EPA Contest: 2005 Awards

 

The 2005 Higher Goals and Awards of Excellence prizes were presented at EPA's annual convention, held in the greater Chicago area April 24-27, 2005. This contest honors the best work done by EPA publications during the calendar year 2004.

 

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

 

The Awards of Excellence competition honors overall excellence throughout a publication. Honors are given in each EPA membership category. The top award in each category is the "Award of Excellence"; judges may also give "Awards of Merit."

 

Christian Ministries

 

Award of Excellence: Preaching, Michael Duduit, editor; Andrew Scates, art director; American Ministry Resources, publisher. The judge said "Kudos! Good writing—consistently. This is quality work. The editorial team has done a very good job."

 

Awards of Merit: Christian Camp & Conference Journal; Alison Hayhoe, editor; Mike Hames, art director; Christian Camping International/USA, publisher; Leadership, Marshall Shelley, editor; Raymond C. Whitlock, III, art director; Christianity Today International, publisher.

 

Judge: Bill Bangham, director of photography and writer at the
International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and past editor-in-chief of the board's magazine The Commission.

 

Denominational

 

Award of Excellence: EFCA Today, Diane J. McDougall, editor; Michael Miller, art director; Evangelical Free Church of America, publisher. The judge said "Handsome publication. Attractive. Well focused on every page."

 

Awards of Merit: Advance, Bill Shepson, editor; Jo Ann Antoine, art director; International Church of Foursquare Gospel, publisher; Alliance Life, Mark Failing, editor; Beryl Glass, art director; The Christian and Missionary Alliance, publisher; The Banner, Bob DeMoor, editor; Dean R. Heetderks, art director; CRC Publications, publisher.

 

Judge: Judge: Peter Jacobi, professor emeritus and Adjunct Riley Lecturer at the Indiana University School of Journalism and author of several books including The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write It.

 

Devotional

 

Award of Excellence: Indeed, Chris Tiegreen, editor; Lon Foster, art director; Walk Thru the Bible, publisher. The judge said "An outstanding devotional. They rose to the occasion."

 

Award of Merit: Tapestry, Susan Nelson, editor; Michelle Strickland, art director; Walk Thru the Bible, publisher.

 

Judge: Henry Blackaby, speaker and the author of over a dozen books, including the classic Experiencing God.

 

General

 

Award of Excellence: Christianity Today, David Neff, editor; Gary Gnidovic, art director; Christianity Today, International, publisher. The judge said "Very effective. Exceptionally well written. Informative."

 

Awards of Merit: Christian History and Biography, Chris Armstrong, managing editor; Raymond Whitlock, art director; Christianity Today, International, publisher; Discipleship Journal, Sue Kline, editor; Anne Elhajoui, art director; NavPress, publisher; Sports Spectrum, Dave Branon, editor; Steve Gier, art director, Sports Spectrum Publications, publisher; Woman's Touch, Arlene Allen, editor; Joel Carter, art director; General Counsel of the Assemblies of God, publisher.

 

Judge: Julia Duin, assistant national editor of the Washington Times.

 

Missionary

 

Award of Excellence: World Vision, Milana McLead, editor; The Journey Group, art director; World Vision, U.S., publisher. The judge said "Good writing throughout. I like the articles that place missions in the context of the world around them. The design, use of photos are excellent."

 

Awards of Merit: Leaders for Today, Roland Moody, editor; Tres Rice, art director; Haggai Institute, publisher.

 

Judge: Wesley Pippert, director of the Missouri School of Journalism's Washington Program.

 

Newsletter

 

Award of Excellence: Plugged In, Bob Smithouser, editor; James Cail, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher. The judge said "An edge. A unique set of contents hard to find in many other publications."

 

Awards of Merit: Early Stages, Traci Pedone, editor; Jody Reiner, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher; Jubilee Extra, David Carlson, editor; Peter Gross, art director; Prison Fellowship Ministries, publisher; Money Matters, Chuck Thompson, editor; Crown Financial Ministries, publisher.

 

Judge: Russ Pulliam, Associate editor of The Indianapolis Star.

 

Newspaper

 

Award of Excellence: The Charlotte World, Jamie Dean, editor; Kim Pickering, art director; Warren Smith, publisher. The judge said "Works well. Nice look. Sharp color contrast—very good."

 

Awards of Merit: Christian Examiner, Lori Arnold, editor; Lamar Keener, art director; Keener Communications Group, publisher; Good News, Etc., Rick Monroe, editor; Rick Monroe, Colleen Monroe, and Ben Clark, art directors; Good News Publishers, publisher; Minnesota Christian Chronicle, Bryan Malley, editor; Mike Norman, art director; World Newspaper Publishing, publisher; The Northwestern Column, Eric Litke and Megan Nelson, editors; Northwestern College, publisher.

 

Judge: Russ Pulliam

 

On-line

 

Award of Excellence: Christianity Today Movies, Mark Moring, editor; Clay Anderson, art director, Christianity Today, publisher. The judge said "This site is outstanding. I really like the continuity."

 

Awards of Merit: Baptist Press, Will Hall, editor; Southern Baptist Convention, publisher; Christian Music Today, Mark Moring, editor; Christianity Today, International, publisher; Christianity Today Online, David Neff, editor; Gary Gnidovic, art director; Christianity Today International, publisher.

 

Judge: Jon Walker, editor of Rick Warren's Ministry ToolBox and vice president of story for Purpose Driven Ministries.

 

Organizational

 

Award of Excellence: Wheaton, Georgia I. Douglass, editor; Chrismer Mardock Design Group, art director Wheaton College, publisher. The judge said "Outstanding combination of graphic design, writing and compelling content."

 

Awards of Merit: American Bible Society Record, David Singer, editor; Journey Group, art director; American Bible Society, publisher. Decision, Bob Paulson, editor; Peter Taylor, art director; Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, publisher. Stillpoint: The Magazine of Gordon College, Patricia C. McKay, editor; Lora E. Maggiacomo, art director; Gordon College, publisher.

 

Judge: Dan Lattimore, vice provost for extended programs, dean of University College and professor of journalism at the University of Memphis.

 

Youth

 

Award of Excellence: Go!, Janna Jones, editor; Cortney Williams, art director; North American Mission Board, publisher. The judge said "Edgy. Good publication for encouraging intended audience to go to a world without Christ. Challenging on many levels."

 

Awards of Merit: Breakaway, Michael Ross, editor; Michael Heath, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher; Clubhouse, Jesse Florea, editor; Peg Mamalakis, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher.

 

Judge: Paul Allen is the executive pastor of Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina and editor-at-large of Rev. Magazine.

 

Most Improved Publication

 

Award of Excellence: Connections, Joe Aguirre, editor; Jonathan Price, art director; Reasons to Believe, publisher. The judge said "Huge improvement! More clarity. More reader-related."

 

Awards of Merit: Focus on the Family, Susan Graham Mathis, editor; Jan Koenig, art director; Focus on the Family, publisher; On Mission, Carolyn Curtis, editor; Steve Beaver and Robert McClurkan, art directors; North American Mission Board, publisher; Trans World Radio, Dawn Overman, editor; Charlene Abdo and Kathryn Carson, art directors; Trans World Radio, publisher.

 

Judge: Terry White, a past president of EPA and executive director and publisher of Brethren Missionary Herald Company in Winona Lake, Indiana.

 

HIGHER GOALS

 

(Note: We had an unusually high number of ties this year, so be sure to search the listings carefully.)

 

BIBLICAL EXPOSITION

 

 

• First Place: Christian History & Biography, "Mary at the Cross" by Patrick Henry Reardon; Christian Leader, "The Relentless God" by Pierre Gilbert

 

• Second Place: The Banner, "The Hope of Heaven" by Andrew J. Bandstra; Christian Research Journal, "Luke 14:25: Hate or Hyperbole?" by Leland Ryken; Sojourners, "Secret Siblings" by S. Scott Bartchy

 

Judge: Chris Thomas, Clarence J. Abbott Professor of Biblical Studies at the Church of God Theological Seminary.

 

CAUSE OF THE YEAR: Racial Reconciliation

 

 

• First Place: Baptist Press, "100-year-old black alumnus receives overdue masters'" by Brent Thompson; Plain Truth, "Reparations or Reconciliations?" by Doug Trouten

 

• Second Place: The Charlotte World, "From Anger to Answers" by Jamie Dean; The Church Herald, "Retrospective on Racism" by Lynn Japinga; Mutuality: The Voice of Christians for Biblical Equality, "The Bible in Black and White" by Chelsea DeArmond

 

Judge: Star Parker, founder and president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal & Education, a media and public policy organization that provides a national voice of reason on issues of race and poverty.

 

CRITICAL REVIEW

 

 

• First Place: Citizen, "Kinsey Cover-Up" by Stephen Adams; Mutuality: The Voice of Christians for Biblical Equality, "Rules to Date By: Are teens receiving unhealthy messages about dating?" by Jessica Gaylord

 

• Second Place: The Lutheran Witness, "The Truth About the Da Vinci Code" by Brent McGuire

 

• Third Place: Mennonite Brethren Herald, "The Gospel According to Me!" by David Eagle

 

• Fourth Place: Good News, Etc., "Putting my finger in His nail scars and my hand in His side" by Al Menconi

 

Judge: Michael Medved, film critic, best-selling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host.

 

DEVOTIONAL ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: Gordon College Stillpoint, "Arist0cracy and Obligation: The Medieval List of Almsdeeds" by Eleonore Stump

 

• Second Place: Homeschooling Today, "Blessed Contentment" by Tiffany McDonald

 

• Third Place: Inside Journal, "Sitting in God's Waiting Room" by James Luther

 

• Fourth Place: Brio and Beyond, "Jesus Never Fails" by Susie Shellenberger

 

• Fifth Place: InDeed, "Opening Treasures" by Chris Tiegreen

 

Judge: Roger Palms, retired editor of Decision magazine.

 

EDITORIAL

 

 

• First Place: Leadership, "Sometimes Ministry Stinks" by M. Craig Barnes

 

• Second Place: Minnesota Christian Chronicle, "How does it look to act justly?" by Bryan Malley

 

• Third Place: In Touch, "What Is a Marriage?" by Tonya Stoneman

 

• Fourth Place: Sojourners, "The Theology of Torture" by Jim Wallis

 

• Fifth Place: Brio and Beyond, "Would Jesus Hang Out at the Red Dog Saloon?" by Susie Shellenberger

 

Judge: Bob Welch, general columnist at The Register-Guard and adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon.

 

EVANGELISTIC ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: Light & Life, "Two Gods Under One Roof?" by Barbara Curtis

 

• Second Place: Advance, "Christmas: More Than a Story?" by Rusty Wright

 

• Third Place: Clubhouse Jr. "One Big Happy Family" by Alexandra Lutz; Homeschooling Today, "Sharing the Gospel as a Family" by Chris Klicka; Today's Christian, "The Cross and the Crescent" by Jamie Winship.

 

Judge: Alvin Reid, professor of Evangelism at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

 

FICTION

 

 

• First Place: Today's Christian Woman, "Daybreak" by Liz Curtis Higgs

 

• Second Place: Campus Life, "A Real Steal" by Ronica Stromberg

 

• Third Place: Brio, "Hitting Rock Bottom" by Diana Jenkins

 

• Fourth Place: Clubhouse, "Good King" by Katherine Grace Bond

 

• Fifth Place: Go!, "Finding Beautiful" by Phinney Lowell

 

Judge: Bret Lott, author of six novels including A Song I Knew by Heart and Jewel. Bret is also editor of The Southern Review.

 

FIRST-PERSON ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: The Heartland Gatekeeper, "Go Ye Therefore... to Benin" by Joanna Mayhew

 

• Second Place: Books & Culture, "Dances with Medicine Men" by Virginia Stem Owens

 

• Third Place: Marriage Partnership, "Testing Our Vows" by Merry Marinello

 

• Fourth Place: Today's Christian Woman, "Lessons in Dying" by Vanessa Van Cleave

 

• Fifth Place: Discipleship Journal, "Hope in Baghdad" by Jamie Winship

 

Judge: Frederica Mathewes-Green a columnist for Beliefnet.com and author of several books including The Illumined Heart: The Ancient Christian Path of Transformation

 

GENERAL ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: Christian Research Journal, "The Matrix: Unloaded Revelations" by Brian Godawa

 

• Second Place: Books & Culture, "Omit Unnecessary Words" by Andy Crouch

 

• Third Place: Marriage Partnership, "Irreconcilable Differences - So?" by Mark Galli

 

• Fourth Place: SpiritLed Woman, "Why the President Needs Your Prayers" by Stephen Mansfield

 

• Fifth Place: New Man, "Men of the Decade" by Stephen Mansfield

 

Judge: Frederica Mathewes-Green

 

HUMOROUS ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: New Man, "Everything I Know About Women" by Dave Meurer

 

• Second Place: Marriage Partnership, "Mind Games" by Phil Callaway

 

• Third Place: Advance, "Survivor: The Christmas Edition" by Dave Meurer; Leadership, "The Sermon that Got My Goat" by John Beukema YouthWorker Journal, "From a Hole in the Roof: Apostle Paul, the Youth Minister" by Steve Case

 

Judge: Calvin Miller, professor of Divinity at Samford University's Beeson Divinity School and author of dozens of books and hundreds of articles.

 

INTERVIEW ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: Leadership, "Same-Sex Marriage: What Can I Say?" by Eric Reed

 

• Second Place: Charisma & Christian Life, "She Chose to Forgive" by Joshua Newton

 

• Third Place: Books & Culture, "'Salvation Inflation'? A conversation with Alan Wolfe" by Michael Cromartie

 

• Fourth Place: Word Alive, "An All-Sufficient Grace" by Doug Lockhart

 

• Fifth Place: AFA Journal, "We will lift up our eyes to the big screen" by Randall Murphree

 

Judge: Holly G. Miller, former senior editor of the Saturday Evening Post and author or co-author of 14 books and more than 2,000 published articles.

 

PERSONALITY ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: World Vision, "The Game of Her Life" by Nigel Marsh

 

• Second Place: Today's Pentecostal Evangel, "Forgiven at Last" by Kirk Noonan

 

• Third Place: Sojourners, "Opening Heart and Home" by Jim Forest

 

• Fourth Place: Christianity Today, "Ragamuffin" by Agnieszka Tennant

 

• Fifth Place: Advent Christian Witness, "Man in the Shadows" by Rev. William Mather

 

Judge: Holly G. Miller

 

POETRY

 

 

• First Place: Sojourners, "Praying into the Equidistance" by Fredrick Zydek

 

• Second Place: Books & Culture, "Tabloid Poems: I Want to have a Space Alien's Baby" by John Leax

 

• Third Place: The Marketplace, "Invocation" by Jean Janzen

 

• Fourth Place: The Banner, "Love in the Flesh" by Kristi Quist; Club Connection, "Grandpa is not a Gorilla" by Marty Nystrom

 

Judge: Luci Shaw, poet and author of a number of prose books and eight volumes of poetry.

 

REPORTING

 

 

• First Place: Citizen, "In Harm's Way" by Karl Dial

 

• Second Place: Charisma & Christian Life, "Reaching the Rastafarians" by Andy Butcher; Today's Christian, "Daughters Under Fire" by Marcia Ford

 

• Third Place: Today's Christian Woman, "Dateless in Christiansville" by Camerin Courtney

 

• Fourth Place: Worldwide Challenge, "Winter on the Steppe" by Chris Lawrence

 

Judge: David Aikman, former Time magazine foreign and domestic correspondent and is author of several books including A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush.

 

STANDING COLUMN

 

 

• First Place: Indeed, "A Parting Word" by Chris Tiegreen

 

• Second Place: The Church Herald, "Signs of the Kingdom" by Louis Lotz

 

• Third Place: Leadership, "Commentary" by Brian McLaren

 

• Fourth Place: BC Christian News, "Movie Reviews" by Peter T. Chattaway

 

• Fifth Place: Plain Truth, "Growing Places" by Susan Reedy

 

Judge: Bob Welch

 

SINGLE-THEME SECTION/ISSUE

 

 

• First Place: Discipleship Journal, "Entering His Presence" by Stacey S. Padrick, Paul Thigpen and Howard Bakers

 

• Second Place: World Vision Magazine, "The Joy of Blessedness" by Jane Sutton-Redner and Tim Dearborn

 

• Third Place: Leadership, "Keeping Conflict Healthy" by eleven contributing authors

 

• Fourth Place: American Bible Society Record, "Until the Whole World Knows" by Eugene B. Habecker, David Singer, Francine Lange, Lamar Vest, Richard Stewart and Arun Sok Nhep

 

• Fifth Place: Christian History & Biography, "Mary in the Imagination of the Church" by Chris Armstrong

 

Judge: Andy Scheer, managing editor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild in Colorado Springs, and previously served with Moody magazine.

 

CARTOON

 

 

• First Place: Clubhouse, "Sand Dudes: Shape Up" by Christopher Maselli and John Kanzler

 

• Second Place: Today's Christian, "Winter Witnessing" by Mary Chambers

 

• Third Place: Campus Life, "A Turkey Carol" by Kevin Frank

 

• Fourth Place: Leaders for Today, "Expo Nelly" by David Lee

 

• Fifth Place: Enrichment, "Waitress and man at table" by Roger Judd

 

Judge: Mark Herron, graphic designer based in Atlanta.

 

COVER

 

 

• First Place: Kindred Spirit, "It's Not About Ho, Ho, Ho." Sandra Glahn, concept; Keith Yates, David Edmonson and Don Regier, execution

 

• Second Place: Discipleship Journal, "What God Has Joined Together" by Jim Baily

 

• Third Place: Advance, "Do You Believe in Christmas?" by Jo Anne Antoine

 

• Fourth Place: Christian Research Journal, "Pornography: Darkening Our Minds" by Dwayne Cogdill

 

• Fifth Place: Worldwide Challenge, "Mongolia." The Journey Group, design, and Guy Gerrard, photography

 

Judge: Dorit Randandt, owner of Idea Tree Creative, a graphic design company near Atlanta.

 

ORIGINAL ART

 

 

• First Place: Clubhouse Jr., "Dudley the Dog with Parrot and Cat" by Dave Clegg; Kindred Spirit, "Empowered Walking" by Joe Allen

 

• Second Place: Light & Life, "Contemporary Art of Wedding Scene" by Ralph Butler

 

• Third Place: Christian Home & School, "Two Children Playing a Video Game" by Trevor Howard

 

• Fourth Place: Clubhouse, "Leading Man" by Dana Thompson

 

Judge: Will Sumpter, illustrator and design representative based in Brooks, Georgia.

 

PHOTO FEATURE

 

 

• First Place: Decision, "To Russia... With Hope," Greg Schneider, photographer, Peter Taylor, designer and Kristen M. Burke, writer

 

• Second Place: World Vision, "Second Chances in the Land of Noah: Armenia," Jon Warren, photographer, and The Journey Group, design

 

• Third Place: Worldwide Challenge, "Winter on the Steppe," Guy Gerrard, photographer, and The Journey Group, design

 

• Fourth Place: Christianity Today, "Saving Strangers," by Denise McGill

 

• Fifth Place: On Mission, "Mobilizing for Ministry," Greg Schneider, Ken Touchton, and Morris Abernathy, photographers, and Robert McClurkan, designer

 

Judge: Gary Fong, director of Editorial Graphics Technology at the San Francisco Chronicle

 

SINGLE PHOTO/CANDID

 

 

• First Place: World Vision Magazine, "In the Era of HIV/AIDS: Something to Live For" by Jon Warren

 

• Second Place: Worldwide Challenge, "Winter on the Steppe" by Guy Gerrard

 

• Third Place: Decision, "Lighting the Way in Halifax" by Ron Nickel

 

Judge: Jim Veneman, director of visual communication at Union University

 

SINGLE PHOTO/CONTROLLED SETTING

 

 

• First Place: Christianity Today, "The Very Rev. Mouris Amsih—Lost in America" by Bill Bilsley

 

• Second Place: Word Alive, "Feature article opening spread portrait of David and Henny Thormoset" by Dave Crough

 

• Third Place: Campus Life, "Boy modeling t-shirt lying on note paper" by Jimi Allen

 

• Fourth Place: Enrichment, "Couple sitting on couch" by Rockafellow Studios and Sonny Carder

 

• Fifth Place: Discipleship, "Peas in a Pod" by Jim Bailey

 

Judge: David Rees, photojournalism Sequence head at the Missouri School of Journalism.

 

TWO-PAGE SPREAD DESIGN

 

 

• First Place: Campus Life, "The Lure of Gang Life" by Doug Fleener

 

• Second Place: Christian Research Journal, "Using the Qur'an and the Hadith as a Bridge for Sharing the Gospel" by Dwayne Cogdill

 

• Third Place: Decision, "To Russia... With Hope" by Peter Taylor

 

• Fourth Place: SpiritLed Woman, "I Found Safety in the Storm" by Joe DeLeon

 

• Fifth Place: Christianity Today, "Running Out of Miracles" by Gary Gnidovic

 

Judge: Lee Green, worldwide director of Corporate Identity and Design for IBM Corporation.

 

TYPOGRAPHY AND LETTERING

 

 

• First Place: Campus Life, "Mean Spirit!" by Doug Fleener

 

• Second Place: Discipleship Journal, "What I Learned from Modern Martyrs" by Lisa Pence and Anne Elhajoui

 

• Third Place: Christian Research Journal, "The Da Vinci Code: Revisiting a Cracked Conspiracy" by Dwayne Cogdill

 

• Fourth Place: World Vision, "Joy Made Full" and "The Joy of Blessedness" by The Journey Group

 

• Fifth Place: Decision, "To Russia... With Hope" by Peter Taylor

 

Judge: Lee Green

 

PUBLICATION DESIGN

 

 

• First Place: Worldwide Challenge by The Journey Group

 

• Second Place: Sports Spectrum by Steve Gier and Laurie Nelson

 

• Third Place: World Vision by The Journey Group

 

• Fourth Place: Decision by Peter Taylor and Jarod Sutphin

 

• Fifth Place: Go! by CortneyWilliams and Robert McClurkan

 

Judge: Matt Smartt, creative director of the Puckett Group.

 

PUBLICATION REDESIGN

 

 

• First Place: On Course by Jeff Fulton, Sonny Carder and Joel Carter; Wheaton by Alice Chrismer and Ellen Mardock

 

• Second Place: On Mission by Steve Beaver and Robert McClurkan

 

• Third Place: Clubhouse Jr. by Kathleen Gray Ziegler; Focus on the Family by Jan Koenig;

 

Judge: Jose Reyes, graphic designer and owner of Metaleap Design.

 

FREELANCE ARTICLE

 

 

• First Place: Christian Research Journal, "Making Peace with the Sixties: Reevaluating the Legacy of a Cultural Revolution" by Steve Rabey

 

• Second Place: Leadership, "Where Did My Mind Go?" by Chris Maxwell

 

• Third Place: Mom Sense, "Mommy Fears" by Lisa Crayton

 

• Fourth Place: Passageway.org, "Living for More: Charlie Peacock Explores a NewWay to Be Human" by Kevin Hendricks

 

• Fifth Place: BGC World, "Leading with His Heart" by Joyce Ellis

 

Judge: Andy Scheer

 

 

The EPA awards presentation is made possible by the work of a volunteer committee, headed this year by Carolyn Curtis of On Mission magazine and Bill George of Pathway Press. Other committee members included: Randy Drake, Tonya Stoneman and Don Felice of In Touch ministries; Lon Foster and Chris Tiegreen from Walk Thru the Bible; Carol Pipes, Adam Miller, Jami Beecher and Mike Ebert from the North American Mission Board; Wanda Griffith from Pathway Press; Jenny Chatham of White Wing Messenger and Marty Davis from the Presbyterian Church of America.