Jenkins Group is proud to announce the winners of the Sixth Annual Illumination Book Awards. The awards are designed to honor and bring increased recognition to the year’s best new titles written and published with a Christian worldview.
Below are the Illumination Book Awards results, listed by category, followed by the Enduring Light medals, which reward exemplary Christian-themed books published since the year 2000. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each category.
Congratulations to all the winners!
2019 Winners
1. BIBLE STUDY
GOLD: God Is Out to Get Us: At All Costs - The Life of Abraham, by Carol Bond Wagner (Relentless Pursuit Media)
SILVER: Acts to Action: The New Testament’s Guide to Evangelism and Mission, edited by Susan Brown Snook & Adam Trambley (Forward Movement)
BRONZE: Second Coming: Awakening the Christ Within, by Kimberly Lilith Phelps (A Soul Proprietorship)
2. CHRISTIAN LIVING
GOLD: God Isn’t Finished with Me Yet, by Barbara Lee (Loyola Press)
SILVER: Rhinestones on My Flip-Flops, by Jane Jenkins Herlong (Faith Words Books)
BRONZE: The Nehemiah Code: It’s Never Too Late for a New Beginning, by O.S. Hawkins (Thomas Nelson)
3. DEVOTIONAL
GOLD: Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God is Holding You Close, by Lysa TerKeurst (HarperCollins)
SILVER: Fixing My Eyes on Jesus: Daily Moments in His Word, by Anne Graham Lotz (HarperCollins)
BRONZE: Fabulous & Focused: 365 Daily Devotions for Working Women, by Michelle Medlock Adams and Gena Maselli (Worthy Publishing)
- THEOLOGY
GOLD: The Joy of Job: An Investigator’s Perspective on the Most Righteous Man on Earth, by Maribeth Vander Weele (Sagerity)
SILVER: Creation and the Cross, by Elizabeth A. Johnson (Orbis Books)
BRONZE: Walk in Love, by Scott Gunn & Melody Wilson Shobe (Forward Movement)
5. MINISTRY / MISSION
GOLD: In the Midst of the City: The Gospel and God’s Politics, by Barkley S. Thompson (Bright Sky Publishing)
SILVER: Invite Welcome Connect: Stories & Tools to Transform Your Church, by Mary Parmer (Forward Movement)
BRONZE: Refuge in Hell: Finding God in Sing Sing, by Ronald D. Lemmert (Orbis Books)
6. CATHOLIC
GOLD: Living the Sacraments, by Joe Paprocki (Loyola Press)
SILVER: The Scandal of Redemption, by Oscar Romero (Plough Publishing)
BRONZE: On Hope, by Pope Francis (Loyola Press)
7. FAMILY / PARENTING
GOLD: TALK: A Practical Approach to Cyberparenting and Open Communication, by Mandy Majors (Self Published)
SILVER: Love Does for Kids, by Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich; illustrated by Michael Lauritano (TommyNelson)
BRONZE: We Believed: Our Ten Year Journey Pursuing God’s Promises to Adopt Four Children, by Jeffrey S. Moore (Set Sail Ministries)
8. EDUCATION (HOME SCHOOL, BIBLE SCHOOL, ETC.)
GOLD: Loyola Kids Book of Signs & Symbols, by Amy Welborn (Loyola Press)
SILVER: Dinosaur Devotions: 75 Dino Discoveries, Bible Truths, Fun Facts, and More!, by Michelle Medlock Adams (TommyNelson)
BRONZE: Manners & Tips for Caring Kids, Based on the Fruit of the Spirit, by Ramona Wood (Abc Press)
9. SPIRITUALITY
GOLD: Note to Self: Creating Your Guide to a More Spiritual Life, by Charles LaFond (Forward Movement)
SILVER: Ever Faithful: A 365 Devotional, by David Jeremiah (HarperCollins)
BRONZE: The Prayer List, by Jane Knuth (Loyola Press)
10. ILLNESS / DYING / DEATH
GOLD: Prayer Is Good: A Path From Grief To Peace, by Brette Petway (Prayer is Good)
SILVER (tie): Perfectly Human: Nine Months with Cerian, by Sarah C. Williams (Plough Publishing)
Visiting Ted in Heaven, by Janet McGee; illustrated by Deborah Garcia (Beaver’s Pond Press)
BRONZE: Journey with Grief: Navigating the First Year, by Larry Warner (Barefooted Publishing)
11. SELF-HELP / RECOVERY
GOLD: Make Today Matter: 10 Habits for a Better Life (and World), by Chris Lowney (Loyola Press)
SILVER: Finding Our She-Compass: 15 Life Lessons for Women Voyaging Toward Restoration, Reconstruction, and Renewal, by Helen Owens (CreateSpace)
BRONZE: The Good Father: Keys for Overcoming in the Struggle for Identity, Belonging & Better Relationships, by Paul Butler (Crosslink Publishing)
12. BIOGRAPHY / MEMOIR
GOLD: A Baptist Preacher’s Buddhist Teacher: How My Interfaith Journey With Daisaku Ikeda Made Me a Better Christian, by Lawrence E. Carter, Sr (Middleway Press)
SILVER: The Final Race: The Incredible World War II Story of the Olympian Who Inspired Chariots of Fire, by Eric Eichinger and Eva Marie Everson (Tyndale Momentum)
BRONZE: Mary Knew: A Biography of Mary from Ancient Scriptures, by Irene Baron (Self Published)
13. HOLIDAY
GOLD: C is for Christmas, by Michelle Medlock Adams (Little Lamb Books)
SILVER: Christmas Witch: The Gift of the Angels, by Theresa Pelegano (Austin Macauley)
BRONZE: Merry Friggin' Christmas: An Edgy Christmas Comedy, by Joseph Cillo, Jr (Infornuity Publishing)
14. CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK
GOLD (tie): The News about Jesus and How He Saved the World, by Benjamin Morse (Orson & Co.)
Read Wonder Listen, by Laura Alary (Woodlake)
SILVER: The Gift that I Can Give, by Kathie Lee Gifford; illustrated by Julia Seal (TommyNelson)
BRONZE: I Love You the Mostest, by Michelle Medlock Adams; illustrated by Paige Snedeker (Elk Lake Publishing)
15. JUVENILE / YOUNG ADULT FICTION
GOLD (tie): Song of Leira, by Gillian Bronte Adams (Enclave Publishing)
Launch, by Jason C. Joyner (Little Lamb Books)
SILVER: Where You Lead, by Leslea Wahl (Vinespire Publishing)
BRONZE: Jaclyn and the Beanstalk, by Mary Ting (Vesuvian Books)
16. GENERAL FICTION
GOLD: Unintended Witness, by D.L. Wood (Silverglass Press)
SILVER: The Awakened, by Richard Spillman (Mountain Brook Ink)
BRONZE: The Watch on the Fencepost, by Kay DiBianca (Crosslink Publishing)
17. INSPIRATIONAL / ROMANCE FICTION
GOLD: Whispered Truth, by Cindy L. Smith (Living Hope for Today)
SILVER: The Mantle, by Iris Lee Underwood (Self Published)
BRONZE: Crescendo, by Laurie Larsen (Self Published)
18. KEEPSAKE / GIFT / SPECIALTY BIBLE
GOLD: Sharing the Wisdom of Time, by Pope Francis and Friends (Loyola Press)
SILVER: BibleForce: The First Heroes Bible, by Thomas Nelson (HarperCollins)
BRONZE: My Love Is with You Wherever You Go, by Debra Buchanan (Dancing Pen Publishers)
19. BEST EBOOK
GOLD: What I Know For Sure- If I Change Nothing, Nothing Will Ever Change, by Dr. Ayin Adams, D.D., Ciaara K. Carlsen (Delane Publishing)
SILVER: Courage in a White Coat, by Mary Schwaner (Prairie Muse Books Inc.)
BRONZE: Beyond His Mercy, by Johnny Neil Smith and Susan Cruce Smith (Sunstone Press)
2019 Enduring Light Winners
Most book awards focus on recent releases, but the Enduring Light medals honor outstanding Christian-themed books published since 2000. Entry fees and judging requirements match regular categories, and both older and current titles are eligible.
___
L1. CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
GOLD: Clips that Move Move Mountains, by Patty Sadallah (Self Published)
SILVER: Don’t Go Through Life Naked: How to Clothe Yourself in God’s Power, by Susan B. Mead (Dance With Jesus Ministries)
BRONZE: God’s Plan for Wellness, by Kathleen LeSage (CrossLink Publishing)
L2. DEVOTIONAL
GOLD: Words to Live By, by Linda J. Gilden and Darlene V. Parker (Worthy Inspired)
SILVER: Burnt Toast: Devotions for Imperfect People by Jan Hemby (Blue Ink Press)
BRONZE: In Shining Splendor: Easter Season Meditations on the Exsultet, by Richard N. Fragomeni and Art by Jane Pitz (World Library Publications)
L3. INSPIRATIONAL
GOLD: God’s Promises for Your Every Need, by Jack Countryman (HarperCollins)
SILVER: JOY IN THE JOURNEY: Walking with Grit and Grace Through Alzheimer’s, by Nancy Elizabeth Howie (Book Wise Publishing)
BRONZE: Break Every Chain: A Police Officer’s Battle with Alcoholism, Depression, and Devastating Loss and the True Story of How God Changed His Life Forever, by Jonathan E. Hickory (Covenant Books, Inc.)
L4. CHRISTIAN FICTION
GOLD: The Waystation, by Laurie Jameson (McCrary Publishing)
SILVER: The Three, by Christa Kinde (ChristaKinde.com)
BRONZE: The Agitated Agenda, by Candace N. Ford (Above the Line Press)
L5. CHRISTIAN CHILDREN’S BOOK
GOLD: When I Fly with Papa, by Claudia May; illustrated by Jena Holliday (Wise Ink Creative Publishing)
SILVER: We All Have a God Light, by Christine Banker (God Light Inc)
BRONZE: The Other Side of Easter, by Beth Gully (Self Published)
