Multnomah Publishers Inc. told its employees Wednesday that the Sisters company was sold to an unnamed buyer.

No details of the sale or what it means for the company and its employees, who numbered 74 in March, were released.

President and Publisher Don Jacobson could not be reached for comment, but a company representative who confirmed the sale said a press release will be issued Friday.

The Christian book publisher has been in Sisters since 1989 and is the largest year-round employer in the city.

In 2003, the company published New York Times best-seller The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson.

Multnomah Publishers history includes top-management reorganizations and layoffs in recent years.

In May 2004, vice presidents Kyle Cummings, Mike Schatz and Bill Jensen left the company. That same year, the company laid off 15 employees.

One year earlier, the company cut 22 employees.

Most recently, Multnomah let go seven employees in March. At that time, it reported 74 employees.

The publishing house started in Phoenix as Questar Publishers in 1987. Two years later, it moved to Sisters, changing its name to Multnomah Publishers in 1997.

Anna Sowa can be reached at 383-0304 or at asowa@bendbulletin.com.