Nurturing Unity by
Honoring Diversity in the
Global Christian Family
Nurturing Unity by Honoring Diversity in the Global Christian Family
Mission Statement
Global Christian Family Books’ (GCFB’s) mission is to encourage, edify, and entertain readers with faith-honoring books that reflect the ethnic diversity and cultural distinctions in the global Christian family. This focus on diversity addresses readers’ hunger to hear voices from their own community and to see a reflection of themselves, their home, culture, and heritage in books. We provide a platform for writers to tell their own stories, speak directly to the needs of their communities, and share a window into their lives with others.
Publishing Program
We want to bless readers of all ages with books in the following categories:
- Fiction (various genres)
- Non-Fiction
- Young Adult
- Middle Grade
- Picture Books
GCFB’s fulfills its mission by integrating 5 key principles into its publishing program:
- Equip and edify readers
- Recognize and affirm the image of God in each person
- Honor the dignity of each person
- Celebrate cultural and ethnic diversity in the Body of Christ
- Nurture our unified witness to the world
Equip and Edify Readers
The Apostle John says in Ephesians 4:11-16 that Jesus Christ himself gave us faith leaders for the purpose of equipping and edifying (building up) His people. A central part of GCFB’s mission is producing books that equip and edify readers, and help them become mature persons who fulfill their God-designed purpose.
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Recognize and Affirm the Image of God (the Imago Dei) in Each Person
The biblical account of creation states in Genesis 1:26-27 that God created men and women in His image. This truth is the basis for attributing value and worth to every individual. In a world that often communicates devaluing and belittling messages, GCFB seeks to affirm the value God places in each person.
26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Honor the Dignity of Each Person
Bearing God’s image is also the foundation for believing in the dignity of each person. Our books will honor this dignity and model lives which show respect for themselves and others.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:36-39)
Celebrate Cultural and Ethnic Diversity in the Body of Christ
The Apostle John describes in Revelation 7:9-10 the heavenly worship of a multitude of people “…from every nation, tribe, people and language…” This is a picture of diversity and unity in the body of Christ as they stand before God. GCFB celebrates this diversity and seeks to represent this diversity in its catalog of books.
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Nurture Our Unified Witness to the World
Before walking to the Garden of Gethsemane on the evening of his betrayal, Jesus looked up and prayed. His prayer included a request for all believers to be one with each other, even as He is one with the God the Father (John 17:11, 20-23). Jesus stated that our complete unity would serve as a continual witness to the world that the Father sent Jesus to be our savior, and that the Father loves us as he loves Jesus (verse 23). This means that the way in which members of the Christian faith interact with each other directly affects what the world believes about our God’s love and sacrificial provision for our salvation.
GCFB seeks to nurture our unity and our unified witness by inviting believers of various cultural and ethnic backgrounds to share their stories, read the stories of others, and build more bridges within the body.
11 “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one—23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Note: Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
GCFB’s Core Values
Global Christian Family Books’ core values are:
- Fidelity to Scripture and biblical principles
- Distinct quality in publications
- Esteem for authentic representation of cultural distinctions
- Priority of ministry in company focus
- Consistent integrity in business practices
- Excellence in customer service
Publisher’s Note
Global Christian Family Books’ (GCFB’s) mission is to produce high-quality, faith-based books that reflect and celebrate the cultural and ethnic diversity in the body of Christ.
GCFB’s mission of honoring global cultures represents an expansion of Teleion Books’ mission to publish books that celebrate the faith and culture of African-American and Africana Christian communities. This expansion prompted the change of our parent company name from Teleion Books to Global Christian Family Books, and the addition of the new GCFB imprint. Teleion Books now operates as a division of GCFB and continues with the mission of producing books that reflect the African diaspora (visit TeleionBooks.com).
The purpose of both imprints is to enable readers to see themselves and their cultures authentically represented in Christian faith-based books. We believe many in the faith community feel a need and a hunger for this representation. We are grateful for the call to serve by addressing this need.
Our prayer is that you find God’s love, truth, and touch throughout the pages of our books.
By His grace,
Stephanie Carter, Founder and Publisher
Professional Organizations
