The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) announced on Sunday evening, July 13, the six
category winners of the 2008 Christian Book Awards and the “Christian Book of the Year” during the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in Orlando.
For the first time in the award program’s 30-year history, a Bible and an audio product has won the “Christian Book of the Year” honor: The Word of Promise(TM) New Testament Audio Bible (Thomas Nelson) features the talents of actors such as Jim Caviezel (“The Passion of the Christ”), Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Lou Gossett, Jr., and Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei, in a scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) of the New Testament.
This was the first year the ECPA Recognition Committee included media presentations of the Bible in the Christian Book Award program. The “Christian Book of the Year” is chosen from the 32 Christian Book Award finalists, across six categories, using both independent judging criteria (measuring overall excellence) and sales data (reflecting consumer impact).
Presented annually to the best in Christian publishing since 1978, The Six Category Winners for the 2008 Christian Book Awards are:
Bibles
Discover God Study Bible
Tyndale House Publishers
Bible Reference & Study
An Old Testament Theology by Bruce K. Waltke
Zondervan
Children & Youth
Teen Virtue: Confidential by Vicki Courtney
B&H Publishing
Christian Life
When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg
Zondervan
Fiction
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group
Inspiration & Gift
Step into the Bible by Ruth Graham
Zondervan,
ECPA will collaborate with major retailers to feature the winning titles in-store and online. Retail partners include: The Parable Group, Berean Christian Stores, Family Christian Stores, Lifeway Christian Stores, The Munce Group, CBD/ChristianBook., Crossings Book Club (DoubleDay), Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders.
The Christian Book Awards, established in 1978 as the Gold Medallion Book Awards by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, recognize the absolute highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution, the Christian Book Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious in the religious publishing industry.
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international non-profit trade organization, comprised of nearly 250 member companies worldwide, representing a combined revenue of nearly $2 billion.
Founded in 1974, ECPA publishers have produced some of the nation’s most popular titles — from numerous Bible translations to Prayer of Jabez, The Purpose Driven Life, and Your Best Life Now.
