Dear Brother in Christ,
As you are likely aware, Christian publishing has faced many challenges in recent years. Overall interest in Christian books has deteriorated. Publishers affiliated with church bodies have declined significantly in number and size. For many retailers, there has been a dramatic shift by their customers toward purchasing online rather than at physical retail store locations.
Northwestern Publishing House is not immune to these broader trends. Additionally, NPH is affected by trends within our own synod. Declining church membership and school enrollment have directly impacted demand for materials for our members and students. Despite many cost saving steps expenses continue to increase, compounding the impact of these trends.
In response to these challenging realities, the NPH Board of Directors and management have had to make a number of difficult decisions with the objectives of exercising good stewardship of limited resources, ensuring continuation of NPH’s ministry, and fulfilling the synod’s purpose of publishing literature that maintains our Lutheran doctrine and practice.
After much prayerful deliberation and consideration, it has been determined that the NPH retail store in Milwaukee will close this fall.
As you do today, you will still be able to order the resources and materials that you value from NPH. NPH will continue to publish new books, music, and other materials for our pastors, teachers, and WELS members. These new materials along with previously published NPH books, Bible studies, and curriculum will continue to be available through NPH’s website
www.nph.net and by phone at 1-800-662-6022.
NPH will also continue to make church supplies and a selection of books and materials from other publishers available through its website
www.nph.net and by phone at 1-800-662-6022. In addition, NPH will continue to publish
Forward in Christ,
Meditations, and
Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly periodicals.
We encourage you to continue to visit the NPH website regularly to discover resources that will support your ministry and materials that will strengthen the faith of your members.
Serving you in Christ,
Bill Ziche
President, Northwestern Publishing House
John Hartwig
Chairman, NPH Board of Directors
