Ordinary Lives, Extraordinary Encounters
From its modest beginnings in 1949, when postwar publishers gathered in Frankfurt to rebuild and share new ideas, the Frankfurter Buchmesse has grown into the world’s most important international book fair. Over the decades, it has transformed from a regional gathering of German publishers into a global platform where stories are launched, partnerships are forged, and the future of publishing is shaped. That journey of steady growth, vision, and innovation is what makes the fair so influential today.
Now celebrating its 77th year, the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025 is set to host more than 7,500 exhibitors from across the globe. It offers far more than book displays: visitors can explore groundbreaking titles, attend insightful discussions with leading authors and thinkers, witness the latest in publishing technology, and discover how books continue to evolve across media and cultures. It’s not just a fair — it’s a creative crossroads where tradition meets tomorrow.
The Imagination Peoples the Air
Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025
Adding to the excitement, the Philippines takes center stage as the Guest of Honour for 2025, presenting the theme “The Imagination Peoples the Air” — a powerful nod to the nation’s storytelling spirit inspired by José Rizal’s Noli Me Tangere. With over a hundred Filipino authors, artists, and events bringing the country’s rich literary heritage and contemporary voices to Frankfurt, this year’s fair celebrates not only books but also the vibrant diversity of global storytelling.
Amid this extraordinary celebration of ideas and imagination, Kravitz & Sons is proud to see Meeting Jesus: Common People… Uncommon Stories showcased on this prestigious global stage — a heartfelt reflection on faith, humanity, and the power of personal encounter with the divine.
A Life of Faith, Scholarship, and Song
Rev. Donald Blosser, PhD, is a voice of deep compassion and thoughtful theology. A retired Mennonite pastor and professor, he has spent decades helping others see Scripture not as distant history but as living truth. A graduate of the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary and the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, Dr. Blosser combines pastoral experience with academic rigor — a blend that has shaped both his ministry and his writing.
Beyond his theological work, Blosser’s love for music and storytelling runs through every chapter of his life. He has sung in castle halls with the Pittenweem Madrigals, taught generations of students at Goshen College, and helped establish faith communities across the U.S. His writing continues that mission — guiding readers to rediscover Jesus not as a figure of doctrine but as a living presence who meets ordinary people in extraordinary ways.
Real People, Real Encounters, Real Grace
In Meeting Jesus: Common People… Uncommon Stories, Rev. Blosser invites readers into the lives of those who met Jesus — not the icons of faith, but the everyday men and women whose struggles, doubts, and hopes mirror our own. Originally written for an elderly woman named Maggie Liechty, who longed to know more about the people behind the brief biblical encounters, the book grew into something far greater — a meditation on how Jesus meets us all, right where we are.
Each story expands upon a familiar moment in Scripture, imagining the fears, dreams, and humanity of those who came face-to-face with Jesus. Through gentle insight and pastoral wisdom, Blosser reveals how these ancient stories still breathe life into the present. It’s an invitation to walk beside grace, to listen deeply, and to recognize that divine transformation often begins in the most ordinary of lives.
Why It Belongs on the Global Stage
At the 77th Frankfurter Buchmesse 2025, Meeting Jesus stands out as a book that reminds the world of the personal side of faith — that the story of Jesus is not just history, but an ongoing conversation with humanity. In an age that often feels divided and distracted, Blosser’s work bridges belief and empathy, theology and heart.
This isn’t just a book for Christians; it’s for anyone seeking meaning in the midst of life’s uncertainty. Through its gentle storytelling, Meeting Jesus calls us back to connection — to compassion, to curiosity, and to the kind of love that changes everything.
In Frankfurt, where thousands of stories meet from around the world, this one shines with quiet power — a reminder that sometimes, the most extraordinary encounters come from the simplest acts of faith.
