Invite publishes people, not products.

Our goal is to create a better publishing experience. 

We emphasize partnership and collaboration, seek to help authors discover and develop their ministry message through the publishing process, and are committed to putting real resources into the successful marketing of both individual books and the long-term personal development of the author. 

 

 

You're a thought leader.

You have a message to share. We want to help.

We are committed to collaborating with you to produce and/or distribute a variety of media to convey your message, including beautiful, well-written books, podcasts, video content, and more.

Our goal is to help you cultivate and grow your message. We envision an ecosystem of leading-edge thought leadership in which every Invite authors benefits from a virtuous cycle of mutual support and encouragement.

 

 

Shane L. Bishop

Get in touch
Shane L. Bishop

Shane Bishop

Pastor and Leader

Shane has served as the Sr. Pastor of Christ Church in Fairview Heights, Illinois since 1997. With his strengths of vision casting, preaching, teaching, soul winning and leadership, Christ Church total weekend worship attendance has increased under his leadership from 200 in 1997 to over 3,500 in 2023.  Christ Church, an independent congregation, has seven weekly worship services, three regional campuses and a significant on-line community. In 2010, Shane received the prestigious Distinguished Evangelist award from the Foundation for Evangelism. Christ Church was recognized as one of the 100 fastest growing churches in the country in 2018 by Outreach Magazine. 

A former history teacher and coach, Shane holds both graduate and undergraduate degrees from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. He graduated cum laude in 1992 from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. There he received the Rollins Scholarship Award for his academic work and effectiveness in pastoral leadership at the St. James-Manchester Charge in Manchester, Georgia.  From 1992-1997 he served the Sumner/Beulah Charge in Sumner, Illinois. 

Shane has traveled extensively around the world in pilgrimage, mission and preaching ministry.  He is the author of eleven books, has a large on-line presence and has been featured as a writer in various publications. 

Shane and his wife Melissa married in 1983 and reside in rural Clinton County, Illinois with “300 pounds of rescue dogs.”  The couple has two adult children and four grandchildren.

Church Under Fire Kit

Does your congregation tell you that it feels like the Church is under more pressure and scrutiny now than ever before? From the pressures of differing cultural values to stories of scandal and disgrace from other congregations, it can sometimes feel like the challenges to today’s church are worse than ever.

It would be easy to think we're in unfounded territory, but the Bible gives us a different reality. The Church is no stranger to trials and tribulations. In the Church Under Fire Series with Rev. Shane L. Bishop, explore the books of 1st Peter, 2nd Peter, and Jude. Witness how the early church faced and overcame strife. Early Christians faced tribulations that both put our current setting in proper perspective and equip us to respond well.

Church Under Fire is a unique, multi-part sermon series and all-church themed kit, in that it presents three sermon series as part of a unified message. The three series are designed to be preached over a single year.

Let Shane Bishop take you on a biblical journey through the Trail Guides so that your church can respond to challenges with Christ-like strength and love. Christians do not have to cower or be swayed by every cultural wind. Instead, we can find our peace and foundation in Jesus Christ, and show the world what it means to truly love.

Are you ready to move from a Church Under Fire to a Church on Fire in the Holy Spirit? Let's get at it. 

KIT INCLUDES

The Church Under Fire kit contains everything you need to walk your church through a set of three short sermon series over the course of a single year—or however long you desire. In this kit you will find the goals, strategy, and tactical steps you need to make it happen:

  • One paperback copy of each of the THREE CORE BOOKS from the Trail Guide series by Shane Bishop, including 1 Peter, 2 Peter and Jude.
  • One digital (EPUB) copy of each of the THREE CORE BOOKSfrom the Trail Guide series by Shane Bishop, including 1 Peter, 2 Peter and Jude.
  • A DIGITAL SMALL GROUP LEADER GUIDE including welcome, overview, how to recruit leaders, planning a small group study and more!
  • A fillable JOURNAL for Trail Guide note taking
  • A CHURCH UNDER FIRE custom button, the perfect size to wear or share! 
  • Four PRAYER CARDS to share with your group, including a printable version
  • DIGITAL ASSETS for promoting the campaign to your church and community that will be available in your Invite account
  • Information on BULK COPY DISCOUNTS of the books
Buy now Read more

That's Good News! (Paperback)

How to Overcome Your Fear and Evangelize

As a Christian, you know it’s important to share your faith, but you don’t know where to start. If you’re being honest, it’s a little scary, you’re not sure what to say, and you don’t know what it’s really supposed to look like (if you’re picturing a street preacher holding a huge sign, we’ve been there, done that, and promise there’s another way).

So, it gets put off for another day or left to the “radical few” – yep, probably the guys with the signs. It’s no wonder our culture is so confused and our churches are in decline.

But what if sharing your faith could be as simple as making cookies for your new neighbors or sharing a sermon on social media or inviting someone to church?

That’s Good News is a practical guide to evangelism for the everyday Christian who wants to join God in His work of inviting people to know Him. Through commentary on the parables of Jesus, humorous personal anecdotes from an evangelist who’s seen it all, inspiring stories, and practical tips for sharing your faith in a modern context, you will feel motivated and equipped to share your faith and recognize that God isn’t asking you to be perfect – He’s just asking you to show up.


You’ll walk away with:

  • Fresh energy for evangelism
  • A biblical case for why you should care about evangelism…and why all Christians should share their faith
  • Hope that the Gospel really is good news for our time — the way to a life of peace, power, purpose, and passion
  • New ways to frame the Gospel that anchor it in a spirit of abundant life, not just a transactional “get out of hell free” message
  • Less fear and more confidence sharing your faith

That’s Good News will connect you back to the biblical reason why evangelism matters and why it’s for everyone: because God is a God of growth and expansion, and He works with even the smallest seeds of faith.

Buy now Read more

That's Good News Leader Kit

The Kit includes:

  • One digital (EPUB) copy of the CORE BOOK, That’s Good News! by Shane L. Bishop (NOTE: This kit does NOT include a paperback copy of the book. To add a paperback of the core book, see the Good News Bundle below, at $59).
  • The START HERE! guide, which outlines the exact game plan on what to do, in a scalable form to fit your church’s unique size and context
  • A four week modifiable evangelism SERMON SERIES inside the Start Here! guide
  • The small group LEADER GUIDE for diving into That’s Good News! in a small group setting
  • A little white BUSINESS CARD that instructs you on how to join a special That’s Good News! Facebook group and share best practices from other churches doing the same thing
  • A card on SEVEN SIMPLE RULES ABOUT EVANGELISM, offering basic instructions and pointers about how an evangelism movement works
  • A simple card to share with everyone in your congregation, teaching and encouraging them on HOW TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS, with a digital file for printing copies
  • A 15-MINUTE PHONE CALL from the author, Shane Bishop, on how to implement the campaign at your church
  • A personalized WELCOME VIDEO from Shane to your church
  • DIGITAL ASSETS for promoting the campaign to your church and community
  • A That’s Good News! BOOKMARK
  • Information on discounts for buying bulk copies of the book

… And a card with a full list of contents, all packaged in a cool box!

Buy now Read more

That's Good News Leader Kit with Book

The Kit includes:

  • One paperback copy of the CORE BOOK, That’s Good News! by Shane L. Bishop
  • One digital (EPUB) copy of the CORE BOOK, That’s Good News! by Shane L. Bishop
  • The START HERE! guide, which outlines the exact game plan on what to do, in a scalable form to fit your church’s unique size and context
  • A four week modifiable evangelism SERMON SERIES inside the Start Here! guide
  • The small group LEADER GUIDE for diving into That’s Good News! in a small group setting
  • A little white BUSINESS CARD that instructs you on how to join a special That’s Good News! Facebook group and share best practices from other churches doing the same thing
  • A card on SEVEN SIMPLE RULES ABOUT EVANGELISM, offering basic instructions and pointers about how an evangelism movement works
  • A simple card to share with everyone in your congregation, teaching and encouraging them on HOW TO SHARE THE GOOD NEWS, with a digital file for printing copies
  • A 15-MINUTE PHONE CALL from the author, Shane Bishop, on how to implement the campaign at your church
  • A personalized WELCOME VIDEO from Shane to your church
  • DIGITAL ASSETS for promoting the campaign to your church and community
  • A That’s Good News! BOOKMARK
  • Information on discounts for buying bulk copies of the book

… And a card with a full list of contents, all packaged in a cool box!

Buy now Read more

New Release

The Trail Guide Bundle

1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude

Trail Guide to the Scriptures is your step-by-step guide to traveling the path of faith for yourself. Though the journey is yours, you don’t have to go on it alone. With Reverend Shane Bishop — pastor, history nerd, regular guy, and fellow traveler just like you — as your guide, you will stop getting so lost when reading the Bible and start feeling confident navigating its pages.

Part commentary, part historical nonfiction, part story that you can’t put down, Trail Guide to the Scriptures will take you verse-by-verse through a book of the Bible while showing you what it means for your life today. With each book broken into “episodes” that pull you into the plot, you will discover how engaging and exciting Scripture can be and learn what it says for yourself (not just what you’ve heard about it). 

Get ready to reach new heights in your faith and see why a journey through the Bible is always worth the effort.

Buy now Read more