PhD, associate publisher. "It's probably the most literal Bible translation, built on common ground with academic rigor and denomination neutrality, which clearly communicates ancient sacred text in understandable 21st century English."

The Common English Bible is a collaboration of 120 Bible scholars and editors, 77 reading group leaders, and more than 500 average readers from around the world. The translators -- from 24 denominations in American, African, Asian, European, and Latino communities -- represent such academic institutions as Asbury Theological Seminary, Azusa Pacific University, Bethel Seminary, Denver Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, Seattle Pacific University, Wheaton College, Yale University, and many others.

The Common English Bible is written in contemporary idiom at the same reading level as the newspaper USA TODAY -- using language that's comfortable and accessible for today's English readers. More than half-a-million copies of the Bible are already in print, including an edition with the Apocrypha. The Common English Bible is available for purchase online and in 20 digital formats. A Reference Bible edition and a Daily Companion devotional edition are now also available. Additionally, in 2012, Church/Pew Bibles, Gift and Award Bibles, Large Print Bibles, and Children's Bible editions will be in stores, joining the existing Thinline Bibles, Compact Thin Bibles, and Pocket-Size Bibles, bringing the total variety of Common English Bible stock-keeping units (SKUs) to more than 40.

Visit CommonEnglishBible.com to see comparison translations, learn about the translators, get free downloads, and more.

The Common English Bible is sponsored by the Common English Bible Committee, an alliance of five publishers that serve the general market, as well as the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) (Chalice Press), Presbyterian Church (USA) (Westminster John Knox Press), Episcopal Church (Church Publishing, Inc.), United Church of Christ (The Pilgrim Press), and The United Methodist Church (Abingdon Press).

For a media review copy of the Common English Bible and to schedule an interview with Paul Franklyn, please contact Audra Jennings, ajennings@tbbmedia.com at 1.800.927.0517 x104.

TBN Announces Launch of Innovative Online Service, iTBN

New website brings best of network's past and present to smart phones, laptops, and connected TVs

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world's largest religious broadcaster, announced the September 15th launch of iTBN, a new online service that brings the best of TBN's programming -- past and present -- to one convenient website.

"Online broadcast is the future of TV," said TBN's Chief of Staff Paul Crouch Jr. "Whether through laptops, smart phones and mobile devices, or even TVs connected to the Internet at home, more people are watching their favorite shows from online sources."

Websites like Hulu and Netflix have opened up a new horizon in television, one that TBN has capitalized on with the launch of its online service. "Through iTBN we've pulled together all the best from TBN's vast broadcast archives, so our viewers can access many of the classic shows that have impacted them and their families through the years," Crouch said. "Plus, they can pull up recent shows as well as watch TBN's most popular networks in real time."

Crouch explained that the launch of iTBN, along with the introduction of a TBN app for smart phones and mobile devices, is part of the network's strategy to make Christian programming accessible to the increasing numbers of viewers spending less time watching traditional TV and more time online. "Nearly 40 years ago, my parents helped introduce Christian television to America and the world," he recalled of TBN's founders Paul and Jan Crouch. "And today there's a new generation of viewers who are poised to take Christian television's popularity and extend it to the digital age, where they're not tied down to broadcast schedules and big-box TV sets. They can watch what they want, when and where they want to watch it."

Among the broadcast treasure to which viewers have free access 24-7 through iTBN are: TBN Classics, timeless exclusive TBN programs viewers have enjoyed over the years; Popular Documentaries, thought-provoking programs that are among TBN's most requested shows; Educational and Children's Programs, entertaining and uplifting shows the whole family will enjoy; andMovies, big-screen favorites that have helped make TBN a leader in quality Christian and family films.

In addition, iTBN includes on-demand viewing categories forChristian music, shows for teens, and much more. It even allows viewers to watch clips of specific speakers, authors, musicians, and others who have appeared on TBN programs, as well as search for programs on specific faith issues they may want to know more about.

And, of course, iTBN gives viewers instant access to TBN's most watched networks: TBN's flagship network, the Church Channel,JCTV, Smile of a Child, Enlace USA, Nejat TV in Farsi, and the Arabic-language Healing Channel.

Paul Crouch Jr. said that iTBN represents a new chapter in the delivery of Christian and family programming. "We designed iTBN to give viewers the most choices for the types of inspirational and family programming they want to watch, when they want to watch it," he said. "We think iTBN is a model service for a new generation of viewers."

About Trinity Broadcasting Network
Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) is the world's largest religious network and America's most watched and requested faith channel. Each day TBN offers 24 hours of commercial-free inspirational programming that appeals to viewers from a wide variety of denominations and backgrounds. Beginning in 1973 as a single UHF station in southern California, TBN now reaches every major continent via 78 satellites and more than 18,000 television and cable affiliates worldwide. In the United States, TBN is available to 92 percent of the total households. Its website receives millions of visitors monthly. In addition to TBN, the network owns and operates seven networks, including the Church Channel, JCTV youth network, TBN Enlace USA Spanish language network, and Smile of a Child children’s network. For more information on TBN, visit www.tbn.org andwww.tbnnetworks.com.

Website Bringing Hope to Individuals, Surpasses 5 Million Visitors, Readies for Next Stage of Growth

By Michael Ireland
Senior Correspondent, ASSIST News Service
DALLAS, TX (ANS) -- Five million visitors have now stopped by www.Iamsecond.com , the website of the I am Second movement featuring video stories of personal struggle, transformation and hope of celebrities and everyday people. That visitor logged on to the website Monday morning.

I am Second, which is designed to help individuals discover hope, includes authentic film testimonies of “everyday” people and celebrities related to a variety of personal struggles, including abuse, addictions, pride, eating disorders, broken families and the search for success and meaning in life.

Cover Artwork for I Am Second

The I am Second movement is now readying for the next step in its outreach with the debut of its newest initiative – the I am Second book.

Slated to release from Thomas Nelson in January 2012, the I am Second book further chronicles 22 video testimonies, which individuals have embraced on the website, including 2010 American League MVP and Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton; former Korn band member Brian “Head” Welch; surfer Bethany Hamilton; “The Biggest Loser” season six winner Michelle Aguilar; Ultimate Fighting Championship star Vitor Belfort; Grammy® award-winning artist Michael W. Smith; and football stars Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford.
Alongside each story, readers are given study group questions and an offer to view related testimonies to find the freedom Christ offers.

A media release says iamsecond.com  launched in Dallas-Fort Worth in

Former Korn band member Brian “Head” Welch

December 2008, and then quickly spread virally across the globe. To date, the website has seen visitors from 217 countries/regions who have viewed over 20 million pages on the site.

“When we started I am Second less than three years ago, we could have never imagined the overwhelmingly positive response it would get,” said Mike Jorgensen, I am Second Director at e3 Partners, the organization behind the movement.
“We daily receive emails and messages from individuals who have visited the website and seen their lives changed thanks to the powerful, raw testimonies of faith shared. We are grateful for the past three years and even more hopeful of what the future holds for I am Second,” he said.

The media release says the initial concept for I am Second came about as a collaborative effort between e3 Partners and Dallas businessman Norm Miller, chairman of Interstate Batteries, who desired to develop a campaign which could share his faith in an effective manner with the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

2010 American League MVP and Texas Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton

I am Second has since officially launched in Orlando, Florida, Evansville, Indiana, and Kansas City, Missouri, with several other cities planned for the future. The I am Second films can be found on the websites of international partners as well as sites such as YouTube.

“I am Second is much more than just a website,” Jorgensen said. “It is a movement of individuals who are living out their faith as second to Christ.”

In addition to iamsecond.com, numerous small groups and churches affiliated with I am Second are listed on the website, helping interested individuals connect to others who are seeking to live second, as well as study and promotional materials.
Additionally, I am Second leadership has organized a volunteer program for those interested in helping out with I am Second events, as well as expeditions to locations around the globe which are in need of the message of being Second to Christ.

For additional information about I am Second, visit www.iamsecond.com  . Information related to the I am Second book is available at www.ThomasNelson.com  .

Additional information can be found at www.alrcnewskitchen.com/iamsecond  .

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** Michael Ireland is Senior Correspondent for ANS. He is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB UK, a British Christian radio station. While in the UK, Michael traveled to Canada and the United States, Albania,Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany,and Czechoslovakia. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China,and Russia. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International of P.O.Box 1649, Brentwood, TN 37024-1649, at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International where you can make a donation online under 'Donate' tab, then look for 'Michael Ireland Media Missionary' under 'Donation Category' to support his stated mission of 'Truth Through Christian Journalism.' Michael is a member in good standing of the National Writers Union, Society of Professional Journalists, Religion Newswriters Association, Evangelical Press Association and International Press Association. If you have a news or feature story idea for Michael, please contact him at: ANS Senior Reporter

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