• A Heritage of Religious Freedom

• Our Mission: Serve the Local Church

• A Full-service Publisher

• Educational Distinctives

• Theological Distinctives

• How to Use This CD

• Frequently Asked Quesstions

A Heritage of Religious Freedom
Smyth & Helwys Publishing is named for two pioneers of religious freedom. John Smyth (1554–1612) led a band of English Separatists to Amsterdam to escape religious persecution. Thomas Helwys (1550–1616) died in an English prison, a martyr for religious freedom. The lives and writings of these men inspired a generation during a time when individuals had few liberties in the expression of their faith. Our name honors not only the men, but also the unwavering faith and devotion to religious freedom their names symbolize.

Our Mission: Serve the Local Church
In an era when many Christian publishers cater to denominational initiatives and special causes, Smyth & Helwys brings a fresh approach: Serve the local church. Our curriculum pieces and books provide ministers, Sunday school coordinators, and teachers with the superior resources they need to prepare high-quality sermons and Christian education programs.

A Full-service Publisher
Since 1990, Smyth & Helwys has published hundreds of pieces ranging from devotionals, Sunday school curriculum, Bibles, commentaries, and biblical studies to more advanced academic texts written by some of the world’s leading contemporary scholars, such as Walter Brueggemann and Luke Timothy Johnson.

In keeping with our commitment to provide churches with a full line of products that meet all their resource needs, Smyth & Helwys also publishes children and youth curriculum, as well as Vacation Bible School programs. We are proud of our most recent VBS, Under Construction, which was developed in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.

Churches need high-quality resources based on the best scholarship available, so they select their materials carefully. Smyth & Helwys is committed to providing churches with this level of excellence…

Because serving the local church is our mission.

Educational Distinctives
Our core values can be summarized in one word—FREEDOM. Our resources value learners, teachers, and content.

Learners
• Learners should be trusted with biblical truths.
• Learners should study Scripture independently because Bible study is more meaningful when they discover insights for themselves.
• Learners should explore issues in dialogue with one another under the guidance of caring teachers.

Teachers
• Teachers are spiritual guides, walking with fellow learners in search of truth and relevance.
• Teachers understand their classes, so sessions should be customized accordingly.
• Teachers use different approaches and need options that compliment their particular teaching styles.

Content
• The Bible is the core content of all our curriculum resources.
• We value the faith experiences of each learner and encourage learners to share these experiences with others.
• Guided by the Holy Spirit, we believe the church is the best context for Bible study.
• Scripture is best understood when relevant connections are made between the text and contemporary issues.

Our Role
Our role is to provide quality resources, based on proven education theory, that promote spiritual growth and a deeper commitment to the church’s mission.

The Learner’s Role
Because we value the religious freedom of each learner, it is the learner’s role, and not ours, to make decisions of faith.

Theological Distinctives
In the tradition of John Smyth and Thomas Helwys, as well as other champions of religious liberty, we affirm:
• the lordship of Jesus Christ
• the centrality of the biblical message
• the freedom and responsibility of all individuals to interpret the Bible for themselves, within the context of the local church
• the call of all Christians to ministry
• the importance of missions efforts

How to Use This CD
This CD provides a comprehensive overview of our entire line of curriculum, online resources, and book offerings—all of which are designed to meet the Christian educational needs of your local church by helping your children, youth, and adults mature in spirit with God and faith in Christ.

The CD is a helpful resource for individuals who want to learn more about our products. It is also useful as a group presentation for church committees evaluating our resources. After viewing the CD presentation, committee members can go online to download FREE samples that showcase the life-changing features found in our products.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smyth & Helwys affiliated with a particular denomination?
Smyth & Helwys is a free press, so we serve no denominational or special interest groups in our publications. We serve local churches. This freedom allows us to provide quality resources that are relevant in content and creative in their approach to learning.

How many churches, seminaries, or other organizations use Smyth & Helwys resources?
Around five thousand, and more come aboard every week.

Are your curriculum prices higher than those of other publishers?
No. In fact, you can save money with Smyth & Helwys Publishing. Since we publish on a trimester basis (every four months), our prices initially appear higher than those of other publishers. When costs are figured on an annual basis, however, the value becomes evident. Our prices are competitive and often lower. And since you order only three times a year rather than four, you save on shipping. You can also save an additional 5% if you pay early each trimester.
Click here to download a printable pricing guide. (40K)