Mark Carpenter is CEO of Mundo Cristão, a Christian publishing house in Brazil specializing in Bible translation, development of local authors, and distribution through the general market. “[We] have the inherent opportunity of producing books that will reach beyond the church,” Mark says. This story is part of the Journeys in Christian Publishing: Stories from LittWorld series.
In what ways have books played a part in your coming to faith and/or spiritual growth?
Books played a key role in helping me maintain my faith during a very difficult period following an accident that took the lives of my mother and 7-year-old sister. During our extended period of grieving, my father and I would exchange books we had found helpful and heartening. Most helpful to me were books by Nicholas Wolterstorff and Philip Yancey.
How did the Lord lead you into your publishing ministry?
I initially thought I would go into full-time journalism, so I studied communications and journalism in college. As I was working as an editor for a magazine, I became aware of a job opening at Tyndale House. I hesitated to apply, because I assumed that I would be frustrated by the slower pace of book publishing in comparison to the constant deadlines and adrenaline of magazine journalism. I did apply, was hired, and soon discovered that the joys of publishing books that had a more perennial impact on the reader could be just as motivating. I never looked back.
Please share 3 things the Lord has taught or shown you in your publishing journey so far.
Christian book publishers have the inherent opportunity of producing books that will reach beyond the church; I learned that I should see this opportunity as a responsibility, and as a result, many of our books today are available on the general market.
Hiring a gifted and productive editor is the best way to serve our authors and our readers; they invariably improve the authors’ final manuscripts and create a more seamless reading experience.
Setting high standards for book design is often the best way to implicitly communicate to the consumer that you have also invested in the quality of the book’s content.
Please share your top tips for local Christian publishers.
The first person you employ should be a financial manager who understands accounting and the delicate economics of publishing. Without a clear plan for your finances, your publishing house will likely live a short life.
Your most important role is to serve as a mediator between author and reader. There is not a lot of glory in the back office, but that is where publishing becomes viable. The stability and longevity of management is ultimately what enables authors to shine.
Don’t shy away from innovation. Without new ideas coming into print, new proposals challenging old paradigms, and new ways of connecting authors and readers, your institutional stability may survive, but your potential impact will fade.
How might we pray for you and your ministry?
Mundo Cristão’s mission statement is, “To publish and distribute the best content reflecting a Christian worldview, serving as an instrument for the transformation of lives.” Pray that we will continue to work toward this ultimate goal, as a way to honor the Lord with the best of our talents and abilities.
Mark Carpenter will be facilitating a webinar on Publishing for Lasting Impact on February 12, 2025. Register here to attend.
