This is my third local books round-up of 2025, covering 11 new books from the local Christian community.
Again there is a range of topics. The write-ups are primarily from Amazon and publisher / author sites.
- Mariam Kamell Kovalishyn: The New Testament Around the World (Baker Academic)
As the church continues to expand and strengthen in non-Western contexts, it is increasingly important for students of the New Testament to be aware of how our global brothers and sisters exegete and apply Scripture.
Even when we share a grammatical-historical approach with others, our interpretation of biblical texts is invariably affected by social location and cultural context, which influence the questions we ask of the text and how we apply it.
Western readers can become aware of how our culture influences our interpretation by learning from others from different perspectives, including those whose experience may match the original audience more closely than our own.
This volume brings together distinguished scholars from around the world with perspectives we might not typically encounter and includes some minority voices focused on life within the United States as well. Each contributor writes on a biblical book or group of books, and together they cover the whole New Testament.
Kovalishyn was featured in a Regent College podcast about the book this spring and interviewed on the Every Voice site.
Dr. Mariam Kamell Kovalishyn is an Associate Professor of New Testament at Regent College. She earned her PhD in New Testament from the University of St. Andrews. Mariam’s scholarly work focuses on the Epistle of James, the Gospel of Matthew and the broader context of Jewish literature from the intertestamental period.
- Alan J. Roxburgh & Roy Searle: Forming Communities of Hope in the Great Unravelling (Cascade Books)
In the midst of a massive unraveling where churches find themselves disoriented and paralyzed, this book invites leaders to embrace three practices (dwelling, discerning and exploring) formed out of God’s engagements with God’s people in Scripture and our traditions that direct us toward forming communities of hope.
The book has received strong critical support. For example, David Fitch, Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology, Northern Seminary, Chicago, writes:
Here we stand in misbelief at the collapsing of the institutions that have formed our lives. Gladly, Al Roxburgh and Roy Searle offer us hope.
Their book Forming Communities of Hope in the Great Unraveling reminds us that God is still present and acting, that God has given us practices to join with him in the forming of his people anew.
Forming Communities is a riveting masterpiece written to churches seeking a path forward in our times of disillusion and decline.
Roxburgh and Searle have just completed a four-week series of online conversations about their new book as part of their Commons Cooperative. (I took part and found it valuable.) They plan further events this fall and urge anyone interested to subscribe here for updates, events, stories and resources.
Alan Roxburgh is a pastor, seminary professor and mentor in leadership and missional transformation, and has written 13 books on missional leadership and culture change. In his work he addresses questions of church and mission, convinced the Spirit is fermenting a movement of God’s people that can’t be contained in narratives of renewal, reform or fixing existing systems. He lives on the North Shore. Roy Searle is a companion and former leader of the Northumbria Community, a leadership mentor, creative pioneer, spiritual director and former president of the Baptist Union of Great Britain.
- Meera Bai Grover, MD: Why I Help People Take Drugs: Reflections of a Christian Addiction Medicine Physician (Cascade Books)
Working in Vancouver’s notorious Downtown Eastside to pay for her theological education at Regent College, Meera Bai Grover was faced with questions about whether or not providing people who use drugs with sterile supplies and a place to inject contravened her faith.She knew she wanted to care for people with addiction but did not know how to do so in a way that fit with her own moral code.
She wrestled with these questions over the years and through her transition from nursing to becoming a fully licensed physician who specializes in addiction medicine. This book details her insights along the way, describing the patient stories that influenced her practice.
Why I Help People Take Drugs is for anyone who has struggled with how to care for people experiencing addiction. Dr. Grover describes her own evangelical Christian lens and how it applies when considering the societal role in the current opioid crisis.
She touches on topics such as harm reduction, recovery, decriminalization and involuntary treatment, with patient examples interwoven with medical education about addiction. In the midst of a devastating opioid crisis, this book provides invaluable lessons to help the church develop a meaningful response toward addiction.
I posted an article about Dr. Grover here.
Meera Bai Grover is a medical doctor with the highest level of training in addiction medicine available to physicians in Canada. She currently works in Calgary at hospitals and at community sites including shelters, street outreach and inner-city clinics, as well as in medical education. On the theological side, she is a graduate of Regent College in Vancouver. In her spare time she enjoys hiking, gardening and hanging out with her cats and chickens.
- R. Paul Stevens: Working Blessedly Forever, Volume 2: The Practice of Marketplace Theology (Cascade Books)
In volume 1, Paul Stevens argues that doing marketplace theology requires head (thought), heart (prayer) and hand (action).
Volume 2 of Working Blessedly Together takes up the ‘doing’ part through the experience of multiple practitioners, thus providing a practical marketplace theology.
So under the headings of ‘Doing Theology from Above and Below,’ ‘Dimensions of Marketplace Practice,’ ‘Issues in the Marketplace’ and ‘Marketplace Practice and the Church,’ these 16 authors – ranging from a machinist to a lawyer – elaborate on what they have learned about the integration of faith and work from their actual work life.
Edited by Paul Stevens, who writes the introduction, a short introduction to each session, three of the short chapters and the epilogue, this book does not cover everything but gives a window into the actual life of a marketplace Christian in their work for God and neighbour.
Along with volume 1 this puts ‘flesh on’ the invigorating and empowering truth of biblical marketplace theology. It is warmly recommended by Charles Ringma and Darrell Johnson.
Paul Stevens is Professor Emeritus in Marketplace Theology at Regent College and chairs the Institute for Marketplace Transformation. He has written widely on everyday life themes and the workplace in particular, including The Complete Book of Everyday Christianity, Taking Your Soul to Work (with Alvin Ung), Money Matters (with Clive Lim), Marriage Spirituality, Work Matters and Doing God’s Business.
- Chris Price, Elita Friesen, Darrell W. Johnson, Jeremy King: James: A Faith That Works (The Way Church)
Version 1.0.0
The New Testament book of James is one of the most practical, down-to-earth letters in all of Scripture.
Penned by Jesus’ younger brother, this bold and gritty message calls believers to a life of authentic faith – where belief and action are inseparable.
Through this ancient letter, we will hear the Holy Spirit calling the church to live the Jesus way – as wholehearted, uncompromised worshippers of God.
(Though I’ve been trying hard to keep up with new books, I seem to have overlooked several new books published by the teaching team at The Way Church, in print and online. Go here to learn more.)
Members of the teaching team are all part of the larger staff team at The Way Church, which holds services at two locations in Vancouver and one in North Vancouver, and runs The Way College. Chris Price is lead pastor: teaching & care; Elita Friesen does teaching and women’s ministry; Darrell Johnson is a teacher; and Jeremy King is lead pastor: ministries and college. Between them they have written many books.
- Mary Jane Joe: Returning to the Highest Chief (Tellwell Talent)
Version 1.0.0
Life after leaving Kamloops Indian Residential School resulted in a period of deep depression until Mary Jane visited her grandmother Ya-yeh at her cabin in the hills at the Meadows.
Mary Jane survived the school’s strict regime by acting as a robot, becoming numb to feelings, hopes and dreams.
However, Ya-yeh welcomed her granddaughter and reminded her about what is most important in Ntle’kepmx tradition, that of becoming thankful to the High Chief on a daily basis, thereby reconnecting a lost, broken-spirited girl back to humanity.
She has held well-attended book launches at both Langara College and Regent College.
Returning to the Highest Chief follows up on an earlier book, Xwist Memin Kin: I Want to Go Home: Memories of Kamloops Residential School and Joeyaska Ranch. I wrote about it here.
Having taught Indigenous studies for 18 years, Mary Jane Joe retired, thinking her work in bridging gaps between multi-cultures was done. However, Langara College invited Mary Jane, Nk’xetko, to serve as Elder-in-Residence to bring the best of Ya-yeh’s teachings and blessings to faculty, staff and students. Book Two outlines the path taken to find peace and wholeness by returning to the High Chief and finding restoration in studying scriptures.
- Carson Pue: Lead Like a Saint: Lessons & Values from the Life of St. Patrick (Friesen Press)
Version 1.0.0
St. Patrick is one of history’s most beloved and iconic spiritual leaders. Lead Like a Saint delves into the timeless principles and values of St. Patrick’s unique style, offering modern readers a roadmap to effective leadership.
Blending historical texts with contemporary insights, Lead Like a Saint provides a vivid and compelling portrait of St. Patrick’s leadership ethos. This book goes beyond recounting his remarkable contributions; it transforms his legacy into actionable lessons for today’s leaders.
Each chapter has practical takeaways and thought-provoking questions designed to help you embody St. Patrick’s wisdom in your personal and professional life.
More than a mere guide, Lead Like a Saint is an invitation to embrace St. Patrick’s enduring wisdom and faith. It empowers you to lead purposefully and make a meaningful impact in your world.
J. John interviewed Carson Pue about the book in a recent YouTube video.
Carson Pue is internationally renowned as an author and podcaster who is celebrated for developing and mentoring Christian leaders. He wrote Mentoring Leaders: Wisdom for Developing Character, Calling and Competency (2005) and Mentoring Wisdom: Living and Leading Well (2011). His passion for mentoring leaders is matched by his love for his family, music, sailing and all things Irish. He lives in Vancouver with his wife Glenda and their wee dog, Murphy.
- John Banovich: Banovich (Shepherd Sterling)
An article in Peace Arch News featured a launch party in March for Banovich:
A local filmmaker and photographer is releasing a new book.
Cloverdale’s John Banovich is putting out a massive 450-page, 9 lb coffee table book filled with more than 300 images of his wildlife photography and the personal stories behind the photos and the animals.
“The book itself is very Canadiana,” he said. “It has a good sampling of images from across the country, most provinces and all the territories. It’s wildlife and wilderness.”
He’s also penned some personal reflections that have been included in the book.
“There’s quite a few stories that tie a lot of the images together and bring relevance to the photos,” he explained. “There are stories behind certain animals that reveal a little bit about their personality, their character.”
The B.C. Catholic posted an article by John Banovich in which he described how his faith intersected with the content of the book: “For me, the wilderness is a sacred space, where I retreat to encounter our Creator – deep within His creation, away from the distractions of the material world.”
John Banovich is an acclaimed international film director, cinematographer and natural history photographer based on Canada’s West Coast. With 25 years of expertise capturing wildlife and natural history across every province and territory, his work often takes him to the most remote and awe-inspiring corners of the country.
- Anna Dos Santos: Navigating Through Trauma: Processing Your Emotional Wounding the Genesis Way (Westbow Press)
Trauma is knitted into the fabric of our human existence and Christians are not exempt from it.
Navigating Through Trauma is meant for Bible-believing people who have experienced trauma and want to understand more about the chaos it leaves in its wake. More than that, they also want to address their emotional pain in a biblically sound and responsible way.
The book is also for counsellors and pastors who must help believers who have suffered trauma.
Research has shown that reflective artmaking is one of the most effective ways to process trauma. In the last chapters of the book, readers will get the opportunity to process their trauma wounding with creative artmaking reflections, derived from principles taken from the story of Creation.
Anna Dos Santos is a licensed psychotherapist, art therapist and family therapist specializing in trauma recovery and creative art therapy workshops. With more than 25 years of counselling experience in Canada and South Africa, she has witnessed and experienced the devastating effects of trauma firsthand. Dr Dos Santos holds a doctorate in Counselling and Mental Health Practice and teaches Advanced Trauma. She and her husband live in Abbotsford.
- Fr. Lawrence Farley: Fire on the Earth: A Journey Through the First Centuries of the Church and Church Fathers (independently published)
Fire on the Earth is a powerful introduction to the first three centuries of Church history – written especially for seekers, catechumens and anyone yearning to reconnect with the ancient roots of the Christian faith.
Fr. Lawrence Farley brings the early church to life, guiding readers through the apostolic age and the voices of seven Church Fathers.
Drawing from original texts, historical context and spiritual insight, each chapter features a short introduction, a sample reading (‘a taste’) from the Father’s own words and a reflection on lasting lessons for today.
This book was written as a bridge – to carry the inquirer from the pages of the New Testament into the vibrant, sometimes challenging, but always Spirit-filled life of the early church.
Perfect for adult catechism classes, parish study groups or personal spiritual growth.
Fr. Lawrence Farley serves as pastor of St. Herman’s Orthodox Church in Langley. He is also author of the Orthodox Bible Companion Series along with a number of other publications.
- Back to the Bible Canada: Follow the Call
Subtitle: ‘Exploring the call of God in Scripture: A Tribute to Dr. John Neufeld’s 10 Years at Back to the Bible Canada.’
God’s call echoes throughout Scripture – from the moment He called Adam and Eve out of hiding in the bushes, to the final invitation in Revelation: “Come.” God invites humanity to know Him and walk in His ways.
Follow the Call gathers Dr. John’s teaching on the call of God. In these 10 chapters you will read of God’s summons to saints of the Scriptures and of His call to you today. May these chapters inspire and strengthen your walk of faith.
We are honoured that Dr. John followed God’s call to join Back to the Bible Canada 10 years ago. His clear and uncompromised teaching has impacted thousands in Canada and beyond. We look forward to the years ahead and the continued blessing of his ministry. May God be praised!
Located in Abbotsford, Back to the Bible Canada broadcasts coast to coast, airing over 1,200 programs weekly. A generation ago, most Canadians had at least some knowledge of the Bible, but with the increase in the secularization of society over the past three decades, biblical illiteracy is rising. This is why the ministry of Back to the Bible Canada is more important than ever before.
Go here for earlier ‘Local Books’ round-ups.