Learn more about FCM's partner Crossway

Crossway is a nonprofit Christian ministry that exists for the purpose of proclaiming the gospel through publishing ESV Bibles and gospel-centered books. Four Corners Ministries began a partnership with Crossway in 2021 through the Crossway Equip program, which provides ministries with resources at no cost other than shipping.

FCM uses the ESV Study Bible and the Global Pastors Book Set for the Living Stones Pastor Training Center and provides a set to each graduate. The goal of this book set is to provide materials and resources to pastors across the world who may not have a personal library of any kind to guide them.

“In a nutshell, we’ve picked books from our catalog that would apply more to global pastors, like general theology and Christian concepts, but we’re trying to hit a broad swath of topics. We always try to include something on family life, Christology, biblical interpretation, expositional preaching, and pastoral counseling,” said Drew Oller, a global ministry manager for Crossway. 

The ministry was founded in 1938 and was originally named Good News Publishers by the founders Clyde and Muriel Dennis. The idea for the ministry was born after Clyde had the realization that the gospel tracts of the day were not well designed, engaging, or appealing visually.

With a design background working for a commercial book printer, he decided he would try to make something better. Clyde and Muriel dedicated their lives to sharing the gospel and Christian literature in a manner worthy of the message. They began this work in their home in Minneapolis, and the printing company allowed Clyde to use their presses. 

“He took $20 from his savings, and during the nights when the presses wouldn’t be running, he began designing and printing his own tracts,” Drew said. 

Clyde printed 40,000 tracts and sent samples to 600 Christian workers.

“The response was immediate and remarkable. Within a few days, orders and letters of encouragement came flowing in. Within six months, the tract ministry had grown to the point that Clyde and Muriel’s back bedroom could no longer serve as office, shipping room, and warehouse. Believing God had brought them this far, Clyde quit his full-time job and dedicated his time to writing, designing, and publishing tracts and other Christian literature. Muriel became assistant and shipping clerk, folding thousands of tracts by hand,” according to Crossway’s website.

The ministry continued to grow as a gospel tracts ministry, distributing more than 50 million tracts each year. By 1979, Clyde and Muriel’s son, Lane, took a leap of faith and implemented the Christian book publishing division now known as Crossway Books. This division has published more than 1,500 books from authors like John Piper, John MacArthur, J.I. Packer, Max Lucado, Frank Peretti, and more. 

In 2001, Crossway introduced and published the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible, and seven years after that, the ministry published the ESV Study Bible. 

“We’re closing in on almost 100 years as a ministry and also looking at the 25th anniversary of the ESV this year, so it’s just an incredible testament to what the Lord has done,” Drew said.

Crossway has partners translate the Study Bible notes and pairs it with a preexisting foreign language Bible translation. The ministry is in the process of completing a Hindi Study Bible by the end of the year.

Crossway also helped facilitate the translation of Conrad Mbewe’s book, “God’s Design for the Church,” into five major trade languages in Africa. Conrad Mbewe is a Zambian pastor, author, and founding Chancellor of the African Christian University. His son, Mwindula Mbewe, is also a pastor in Zambia. Mwindula gave the convocation during the first Living Stones Pastor Training Center graduation at Abaana’s Hope in 2022 and returned to Abaana’s Hope this month to lead the Abiding Network of African Led Churches Pastors Conference for over 100 PTC graduates. 

“We can’t do what we do, we almost can’t exist, without partnership,” Drew said. “Crossway is based in the States, and we ultimately rely on our partners on the ground around the globe. They’re the ones who can get the resources the final mile and get them to the people who need them most.”

Today, the ministry continues to seek God’s direction and find more ways to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus throughout the world. In addition to the Global Pastors Book Set project, Crossway launched the One Million Bibles Initiative to provide Bibles where needed most in the Global South.

Within two years, the ministry exceeded this goal. Today, over 1,005,000 Bibles have been distributed, and the ministry seeks to continue increasing this total.

One of the first people to receive a Bible through this initiative was a man in Uganda. He worked for the shipping and logistics company that was unloading the container of Bibles that had been donated to the area.

“He caught wind of what it was for and he ends up saying, ‘Oh, I don’t have a Bible, but I would love to have one,’ so the ministry was able to give him a Bible,” Drew said. “It just goes to show that in all places and corners of the world, the Word of God is cherished and valued, so we’re trying to help bridge that gap.”

Recently, an 18-year-old from South Sudan contacted Crossway about his plans to start a children’s ministry and his desire for biblical resources.

“In South Sudan, there’s a lot that’s gone on there the past couple of years with civil war and conflict, but the Lord is raising up leaders and ministry is still being done," Drew said. "There are these young people who just have hearts on fire for seeing the gospel go out and training and teaching going out. It’s a blessing to my heart."

Support FCM by donating towards ESV Study Bibles and Global Pastors Book Sets. Visit the  Abaana’s Hope give link and put “Bibles and pastor books” in the gift note. Visit crossway.org for more information about Crossway or to find ways to support the ministry.