In a live webcast on May 6, the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association announced the 14 winners of the 2021 Christian Book Awards in 12 categories. Winners include a tie in the Audio category and a double win for Faith & Culture and CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR®. 

Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation by Latasha Morrison was named the 2021 CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR® while also winning in the Faith & Culture category. Published by WaterBrook, this is Morrison’s first book—calling Christians to move toward a deeper understanding of racial reconciliation in the midst of a divisive culture. Published in 2019, Be the Bridge became a New York Times bestseller, an ECPA bestseller and winner of Christianity Today’s Book Award.

“Congratulations to all the winning authors and their publishers for producing these outstanding titles,” said ECPA president Stan Jantz. “In a year of uncertainty and turmoil, readers turned in record numbers to Christian books, like Latasha Morrison’s Be the Bridge, that offer practical pathways for healing and a true framework for hope.”

This year’s  announcements were made—for the second time via live webcast—to an audience of more than 400 industry professionals, authors and publishers. The webcast featured many industry honors and milestones, including the presentation of the Pinnacle Award to bestselling author Max Lucado. 

Congratulations to the following winners of the 2021 Christian Book Awards:

2021 CHRISTIAN BOOK OF THE YEAR®

Title: Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation

Author: Latasha Morrison 

Publisher: WaterBrook, 9780525652885, New York Times and ECPA bestseller 

Audience: women of color, white women serving as ambassadors of racial reconciliation and restoration 

AUDIO – Tie

Title: Chasing Vines 

Author: written and narrated by Beth Moore

Produced: by Lisa Smith/ Oasis Audio 

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, 9781640913714 

Audience: women, girls, all believers who know Jesus

Title: Suffer Strong

Author: written and narrated by Katherine and Jay Wolf

Produced: by Gabe Wicks, HarperCollins Christian

Publisher: Zondervan, 97803103581 

Audience: couples, individuals and those interested in the Wolf’s story 

BIBLES

Title: NIV Study Bible Fully Revised Edition

Publisher:

Zondervan, 9780310448945.
Over 125 topical articles, 16 pages of full-color maps and the NIV Concordance 

Audience: adults, students who desire a study text

BIBLE REFERENCE WORKS

Title: The New Testament in Its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature and Theology of the First Christians

Author: N.T. Wright and Michael Bird 

Publisher:   Zondervan Academic and SPCK (IVP/UK), 9780310499305 Audience: adults, students 

BIBLE STUDY

Title: The Way Home: God’s Invitation to New Beginnings

Author: Tessa Afshar

Publisher:    Moody Publishers, 9780802419835 

Audience: women, Bible study groups 

BIOGRAPHY & MEMOIR

Title: I’ve Seen the End of You: A Neurosurgeon’s Look at Faith, Doubt and the Things We Think We Know

Author: W. Lee Warren, M.D.

Publisher: WaterBrook, 9780525653219 

Audience: believers of all ages, survivors of illness or tragedy

CHILDREN

Title: Extraordinary Women of the Bible 

Author: Michelle Sloan, illustrated by Summer Macon 

Publisher: SPCK
(IVP/UK), 9780281081233 

Audience: women and girls, study groups 

CHRISTIAN LIVING

Title: Show Me Your Glory: Understanding the Majestic Splendor of God

Author:  Steven J. Lawson

Publisher: Ligonier Ministries, 9781642892635 

Audience: new and mature believers

DEVOTION & GIFT

Title: How Great Is Our God: 100 Indescribable Devotions About God and Science 

Author: Louie Giglio
Publisher:Tommy Nelson, 9781400215522 Audience: children ages 6-10 years 

FAITH & CULTURE

Title: Be the Bridge: Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation

Author:

Latasha Morrison
Publisher: WaterBrook, 9780525652885, New York Times and ECPA bestseller 

Audience: women of color, white women serving as ambassadors of racial reconciliation and restoration

MINISTRY RESOURCES

Title: Lead: 12 Gospel Principles for Leadership in the Church 

Author: Paul David Tripp

Publisher: Crossway, 9781433567636 

Audience: pastors,  ministry leaders, Christian leaders in or outside the church

NEW AUTHOR

Title: Laughing Through the Ugly Cry ... and Finding Unstoppable Joy

Author:Dawn Barton

Publisher: Thomas Nelson Gift, 9781400217762 

Audience: women of all ages, book clubs, girls’ night groups

YOUNG PEOPLE’S LITERATURE

Title: Praying Girls Devotional

Author:  Sheila Walsh 

Publisher:
Baker Books/ Baker Publishing 

Audience: strong, brave girls ages 11-14.  CR