The Power of a Praying® series of 20 books has sold over 30 million units worldwide
November 18, 2020 – Tempe, Ariz. – The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) has presented bestselling author STORMIE OMARTIAN with the industry’s PINNACLE AWARD for the outstanding contribution of The Power of a Praying® series, both to the industry and to society at large. The award was presented at the ECPA Industry Awards Celebration webcast on November 18th, held during the ECPA C-Suite Connect online conference. Harvest House Publishers president Bob Hawkins gave a moving tribute to Stormie, and presented a video honoring her worldwide ministry.
The series’ collection of 20 books, published by Harvest House Publishers, has achieved more than 30 million in sales worldwide since the debut of The Power of a Praying® Parent in 1994. Five of the books in the series have received ECPA Sales Milestone Awards (four Platinum Awards and one Gold Award). The bestselling book in the series is The Power of a Praying® Wife with over 8 million sold. In 2002, the book broke a 21-year industry record by claiming the number one spot on the Christian Booksellers bestsellers list for 27 consecutive months. The Power of a Praying® Husband received the 2002 Gold Medallion Book Award (now known as the ECPA Christian Book Award® program).
ECPA president Stan Jantz (left) and Harvest House Publishers president Bob Hawkins (right) deliver the Pinnacle Award news to Stormie Omartian early in 2020, before the pandemic.
“Stormie Omartian is so deserving of this recognition,” said ECPA president Stan Jantz. “As impressive as her book sales are, they tell just one part of the story. For the past 25 years, Stormie’s books on prayer have had an enormous impact on the way Christians relate to God and to each other. I’m not exaggerating when I say her books have spawned a global movement of prayer.”
Stormie is the third recipient of this high honor from the industry. Dr. Gary Chapman was presented with the Pinnacle Award last year for The 5 Love Languages® series (Moody). The first Pinnacle Award was presented to Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye for the Left Behind® series (Tyndale House) in 2007.
Stormie Omartian is an award-winning, bestselling author and speaker whose books have sold more than 40 million copies worldwide. The Power of a Praying® series includes The Power of a Praying Wife®, The Power of a Praying® Husband, The Power of a Praying® Woman, The Power of a Praying® Parent, The Power of Praying® for Your Adult Children, and The Power of a Praying® Grandparent. She is also the author of Just Enough Light for the Step I’m On; Lead Me, Holy Spirit; Prayer Warrior; and Out of Darkness, which is her personal journey out of the devastating darkness of the first 28 years of her life until she found Everlasting Light in her Lord and Savior, Jesus. Her new release is The Power of Prayer™ to Enrich Your Marriage (February 2, 2021).
The Power of a Praying® Wife broke a 21-year industry record by claiming the number one spot on the Christian Booksellers bestsellers list for 27 consecutive months. In September 2002, Stormie’s prayer series astonishingly held the top four spots on the bestsellers paperback list: Praying Wife at number 1, Praying Woman at number 2, Praying Parent at number 3, and Praying Husband at number 4. For an unprecedented three years in a row, The Power of a Praying® Wife was named a finalist for The Charles “Kip” Jordon Christian Book of the Year Award. Stormie personally connects with readers and listeners by sharing her experiences and lessons from the Bible, illustrating how God transforms lives when we learn to pray and trust in Him. Stormie and Michael have been married for more than 47 years and have two married children and two granddaughters.
Harvest House Publishers, a Christian publishing company based in Eugene, Oregon, publishes more than 100 books per year and carries a strong backlist offering nearly 1,700 titles. Over 145 million Harvest House books have been sold worldwide through diverse distribution channels, and additional tens of millions have sold in over 75 different languages. For more information, visit www.HarvestHousePublishers.com.
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization comprised of member companies that are involved in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. Since 1974, ECPA has strengthened Christian publishing by building networking, information, and advocacy opportunities within the industry and throughout multiple channels so that our members can more effectively produce and deliver transformational Christian content. For more information about ECPA: info@ecpa.org ECPA.org @ECPA
Media contacts:
Stan Jantz, President, ECPA, sjantz@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998
Cindy Carter, ECPA Awards Manager, ccarter@ecpa.org, 480-966-3998
