BRENTWOOD, TENN. – It’s the time of year when organizations present their annual book awards, and B&H Publishing Group has a lot to celebrate. In early December, the publishing arm of Lifeway Christian Resources received more than two dozen awards and acknowledgements from Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Southwestern Journal of Theology, World Books of the Year and the ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Awards.

“I’m so proud of B&H Publishing’s authors and publishing professionals,” said Devin Maddox, director of B&H books. “Year after year, their work is recognized as being among the top Christian publishers in the world. It’s exciting to see the way God continues to use Christian books in His work to disciple His church.”

Theology Titles Triumph

Theology books made up the bulk of this year’s awards for B&H Publishing. Christianity Today recognized three of the publisher’s titles in the categories of popular theology (“Hope for God’s Creation” by Andrew J. Spencer; “God, Gift, and Guide” by Gregg Allison) and academic theology (“The Trinity and Canon” by Brandon D. Smith).

Meanwhile, The Gospel Coalition presented two awards of distinction in theology categories for the books “To Be a Woman” by Katie J. McCoy and “You Are a Theologian” by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English. Smith’s book on the Trinity also won The Gospel Coalition’s academic theology award, while Southwestern Journal of Theology recognized five B&H Academic titles in their annual awards.

“Winning a book award is always a thrill for an author, and it’s equally exciting for those of us who work on acquiring, editing and marketing the book,” said Madison Trammel, associate director of publishing. “We’re so grateful to our award-winning authors this year for entrusting their wonderful works to us. Academic books rarely make bestseller lists, so book awards are one of the best opportunities to spotlight quality new releases.”

Going into an election year, many Christians may be considering how their faith plays into the public square. On that note, B&H received several awards for books that examine politics from a Christian perspective.

“Baptist Political Theology” was recognized as Christianity Today’s winner in the politics and public life category and Southwestern Journal of Theology’s winner in the Baptist studies category. “Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World” by Patrick Schreiber also won a Top Shelf Book Cover Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. The ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Awards identify industry leaders in graphic and artistic design.

Women & Spanish Authors

Ten of B&H Publishing’s female authors were honored as top writers and editors in this year’s awards. Christianity Today recognized Kelly Minter in the Bible and devotional category (“The Blessed Life”), Linda MacKillop in the young adults category (“Hotel Oscar Mike Echo) and Emily Bennett for the missions/global church category (“Before You Go”).

Meanwhile, The Gospel Coalition presented an award of distinction to Amy Baik Lee (“This Homeward Ache”) in the first-time author category and recognized Rebecca McLaughlin in the Bible study and devotional literature category (“Navigating Gospel Truth”).

“There’s nothing that makes us happier than seeing readers love books like we do,” said Mary Wiley, trade books manager. “When respected organizations like The Gospel Coalition and Christianity Today deem those books to be among the best within Christian publishing, we celebrate, not just for great literature, but because books that readers love transform hearts.

“Awards also help readers find great books, and we’re thankful more people will be able to benefit from the words in their pages because of these recognitions,” said Wiley. “We work with some of the most faithful, gifted communicators. I’m thankful God chooses to move through the ministry of books.”

Earlier in the year, Lifeway Christian Resources and B&H Español were named Publisher of the Year by the Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association. This is the fifth time Lifeway—the world’s largest provider of Spanish Bibles—has been named Spanish Publisher of the Year.

Lifeway also received the award for Bible of the Year for “The Thematic Study Bible” (Biblia Temática de Estudio), edited by Miguel Núñez. “The Thematic Study Bible,” published June 2022, features a collaboration of theologians and pastors from various Spanish-speaking countries.

“We’re extremely grateful to God not only for the privilege of serving Him through a Bible like this but also for this recognition that testifies to a great work,” said Emanuel Elizondo, editor-in-chief. “Our desire is to continue glorifying God through resources of depth and quality.”

A full list of 2023 Lifeway and B&H Publishing awards can be found below.

Christianity Today book awards

• Bible and devotional, award of merit — “The Blessed Life: A 90-Day Devotional Through the Teachings and Miracles of Jesus” by Kelly Minter
• Young adults, finalist — “Hotel Oscar Mike Echo: A Novel” by Linda MacKillop
• Missions/global church, finalist — “Before You Go: Wisdom from Ten Women Who Served Internationally” edited by Emily Bennett
• Politics and public life, winner — “Baptist Political Theology” edited by Thomas S. Kidd, Paul D. Miller and Andrew T. Walker
• Theology (popular), award of merit — “Hope for God’s Creation: Stewardship in an Age of Futility” by Andrew J. Spencer
• Theology (popular), finalist — “God, Gift, and Guide: Knowing the Holy Spirit” by Gregg Allison
• Theology (academic), finalist — “The Trinity in the Canon: A Biblical, Theological, Historical, and Practical Proposal” edited by Brandon D. Smith

The Gospel Coalition book awards

• Academic theology, winner — “The Trinity and the Canon: A Biblical, Theological, Historical, and Practical Proposal” edited by Brandon D. Smith
• Public theology and current events, award of distinction — “To Be a Woman: The Confusion Over Female Identity and How Christians Can Respond” by Katie J. McCoy
• Popular theology, award of distinction — “You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well” by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English
• Christian living, award of distinction — “Never Cast Out: How the Gospel Puts an End to the Story of Shame” by Jasmine L. Holmes
• First-time author, award of distinction — “This Homeward Ache: How Our Yearning for the Life to Come Spurs On Our Life Today” by Amy Baik Lee
• Bible study and devotional literature category, award of distinction — “Navigating Gospel Truth: A Guide to Reading Faithfully” by Rebecca McLaughlin

ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Awards for design excellence

• Non-fiction, winner, “Political Gospel: Public Witness in a Politically Crazy World” by Patrick Schreiber, (Susan Browne, art director)
• Non-fiction, winner, “Fostered: One Woman’s Powerful Story of Finding Faith and Family through Foster Care” by Tori Hope Petersen, (Susan Browne, art director)

ECPA Christian Book Award® program

• Winner in Bible category: Explorer Bible for Kids CSB, B&H Publishing Group

WORLD books of the year

• Book of the year, winner, “Being Elisabeth Elliot” by Ellen Vaughn
• Book of the year, honorable mention, “You Are a Theologian: An Invitation to Know and Love God Well” by Jen Wilkin and J.T. English

Southwestern Journal of Theology

• Baptist studies, winner — “Baptist Political Theology” edited by Thomas S. Kidd, Paul D. Miller and Andrew T. Walker
• Discipleship/spiritual formation, winner — “Formed in His Image” by Coleman M. Ford
• Christian education, winner — “Faithful Learning” by Jacob Shatzer
• Book of the year, honorable mention — “The Trinity in the Canon: A Biblical, Theological, Historical, and Practical Proposal” edited by Brandon D. Smith
• Theological studies, honorable mention — “A Handbook of Theology” edited by Daniel L. Akin, David S. Dockery and Nathan A. Finn
• Christian education, honorable mention — “Transformational Teaching” by Kenneth S. Coley, Deborah L. MacCullough and Martha E. MacCullough

Spanish Evangelical Publishers Association

• Bible of the year — “The Thematic Study Bible” (Biblia Temática de Estudio), edited by Miguel Núñez
• Book of the year — “A Year in the Psalms” (Un Año en Los Salmos)
• Book of the year — “How Do I Order My Life?” (¿Cómo Ordeno Mi Vida?) by Jeanine Martinez

For the Church Awards

• “Women Leading Well” by Emily Dean
• “Pastoring Small Towns” by Ronnie Martin and Donnie Griggs

B&H Publishing Group, an imprint of Lifeway Christian Resources, is a team that believes Every Word Matters®. We seek to provide intentional, biblical content that positively impacts the hearts and minds of people, cultivating lifelong relationships with Jesus Christ. We publish (print and digital) in the trade, church and academic markets, as well as the CSB translation.

Contact: Aaron Wilson, aaron.wilson@lifeway.com

December 2023 | LISLE, IL—Sandra L. Glahn has signed a two-book contract with IVP Academic for the spring 2026 release of A Woman’s Place Is in the Story. Her second contracted book, a work in biblical studies yet to be determined, will release at a later date.  

Alexandra Horn, marketing manager for IVP Academic, said, “There is scholarship that moves scholarship forward, and then there’s scholarship that has the potential to heal the church. Sandra L. Glahn is a rare and superb scholar whose work has the ability to do both.”

Glahn (PhD, University of Texas at Dallas) is professor of media arts and worship at Dallas Theological Seminary, where her emphases are first-century backgrounds related to women, culture, gender, and the arts. She has authored or edited more than twenty books, including Vindicating the Vixens, Earl Grey with Ephesians, Sanctified Sexuality (coeditor), Sexual Intimacy in Marriage (coauthor), and most recently Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament.

“Working with Sandra Glahn on her stellar book Nobody’s Mother has been a career highlight for me personally, as I daresay that book will be a highlight for readers,” said Jon Boyd, acquiring editor and IVP’s academic editorial director. “Her meticulous scholarship behind the scenes is matched by her skilled attention to the craft of writing, so I’m frankly reveling in the prospect of reading her next manuscript.”

In Nobody’s Mother Glahn combined spiritual autobiography with scholarly exploration to take readers on a journey to ancient Ephesus and across early church history. Ultimately, she lays a biblical foundation for men and women serving side by side in the church.

Boyd said, “Nobody’s Mother zoomed all the way in on Ephesus, and her next book zooms way back out to consider the biggest arcs of Scripture’s narrative, and how women are present in them, not segregated off to the side. Glahn knows how to read a story (just as she knows how to write one), so her insights should be golden.”

Glahn’s next book, A Woman’s Place Is in the Story, will provide a broader view of the role of women in the whole of Scripture. Glahn said, “First, we had men’s history. As a corrective, we added women’s history. Now it’s time to integrate the two. Women in the Bible are participants in the grand narrative rather than missing altogether or stars of isolated cameos. A woman’s place is in the story. She’s not absent from it nor is she a sidebar. This work will explore how women of the Bible appear in their literary contexts—that is, how their narratives fit as part of a whole.”

Glahn says that she is passionate about subjects relating to women, gender, and justice. This focus came out of the decade that Sandra and her husband spent going through infertility and pregnancy loss. “Our trauma led me to take a closer look at the Scriptures and their blueprint for marriage, women, gender, the human body, and bioethics,” Glahn said. “The answers I found drove me to look more closely at the cultural backgrounds that influence biblical texts that relate to these topics. I love helping people engage their hearts and minds in these important issues.”

Glahn is represented by Chip MacGregor of MacGregor Literary Inc. Both titles will have world rights.

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

According to the IPO-specialized media The Stock and Newsis, the size of the audio content market in Korea exceeded KRW 25.6 billion (USD 19.73 million) in 2019, KRW 30 billion (USD 23.13 million) in 2020, and is expected to reach KRW 108.0 billion (USD 83.32 million) in 2024.

In response to shifts in the digital landscape of the book market in South Korea, audiobooks are gaining significant traction, emerging as an untapped market. The proliferation of smartphones and heightened accessibility have cemented audiobooks as a preferred medium for consumers.

The key allure of audiobooks lies in their capacity for multitasking, allowing consumers to seamlessly integrate literary consumption with other activities. Whether driving, commuting, or engaging in various daily pursuits, individuals can conveniently absorb audiobook content without the encumbrance of physical books.

As the audiobook sector burgeons in South Korea, Urim Books, a prominent Christian publisher and an esteemed international member of ECPA, has adeptly catered to the demands of the Christian audience.

Initiating audiobook production in 2021, Urim Books has since released a plethora of Korean audiobook titles, creating a buzz within the publishing domain. Notably, Urim’s audiobook titled Wisdom ranked at the top spot on the monthly bestseller list in March this year in the audiobook section of Kyobo Bookstore, a major player in South Korea’s bookstore landscape.

Furthermore, Lectures on the First Corinthians (vol 1) secured the premier position on the monthly bestseller list for two consecutive months, in both August and September. Fountain of Wisdom continued this trend, reigning as the bestseller for two consecutive months in October and November.

Adding to this impressive lineup, Lectures on the First Corinthians (vol 2), Keep Watching and Praying, God the Healer, and Awaken Israel each made noteworthy appearances on the 2023 monthly bestseller list. The compelling narration of Johnny Kim and Hyungkyung Lee contributed significantly to the success of these titles.

Expanding beyond the Korean market, Urim Books is actively producing audiobooks in English, Chinese, Russian, French, and Hebrew. This strategic move aligns with the rising demand from an increasingly diverse international audience for audiobook content.

Nov monthly bestseller #1:  https://ebook.kyobobook.co.kr/dig/etc/landing/best?lsc=AUD

Colorado Spring, CO.—December 15, 2023—Englewood Review of Books named Loving Disagreement: Fighting for Community through the Fruit of the Spirit their 2023 book of the year on December 7. Written by NavPress coauthors Matt Mikalatos and Kathy Khang, Loving Disagreement released in October 2023.

Since 2008, The Englewood Review of Books has focused on reviewing titles with themes like “community, mission, imagination, and reconciliation, and hope.”

Caitlyn Carlson, Senior Editor at NavPress, commented on this prestigious award, saying, “Matt and Kathy are wise, honest companions in the realities of what it looks like to follow Jesus in our world today. This well-deserved recognition accompanies the many readers who have reached out to say, ‘I feel challenged, helped, and less alone for having read this book.’”

Loving Disagreement is ideal for Christians who have grown dissatisfied with our fractured society and wish they could find a new way to connect with and change the world for the better. The book asks the question of “What does it look like to love someone you disagree with?” In a world that is increasingly divisive, Mikalatos and Khang exemplify how we can approach our differences and conflict with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

For more information on Loving Disagreement, please visit mediacenter.tyndale.com.

Matt Mikalatos is an author, screenwriter, and speaker. He’s the author of Journey to Love and the YA fantasy series The Sunlit Lands. He has written for Today.com, TIME magazine, Relevant, Nature, Writer’s Digest, and Daily Science Fiction, among others.

Kathy Khang is a writer, speaker, and yoga teacher. Her journey began in childhood diaries and journals, moved into newsrooms, and then turned toward writing. She is the coauthor of More than Serving Tea and the author of Raise Your Voice.

NavPress is a business ministry of The Navigators. With a rich catalog of bestselling books, discipleship resources, and The Message® Bible, NavPress supports readers as they 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.

Contact: Amanda Woods, amandawoods@tyndale.com, 630.784.5125

December 2023 | LISLE, IL—InterVarsity Press (IVP) is pleased to announce that Kelli Trujillo has accepted the position of trade editor. The IVP editorial team also welcomes Rachel Freire O’Connor as associate project editor.

Ted Olsen, IVP’s associate publisher and editorial director for media and trade books, said, “Kelli is one of the most perceptive editors I know. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone with such skill at identifying and shepherding gifted writers who are passionate for Scripture, spiritual formation, and social justice. Her authors love her. Readers love her too—they just usually don’t know it.”

Trujillo comes to IVP with more than two decades of editorial experience. She spent ten years working in a variety of roles at Christianity Today, including as CT’s managing editor, projects editor, and editor of Today’s Christian Woman. Prior to her time with CT, Trujillo worked for Group Publishing, where in five years she advanced from associate editor to editor and then to senior editor. She completed a double major in English literature and humanities from Valparaiso University, where she served as the chapter president for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF). Trujillo has also studied spiritual formation at Denver Seminary and comparative literature at Butler University.

Trujillo said, “I highly value IVP’s unique ethos, values, and leadership in the voices IVP spotlights; the rich, thoughtful, and curious Christian faith IVP champions; and the kingdom vision IVP books embody. I am eager to be part of IVP’s team producing books and other resources that draw readers deeper into Scripture, deeper into prayer, deeper into lives shaped by the love and grace of Christ.”

Trujillo’s first day with IVP’s editorial team is January 22.

O’Connor began her work at IVP in November. Previously she worked as acquisitions associate for Baker Books, and from 2014 to 2019 she was a secondary literature, philosophy, and writing teacher at Trinity Christian School in Montville, New Jersey. O’Connor received her bachelor of arts degree in English and master of arts in English literature from Seton Hall University.

Olsen said, “It was clear from the moment we hired Rachel that she is eager and able to amplify diverse and underrepresented voices in Christian publishing. She has the kind of creative and organized mind and humble confidence that makes her a great fit at IVP.”

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

Lake Mary, Fla.—Pastor Jentezen Franklin’s New York Times best seller, ‘Fasting,’ is re-releasing to share with even more readers about the power of biblical fasting for their relationship with God.

“When you eliminate food from your diet for a number of days, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God,” Franklin writes. “Once you’ve experienced even a glimpse of that kind of intimacy with our God—our Father, the holy Creator of the universe—and the countless rewards and blessings that follow, your whole perspective will change.”

In Franklin’s New York Times best seller, readers will learn how to deepen their relationship with God by understanding the connection between prayer and fasting.

“According to the words of Jesus, it is the duty of every disciple and every believer to fast,” Franklin writes. “Do you desire to know God’s will for your life, whom you should marry, or what you should do in a critical situation? I’ll show you how fasting brings you to a place of being able to clearly hear God’s will.”

Franklin also shares what to expect physically, mentally, and spiritually when fasting. For Franklin, the main purpose of ‘Fasting’ is to help readers detect the sound of the Holy Spirit so they can grow with Him in a meaningful and deep relationship.

“Whether you desire to be closer to God or are in need of great breakthroughs in your life, remember that nothing shall be impossible to you,” Franklin writes. “Fasting is truly a secret source of power!”

‘Fasting,’ published by Charisma House, is available online and wherever books are sold.

Jentezen Franklin is the pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville, Georgia, a congregation with 10,000 in attendance each week that has recently grown into a new location in Orange County, California. Franklin is a popular conference speaker, and his nationally televised program, Kingdom Connection, is seen weekly on national and international networks. He has written several best-selling books, including Right People, Right Place, Right Plan. He and his wife, Cherise, have five wonderful children.

Keep in touch with Jentezen Franklin:

• Website: https://jentezenfranklin.org/
• Facebook: Jentezen Franklin
• Twitter/X: @Jentezen
• Instagram: @jentezen
• Pinterest: @jentezen
• YouTube: @jentezenfranklinmedia

To interview Jentezen Franklin or for a review copy, please contact media@charismamedia.com.

Moody Publishers is pleased to announce the winners of multiple titles in The Gospel Coalition 2023 Book Awards, and the Christianity Today’s 2024 Book Awards.

The Gospel Coalition presented an award of distinction in Evangelism and Apologetics to God Speaks Science: What Neurons, Giant Squid, and Supernovae Reveal About Our Creator by John Van Sloten. Each year a panel of judges evaluates the best Christian books across 12 categories, choosing 24 as recommended helpful resources for individuals and the church. Two titles are chosen from each category, reflecting both an overall and award of distinction winners.

Christianity Today awarded three Moody Publishers’ titles in their respective category: 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible, by James Coakley – Bible & Devotional, This Seat’s Saved, by Heather Holleman – Young Adults, and The Grace Marriage: How the Gospel and Intentionality Transform Your Marriage, by Brad and Marilyn Rhoads – Marriage and Family. The purpose of the awards is to highlight the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture. “Our awards honor top titles in areas like theology, discipleship, apologetics, and missions, as determined by an array of knowledgeable judges. We hope these books bring glory to God, attention to deserving authors, and wisdom and discernment to believers of all stripes.” Matt Reynolds, Associate Editor, Books.

“We’re so happy to have these wonderful books and authors honored by CT and TGC,” said Randall Payleitner, Publisher at MP. “Whether it is helping readers get back to their Bibles, middle schoolers find their place at the table, married couples choosing grace in their daily interactions, or everyday readers see God in the whole of His creation—these four award-winning books are perfectly timed, and delightfully written! I’m proud to partner with faithful, expert, inspiring authors like Jim Coakley, Heather Holleman, Brad and Marilyn Rhoads, and John Van Sloten to reach readers, right where they are, with books that draw them closer to God.”

Moody Publishers is a nonprofit Christian publishing house located in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Since being founded by D. L. Moody in 1894, Moody Publishers has distributed more than 300 million books, spanning from Bible commentary and reference to spiritual and relational growth. All proceeds from Moody Publishers benefit the Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, which exists to educate and equip students for Christian ministry.

PEABODY, MA—Christianbook International Outreach (CIO) announces a milestone 2,000,000 books and Bibles distributed to Christian pastors, theological students, and churches in 81 countries. “We are grateful to all of our partners who have generously helped to bring about this tremendous impact, including the publishers who have contributed at reduced pricing and many times donating resources, and our ministry partners who have helped distribute them,” states CIO Board Chair Ray Hendrickson.

CIO is the not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable arm of Christianbook. CIO’s mission is to distribute books to international Christian leaders and theological schools, and Bibles to those without access to them. These efforts began informally through Christianbook in 2008, with CIO established in 2021 to formalize and accelerate the distribution of more resources to the global church.

“Christianbook is committed to supporting the ministry efforts of Christianbook International Outreach,” Christianbook President and CEO Michelle Carrara states. “We believe that the work CIO is doing is of paramount importance. We deeply appreciate the generosity of our publishing and ministry partners for their contributions to CIO. Our dedicated partners have enabled CIO to make a meaningful impact in the lives and communities of so many people globally.”

Hendrickson, who was one of the two brothers that started Christianbook, says it was during a 2018 trip to Uganda and hearing from leaders there that reenforced his lifelong heart for missions: “What we believed up to that point we believe even stronger now. The church is growing exponentially around the world, but resources like books and Bibles are often hardest to obtain where they are needed most.”

Pastor J from Uganda, a CIO partnership recipient, sums it up for many. In a country where over 70 percent of pastors have no theological training, he shares, “In the midst of our difficult reality, hope is rising among many untrained pastors. Already, over 133 of our pastors have received training in theology and leadership—training that was made possible by CIO. In addition, we have seen visible shifts and improvements in the ministry practice and preaching culture because of the high utility of the context-sensitive book resources we have received from CIO. We could not be more grateful.”

Additionally, Pastor J highlights the city’s only Pastors and Leaders Library, which was established with the help of CIO and its partners. “It has provided a study place where all our pastors can go and learn any topic of interest that is relevant to their dreams or current struggles. This space has helped greatly in grounding pastors in theology,” he states.

While a U.S.-based pastor might not imagine preparing a sermon with no resources, not even a study Bible, that is the reality faced by many pastors around the world each week. “We are looking to change that so that international pastors are well-equipped to preach the gospel,” Hendrickson says. “We are grateful for—and dependent upon—our partners in this outreach. With new and continued support we can ensure millions more essential resources reach the global church. The need is great and it’s urgent.”

For more information and partnership opportunities, please contact Craig Stoll, Managing Director, Christianbook International Outreach, 405-596-9154, or cstoll@ChristianbookOutreach.org. Visit our website at christianbookoutreach.org.

 

 

December 2023 | LISLE, IL—Christianity Today has released the winners of its 2024 CT Book Awards, and InterVarsity Press had seven titles recognized with Awards of Merit or as finalists in individual categories. The honorees from IVP include:

• Christian Living/Spiritual Formation Award of Merit: On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living by Alan Noble
• Church/Pastoral Leadership Award of Merit: In Church as It Is in Heaven: Cultivating a Multiethnic Kingdom Culture by Jamaal E. Williams and Timothy Paul Jones
• Apologetics/Evangelism Award of Merit: Humble Confidence: A Model for Interfaith Apologetics by Benno van den Toren and Kang-San Tan
• Bible and Devotional Finalist: Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal by Esau McCaulley
• Biblical Studies Finalist: Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament by Sandra L. Glahn
• Missions/Global Church Finalist: Faithful Disobedience: Writings on Church and State from a Chinese House Church Movement by Wang Yi, edited by Hannah Nation and J. D. Tseng
• Politics & Public Life Finalist: Just Discipleship: Biblical Justice in an Unjust World by Michael J. Rhodes

“We and others in our industry respect these awards due to the rigorous review that the content receives,” said IVP President and Publisher Terumi Echols. “It’s not a popularity contest. It honors what nourishes the soul, challenges the mind, moves the heart, and strengthens our walk as Christians.”

On Getting Out of Bed: The Burden and Gift of Living, the CT Award of Merit recipient in the Christian Living/Spiritual Formation category, is a deeply personal essay by Alan Noble, who considers the unique burden of everyday life in the modern world. Sometimes, he writes, the choice to carry on amid great suffering—to simply get out of bed—is itself a powerful witness to the goodness of life, and of God.

Ethan McCarthy, Associate Editor at IVP, said, “The idea was to do a really short, widely accessible book that drew on some of Alan’s previous cultural criticism work (his book You Are Not Your Own in particular), but in a much more immediate and personal vein, applying some of those ideas to the particular experience of mental suffering. I think it’s Alan’s loveliest work to date: it’s got the kind of concision and clarity that show not only Alan’s skill as a writer, but also how much he’s wrestled with these ideas. It’s at once almost jarringly realistic about the reality of human suffering, but completely saturated in the sober hope of the gospel.”

Noble (PhD, Baylor University) is associate professor of English at Oklahoma Baptist University, cofounder and editor in chief of Christ and Pop Culture, and an advisor for the AND Campaign. He has written for The Atlantic, Vox, BuzzFeed, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, and First Things. He is also the author of Disruptive Witness and You Are Not Your Own.

The Award of Merit recipient in the Church/Pastoral Leadership category, In Church as It Is in Heaven: Cultivating a Multiethnic Kingdom Culture by Jamaal E. Williams and Timothy Paul Jones, shows how multiethnic churches provide a unique apologetic for the gospel. Along the way, the authors tell the story of their own church—a majority-white congregation which is being transformed into a family that reflects the diversity of heaven. “This is as clear and compelling a book about the multiethnic church as I know of,” said McCarthy. “These guys bring not only real skill as writers, and a learned and compelling biblical basis for their model, but also a wealth of practical experience from their own church. This isn’t a bunch of nice-sounding ideas, or a ‘what if?’ kind of book. It’s coming out of the actual struggles and joys of working toward the multiethnic kingdom of God in our actual churches, with actual people.”

Jamaal E. Williams (DEdMin) serves as lead pastor of Sojourn Church Midtown in Louisville, Kentucky, and as president of the Harbor Network. Timothy Paul Jones (PhD) teaches apologetics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and serves as a preaching pastor at Sojourn Church Midtown. In addition, he has authored or co-authored more than a dozen books, including Finding God in a Galaxy Far, Far Away; Christian History Made Easy; and, with James Garlow and April Williams, the bestselling The Da Vinci Codebreaker. 

Humble Confidence: A Model for Interfaith Apologetics received the 2024 CT Award of Merit in the Apologetics/Evangelism category. Coauthored by Benno van den Toren and Kang-San Tan, Humble Confidence provides a global, intercultural introduction to Christian apologetics. They present a model of apologetics as crosscultural dialogue and accountable witness, then explore how it plays out in relation to specific contexts and the major world religions—including primal religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, secularism, and late-modern spiritualities.

“I’m delighted that CT’s judges have recognized what a remarkable book this is,” said Jon Boyd, Associate Publisher and Academic Editorial Director. “Humble Confidence both inspired and stretched me in my thinking about crosscultural apologetics, so it doesn’t surprise me that the authors have been awarded this honor. Van den Toren and Tan’s very approach to apologetics itself opens up new territory in interfaith dialogue, and then they deliver on their title’s promise—with exemplary levels of both Christian humility and Christian confidence.”

Van den Toren (PhD, Theological University in Kampen) is professor of intercultural theology at the Protestant Theological University in Groningen, the Netherlands. He has taught in French-speaking Africa and at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford University, and his books include Christian Apologetics as Cross-Cultural Dialogue and Reasons for My Hope: Responding to Non-Christian Friends.

Tan (PhD, Aberdeen University) is general director of BMS World Mission. He is also chair of the Commission on Mission and provides leadership for the Global Baptist Mission Network of the Baptist World Alliance, and he has previously served as head of mission studies at Redcliffe College and executive director of AsiaCMS.

Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal by Esau McCaulley is the 2024 CT Book Award finalist in the Bible and Devotional category. In this short volume, priest and scholar McCaulley introduces the season of Lent, showing us how its prayers and rituals point us not just to our own sinfulness but also beyond it to our merciful Savior. Lent is part of the Fullness of Time Series which invites readers to engage with the riches of the church year, exploring the traditions, prayers, Scriptures, and rituals of the seasons of the church calendar.

The IVP finalist in the Biblical Studies category was Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament by Sandra L. Glahn. “It seemed highly unlikely to me that anyone could say anything fresh about 1 Timothy 2. Sandra Glahn has proven me wrong,” said Amy Peeler, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College. “With its close attention to material culture and biblical text, Glahn’s evidence demands that we understand Artemis differently and therefore read this passage with fresh eyes. Immediately compelling through Glahn’s honest personal narrative, Nobody’s Mother kept me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t wait to see Glahn’s conclusions. Now that I’ve read them, I know I’ll be thinking about them, and changing how I teach this text, for a long time.”

Faithful Disobedience: Writings on Church and State from a Chinese House Church Movement was a CT Book Award finalist in the Missions/Global Church category. Featured here is a manifesto by well-known pastor Wang Yi (edited by Hannah Nation and J. D. Tseng) and his church, Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, to clarify their theological stance on the house church and its relationship to the Chinese government. Wang Yi is a leader of a Chinese house church. He is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence for refusing to comply with PRC regulations regarding church registration.

The IVP finalist in the Politics & Public Life category was Just Discipleship: Biblical Justice in an Unjust World. Biblical scholar Michael Rhodes argues that the Bible offers a vision of justice-oriented discipleship that is critical for the formation of God’s people. Grounded in biblical theology, virtue ethics, and his own experiences, he shows that justice is central to the Bible, central to Jesus, and central to authentic Christian discipleship.

For a complete list of IVP award winners visit ivpress.com/award-winners.

Contact: Krista Clayton, kclayton@ivpress.com

Biblical Critical Theory named CT’s Book of the Year

(Grand Rapids, Mich) Dec. 2023 – Zondervan, an imprint of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, is honored to have three books recognized in Christianity Today’s 2024 Book Awards, with one being named Book of the Year. Annually Christianity Today (CT) chooses books in twelve categories that are “most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture.” Awards were announced on December 4, 2023.

The following Zondervan titles were recognized:

• Children- Award of Merit – The Things God Made: Explore God’s Creation through the Bible, Science and Art, by Andy McGuire, Zonderkidz
• Church/Pastoral Leadership – Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church, by Michael Kruger, Zondervan Reflective
• Apologetics/Evangelism – Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture, by Christopher Watkin, Zondervan Academic
• CT’s Book of the Year – Biblical Critical Theory: How the Bible’s Unfolding Story Makes Sense of Modern Life and Culture, by Christopher Watkin

“Zonderkidz is thrilled to see The Things God Made recognized with the Children’s Award of Merit,” says vice president and publisher of Zonderkidz, Megan Dobson.  “Andy McGuire’s art is absolutely stunning and brings to life the creation story in a whole new way with engaging and educational text sure to inspire wonder in children and their families.”

“Zondervan Reflective is honored to partner with Dr. Michael Kruger to bring this timely and much-needed material to readers,” said Ryan Pazdur, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Reflective. “Spiritual abuse is a problem in today’s church and we must all learn to wisely identify and confront it.”

“It is my delight to congratulate Dr. Christopher Watkin on behalf of Zondervan Academic for the double honor of receiving CT’s Book of the Year and winning the Apologetics/Evangelism category,” said Katya Covrett, vice president and publisher of Zondervan Academic. “It has been incredible to see his work have such a formative impact on Christian engagement with modern life and culture in ways that are both biblically faithful and culturally relevant. We celebrate with Chris this high recognition of his book.”

To read the full 2024 Book of the Year Awards Announcement from Christianity Today, click here.

Zondervan, a worldwide leading Christian publisher of books and Bibles, is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc. Its publications include a variety of Bible translations for all ages; books in different genres and subject areas for the general reader; curriculum for individual and group Bible study; books for children and young adults; academic resources including textbooks and reference books; ministry resources; and books on faith and culture. Zondervan is located in Grand Rapids, MI. For more information, visit www.zondervan.com.

Contact: Amy Bigler, Public Relations Director, amy.bigler@harpercollins.com