The Christian Book Award Winners and "Christian Book of the Year" were announced at the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) Awards Celebration held in Orlando (Florida/USA) on July 13.

For the first time in the award program’s 30-year history, a Bible and an audio product has won the "Christian Book of the Year" honour: The Word of Promise™ New Testament Audio Bible (Thomas Nelson) features the talents of actors such as Jim Caviezel ("The Passion of the Christ"), Golden Globe winner Stacy Keach, Academy Award and Golden Globe winner Lou Gossett, Jr., and Academy Award winner Marisa Tomei, in a scripted dramatization of the New King James Version (NKJV) of the New Testament. Since its release in October 2007, The Word of Promise™ has been consistently among the top Bibles on the ECPA bestseller lists and is the #1 bestselling Bible retailing for more than $30.

This was the first year the ECPA Recognition Committee included media presentations of the Bible in the Christian Book Award program. "Our industry will always be about quality, Christ-honouring content," states ECPA President Mark Kuyper. "As the digital age evolves, the ECPA Recognition Committee desires to remain open to recognizing excellence in the variety of ways our publishing members present their content. The Scriptures have always had a unique oral tradition and our members have continued to creatively produce amazing presentations of this written Word, so allowing audio presentations of the Bible into the Christian Book Award program this year was a timely decision."

The "Christian Book of the Year" was chosen from the 32 Christian Book Award finalists, across six categories, using both independent judging criteria (measuring overall excellence) and sales data (reflecting consumer impact).

The Christian Book Awards, established in 1978 by ECPA recognize the absolute highest quality in Christian books. Based on excellence in content, literary quality, design, and significance of contribution, the Christian Book Awards are the oldest and among the most prestigious in the religious publishing industry.

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The Six Category Winners for the 2008 Christian Book Awards are:

BIBLES
Discover God Study Bible
Tyndale House Publishers, 9780842369183

BIBLE REFERENCE & STUDY
An Old Testament Theology by Bruce K. Waltke
Zondervan, 9780310218975

CHILDREN & YOUTH
Teen Virtue: Confidential by Vicki Courtney
B&H Publishing, 9780805441925

CHRISTIAN LIFE
When the Game is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box by John Ortberg
Zondervan, 9780310253501

FICTION
In Search of Eden by Linda Nichols
Bethany House/ Baker Publishing Group, 9780764201677

INSPIRATION & GIFT
Step into the Bible by Ruth Graham
Zondervan, 9780310714101

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