Founded in 1947, InterVarsity Press (IVP) is a Christian publisher located in Lisle, Illinois. IVP focuses on publishing Christian books and digital resources that discuss influential cultural moments, provide tools for mental growth through a Christian framework, and equip pastors, professors, and ministry leaders in their work. It is a subsidiary of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
History
Beginning years
InterVarsity Press began just before World War II as a small service branch of the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campus ministry, which had its beginnings in the 1939–1940 academic year. At its inception, InterVarsity Press solely imported books from the Great Britain InterVarsity Christian Fellowship movement for use by college students and InterVarsity chapters in the United States. Its first home-grown publications was a Bible study guide called Discovering the Gospel of Mark, written by an InterVarsity staff member and published in the 1933–1934 academic year. In 1947, a formal publishing program was established; its distribution of books was handled by Fleming H. Revell until 1960.
Expansion
In 1968 Jim Nyquist became IVP's full-time director and Jim Sire became IVP's first full-time editor. Four other full-time employees filled out the staff. Shortly afterward, IVP began publishing Francis Schaeffer's works, beginning IVP's reputation as a publisher of note. In 1965, IVP launched the IVP Book Club and the bookstore Rack program in 1971, solidifying a sales base; these programs continue to be important parts of the publishing program.