Following recent rights conversations, one of the encouraging questions before us is this: which David C Cook titles could speak meaningfully into the needs of Anglophone Africa today?
David C Cook has long served the global Church through Christian books, Bible studies, family resources, leadership materials, children’s resources and ministry tools. Their publishing list covers many areas already shaping conversations across African churches, homes, schools and ministries: marriage, parenting, men’s formation, women’s discipleship, children’s faith formation, Christian character, and spiritually grounded fiction.
From the titles currently under consideration, several stand out as especially relevant for Kenya and wider Anglophone Africa, not merely because they are well-packaged, but because they touch real ministry questions we are already hearing from families, pastors, parents, teachers, young adults and Christian leaders.
Among the titles under discussion are
I Don’t Even Like Women by Natalie Runion
This title immediately catches attention because it speaks into a very real, very human, and sometimes very churchy challenge: women loving God deeply while still struggling to trust, enjoy or walk closely with other women.
David C Cook presents the book as an invitation for women to see one another as a refuge rather than an enemy, with biblical guidance for cultivating sacred sisterhood.
For Anglophone Africa, this could be a strong title for women’s ministries, mentorship groups, discipleship circles, ladies’ fellowships and young women navigating friendship, comparison, competition and calling. In many of our communities, women are carrying families, ministries, businesses and emotional burdens. A book that helps women move from suspicion to sisterhood could be deeply timely.
It’s Never Wrong to Do the Right Thing by Nicole C. Mullen
Nicole C. Mullen is known globally as a singer-songwriter and speaker, and David C Cook describes this book as one that weaves together stories from the Bible, history and her own life to inspire readers towards godly courage and change.
This title feels relevant for a generation that needs moral clarity without harshness, conviction without performance, and courage without applause. In a context where corruption, compromise, peer pressure, public image and private choices continue to test believers, this book could serve both adults and young people.
It may be especially useful for devotion groups, young professionals, university students, leadership training spaces and Christian readers looking for encouragement to stand for what is right, even when it is costly.
The Marriage Game Plan by George and Tondra Gregory
Marriage books travel well in Africa when they are practical, biblical and honest about real-life pressures. The Marriage Game Plan appears to sit strongly in that space.
David C Cook describes the book as a holistic, biblically based guide that helps couples develop a personalised plan for marriage success, drawing from George and Tondra Gregory’s experience as marriage coaches and NFL chaplains.
For Anglophone Africa, this title could serve engaged couples, newly married couples, marriage ministries and counselling spaces. Many couples enter marriage with great affection but very little intentional preparation. A “game plan” approach is easy to understand, memorable, and practical enough for church-based marriage programmes.
The Sacred Search by Gary Thomas
Gary Thomas’ The Sacred Search remains one of the most promising titles for singles, young adults and marriage preparation ministries. David C Cook describes it as a book that challenges readers to think beyond finding a “soul mate” and instead consider a “sole mate”, someone who will walk with them on their spiritual journey.
This message could be especially important in Anglophone Africa, where questions around dating, courtship, compatibility, purpose and marriage are deeply alive in churches and among young adults. The book’s central question is not merely, “Who should I marry?” but “Why should I marry?” That shift alone could help many readers move from romance-led decisions to purpose-led discernment.
This title would fit well in singles’ fellowships, premarital classes, campus ministries and young adult discipleship groups.
How to Speak Man by Jerome Gay Jr.
This is another title with strong potential for our context. David C Cook describes How to Speak Man as offering a biblical blueprint for communication that helps men express emotions, vulnerability and aspirations, while also helping women understand respect languages that encourage healthy vulnerability.
In many African contexts, men are often raised to be strong, silent and functional, but not always emotionally articulate. At the same time, women may desire deeper communication but lack the language to draw it out in a healthy, honouring way.
This book could therefore be useful for men’s ministries, marriage programmes, counselling spaces, young adults preparing for relationships, and couples seeking to understand each other with more grace.
Cry Like a Man by Jason Wilson
Cry Like a Man feels particularly important in conversations around men, fatherhood, emotional health and healing. David C Cook describes Jason Wilson as the founder of a youth organisation focused on strengthening the physical, mental and emotional spirit of boys and men, and the book addresses the dangers found in cultural definitions of masculinity while offering hope for healing.
For Anglophone Africa, this could be a timely resource. Many boys and men are carrying pain, pressure and identity questions without safe spaces to process them. Churches are increasingly recognising the need for stronger men’s discipleship, fatherhood conversations, boy-child mentorship and emotionally healthy leadership.
This title could serve pastors, counsellors, fathers, youth mentors and men’s ministry leaders.
Spiritual Parenting by Michelle Anthony
Parenting remains one of the strongest ministry needs across Africa. Parents are asking how to raise children who do not merely behave well, but genuinely know, love and follow God.
David C Cook describes Spiritual Parenting as a book that helps parents cultivate hearts and souls shaped in vibrant faith and love towards God and others, rather than focusing only on external behaviour.
For Anglophone Africa, this title could work beautifully for Christian parents, Sunday school teachers, family ministry leaders, homeschooling families and churches building intentional discipleship pathways for children.
This is not just a parenting book. It is a family discipleship resource.
Clever Cub Explores God’s Creation by Bob Hartman
Children’s books are a major opportunity for Anglophone Africa, especially when they combine biblical truth, simple storytelling and parent-child engagement.
Clever Cub Explores God’s Creation introduces young children to the wonder of Genesis 1 and helps children aged 3 to 6 enjoy the beauty and purpose of God’s design. It also includes questions and ideas for learning more from the Bible.
This title could serve Christian families, Sunday school classes, nursery schools, children’s ministries and reading clubs. It also fits strongly within the growing need for wholesome, Bible-centred children’s literature that parents can confidently place in young hands.
A Horse for Kate by Miralee Ferrell
Christian fiction for children and pre-teens remains an area of great potential. A Horse for Kate introduces twelve-year-old Kate Ferris, who longs for a horse of her own while adjusting to a new town, a new school and life on her late grandfather’s farm.
This title could be a gentle and engaging option for children who enjoy animals, friendship, family stories and faith-filled adventure. For Anglophone Africa, it could serve reading clubs, school libraries, Christian homes and early teen readers who are ready for chapter books with wholesome values.
While some cultural elements may be Western, the themes of longing, friendship, adjustment, responsibility and trusting God can travel well when introduced thoughtfully.
Why these titles matter
What makes these David C Cook titles attractive is not merely their publishing quality. It is their ministry fit.
They speak into questions we are already carrying in Anglophone Africa:
How do we prepare young adults for godly marriage?
How do couples build with wisdom beyond the wedding day?
How do men heal, communicate and lead without hiding their pain?
How do women build sacred sisterhood rather than silent rivalry?
How do parents disciple children beyond behaviour management?
How do we give children beautiful, biblical books that form their imagination early?
These are not small questions. They are the everyday discipleship questions of the African Church.
Rights conversations are not only about importing books. They are about discerning which resources can serve the Church, strengthen families, shape young people, and help believers grow into maturity in Christ.
On that front, David C Cook appears to offer several titles worth serious consideration for Anglophone Africa.
We would love to hear from you
Which of these David C Cook titles do you think would best serve readers, families, churches, schools and ministries in Anglophone Africa?
Would you begin with marriage and relationships, men’s ministry, women’s discipleship, parenting, or children’s books?
Tell us which title resonates most with you, and why.
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