This year, as organizations presented annual book awards, B&H Publishing Group received nearly two dozen acknowledgments and awards from Christianity Today, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (Top Shelf Book Cover Awards and Christian Book Award®), The Gospel Coalition, and the Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association.
“Book awards don’t make a book special. Rather, they honor hard work that is done in secret often for years,” said Devin Maddox, director of B&H books. “We are so proud that so many of our authors have been recognized for their hard work by their peers and fellow book lovers at so many organizations.”
Theological titles lauded
B&H Academic produced many titles that received recognition this year. The Southwestern Journal of Theology (SWJT) recognized 10 titles, nine of which were B&H Academic books.
“We’re so honored by the award recognition that B&H Academic authors and books have received this year,” B&H Academic’s associate director of publishing, Madison Trammel, said. “It’s a privilege to get to steward such wonderful, faithful works of scholarship.”
The book “Criswell: His Life and Times” by O. S. Hawkins was the one B&H trade book to receive recognition from the SWJT. This title paints the picture of W.A. Criswell as more than a Southern Baptist statesman, leader and pastor. ECPA recognizes excellent design and content
In May, B&H announced that the title “You Are a Theologian” by Jen Wilkin and J. T. English was awarded the Christian Book Award in the Christian Living category by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). This book, published in July 2023 addresses key theological questions and invites readers to grow in their knowledge and love of God by moving from being merely a consumer of theology to a contributor of the conversation.
In addition to the awards for books, the ECPA also recognized excellence in design from B&H. Two Bibles, the “KJV Explorer Bible for Kids” and the “RVR 1960 Personal Size Note Taking Bible” received awards for their cover designs alongside the book “Upon Waking” for its cover design.
Spanish publishing recognized for excellence
The Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association (SEPA) recognized excellence in the book “No Desperdicies Tus Emociones” (“Don’t Waste Your Emotions”) by Alejandra Sura, awarding it with their Book of the Year, Harold Kregel Award. This title dives into the reader’s mindset about emotions, helping them understand how to honor God with feelings while navigating living in a broken world.
In addition, the “RVR 1960 Biblia de Evangelismo” was recognized with the Silver Award. SEPA also acknowledged the cover art of two titles and a promotional video for another.
Giancarlo Montemayor, director of Lifeway Global, commented, “These awards are a testament to the good work going on in our Spanish Publishing program. I’m proud of the teams involved in these resources, and I am also thankful to SEPA for recognizing excellence in our industry.”
Mary Wiley, manager of B&H trade books, added, “It is a gift to get up each day and work on books. It’s an honor to steward an author’s words and message alongside them – sacred really – as these messages have been hard won by many of these authors in days of trial, as they have faithfully walked with the Lord through them.
“And while the work itself is our reward, there’s great joy in others recognizing God’s work through the words we steward,” she continued. “We’re honored and humbled for these books to be recognized, and especially thankful today for the authors who partner with us in this kingdom work!”
A full list of 2023 Lifeway and B&H Publishing awards can be found below.
Southwestern Journal of Theology 2024 Book Awards
- Applied Theology/Ethics, winner – “To Change All Worlds: Critical Theory from Marx to Marcuse” by Carl R. Trueman
- Apologetics/Worldview, winner – “On the Resurrection: Evidences, Volume One”; and “On the Resurrection: Refutations, Volume Two” by Gary R. Habermas
- Baptist Studies, winner – “Confessing Christ: An Invitation to Baptist Dogmatics” edited by Steven A. McKinion, Christine E. Thornton, and Keith S. Whitfield
- Preaching/Ministry/Leadership, winner – “Handbook of Contemporary Preaching, 2nd edition” edited by Michael Duduit
- Theological Studies, winner – “Systematic Theology, Volume One: From Concept to Canon” by Stephen J. Wellum
- Applied Theology/Ethics, honorable mention – “The Way of Christ in Culture: A Vision for All of Life” by Benjamin T. Quinn and Dennis T. Greeson
- Apologetics/Worldview, honorable mention – “Faith and Science: A Primer for a Hypernatural World” by Kenneth D. Keathley
- Baptist Studies, honorable mention – “Criswell: His Life and Times” by O. S. Hawkins
- Biblical Reference/Biblical Backgrounds, honorable mention – “Apocryphal Prophets and Athenian Poets: Noncanonical Influences of the New Testament” by Gregory R. Lanier
- Theological Studies, honorable mention – “Special Revelation and Scripture” by David S. Dockery and Malcolm B. Yarnell III
The Gospel Coalition 2024 Book Awards
- Christian Living, Winner – “To the Tenth Generation: God’s Heart for Your Family, Far into the Future” by Ray and Jani Ortlund
Christianity Today 2024 Book Awards
- Apologetics/Evangelism, winner – “On the Resurrection, Volume 1: Evidences” by Gary R. Habermas
- Missions/Global Church, winner – “Islam and the Bible: Questioning Muslim Idiom Translations” edited by Ayman S. Ibrahim and Ant B. Greenham
- Politics And Public Life, finalists – “Faithful Reason: Natural Law Ethics for God’s Glory and Our Good” by Andrew T. Walker
ECPA 2024 Christian Book Award®
- Christian Living, winner – “You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well” by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English
ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Awards
Bibles, winners
- “KJV Explorer Bible for Kids” (Designer: Jeff Godby, art director; other credits: Nate Farro; Stephanie Salvatore, feature interior design)
- “RVR 1960 Biblia de Apuntes Tamaño Personal, Floreada Tela Impresa” (“RVR 1960 Personal Size Notetaking Bible, Floral Cloth Over Board”) ) (Designer: Karin Albrecht)
Nonfiction, winner
- “Upon Waking” (Designer: Susan Browne; other credits: cover artwork by Susan Browne; case illustration by Taaron Parsons)
Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association
- Cover Art, Children, winner – “El Progreso del Peregrino” (“The Pilgrim’s Progress”PP)
- Cover Art, Academic or Reference, winner – “Los Primeros Cristianos” (“The Early Christians”PC)
- Promotional Video, winner – Video for “Biblia Ilustrada de la Tierra Santa” (“Holy Land Illustrated Bible”)
Awards selected by distributors and bookstores
- Book of the Year, Harold Kregel Award – “No Desperdicies Tus Emociones” (“Don’t Waste Your Emotions”) DTE by Alejandra Sura
- Silver Award — “RVR 1960 Biblia de Evangelismo” (“RVR 1960 Evangelism Bible”) edited by B&H Staff
In operation since 1891, Lifeway Christian Resources is one of the leading providers of Christian resources, including Bibles, books, Bible studies, group curriculum, Christian music and movies, Vacation Bible School and church supplies, as well as camps and events for all ages. Lifeway is the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles. Based in Brentwood, Tennessee, Lifeway operates as a self-supporting nonprofit. For more information, visit Lifeway.com.
MEDIA CONTACT: Aaron Earls, aaron.earls@lifeway.com
written by Myriah Snyder, a writer for Lifeway Christian Resources
