A Vision for Its Next Chapter
Imagine reading Scripture and knowing immediately when God the Father is speaking. The I AM Bible (IAMB) helps readers distinguish His voice by setting His words apart and explaining the context of His conversations throughout Scripture.
In October 2016, after a five-year process, Lifeway/B&H Publishing Group published the I AM Bible. As a first-time author, I was thrilled to see it offered through Lifeway bookstores, Walmart online, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and many other outlets—a blessing beyond my wildest dreams.
Sales began slowly and then gained momentum. From October 2018 through September 2019, the IAMB sold 19,178 copies. The Christian Book Expo’s July 2019 report placed four of the seven cover styles among its Top 12 sellers, including the hardback edition at number two—evidence that readers were responding strongly to the concept.
Despite the IAMB’s growing sales, Lifeway shifted its focus to its new Christian Standard Bible translation and did not order a second printing. After the company returned my publishing rights, I began searching for a new publisher—a search that continues today.
As the IAMB marks its 10th anniversary in 2026, I often think of Louis Klopsch, who created the Red Letter Bible in the late 19th century. Today, printing the words of Jesus Christ in red is a familiar practice across many Bible translations in both print and digital editions. The IAMB follows that tradition by presenting Christ’s words in red, while also distinguishing God the Father’s words in bold black type and explaining each of His conversations.
Working on the IAMB brought several truths into bold relief. The highlighted conversations reveal God’s personal involvement with humanity, and more than 600 recorded conversations show that God the Father speaks twice as often in Scripture as Jesus does. Above all, these conversations proclaim God’s love for humanity loud and clear.
The humbling part of the I AM Bible concept is that I only highlighted the words already in Scripture and noted the context and significance of each recorded conversation.
My dream is for the IAMB concept to become as familiar to Bible readers as the Red Letter Bible. To take the next step, I am seeking a publisher who shares that vision and a literary agent who can represent the project. If you know a publisher or agent who may be a good fit, please introduce us or share this story with someone in your network who can help bring the I AM Bible to a wider audience.
You can purchase a copy of the I AM Bible at terrylkirby.com.
Regards,
Terry