ABOUT HARVEST HOUSE
Our History
Core Values
Leadership
Testimonials
Our Mission
High-Quality Books at Affordable Prices
"To glorify God by providing high-quality books and products that affirm biblical values, help people grow spiritually strong, and proclaim Jesus Christ as the answer to every human need."
50 Years of Publishing Innovation
Harvest House Publishers was launched in 1974 with five titles and a dream in the heart of its founder, Bob Hawkins Sr., to publish books that help the hurts of people. Within two years, four of its books had sold more than 100,000 copies and one title was on the Bookstore Journal bestsellers list for eight months straight. By the late 1980s, Harvest House was among the top ten publishers of Christian literature.
From the beginning, Harvest House books gained a reputation for being affordable, trustworthy, and practical. They were also biblically sound and timely, meeting people’s needs in three major categories: self-help (relationships, family, Christian living), Bible resources (Bibles, Bible studies, topical studies), and full-color gift and children’s books featuring the work of top licensed artists.
Today, under a firm commitment to conservative, biblical orthodoxy, the company publishes a wide variety of high-quality books in such genres as Christian living, cultural apologetics, Bible prophecy (under its Harvest Prophecy imprint), current issues, children’s books (under its Harvest Kids imprint), and full-color lifestyle books (under its Ten Peaks Press imprint). Publishing broadly in these and other categories, Harvest House introduces more than 90 new books per year and offers a strong backlist of more than 1,700 titles.
OUR IMPACT ON Freedom of Speech in Publishing
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On December 31, 2001, the Local Church, The Local Churches, and Living Stream Ministry filed a $136 million defamation lawsuit in the state of Texas against Harvest House Publishers and authors John Ankerberg and John Weldon.
On January 5, 2006, the Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas issued an opinion in favor of Harvest House Publishers and its authors.
Local Churches and Living Stream Ministry appealed the January 5th ruling to the Texas and US Supreme Courts. On December 1, 2006 the Texas Supreme Court denies petition for review of defamation lawsuit against Harvest House Publishers.
Local Churches and Living Stream Ministry submits a petition for rehearsing. On February 16, 2007, the Supreme Court denied their petition.
On June 18, 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court brought an end to The Local Church’s contentious and unsuccessful six-year, $136 million legal battle against Harvest House Publishers and two of its authors, John Ankerberg and John Weldon.
Our Core Values
Foster an environment WHERE everyONE is valued and appreciated.
Build teamwork through individual humility.
Develop and maintain long-term relationships.
Conduct business with the highest ethics and integrity.
Produce high-quality books and products at affordable prices.
Our Founders
Bob Hawkins Jr.
Bob Hawkins Jr., president of Harvest House Publishers, has guided the family-owned business since 1991, when the baton was passed to him by his father, Bob Hawkins Sr. Under Bob’s leadership, the company has grown and published more than 5,000 new titles on a wide range of topics for Christian audiences. Before becoming president, Bob spent a decade in the role of marketing director. Today, in his 44th year at Harvest House, Bob continues to oversee its focused publishing operations and, along with its innovative and seasoned leadership team, provides fresh vision for the organization’s skilled and dedicated staff. His primary commitment is for Harvest House to encourage and inspire readers of all ages by producing and distributing trustworthy, biblically sound books that point them to Jesus Christ and help them to grow in God’s unchanging truth. Bob and his lovely bride of more than 43 years, Beth, have three adult children.
Remembering Bob Hawkins Sr.
Harvest House Publishers was the vision of an innovative, risk-taking, faith-extending man by the name of RH “Bob” Hawkins “Sr.,” who believed the paperback book could carry the Christian message to the masses. In 1974, at the age of 52, Bob realized his dream by founding Harvest House in Irvine, California. He served as president of the company until 1991. Before starting Harvest House, Bob owned and operated Better Book and Bible bookstore in Portland, Oregon, and orchestrated the wildly successful launch of The Living Bible for Tyndale House Publishers—which became famous for its padded green cover. Married to his effervescent wife, Shirley Hawkins, for more than 53 years, Bob went home to be with the Lord in 2010. He is remembered fondly by all who knew him as a pure entrepreneur, a brilliant marketer, a maverick personality, but mostly as an endearing and gracious gentleman who had an incredibly giving heart.
