2021 Medalists

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October 3, 2021

Below are the Illumination Book Awards results for the 2021 Illumination Awards, 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!

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GENERAL CATEGORIES:

ENDURING LIGHT CATEGORIES:

L1. Christian Thought | L2. Devotional | L3. Inspirational | L4. Christian Fiction | L5. Christian Children’s Book

GENERAL CATEGORIES

1. Bible Study

GOLD

The Beatitudes for Progressive Christians

by Donald Schmidt

(Wood Lake Publishing)

Silver (tie)

Grow in the Grace: Spiritual Growth Lessons from Peter's Walk with Jesus

by James Callen

(Crosslink Publishing)

Silver (tie)

Memoirs of How It All Began: A Performance Interpretation of the Gospel of Luke

by Mark F. Whitters

(Cascade Books)

Bronze

Seeking Treasures

by Donna E. Lane

(Bear's Place Publishing)

2. Christian Living

GOLD

The Center Will Hold

by Christopher de Vinck

(Loyola Press)

Silver (tie)

Passionate for Justice: Ida B. Wells as Prophet for Our Time

by Catherine Meeks & Nibs Stroupe

(Church Publishing Incorporated)

Silver (tie)

Hunger for Hope

by Sr. Simone Campbell

(Orbis Books)

Bronze

True Worshipers

by Marja Verschoor-Meijers

(Frisse Kijk)

3. Devotional

GOLD

Heart & Home: Design Basics for Your Soul & Living Space

by Victoria Duerstock

(Abingdon Press)

Silver

Jesus-Centered Daily: See. Hear. Touch. Smell. Taste

by Rick Lawrence

(Lifetree By Group)

Bronze

Activating Joy: A 40-Day Journey to Rediscovering the Meaning of Joy

by Jessica Hurtado

(Reflecting on the Word)

4. Theology

GOLD

Ignatian Discernment of Spirits in Spiritual Direction and Pastoral Care

by Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ

(Loyola Press)

Silver

Experiencing God in the Ordinary

by Fr. William A. Barry, SJ

(Loyola Press)

Bronze

No Half-Truths Allowed: Understanding the Complete Gospel Message

by Christine Paxson & Rose Spiller

(Ambassador International)

5. Ministry/Mission

GOLD

Preaching Black Lives Matter

by Gayle Fisher-Stewart

(Church Publishing Incorporated)

Silver

The Last Pastor: Faithfully Steering a Closing Church

by Gail Cafferata

(Westminster John Knox Press)

Bronze

Unexpected Connections: How God is Rewiring a Community to Fight Social Isolation and Grow the Kingdom

by Matt Peacock

(Iridescent Press)

6. Catholic

GOLD (tie)

The Outsider: Pope Francis and the Battle to Reform the Church

by Christopher Lamb

(Orbis Books)

GOLD (tie)

5 Things with Father Bill

by Fr. Bill Byrne

(Loyola Press)

Silver

on Love

by Pope Francis

(Loyola Press)

Bronze

The Way to Manresa

by Brendan McManus, SJ

(Loyola Press)

7. Family/Parenting

GOLD

Motherhood: A Confession

by Natalie Carnes

(Stanford University Press)

Silver (tie)

Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital World: A Solution That Works

by Mandy Majors

(Self Published)

Silver (tie)

Reimagining Adoption: What Adoptees Seek from Families and Faith

by Sally Ankerfelt, M. Div. and Gayle H. Swift, CPC

(Braided Threads Publishing)

Bronze

Don't Mess With This Mama : Risking It All to Rescue Our Daughter

by Missy Maxwell Worton

(Author Academy Elite)

8. Education

GOLD

Teaching Students with Autism in a Catholic Setting

by Dr. Lawrence R. Sutton

(Loyola Press)

SILVER

Preparing Hearts and Minds

by Joe Paprocki

(Loyola Press)

BRONZE

Lord, You Called Me

by Ricardo Grzona

(Loyola Press)

9. Spirituality

GOLD

The Inner Chapel

by Becky Eldredge

(Loyola Press)

Silver

Not All Who Wander (Spiritually) Are Lost

by Traci Rhoades

(Church Publishing Incorporated)

Bronze

Without Oars

by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson

(Broadleaf Books)

10. Illness/Death/Dying

GOLD

Pilgrimage: A Doctor’s Healing Journey

by Donna Chacko, MD

(Luminare Press)

Silver

Messy Hope: Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety, Depression, or Suicidal Ideation

by Lori Wildenberg

(New Hope Publishers)

Bronze

Gus Finds a New Friend

by Karen Nicksich

(Book Vine Press)

11. Self-Help

GOLD

Christian Minimalism: Simple Steps for Abundant Living

by Becca Ehrlich

(Morehouse Publishing)

Silver

Spiritual Exhaustion

by Julie Anshasi

(Giant Publishing Company)

Bronze

LINKED for Couples: Maximizing Heart Connections One Link at a Time

by Linda Gilden and Linda Goldfarb

(Bold Vision Books)

12. Health/Wellness

GOLD

Helping Families Recover from Addiction

by Jean Heaton

(Loyola Press)

Silver

Spiritual Practices for the Brain

by Anne Kertz Kernion

(Loyola Press)

Bronze

Struck Down but Not Destroyed: Living Faithfully with Anxiety

by Pierce Taylor Hibbs

(Self Published)

13. Biography/Memoir - Inspiration

GOLD

Writing Straight With Crooked Lines

by Jim Forest

(Orbis Books)

Silver

All In

by Porter Moser

(Loyola Press)

Bronze

Belonging

by Frank J. Butler

(Orbis Books)

14. Biography/Memoir - Personal Struggle

GOLD

Worth It: Overcome Your Fears and Embrace the Life You Were Made For

by Brit Baron

(Broadleaf Books)

Silver

Boldly into the Darkness: Living with Loss, Growing with Grief & Holding onto Happiness

by Autumn Toelle-Jackson

(Wise Ink Creative Publishing)

Bronze

While We Slept: Finding Hope and Healing After Homicide

by Marcy Pusey with Jeremy Pusey

(Miramare Ponte Press)

15. Holiday

GOLD

That Grand Christmas Day!

by Jill Roman Lord illustrated by Alessia Trunfio

(Worthy Kids)

Silver (tie)

The Shepherd's Story

by Jimmy Dunne, Illustrated by Ivan Kravets

(Loyola Press)

Silver (tie)

The Quiet Crazy Easter Day

by Jill Roman Lord

(BH Kids)

Bronze

What is Halloween?

by Michelle Medlock Adams; illustrated by Amy Wummer

(Worthy Kids)

16. Children's Picture Book

GOLD (tie)

I Love You Bigger Than the Sky

by Michelle Medlock Adams; illustrated by Ag Jatkowska

(Worthy Kids)

GOLD (tie)

Seek & Find Bible

by Elisenda Castells and Gabrielle Murphy

(Loyola Press)

Silver

A Baa-rilliant Adventure

by Jennifer Somervell; illustrated by Zerika van Jaarsveld

(Landing Lights Press)

Bronze

A Gift To Remember

by Merideth Tullous; illustrated by Ylber Cérvadiku

(H&E Press)

17. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction

GOLD (tie)

Shadow in the Dark

by Antony Barone Kolenc

(Loyola Press)

GOLD (tie)

Stealing Embers

by Julie Hall

(Julie Hall)

Silver

Heartmender

by V. Romas Burton

(Monster Ivy Publishing)

Bronze (tie)

Fortune's Fall

by Katherine Barger

(Anaiah Press)

Bronze (tie)

The Vault Between Spaces

by Chawna Schroeder

(Enclave Escape)

18. General Fiction

GOLD

What Momma Left Behind

by Cindy K. Sproles

(Revell)

Silver (tie)

Devyn's Dilemma

by Susan G Mathis

(Heritage Beacon Fiction)

Silver (tie)

The Confessions of Adam

by David J. Marsh

(Bold Vision Books)

Bronze

The Flight of the Veil

by Bruce J. Berger

(Black Rose Writing)

19. Romance Fiction

GOLD (TIE)

Runaway River

by Kim D. Taylor

(Trilogy)

GOLD (TIE)

Seasoned ~ A Love Story

by Jayme H. Mansfield

(Lighthouse Publishing)

Silver

The Menu

by Steven Manchester

(Luna Bella Press)

Bronze

Polarized Love

by Lisa Renee

(Self Published)

20. Mystery/Thriller

GOLD

Death and a Crocodile

by Lisa E. Betz

(Crosslink Publishing)

Silver

The Chase

by Charles Besondy

(Besondy Publishing)

Bronze

Divine Return: Death is Never the End

by Jeff Walton

(Sunbrook Publishing)

21. Keepsake/Gift/Specialty Bible

GOLD

Eyewitness: The Visual Bible Experience

by Jeff White

(Lifetree By Group)

Silver

God's Wonderful Word

by Loyola Press; illustrated by Emma Segal

(Loyola Press)

Bronze

Bible Power Puzzles: Learn the Word of God Through the Power of Puzzles!

by Diego Jourdan Pereira

(Good Books)

22. Poetry

GOLD

Redeemed Reflections: Poems and Ponderings of Faith

by Kari L. Greenaway

(Self Published)

Silver

Broken ~ Poems from the Holy Spirit

by Julie Anshasi

(Giant Publishing Company)

Bronze

Songs of Benjamin

by Benjamin Kwakye

(Cissus World Press)

23. Digital Media

GOLD

Enjoy Today Own Tomorrow

by Laine Lawson Craft

(Christian Audio)

Silver

Glimmers of Glory: Discovering God Moments in the Gloomy

by Lisa Wilt

(Rx For The Soulful Heart)

Bronze

Finally I Do... Again

by Marq and Beverly Redmond

(Self Published)

ENDURING LIGHT CATEGORIES

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.