Jenkins Group is proud to announce the winners of the Seventh 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. Click on titles if you are interested in purchasing one of these award-winning books.
Congratulations to all of the winners!
2020 Winners
1. BIBLE STUDY
GOLD: Birth of Jesus for Progressive Christians, by Donald Schmidt (Wood Lake Publishing)
SILVER: The Way of Love Bible Challenge: A 50 Day Bible Challenge, edited by Marek P. Zabriskie (Forward Movement)
BRONZE (tie): Letters from Jesus: Finding Good News in Christ’s Letters to the Churches, by Paul Ellis (KingsPress)
Living IN Jesus: Growing in the Life We were Made to Live, by Ben Brezina, Mark Fields, Tom Price, Greg Cleland (Christian Families Today)
2. CHRISTIAN LIVING
GOLD (tie): God Chose a Woman First: Discover the Keys to Resilient Confidence through the Voices of Biblical Women, by Laura Savage-Rains (Three Circle Press)
Courageously Uncomfortable: When the Real Woman You Want to be is on the Other Side of Fear, by Lisa J. Goins (Paper Raven Books)
SILVER: Power for Life: Inspirational Guidance for Daily Living, by David Preston Sharp (Wood Lake Publishing)
BRONZE: Unwelcome Opportunity: Overcoming Life’s Greatest Challenges, by Richard V. Battle (Outskirts Press)
3. DEVOTIONAL
GOLD: They Call Me Mom: 52 Encouraging Devotions for Every MOMent, by Michelle Medlock Adams & Bethany Jett (Kregel Publications)
SILVER (tie): The Holy Heroes Devotional, by Scott Bayles (Self-Published)
2020: A Book of Grace-Filled Days, by Amy Welborn (Loyola Press)
BRONZE: Angels of the Bible: Finding Grace, Beauty, and Meaning, by Kate Moorehead with Scott Brown (Forward Movement)
4. THEOLOGY
GOLD (tie): Faith and Evolution: A Grace-Filled Naturalism, by Roger Haight, SJ (Orbis Books)
How Luther Became The Reformer, by Christine Helmer (Westminster John Knox Press)
SILVER: Gifts of God for the People of God: Exploring Worship in the Episcopal Church, by Furman L. Buchanan (Forward Movement)
BRONZE: We Should Be One: United in the Word of God, by Thomas David Rothbauer (XP Books)
5. MINISTRY / MISSION
GOLD: Learning from London: Church Growth in Unlikely Places, by Jason A. Fout (Forward Movement)
SILVER: Start with Jesus: How Everyday Disciples Will Renew the Church, by Julianne Stanz (Loyola Press)
6. CATHOLIC
GOLD: The Election of Pope Francis: An Inside Account of the Conclave that Changed History, by Gerard O’Connell (Orbis Books)
SILVER: On Faith, by Pope Francis (Loyola Press)
BRONZE: Enchanting the World: The Vision of 20th Century Catholic Writers, by James and Evelyn Whitehead (The Crossroad Publishing Co)
7. FAMILY / PARENTING
GOLD: X-Plan Parenting: Become Your Child’s Ally-- a Guide to Raising Strong Kids in a Challenging World, by Bert Fulks (Howard Books/ Simon & Schuster)
8. EDUCATION (HOME SCHOOL, BIBLE SCHOOL, ETC.)
GOLD: The Adaptive Teacher: Faith-Based Strategies to Reach and Teach Learners with Disabilities, by John E. Barone & Charleen Katra (Loyola Press)
SILVER: Analogies for All of Us, by Marc Hays (Classical Conversations MultiMedia)
BRONZE: Praying the Rosary Together: A Guide for Home and Classroom, by Carolyn Pirtle; Artwork by John Pirtle (World Library Publications)
9. SPIRITUALITY
GOLD (tie): A Living Gospel: Reading God’s Story in Holy Lives, by Robert Ellsberg (Orbis Books)
Invisible Companions: Encounters with Imaginary Friends, Gods, Ancestors, and Angels, by J. Bradley Wigger (Stanford University Press)
SILVER: WHY JESUS: A 50 Day Holy Spirit Experience, by Alisa Hope Wagner (Marked Writers Publishing)
BRONZE: Dante’s Road: The Journey Home for the Modern Soul, by Marc Thomas Shaw (Anamchara Books)
10. ILLNESS / DYING / DEATH
GOLD: Inconceivable Redemption: God’s Presence in Miscarriage & Infertility, by Erin Greneaux (Self-Published)
SILVER: The Last Day of Regret, by Matthew J. Diaz (WestBow Press)
BRONZE (tie): A Balm in Gilead: Eulogies of Comfort, Compiled, by Randall C. Webber (BK Boyston Publishing)
11. SELF-HELP / RECOVERY
GOLD (tie): Light in a Dark Place: Where Faith Confronts Depression, by D.M. Harrington (Christian Faith Publishing)
Enough as You Are: Overcoming Self-Doubt and Appreciating the Gift of You, by Peggy Weber (Loyola Press)
SILVER: [Un]Intentional: How Screens Secretly Shape Your Desires and How You Can Break Free, by Doug Smith (Credo House Publishers)
BRONZE: MicroShifts: Transforming Your Life One Step at a Time, by Gary Jansen (Loyola Press)
12a. BIOGRAPHY / MEMOIR- Personal Struggle
GOLD: Searching for Mom: A Memoir, by Sara Easterly (Heart Voices)
BRONZE: Curtain Call: A Memoir, by Lyneta Smith (WordCrafts Press)
12B. BIOGRAPHY / MEMOIR- inspirational
GOLD: Child of Grace: A Death Row Story, by Dr. Chris Brown (Christian Faith Publishing)
Praying On Empty: A Female Pastor's Story, by Marjorie Weiss (Citrine Publishing)
BRONZE: Faith & Courage: Praying with Mandela, by Thabo Makgoba (Forward Movement)
13. HOLIDAY
GOLD: The Ornament Keeper, by Eva Marie Everson (New Hope Publishers)
BRONZE: Bink and Slinky’s Christmas Adventure, by Donna Arlynn Frisinger; illustrated by Kalpart (Rising Phoenix Press)
14. CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOK
GOLD: The Princess Who Hid in a Tree, by Jackie Holderness; illustrated by Alan Marks (Bodleian Children’s Books)
SILVER (tie): Do You Like Peas?, by Susan Campbell with Megan Campbell; illustrated by Beth Snider (More Than You Imagine Ministries)
Gracie Lou Wants a Zoo, by Shelly Roark; illustrated by Simone Krüger (Little Lambs Books)
BRONZE (tie): God’s Protection Covers Me, by Amy Houts; illustrated by David Creighton-Pester (Beaming Books)
Pope Francis Says…, by Pope Francis (Loyola Press)
15. JUVENILE / YOUNG ADULT FICTION
GOLD: Raising Sir Gallant, by Mary Bustamante; illustrated by Mary Flock Lempa (Bristol & Thornbury)
SILVER: The Heart Changer, by Jarm Del Boccio (Ambassador International)
BRONZE: Shards of Light (Book 2- The Healer Series), by Susan Miura (Vinspire Publishing)
16. GENERAL FICTION
GOLD: The Hidden Saboteur, by Charles Besondy (Self-Published)
SILVER: The Devil’s Fortune, by Amy Schisler, (Chesapeake Sunrise Publishing)
BRONZE: A Death Well Lived, by Daniel Overdorf (Crosslink Publishing)
17. INSPIRATIONAL / ROMANCE FICTION
GOLD: Adoration-The Sword and the Cross Chronicles, by Olivia Rae (HopeKnight Press)
SILVER: The June Bug Catcher, by Heather Ball (Friesen Press)
BRONZE: Katelyn’s Choice, by Susan G. Mathis (Heritage Beacon Fiction)
18. KEEPSAKE / GIFT / SPECIALTY BIBLE
GOLD: The Greatest Things in Life, by Terry Jackson; illustrated by Jason Fowler (The Peppertree Press)
SILVER: Soul Space: Creating Places and Lives that Make a Difference, by Linda Lawrence Hunt (Tasora Books)
BRONZE: EMOJIs & the Gospel of John, by John Stahl (Pocket Full of Faith Productions)
19. POETRY
GOLD: Giving: Witness~ Book One, by Ginny Emery (Self Published)
BRONZE: Where God is at Home: Poems of God’s Word and World Illuminated by The Message®, by Irene Zimmerman,OSF, Photographs by James Stephen Behrens, OCSO
20. BEST EBOOK
BRONZE: Celtic Knot: A Clara Swift Tale, by Ann Shortell (FriesenPress)
2020 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.
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L1. CHRISTIAN THOUGHT
A More Christlike Way - A More Beautiful Faith, by Bradley Jersak (CWR Press)
SILVER: A Letter to a Friend: The Story of Abuse in America, by Patty Wain Smith (New Words Publishing)
BRONZE: Truth: Spiritual Manual for Battle, by Elizabeth Fulgaro (Holy Spirit Press)
L2. DEVOTIONAL
GOLD: Canticle: Biblical Songs Illustrated, by G.E. Mullen and John Shea (World Library Publications)
All Nature Sings: A Devotional Guide to Animals in the Bible, by Ben Cooper (Christian Faith Publishing)
BRONZE: Slay the Day: Your Daily Dose of Victory, by Alisa Hope Wagner (Marked Writers Publishing)
L3. INSPIRATIONAL
GOLD: Swing Set, by Mary Ellen Dirksen (Me You Friends)
SILVER: My Afrikah Hair, by Melanie L. Houston (Alabaster Box Media Group)
BRONZE: King Here: Never Too OLD, Too RICH or TOO ANYTHING to Meet Jesus, by Trish Porter Topmiller (Morgan James Publishing)
L4. CHRISTIAN FICTION
GOLD: Shepherd, Potter, Spy and the Star Namer, by Peggy Miracle Consolver (Carpenter’s Son Publishing)
SILVER: The Gates Manor Band, by Jan Hemby (Blue Ink Press)
BRONZE: Trial at the Ridge, by Kinsey M. Rockett (Christian Faith Publishing)
L5. CHRISTIAN CHILDREN’S BOOK
GOLD: The Sparrow’s Easter Song, by Michelle Medlock Adams; illustrated by Marion Eldridge (Ideals Children’s Books)
SILVER (tie): The Unshakeable Faith of Gus Mustardseed, by Joshua & Sarah Lowe (Self-Published)
God’s Diner, by Rebecca Lile; illustrated by Patrick Brooks (Warren Publishing)
BRONZE: Oak Street Treehouse: The Day They Messaged God, by Dick Daniels; illustrated by Mollie Bozarth (Self Published)
