Below are the Illumination Book Awards results for the 2022 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 medalists!
GENERAL CATEGORIES:
1. Bible Study | 2. Christian Living | 3. Devotional | 4. Theology | 5. Ministry/Mission | 6. Catholic | 7. Family/Parenting | 8. Education | 9. Spirituality | 10. Illness/Death/Dying | 11. Self-Help | 12. Biography/Memoir- Inspiration | 13. Biography/Memoir- Personal Struggle | 14. Holiday | 15. Children’s Picture Book | 16. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction | 17. General Fiction | 18. Romance Fiction | 19. Mystery/Thriller | 20. Keepsake/Gift/Specialty Bible | 21. Poetry | 22. Digital Media (eBook, Audiobook)
ENDURING LIGHT CATEGORIES:
L1. Christian Thought | L2. Devotional | L3. Inspirational | L4. Christian Fiction | L5. Christian Children’s Book
GENERAL CATEGORIES
1. Bible Study
GOLD
You Can Handle the Truth: Making Sense of the Bible in 3 Simple Steps
by Chad M. Mansbridge
(Living Letters Publishing)
Silver
Your True Story: The 50-Day Essential Guide to Your New Life with Jesus
by Susan Freese
(All In Ministries Books)
Bronze
Women in the Bible for Progressive Christians
by Donald Schmidt
(Wood Lake Publishing Inc)
(All In Ministries Books)
2. Christian Living
GOLD
The Book of Giving: How the God Who Gives Can Makes Us Givers
by Pierce Taylor Hibbs
(Self-Published)
Silver
Children’s Bible Stories for Bedtime to Grow in Faith and Love
by Julie Lavender
(Penguin Random House LLC)
Bronze
Redefining Normal: How Two Foster Kids Beat the Odds and Discovered Healing, Happiness and Love
by Justin and Alexis Black
(Global Perspectives Publishing)
3. Devotional
GOLD
Loved and Cherished
by Lynn Cowell and Michelle Nietert
(Zonderkidz)
Silver
Drawing Upon the Promises of God
by Emily White
(Self-Published)
Bronze
Guard Your Heart & Home: Pursuing Peace in Your Living Space
by Victoria Duerstock
(End Game Press)
4. Theology
GOLD
Facing Apocalypse: Climate, Democracy, and Other Last Chances
by Catherine Keller
(Orbis Books)
Silver (tie)
From Scapegoats to Lambs: How God's Word Speaks to George Floyd's Murder
by Charles L. Brown Jr.
(AuthorHouse)
Silver (tie)
Tear Down These Walls: Following Jesus into Deeper Unity
by John Armstrong
(Cascade Books)
Bronze
The Bible Blueprint: A Guide to Better Understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
by Christine Paxson & Rose Spiller
(Ambassador International)
5. Ministry/Mission
GOLD
Community
by Henri Nouwen, edited by Stephen Lazarus
(Orbis Books)
Silver
The Great Digital Commission: Embracing Social Media for Church Growth and Transformation
by Caleb J. Lines
(Cascade Books)
Bronze
Soliloquy No. 7: Addressing Hidden Influences That Quietly Erode Church Leaders
by Chris McGough
(Self-Published)
6. Catholic
GOLD
On Pilgrimage: The Sixties
by Dorothy Day, edited by Robert Ellsberg
(Orbis Books)
Silver
Oscar Romero: A Man for Our Times
by Julio O. Torres
(Church Publishing Inc.)
Bronze
Jesús, Mary, and Joseph
by Kathleen T. Pelley
(Journey with Story)
7. Family/Parenting
GOLD
The Hopeful Family: Raising Resilient Children in Uncertain Times
by Amelia Richardson Dress
(Morehouse Publishing)
Silver (tie)
Justified by Her Children: Deeds of Courage Confronting a Tradition of Racism
by Roy G. Pollina
(Whaler Books/Mariner Media)
Silver (tie)
The Silent Queen: Why the Church Needs Women to Find Their Voice
by Paul Ellis
(KingsPress)
Bronze
Missing the Point: It’s Time to Usher in a New Generation of Christianity
by Amy Skoll
(WestBow Press)
8. Education
Category Canceled
9. Spirituality
GOLD
Saint Hildegard: Ancient Insights for Modern Seekers
by Susan Garthwaite
(She Writes Press)
Silver
The Diary of Jesus Christ
by Bill Cain, SJ
(Orbis Books)
Bronze
Winter in Eden
by Julie Anshasi
(Giant Publishing Company)
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. Biography/Memoir- Inspiration
GOLD
Hope Remains: Seeing the Goodness of God in the Shadow of Suffering
by Reppard and Summer Gordon
(Self-Published)
Silver
Surviving Hitler, Evading Stalin: One Woman's Remarkable Escape from Nazi Germany
by Mildred Schindler Janzen with Sherye S. Green
(Sunbury Press)
Bronze
Eyes of Compassion: Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh
by Jim Forest
(Orbis Books)
13. Biography/Memoir- Personal Struggle
GOLD
The Miscarriage Project
by Adrianne Babbitt
(WestBow Press)
Silver
Dangerous Hope: Planting Something Meaningful in the Soil of Disappointment
by Mandy B. Anderson
(RAYMA Team Media)
Bronze
Cherishable
by Julie J. Wylie
(Pond Reads Press)
14. Holiday
GOLD
The Wandering Wise Men
by Eric & Meredith Schrotenboer, illustrated by Joel Schoon-Tanis
(Fresh Wind Studios)
Silver
Dachshund Through the Snow
by Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Ana Sebastian
(End Game Press)
Bronze
Bob Cratchit's Christmas Carol: The Untold Miracle of Charles Dickens's Classic
by Leonard Szymczak
(GPS Books)
15. Children’s Picture Book
GOLD
Dream Big, My Precious One
by Jill Roman Lord
(WorthyKids)
Silver
The Family Story Bible
by Ralph Milton
(Wood Lake Publishing LLC)
Bronze
Jesus Loves Me—Sound Book
by Yong Pil Choi
(Hello 2Kids)
16. Juvenile/Young Adult Fiction
GOLD
Heartbreaker
by V. Romas Burton
(Monster Ivy Publishing)
Silver
The Wolf Queen
by Tabitha Caplinger
(Blue Ink Press)
Bronze
Lainey of the Door Islands
by Judy DuCharme
(Ambassador International)
17. General Fiction
GOLD
The Marriage of Innis Wilkinson
by Lauren H Brandenburg
(Lion Fiction)
Silver
Two Kingdoms
by DC Moore
(TK)
Bronze
Dust
by Eva Marie Everson
(Firefly Southern Fiction)
18. Romance Fiction
GOLD
For the Love of Emma
by Starr Ayers
(Mountain Brook Ink)
Silver
Love Unfailing
by Tara Taffera
(Winged Publications)
Bronze
Roots Revealed
by Tracy Michelle Sellars
(CrossRiver Media Group)
19. Mystery/Thriller
GOLD
The Pilate Scroll
by M.B. Lewis
(SATCOM Publishing)
Silver
Fool's Luck
by Dave Milbrandt
(Ambassador International)
Bronze
Rising Wind: The Weeping God and The Book of Hope
by Diane Olsen
(Lyon Literary Services)
20. Keepsake/Gift/Specialty Bible
GOLD
Mary’s Treasure: A 24-Day Journey of Reflection, Art, and Poetry
by Erin Greneaux
(Greneaux Gardens)
Silver
Navigating Minefields: A Young Man’s Blueprint for Success on Life’s Battlefield
by Victoria Duerstock & Bethany Jett
(End Game Press)
Bronze
Christmas in Idaho
by Ray Downing
(Studio Macbeth)
21. Poetry
GOLD
Litany of Flights
by Laura Reece Hogan
(Paraclete Press)
Silver
Poetic Parables: Celebrating God in Nature
by Deborah d’Antonio
(Christian Faith Publishing)
Bronze
Is the Bible True? Let’s Review
by H.K. Harb
(Self Published)
22. Digital Media (eBook, Audiobook)
GOLD
A Given Grace: An Anthology of Christian Poems
ed. by Desmond Francis Xavier Kon (Zhicheng-Mingdé) & Eric Francis Tinsay Valles
(Squircle Line Press)
Silver
Diamonds In Our Days: Discovering God's Healing Hope and Beauty
by Lisa Wilt
(Rx For The Soulful Heart)
Silver (TIE)
No Bunny But Me! The Unauthorized Official Easter Bunny Biography
by Brian Donnelly
(Mythographer's Workshop)
Bronze
The Covenant Names of God
by Richard Sones
(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.
L1. Christian Thought
GOLD
A More Christlike Word
by Bradley Jersak
(Whitaker House)
Silver
A Letter to a Friend: The Story of Abuse in America
by Patty Wain Smith
(New Words Publishing)
Bronze
2 Timothy: Winning the Victory
by Katy Kauffman
(Lighthouse Bible Studies)
L2. Devotional
GOLD
Broken Lenses Volume 2: Seeing Others' Value in a World of Division
by Emily Bernath
(Morgan James Faith)
GOLD
Where No Roads Go
by Carin LeRoy
(Aneko Press)
Silver
Finding Hope in the Darkness
by Karen Pilarowski
(New Harbor Press)
Bronze
Only Jesus Remains: Reflections for Tending Hurting Hearts at Christmas
by Elizabeth Fulgaro
(Holy Spirit Press)
L3. Inspirational
GOLD
In the Midst of Chaos, Peace
by Daniel Thomas Paulos, Sister Wendy Beckett & Sister Jean Dorcy, OP
(Ignatius Press)
Silver
Extraordinary Hospitality for Ordinary Christians
by Victoria Duerstock
(Good Books)
Bronze (tie)
Famous People Speak about Jesus
by Christopher H.K. Persaud
(Self-Published)
Bronze (TIE)
Spiritual Common Sense: 77 Guiding Principles for a More Meaningful Life
by Bill Halamandaris
(Bill Halamandaris)
L4. Christian Fiction
GOLD
The Death of Mungo Blackwell
by Lauren H. Brandenburg
(Lion Hudson Ltd)
Silver
Choice of The Mighty
by Kenyon T Henry
(Jumpmaster Press)
Bronze
Daughter: Created To Belong, Book 1
by Tawana Darshae Burks
(Self-Published)
L5. Christian Children’s Book
GOLD
Sister For Sale
by Michelle Medlock Adams, illustrated by Karen Stormer Brooks
(Zonderkidz)
Silver
Good Brother No
by Pastor Dave Oravec, illustrated by Lucian Gradinariu
(Mascot Books)
Bronze
You're More than a Sprout
by Jill Roman Lord, illustrated by Sarah Demonteverde
(BH Kids)
