Francis Chan’s 2008 title Crazy Love has topped this week’s Top 20 General best-sellers list from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA), tracking sales for the week ending Dec. 10, according to Pubtrack Christian data.

Christian publishing made big headlines in 2011, with the industry twice cited among the Top 10 religion stories of the year by leading religion journalists.

The 30th annual Religion Newswriters Association (RNA) survey included publication of Rob Bell's controversial Love Wins (HarperOne) and Bible translations among the most important events of the year.

The RNA poll noted that Bell's book, “presenting a much less harsh picture of hell than is traditional,” stirred discussion in evangelical circles, with messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention rebutting it.

Bible translations also made the list for “celebrations of the 400th anniversary of the King James Version; criticism, notably by Southern Baptists, about gender usage in the newest New International Version; and completion of the Common English Bible (CEB).”

Paul Franklyn, Associate Publisher of the CEB, said that the new Bible was newsworthy for several reasons, including the speed with which it had been produced—four years. That was “a phenomenal feat when compared with other recent modern Bible translations that took 10-17 years to complete,” he said.

Another noteworthy element of the CEB was its breadth, said Franklyn, with a collaborative effort by 120 academic scholars and editors, 77 reading group leaders and more than 500 average readers from around the world taking part.

Since its launch in August, more than half a million copies are in print. The CEB was sponsored by an alliance of five denominational publishers—Chalice Press, Westminster John Knox Press, Church Publishing, Inc., The Pilgrim Press and Abingdon Press.

Topping the RNA news list was the death of Osama bin Laden, for spurring “discussions among people of faith on issues of forgiveness, peace, justice and retribution.”

B&H Publishing Group is pulling a special edition Bible from stores following concern about its links to a pro-abortion group.

Released in October as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the pink-cover Here’s Hope Breast Cancer Awareness Bible has been on sale in the general market, with $1 from each sale going to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast health education, screening and treatment programs.

Steven James and T.L. Hines are among the 2011 INSPY book award winners. Created by book bloggers to discover and highlight the best in faith-inspired literature, the INSPYs invite nominations from the Christian and general markets, with winners awarded in six categories.

InterVarsity Press (IVP) has been recognized for its commitment to caring for the environment by recycling. The Westmont, Ill.-based publisher received the Commercial Recycling Award from the Village of Westmont last month and was recognized as “the best and most improved big business recycler.”

Reformed thinker and popular pastor Timothy Keller’s The Reason for God has landed on the Top 20 General best-sellers list from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). The apologetics title from Penguin Group (USA) sits at No. 6 on the list tracking sales for the week ending Dec. 3, according to Pubtrack Christian data.

Nominations have opened for the 2012 Christian Retailing Retailers Choice Awards, the popular annual honors for the Christian products industry.

Eight new categories have been added to the program, which sees Christian retailers across the country vote for the new products they have most appreciated being able to make available to consumers in the previous year.