2015 Higher Goals Awards

Presented during EPA’s 2015 convention, the 2015 Higher Goals awards honor the best work done in specific categories during the 2014 calendar year.

Article Series

First Place: ManagingYourChurch.com, “Youth Ministry Roundtable Series” — Ashley (Moore) Emmert, Andrew Finch. Second Place: Christianity Today Online, “Her.meneutics: Women’s History Month Christian Women Need to Know Their History” — Hannah Anderson, Kim Shay, Karen Swallow Prior, Katherine Cooper Wyma, Jamie Janosz. Third Place: Today’s Christian Woman, “Journey Through Passion Pursuit” — Juli Slattery, Kelli B. Trujillo, Natalie Lederhouse, Joy Beth Smith, Mary Goodrich. Fourth Place: Wesleyan Life, “Wesleyan Life” — Kerry Kind, Wayne MacBeth, Tricia Rife, Kory Pence, Julia Park. Fifth Place: Christianity Today, “Feast of Love; People of the Words; Guided by the Great Cloud” — John H. Armstrong, Marguerite Shuster, Gerald R. McDermott.

 

Biblical Exposition

First Place: Illinois Baptist, “Domestic Violence: The Sermon We Don’t Preach” — Eric Reed. Second Place: The Behemoth, “When the Eyes of the Blind Are Opened” — Ted Olsen. Third Place: In Touch, “A Different View of the Beatitudes” — John Greco, Mike Cosper, Abdu Murray, Tony Woodlief, Fil Anderson. Fourth Place: LeadershipJournal.net, “That Mysterious Gospel” — Tony Kriz. Fifth Place: Today’s Christian Woman, “The Great Giver” — Carolyn Arends , Kelli B. Trujillo, Natalie Lederhouse, Mary Bellus, Joy Beth Smith.

 

Blog: Single or Multi Author

First Place: Christianity Today, “Her.meneutics” — Kate Shellnutt. Second Place: Boundless, “Boundless Blog” — Focus on the Family. Third Place: LeadershipJournal.net, “PARSE” — Paul Pastor, Skye Jethani, Marshall Shelley, Drew Dyck, Tim Gioia. Fourth Place: Sojourners, “God’s Politics Blog” — Sandi Villarreal. Fifth Place: World Vision Magazine, “Life Frames” — Jon Warren, Laura Reinhardt, Lindsey Minerva.

 

Cartoon

First Place: Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse, “Captain Absolutely” — Dennis Edwards, Stephen O’Rear, Jenny Wollen, Jesse Florea. Second Place: Enrichment Journal, “We’ve Noticed that your Belt has Reached Retirement Height, Pastor.” — George Paul Wood, Rick Knoth, Scott Arthur Masear. Third Place: Answers Magazine, “A Tower For Rebels” — Jon Seest, Brandie Lucas. Fourth Place: Clubhouse Jr., “Friends Out Back” — Crystal Bowman, Kevin Zimmer, Jesse Florea, Joanna Echols, Lexie Rhodes. Fifth Place: The Pathway, “Night Before Pill” — Dennis Fletcher.

 

Cause of the Year: Financial Stewardship

First Place: Church Finance Today, “How Churches Spend Their Money” — Matthew Branaugh. Second Place: Wheaton Magazine, “What’s it Worth?” — Katherine Halberstadt Anderson, Allison Althoff. Third Place: In Touch, “How To Be Good at Being Rich” — Andy Stanley. Fourth Place: Sojourners, “The Rich Get Richer” — Julie Polter. Fifth Place: Kindred Spirit, “Stewarding Our Father’s Resources” — Sandra Glahn, Keith Yates, Jennifer Callaway.

 

Cover

First Place: Leadership Journal — Doug Fleener. Second Place: New Frontier Chronicle, “Caring” — Kevin Dobruck. Third Place: Enrichment Journal, “The Modern Family and the Family of God” — George Paul Wood, Rick Knoth, Steve Lopez, Gary Locke. Fourth Place: Wesleyan Life — Kory Pence, Wayne MacBeth, Kerry Kind. Fifth Place: Facts & Trends, “United By the Gospel” — Katie Shull, Carol Pipes.

 

Critical Review

First Place: Books & Culture, “Awareness: Raised” — D.L. Mayfield. Second Place: Africanus Journal, “Review of How to Succeed in Hollywood (Without Losing Your Soul” — William Spencer, Aida Spencer, John Runyon, Jennifer Creamer, Seong Park. Third Place: Christianity Today, “The Human Bonhoeffer” — Timothy Larsen. Fourth Place: Sojourners, “Computing the Future” — Kathryn Reklis. Fifth Place: Christianity Today Online, “The Bible Is More Than a ‘Mystery’”— Andrew Wilson.

 

Department

First Place: Christianity Today, “News.” Second Place: Answers Magazine, “Creation on Display” — Dan Breeding, Joe Francis, Gordon Wilson, Doug Rumminger, Dan Stelzer. Third Place: The Banner, “Tuned In” — Kate Padilla, Kathryn Hoffman, Brian Bork, Kristy Quist, Bob De Moor. Fourth Place: Enrichment Journal, “EShorts” — George Paul Wood, Rick Knoth, Steve Lopez.

 

Devotional

First Place: Christianity Today, “An Open Apology to the Local Church” — Katelyn Beaty. Second Place: Church of God Evangel, “Lord, Help Me See” — Sharon Beth Brani. Third Place: The Banner, “Bowing but Not Scraping” — Leonard J. Vander Zee, Bob De Moor. Fourth Place: Wesleyan Life — Tricia Rife, Ron McClung, Wayne MacBeth, Kory Pence, Kerry Kind. Fifth Place: Sojourners, “The Miracle of Christmas Bread” — Rose Marie Berger.

 

Editorial

First Place: Sojourners, “One Church, One Body” — Jim Wallis. Second Place: Citizen, “Tough-Love Training for Contenders” — Karla Dial. Third Place: One Magazine, “First Glimpse: She’s Playing My Song” —Eric K. Thomsen, Andrea Young, Sondra Blackburn. Fourth Place: Missions Insider, “How to Civilize Primitive People” — Brittany Tedesco. Fifth Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, “We Trust God. He is in Control Always, Even During the Blood, During the Killing.” — Jim Dau, President.

 

Evangelism Article

First Place: Enrichment Journal, “Speaking the Truth in Love: Why Evangelism Isn’t Intolerant” — George Paul Wood, Rick Knoth, Joseph Dimitrov. Second Place: Church of God Evangel, “How My Mom Found Christ” — Vicki Maheu. Third Place: Answers Magazine, “Every Mormon’s Need for Rest” — Roger Patterson, Michael Matthews, Doug Rumminger, Dan Stelzer. Fourth Place: Today’s Christian Woman, “Your Messed-Up Story” — Kelli B. Trujillo, Natalie Lederhouse, Joy Beth Smith, Mary Bellus. Fifth Place: Alliance Life, “Tell Me a Story” — Peter Burgo, Melinda Lane, Daron Short.

 

Fiction

First Place: The Behemoth, “The True Man” — Mark Galli. Second Place: Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse, “Getting a Signal” — Jennette Hardy, Jesse Florea, Stephen O’Rear. Third Place: Refreshed, “Morning Mail” — Mary Moody, Mary Hart, Lori Arnold, Lamar Keener, Theresa Keener. Fourth Place: Clubhouse Jr., “The Carpet Square Face-Off” — Kelly J. Carey, Jesse Florea, Joanna Echols.

 

First-Person Article

First Place: In Touch, “How A Christian Drunk Got Past Her Pride” — Heather Kopp. Second Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, “They are Christians. Let Them Die: Attacks in Egypt Create Need for Medical Care” — Dr. Jim. Third Place: Fusion, “Bulletproof” — Daniel Sweet, Jonathan Yandell, David Jones, Stephen Nelson, Marianne Stewart. Fourth Place: LeadershipJournal.net, “My Near Life Experience” — Peyton Jones. Fifth Place: Alabama Baptist, “Back to School”

 

Freelance Article

First Place: Patti Townley-Covert, “The DNA of Diversity.” Second Place: Ann-Margret Hovsepian, “Messenger to the Military.”

 

General Article: Long

First Place: Christianity Today, “The World the Missionaries Made” — Andrea Palpant Dilley. Second Place: World Vision Magazine, “Rwanda 20 Years Later: Healing Hearts” — Kari Costanza, Journey Group. Third Place: The Banner, “Leaving Home” — Mariano Avila. Fourth Place: The Behemoth, “Behold Now Behemoth” — Ted Olsen. Fifth Place: Alliance Life, “Tell Me a Story” — Peter Burgo, Melinda Lane, Daron Short.

 

General Article: Medium

First Place: Today’s Christian Woman, “Forgiving Our Fathers and Mothers” — Leslie Leyland Fields, Kelli B. Trujillo, Natalie Lederhouse, Mary Bellus. Second Place: Sojourners, “The Gospel According to George McGovern” — Robert G. Duffet. Third Place: The Baptist Standard, “Ebola Vigil Becomes Memorial for Fallen Christian Brother” — Marv Knox. Fourth Place: Mutuality, “On Being a Woman After God’s Own Heart” — Jenny Rae Armstrong, Tim Krueger, Mimi Haddad. Fifth Place: Boundless, “What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Marriage” — Joshua Rogers.

 

General Article: Short

First Place: Refreshed, “Colliding with God” — Tim Walker, Lori Arnold, Lamar Keener, Theresa Keener. Second Place: In Touch, “Two Potatoes” — James Cain. Third Place: The Banner, “Winter Grace” — Joyce Kane, Bob De Moor. Fourth Place: LeadershipJournal.net, “When a Pastor Resigns Abruptly” — John Ortberg. Fifth Place (tie): Message Magazine, “To Save a Princess: A Father’s Love Knows No Bounds” — Lauren Miller, Paul Luce, Leah Pickard, Ingela Hartman. Answers Magazine, “Northern Gannets—Death-Defying Diver Bombers” — Donna O’Daniel, Michael Matthews, Doug Rumminger, Dan Stelzer

 

Humorous

First Place: Refreshed, “Insomnia: Questions that Keep Me Awake at Night” — Joanne Brokaw, Lori Arnold, Lamar Keener, Theresa Keener. Second Place: Light and Life Magazine, “Hope for Spicy Families” — Jeff Finley, Jen Hatmaker. Third Place: Leading Hearts, “Relative Insanity” — Torry Martin. Fourth Place: Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse, “Something Sweet” — Bob Smiley, Jesse Florea, Stephen O’Rear. Fifth Place: LeadershipJournal.net, “Pastoral Envy” — Daniel Cooley.

 

Interview Article

First Place: LeadershipJournal.net, “Leading in Prayer” — Drew Dyck. Second Place: The Brink, “The Return of the Prodigal: A Journey From Homosexuality and Drugs to Holy Sexuality and Christ” — Jeremy Crittenden, Christopher Yuan, David Jones, Jonathan Yandell, Sondra Blackburn. Third Place: Mennonite Brethren Herald, “2 Jobs 1 Calling: The World of Bi-Vocational Ministry” — Angeline Schellenberg. Fourth Place: Enrichment Journal, “Serve, Don’t Shout: Ministering to LGBT Families With Love and Compassion” — George Paul Wood, Rick Knoth, Rick Cole. Fifth Place: Liberty Champion, “Taking a Brave Stand” — Rachael Graf.

 

Original Art: Digital/Mixed Media

First Place: Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse, “Christmas in the Heart of Boston” — Michael Heath, Jenny Wollen. Second Place: Southern Seminary Magazine, “From Death to Life: The Imperative of Church Revitalization” — Eric Jimenez. Third Place: The Banner, “Should Christians Carry?” — Frank Gutbrod, Dean R. Heetderks, Bob De Moor. Fourth Place: Mission Frontiers, “Ethnodoxology” — Katie Koch. Fifth Place: EFCA Today, “Powerful Ecosystem” — Matt Pamer, Diane McDougall, Josh Bryant, Brian Cole, Rae Phillips.

 

Original Art: Traditional

First Place: Answers Magazine, “Decoding the Debris” — John Phillips, Dan Stelzer. Second Place: Sojourners, “How to Dismantle the New Jim Crow” — Darcy Muenchrath. Third Place: Southern Seminary Magazine, “Theology in the Life of the Church” — Andrea Stember. Fourth Place: Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse, “Getting a Signal” — Kevin Keele, Jenny Wollen. Fifth Place: Adventure Guide, “Spotlight” — Chad Thompson, Andrea Young, Amanda Everson, Katie Greenwood, Janiece Waldrop.

 

Personality Article

First Place: Christianity Today Online, “The Most Influential Reformer You’ve Never Heard of” — Karen Swallow Prior. Second Place: Cedarville Magazine, “When Worlds Converge” — Clem Boyd. Third Place: The Baptist Standard, “The Rise and Fall and Rise Again of Joel Gregory” — Marv Knox. Fourth Place: Priscilla Papers, “Madame Talent” — Gilbert Bilezikian, William D. Spencer, Mimi Haddad. Fifth Place: Sojourners, “Cutting-Edge Orthodoxy” — Jason Byassee.

 

Photo Feature

First Place: World Vision Magazine Online, “14 Photos from 2014” — Jon Warren, Lindsey Minerva, Laura Reinhardt, Eugene Lee, Andrea Peer. Second Place: In Touch, “Land of Extremes” — Charles F. Stanley. Third Place: Horizons, “A Stitch Sublime” — Andy Olsen. Fourth Place: On Mission, “Is God Done with Detroit?” — Joe Garrad, Shawn Elledge, Tobin Perry, Aaron Coe, Joe Conway. Fifth Place: Message Magazine, “Cambodian Gang Ministry – Convicted. Evicted. Redeemed.” — Lauren Miller, Paul Luce, Leah Pickard, Ingela Hartman.

 

Photography Use

First Place: Worldwide Challenge — Guy Gerrard, Ted Wilcox, Tom Mills. Second Place: World Vision Magazine. Third Place: Horizons — Robert Johnson, Andy Olsen. Fourth Place: Christianity Today — Gary Gnidovic, Alecia Sharp. Fifth Place: Message Magazine — Lauren Miller, Paul Luce, Leah Pickard, Ingela Hartman.

 

Poetry

First Place: Books & Culture, “What Peter Looked Like Stepping on Water” — Benjamin Myers. Second Place: Indian Life, “Poem: There is a Sound” — Freda Klassen. Third Place: The Banner, “An Advent Prayer” — John Terpstra, Bob De Moor. Fourth Place: Priscilla Papers, “Mother and a Grave” — H. Edgar Hix, William D. Spencer, Mimi Haddad. Fifth Place: The Behemoth, “To the Oldest Recorded Supernova” — Julie Sumner.

 

Publication Design

First Place: The Brink — Sondra Blackburn, Andrea Young, David Jones, Jonathan Yandell. Second Place: In Part — William Teodori, David Kasparek, Devin Manzullo-Thomas, Dulcimer Brubaker, Kristine Frey. Third Place: One Magazine — Eric K. Thomsen, Andrea Young, Sondra Blackburn. Fourth Place: Answers Magazine — Dan Stelzer, Michael Matthews, Doug Rumminger. Fifth Place: On Mission — Shawn Elledge, Steve Beaver, Joe Conway, Aaron Coe.

 

Publication Redesign

First Place: Fuller — Lauralee Farrer, TJ Lee, Randall Cole, Michael Wright, Irene Neller. Second Place: Leadership Journal — Doug Fleener, Metaleap Creative. Third Place: On Mission — Aaron Coe, Shawn Elledge, Steve Beaver, Joe Conway, Adam Miller. Fourth Place: Horizons — Robert Johnson. Fifth Place: Alabama Baptist.

 

 

Reporting

First Place: World Vision Magazine, “Children of the Brothel” — Kari Costanza. Second Place: Morning Star News, “Death Sentence Upheld for Christian Mother in Pakistan” — Asher John. Third Place: In Touch, “Foolish for God. All the Way to Mali” — Sandy Feit. Fourth Place: Church Finance Today, “How Churches Spend Their Money” — Matthew Branaugh. Fifth Place (tie): Christianity Today, “Who Owns the Sermon” — Bob Smietana. Citizen, “Surrogate Future” — Daniel Weiss.

 

Single Photo: Candid

First Place: World Vision Magazine, “Children of the Brothel” — Jon Warren. Second Place: Compassion Magazine, “Brave New World” — Paul Moede, Tim Glenn, Leanna Summers, Willow Welter, Mark Kyle. Third Place: Horizons, “Words in the Desert” — Robert Johnson. Fourth Place: Worldwide Challenge, “Out of the Fire” — Ted Wilcox. Fifth Place: The Lutheran Witness — Erik Lunsford, David Strand, Adriane Heins.

 

Single Photo: Controlled

First Place: Christianity Today, “Finding Mr. Wright” — Sophie Gerrard. Second Place: World Vision Magazine, “Righting Wrongs for Romania’s Children” — Laura Reinhardt. Third Place: In Touch, “Small Change, Big Difference” — Ben Rollins. Fourth Place: Worldwide Challenge, “Kansas Catalyst” — Ted Wilcox. Fifth Place: Alabama Baptist, “Paul and Me” — Neisha Roberts.

 

Single-Theme Section or Issue

First Place: The War Cry, “War Cry Heritage Issue.” Second Place: Enrichment Journal, “The Man Issue” — George Paul Wood, Rick Knoth, Steve Lopez. Third Place: Horizons, “Chad – The Dead Heart of Africa” — Robert Johnson, Andy Olsen, Lisa Renninger, Joel Hager, Terri Stucky. Fourth Place: In Touch, “The Travel Issue.” Fifth Place: The Lutheran Witness, “Persecution” — David Strand, Adriane Heins, Vicky Schaeffer.

 

Standing Column

First Place: Enrichment Journal, “Dealing With Doubters” — George Paul Wood, Rick Knoth, Paul Copan. Second Place: Christianity Today, “N.D. Wilson: Mud Alive” — N.D. Wilson. Third Place: One Magazine, “First Glimpse” — Eric K. Thomsen, Andrea Young, Sondra Blackburn. Fourth Place: gettingfromheretoeternity.com, “Keeping Faith” — Kyle Huckins. Fifth Place: Refreshed, “Plugged In” — Doug Trouten, Scott Noble, Lamar Keener, Theresa Keener.

 

Student Writer of the Year

First Place: Sojourners, “Is Social Justice ‘Sexy’?” — Hannah Sachs. Second Place: Priscilla Papers, “The Book of Ruth as an Exemplar for Faith Communities” — Samuel C. Long, Jeff Miller, Mimi Haddad. Third Place: One Magazine, “Beyond the Comfort Zone” —Stephen Nelson, Eric K. Thomsen, Andrea Young, Sondra Blackburn. Fourth Place: Christianity Today, “End Missionary Debt!” — Katherine Burgess. Fifth Place: The Clause, “Former APU Prof to Try ‘Year Without God’” — Annie Yu.

 

Titles

First Place: Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse, “Commander in Thief; Doc’s Odors; Catch of the Day” — Jesse Florea, Stephen O’Rear. Second Place: Sojourners, “Did Jesus Pray to Allah, Confessions of a Violent Peacemaker, Is Social Justice ‘Sexy’?” Third Place: Christianity Today Online, “How to Date Jesus’ Wife; New Poll Finds Evangelicals’ Favorite Heresies; Lessons from the Church of Satan” — Kevin P. Emmert, Alissa Wilkinson. Fourth Place: Christianity Today, “The Bible in the Original Geek; Finding Mr. Wright; My Own French Revolution” — Mark Galli, Katelyn Beaty, Ted Olsen. Fifth Place: EFCA Today, “His Grace Will Lead Me Home; Powerful Ecosystem; The High-Grace, High-Truth Church” — Diane McDougall, Matt Pamer, Josh Bryant, Brian Cole, Rae Phillips.

 

Two-Page Spread Design

First Place: Wesleyan Life — Kory Pence, Wayne MacBeth, Kerry Kind, Julia Park. Second Place: Answers Magazine, “Allosaurus — A Creationist’s Best Friend” — Ben Iocco, Dan Stelzer. Third Place: Message Magazine, “Urbanization Infographic” — Lauren Miller, Paul Luce, Leah Pickard, Ingela Hartman. Fourth Place: In Touch, “Loved as We Are” — Jeff Gregory, Lisa Dyches. Fifth Place: Fusion, “Bulletproof” — Marianne Stewart, Andrea Young, Jonathan Yandell, David Jones, Stephen Nelson.

 

Typography and Lettering

First Place: Answers Magazine, “There’s No Place Like Home” — Joseph Alessio, Dan Stelzer. Second Place: Wesleyan Life — Kory Pence, Wayne MacBeth, Kerry Kind, Julia Park. Third Place: EFCA Today, “His Grace Will Lead Me Home” — Matt Pamer, Diane McDougall, Josh Bryant, Brian Cole, Rae Phillips. Fourth Place: Christianity Today, “The Work of Their Hands” — Gary Gnidovic. Fifth Place: The Banner, “Should Christians Carry?” — Frank Gutbrod, Dean R. Heetderks, Bob De Moor.

 

Website design

First Place: Compassion Explorer Online — Paul Moede, Tim Glenn, Leanna Summers, Willow Welter, Mark Kyle. Second Place: Fuller — Lauralee Farrer, TJ Lee, Randy Cole, Irene Neller. Third Place: ChurchLawAndTax.com — Valerie Broucek, Louise Ferrebee. Fourth Place: EFCA Today — Rae Phillips, Brian Cole, Matt Pamer, Diane McDougall, Josh Bryant. Fifth Place: Christianity Today Online.