Christianity Today Recognized and Awarded Thomas Nelson and Zondervan with Four Book Awards

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Dec. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ Late last week, Christianity Today released its "picks for the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture," for 2014. Thomas Nelson and Zondervan were both recognized and awardeda total of four Book Awards, for HarperCollins Christian Publishing.

Overall category winners:

• Biblical Studies- Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study by Constantine R Campbell (Zondervan)
• Fiction- The Sky Beneath My Feet by Lisa Samson (Thomas Nelson)
• Spirituality- Death by Living: Life is Meant to Be Spent by N.D. Wilson (W Publishing, a Thomas Nelson imprint)

Award of Merit winner:

• The Church/Pastoral Leadership- Insourcing: Bringing Discipleship Back to the Local Church by Randy Pope with Kitti Murray (Zondervan)

For fiction author Lisa Samson, this was the second Book Award from Christianity Today, her first in 2008 for Quaker Summer. "Like the protagonist in The Sky Beneath My Feet, I'm equally grateful that blessings come in ways that are winsome and surprising," Samson commented. "What an honor to be given this award at a time when there are great writers out there doing good work. I am so thankful."

Matt Baugher, svp and publisher for W Publishing said, "One of the great benefits we find in book awards is that it allows us to sift through titles and identify the ones that are extremely special. Death by Livingis quite frankly one of the finest books that I've had the privilege to publish. This book is both a page turner and a manuscript that will change your life. Congratulations to N.D. and all the worthy recipients of these CT awards."

According to Christianity Today, entrants are judged by "best-selling authors, experts in their fields, and simply thoughtful people," and for the first time, comments on the winning books were released.

In a review of Campbell's work, Paul and Union with Christ, New Testament scholar and award judge, Craig Blomberg, said the book, "tackles a massive topic on which no consensus has ever been reached. He covers the waterfront in terms of judicious analysis of the relevant Scriptures, and he adopts sensible, convincing, multifaceted conclusions. Yet for all its learnedness, the book is so carefully structured and clearly written that the reader marvels at his argument's overall simplicity and persuasiveness."

Both Zondervan titles were acquired and published by the CARR (Church, Academic, Reference, Reflective) team, a specialized focus led by svp and publisher, Stan Gundry, who also sits as Zondervan's editor-in-chief.

"Winning book awards in both the categories of biblical studies and the church/pastoral leadership is an honor and thrill," said Gundry. "It speaks to our twin goals of publishing for boththe academy and the church, as well as the incredible work accomplished by authors Constantine Campbell and Randy Pope."

For more information on these titles please go to www.thomasnelson.com and www.zondervan.com.

About HarperCollins Christian Publishing: The world's leading Christian publisher, HarperCollins Christian Publishing Inc., is comprised of the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan publishing groups. The Company produces bestselling Bibles, inspirational books, academic resources, curriculum, audio and digital content for the Christian market space. Also home to BibleGateway.com, the world's largest Christian website, and FaithGateway.com, an online community dedicated to helping people grow in their faith. HarperCollins Christian Publishing is headquartered in Nashville, TN with additional offices in Grand Rapids, MI and Miami, FL. For more information visit www.HarperCollinsChristian.com.

SOURCE HarperCollins Christian Publishing