A finalist in the “New Author” category, Rev. Dr. Jared Ayers’ book invites readers into a compelling, hospitable conversation about faith, doubt, and a God who understands suffering.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (April 10, 2026) — NavPress is pleased to announce that Jared Ayers’ 2025 release, You Can Trust a God with Scars: Faith (and Doubt) for the Searching Soul, has been recognized as a finalist in the “New Author” category for the upcoming Christian Book Award® program. Written especially for anyone whose experience of Christianity has been touched by suffering, skepticism, or disillusionment, Ayers’ timely book invites readers into an honest, hospitable, and intellectually compelling conversation about Christian faith.
“It’s a joy to see Jared Ayers recognized as a finalist for this award,” shares Deborah Saenz, acquisitions and developmental editor at NavPress. “This book meets readers in their questions and doubts — something we all need, especially in this cultural moment. My hope is that it will continue to offer wisdom and strength to those wrestling with faith.”
With more than two decades of pastoral experience, Rev. Dr. Jared Ayers currently serves as senior minister at First Presbyterian Church in North Palm Beach, Florida, and as adjunct faculty at Palm Beach Atlantic University. He is a graduate of Western Theological Seminary and the Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination.
Winners of the 2026 Christian Book Award program will be announced later this month at the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Awards Celebration, during the annual ECPA Leadership Summit. One of the most prestigious award programs in religious publishing, the Christian Book Award program was established in 1978 to recognize and promote excellence in Christian books and Bibles.
Visit NavPress.com to learn more about You Can Trust a God with Scars and other NavPress titles.
About NavPress
NavPress is a business ministry of The Navigators. With a rich catalog of bestselling books, discipleship resources, and The Message® Bible, NavPress equips readers “to know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same®.” Since 2014, NavPress has been in a publishing alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, one of the largest independently owned Christian publishers in the world. NavPress resources are sold, distributed, and marketed worldwide through Tyndale House Publishers. NavPress, the NavPress logo, and The Message ® are registered trademarks of NavPress, The Navigators, Colorado Springs, CO.
About The U.S. Navigators
The Navigators is a ministry that shares the gospel of Jesus and helps people grow in their relationship with Him through Life-to-Life® discipleship, creating spiritual generations of believers. Since its founding in 1933, The Navigators has upheld the mission “to know Christ, make Him known, and help others do the same®.” Our Worldwide Partnership includes around 6,000 staff of 85 nationalities, serving in 123 countries. Navigators encourage spiritual growth across life stages, serving wherever people work, live, worship, and play: on college campuses and military bases as well as in urban neighborhoods, workplaces, churches, local communities, and hard-to-reach places. To learn more, visit www.navigators.org.
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