"Shining a Light on Exemplary Christian Books" Announcing the ...

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Jan 14, 2014 ... Announcing the Medalists of the 2013 Illumination Book Awards. With all of ... books published during the past year with a Christian worldview.
=================== For Immediate Release 1/14/14 - Traverse City, MI ===================

"Shining a Light on Exemplary Christian Books" Announcing the Medalists of the 2013 Illumination Book Awards With all of the challenges we face today, from keeping our children safe to getting ahead in a sagging economy, it's not always easy to "keep the faith." Thankfully, books from the evergrowing branch of Christian publishing are bringing inspiration and answers to millions of readers. Jenkins Group, a Michigan-based book marketing firm, is proud to announce the medalists in their inaugural ILLUMINATION BOOK AWARDS contest, honoring the best books published during the past year with a Christian worldview. Medals have been awarded in 16 different categories, covering everything from Bible Study and Devotional to family-oriented subjects like Education and Children’s Picture Books. See the complete list of results here: http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1737 "The Bible was the first ‘self-help’ book, filled with stories meant to show us how to live together in peace," says Awards Director Jim Barnes. "These awards are dedicated to that spirit, and to books that help answer the simple question: ‘What Would Jesus Do?’" The diverse topics and styles of the medal-winning books reflect the diversity of Christianity today. As the Apostle Paul said, "From one man God made every nation of the human race, that they should inhabit the whole earth" (Acts 17:26). Of the 51 winning books, 46 of them came from 24 different U.S. States; two are from Canada and three from Australia. The Christian Living category gold medalist, Groceries on a Saturday Morning: Confessions from Real-Life Christianity, was written by Joanne Beckman, the daughter of Chinese immigrants who grew up in rural Wisconsin as the "only ones in town who didn't own a Bible." Here's a quote from one of her essays about her transforming encounters with God, in this case after finding that her husband was infertile: "By entering so viscerally into our domestic drama, God underscored to me that (his) presence transforms all suffering and circumstance, indeed transforms us if we allow him to, then the need to blame loses its power." The Devotional category gold medalist, Sitting with God: A Year of Spiritual Growth, was written by Allen C. Liles, who before becoming an ordained minister, was vice president of public relations for 7-Eleven Stores. The book includes 365 daily meditations he transcribed during a time of personal challenge. "I believe that any committed individual can form a deep and personal bond with God, the Father, and with the Spirit of the Christ that resides at the center of every human being," says Liles. Here's a quote from the entry for January 13: "The heart never lies. The mind can become arrogant and boastful, but deep in the heart of every human being rests his or her true self. I treasure the pure in heart." The list of Illumination Award winners includes many such transforming and inspiring titles. To learn more about them or to contact any of the authors, visit the contest website HERE, the results page HERE, or contact awards director Jim Barnes by email at [email protected] or by phone at 1-800-644-0133 x1011. ## end ##