2022 Higher Goals Awards
The 2022 Higher Goals awards honor the best work done in specific categories during the 2021 calendar year.
Click here for Awards of Excellence.
Click here to view or download Liaison 2022 Awards Edition.
Article Series
First Place: The Baptist Standard, Religious Persecution in Myanmar — Ken Camp. Second Place: Alabama Baptist, SBC Executive Committee and the Sexual Abuse Task Force — Jennifer Davis Rash. Third Place: The Christian Chronicle, The Post-Pandemic Church — Erik Tryggestad. Fourth Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, Coverage of Jan. 6 Capitol Riot — Bobby Ross Jr., Hamil R. Harris, Cheryl Mann Bacon. Fifth Place: Liberty Champion, Lessons from “The Lord of the Rings” — John Simmons
Biblical Exposition
First Place: Answers Research Journal, Theistic Evolution: A Response to Wayne Grudem — Terry Mortenson. Second Place: Faith Today, The End of Grace: An Essay on Dying Well — Dave Jeffery. Third Place: Crux, Philemon and the Art of Persuasion — George Guthrie. Fourth Place: The Brink, Jesus Versus Paul? The Authority of the Black Letters — Matthew Price. Fifth Place: Influence, Ministry Without Walls: Biblical Evidence for Women in Leadership — Debbie Lamm Bray
Blog: Single post
First Place: The Better Samaritan, Asian American Leaders on Atlanta Murders: ‘I Want You to Step In’ — Nikki Toyama-Szeto, Michelle Reyes, Raymond Chang, Kent Anan, Jamie Aten, Jeff Liou. Second Place: Plugged In, Superman Comes Out — Adam Holz. Third Place: Michael Foust, 4 Biblical Lessons from Pixar Movies about Life, Death and the Afterlife — Michael Foust. Fourth Place: Concordia Seminary Magazine, Letter to self… 40 years later — Timothy Saleska. Fifth Place: Leading Hearts, #LockdownLessons: How the Pandemic Reshaped My Understanding of the Church — Mabel Ninan
Blog: Website
First Place: The Better Samaritan — Jamie Aten, Kent Annan, Laura Finch. Second Place: Clarissa Moll, Discovering Grace in Grief. Third Place: Concordia Seminary Magazine, concordiatheology.org — Chris Miller, Erik Herrmann, Jayna Rollings, Beth Hasek, Vicki Biggs. Fourth Place: Answers in Genesis, Blog: Patricia Engler — Patricia Engler, Tina Henwood, Harry Sanders, Frost Smith, Troy Lacey, Mariah Smith. Fifth Place: Patti Townley-Covert, Rock Solid.
Cartoon
First Place: The Banner | Cal Baptist, Lancer Life — Samantha “Red” Rojo. Second Place: Teachers of Vision, The Modern Threat to Homework Security — Harley Schwadron. Third Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, Sleuth Family Robinson — Dennis Edwards, Christopher P.N. Maselli. Fourth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Friends Out Back — Kevin Zimmer, Crystal Bowman. Fifth Place: Illinois Baptist, Virtual Congregation — Dennis Fletcher
Cause of the Year Article – Mental Health
First Place: Pursuit, Hi, My Name Is… — Kia Harlan. Second Place: The Christian Post, Suicide of pastor’s wife illuminates silent, deadly ‘public health crisis’ among mothers — Leonardo Blair. Third Place: Just Between Us, There is Always Hope — Kay Warren. Fourth Place: Brio Magazine, Do You Feel Like You’re on a One-Loop Roller Coaster? — Sissy Goff. Fifth Place: The Baptist Standard, Voices: Justice for mental illness is personal and systemic — Jessie Higgins
Cause of the Year Illustration/Photo – Mental Health
First Place: Pursuit, The Night Season — Samantha “Red” Rojo. Second Place: Peer, Thanks for Nothing — Hao Hao. Third Place: Alliance Life, What Does God Think of Suicide? — Kenneth Crane. Fourth Place: Luke Society News, Finding Peace — Dan Breen
Cover
First Place: SAConnects, Never Forget — Reginald Raines. Second Place: Alliance Life, The Believer’s Authority — Caylie Smith. Third Place: Teachers of Vision, Back to School 2021 — Daniel Stelzer. Fourth Place: Mission Frontiers, Do You Really Have a Biblical Worldview? Mission Frontiers — Mike Riester. Fifth Place: Answers Magazine, Anatomy of a Museum Exhibit — Dan Stelzer, Chris Neville
Critical Review
First Place: Word&Way Online, Dear Evan Hansen Strikes Notes of Grace — Juliet Verdal. Second Place: Plugged In, Back To the Outback — Bob Hoose. Third Place: Fathom Mag, Robot’s Progress — Micah Rickard. Fourth Place: Religion Unplugged, ‘Minari’ Finds Faith In Fertile, Arkansas Soil — Jillian Cheney. Fifth Place: The Echo | Taylor University, ‘In the Heights’ celebrates all the dreamers — Lucas Bertsche
Department
First Place: SAConnects, Volunteer Spotlight — Hugo Bravo. Second Place: World Vision Magazine, In the Kitchen — Laura Reinhardt, Kristy Glaspie. Third Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Hacks and Facts — Marianne Hering, Sheila Seifert, Andrea Gutierrez. Fourth Place: Answers Magazine, Creation on Display — Troy Lacey, John UpChurch, Micah Bowman, Joel Ebert, Kaitlyn Iocco. Fifth Place: Sojourners, Culture Department — Da’Shawn Mosley
Devotional
First Place: Crux, You Were Made for This: A Theological Invitation to Prayer — Bruce Hindmarsh. Second Place: Sojourners, Can You Loosen Orion’s Belt?: Finding our human place in God’s creation — Deborah Haarsma. Third Place: Faith Today, Does Church Still Matter – Even in a Pandemic? — Kevin Makins. Fourth Place: Cru Storylines, Looking Forward to Advent 2021: The Hope of God With Us — Rebecca Kelsall. Fifth Place: Proclaim!, A Generous Heart: Giving it all for the Lord — Wendy Palau
e-Newsletter
First Place: World Vision News & Stories — Kristy J. O’Hara-Glaspie. Second Place: Just Between Us — Mary Ann Prasser, Ashley Schmidt, Shelly Esser. Third Place: Religion Unplugged — Bobby Ross Jr. Fourth Place: Word&Way Online — Brian Kaylor, Beau Underwood. Fifth Place: Caring Magazine — Cory Gaudaur, Hillary Jackson
Editorial
First Place: The Baptist Standard, Even Bob Dylan knows you can’t serve two masters — Eric Black. Second Place: The Echo | Taylor University, Chapel should offer a more diverse range of speakers — Ellie Tiemens. Third Place: Mutuality Online, It’s Time to Follow Beth Moore Out of the SBC — Mimi Haddad. Fourth Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, The unlovable, necessary press — Elizabeth Smith. Fifth Place: The Clarion, Walking the invisible line — Rachel Blood
Evangelism Article
First Place: Peer, The Gospel According to TikTok — Kellee Katagi. Second Place: Influence, Fishing on the Other Side of the Boat — Shaila Visser. Third Place: Brio Magazine, Faith Practices in America — Amy Lynn Green. Fourth Place: Mission Frontiers, Reconstructing a “House of Knowledge” — Debbie Wood. Fifth Place: The Banner (CRCNA), The Blue Tarp — Beth Rinsema
Feature Article
First Place: Answers Magazine, Out for Blood — Dr. Matthew Ingle, Sarah Eshleman, Dan Stelzer, Chris Neville. Second Place: Kids Answers Magazine, Journey Back to Bethlehem — Kaitlyn Iocco, Sarah Eshleman, Dan Stelzer, Chris Neville. Third Place: World Vision Magazine, The Game Changer — Tigana Chileshe, Emmanuel Amone Okello. Fourth Place: SAConnects, Return to the Tower — Warren L. Maye, Lea La Notte Greene, Reginald Raines. Fifth Place: Christian History, From Royal Saints to Holy Fools — James Skedros, Max Pointner, Doug Johnson
Fiction
First Place: Brio Magazine, The Weird Gene — Nancy Rue. Second Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Family Traditions — Sheila Seifert. Third Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., One More Acorn — Kate Jameson, Jesse Florea, Rachel Pfeiffer. Fourth Place: Kids Answers Magazine, Wanders in Creation: Danger in the Yukon — Dustin Brady. Fifth Place: Fathom Mag, Amber Eyes — Eric Schumacher
First-Person Article
First Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Scarlett’s Arrival — W. Lee Warren. Second Place: Influence, New Life After Abortion — Sheila Harper. Third Place: The Covenant Companion, Confessions of a Cultural Nomad — Leslie X. Sanders. Fourth Place: Decision Magazine, Changed For Good — KathyGrace Duncan. Fifth Place: SAConnects, 9/11 Return to the Tower — Warren L. Maye
Freelance Article
First Place: Cheryl Bacon, John and Jan Bradley devote more than a decade to helping Afghans. Second Place: Diane McDougall, The Seeds of a Martyr. Third Place: Clarissa Moll, Dress Your Best for Jesus. Fourth Place: Sherri Langton, Match Made in Heaven. Fifth Place: Michael Foust, 4 Biblical Lessons from Pixar Movies about Life, Death and the Afterlife —
General Article: Short
First Place: Peer, Into the Unknown — Seana Scott. Second Place: SAConnects, Rescued for a Reason — Robert Mitchell. Third Place: World Vision News & Stories, Rwandan woman advocates for children’s education — Laura Reinhardt. Fourth Place: Alliance Life, A Life Without Secrets — Rob Reimer. Fifth Place: Baptist Press, 86-year-old’s baptism inspires others to be baptized — Timothy Cockes
General Article: Medium
First Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Holding On To Christian Robert — Ginger Kolbaba. Second Place: Influence, Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin — Andy Smith. Third Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, In Canada, a reckoning after remains of 215 Indigenous children are found — Bobby Ross Jr. Fourth Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, Beyond Restrictions — Kevin Selders. Fifth Place: Christian History, The Needs of the Worker — Heath Carter
NOTE: After the awards were presented, a scoring error was found in another entry that would have placed it near the top. Another Second Place award has been given to Just Between Us for Learning to Lament, by Lori Ann Wood.
General Article: Long
First Place: Christianity Today, Prophetic Reckoning — Stefani McDade. Second Place: Sojourners, God Is in the Making: Artist Makoto Fujimura on loving what is broken and the holy work of repair — Julie Polter. Third Place: Fathom Mag, I am Arab-American. — Tabitha McDuffee. Fourth Place: Christian History, A City on a Hill? — Abram Van Engen. Fifth Place: The Covenant Companion, Are Young People Done with the Church? — Bob Smietana
Humorous
First Place: The Covenant Companion, Hibernating with Shakespeare — Dana Bowman. Second Place: Sojourners, Just Don’t Make Me Pass the Peace — Jenna Barnett. Third Place: The Clarion, Sarah Bakeman has no idea what she’s doing — Sarah Bakeman. Fourth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, Getting Restless — Bob Smiley. Fifth Place: The Christian Chronicle, Requiem for a passport and a parrot — Erik Tryggestad
Infographic
First Place: Answers Magazine, Yellowstone-Here Today, Gone Tomorrow? — Dan Stelzer, Chris Neville. Second Place: Luke Society News, 2020 Financial Report — Dan Breen. Third Place: Bible & Society, The Global Bible Translation Landscape — Avo Adourian, Amanuel Mengistu. Fourth Place: Concordia Seminary Magazine, Meet Concordia Seminary’s 11th president — Sarah Maney. Fifth Place: War Cry, Cowboys Timeline — Major Jamie Satterlee, Dale Bannon, Jeff McDonald, Joshua Morales, Ashley Schena
Interview Article
First Place: The Brink, A Response to Progressive Christianity: An Interview with Alisa Childers — David Jones. Second Place: Sojourners, God Is in the Making: Artist Makoto Fujimura on loving what is broken and the holy work of repair — Julie Polter. Third Place: Influence, Every Nation and Tribe — Christina Quick. Fourth Place: Christian Leader, David Janzen enjoys his front row seat — Janae Rempel, Connie Faber. Fifth Place: The Christian Post, Keith Getty on dangers of modern worship, tells pastors: ‘Love your people enough to care about what they sing’ — Leah Klett
Original Art: Digital/Mixed Media
First Place: Peer, Listen, Learn, Practice — Alex Lorenzo. Second Place: Sojourners, Fishing Against Empire — Ricardo Santos. Third Place: Answers Magazine, A Flood of Arsenic — Chris Neville. Fourth Place: The Clarion, Two inches off the pavement — Davis McElmurry, Bryson Rosell. Fifth Place: Christianity Today, No One Took Christ Out of Christmas — Mallory Rentsch, Jared Boggess, Sarah Gordon
Original Art: Traditional
First Place: Christianity Today, A Third Way, and a Better Way — Chris Gash. Second Place: Sojourners, The Bread of Life in the Breach of Death — Ryan Inzana. Third Place: Answers Magazine, Platypus-One of a Kind — Wesley Meritt. Fourth Place: SAConnects, Led Home by Grace — Reginald Raines, Joe Marino. Fifth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, Lost in the Bayou — Jenny Dillon
Personality Article
First Place: The Christian Chronicle, Water and life: Profile of Manuel Aquino — Erik Tryggestad. Second Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, I Must Continue Preaching — Todd Nettleton. Third Place: Decision Magazine, Running For God’s Glory — Bob Paulson. Fourth Place: The Covenant Companion, The Fabric of Imago Dei — Lynn Black. Fifth Place: Christianity Today, Gary Chapman Doesn’t Know He’s Famous — Kara Bettis
Photo Feature
First Place: Cru Storylines, Grace Without Conditions — Ted Wilcox, Sarah Wontorcik, Rachel Geckle, Rich Wiewiora. Second Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, Journey Into the ‘Red Zones‘ — Felipe Carranza, Natasha Fullard, Jon Green. Third Place: Christianity Today, The Deported — Brian Frank, Sarah Gordon, Andy Olsen. Fourth Place: The Christian Chronicle, Foreign operations: health care in Honduras — Audrey Jackson. Fifth Place: Word&Way Online, Rallying for Justice — Brian Kaylor
Photography Use – Print
First Place: Fuller — Nate Harrison, Katy Cook, Lindsey Sheets, Alex Cook. Second Place: Liberty Journal. Third Place: World Vision Magazine — Jon Warren, Laura Reinhardt, Heather Klinger, World Vision Field Staff, Kristy Glaspie, Lauren Reed. Fourth Place: Decision Magazine — Jamie Adamson, Dwayne Cogdill, Peter Taylor, Jim Dailey. Fifth Place: The Voice of the Martyrs — Abhishek Scariya, Jay Snyder, Natasha Fullard, Jon Green
Photography Use—Digital
First Place: Fuller Studio — Nate Harrison, Katy Cook, Lindsey Sheets, Elijah Davidson. Second Place: Cru Storylines — Guy Gerrard, Ted Wilcox, Tom Mills, Mick Haupt, Conda De Vries, Karen Mills. Third Place: Just Between Us — Mary Ann Prasser, Ashley Schmidt. Fourth Place: World Vision News & Stories — Laura Reinhardt, Jon Warren, Lauren Reed, World Vision Field Staff, Kristy Glaspie
Podcast
First Place: Christianity Today Online, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill: The Tempest — Mike Cosper, Erik Petrik, Joy Beth Smith, Andrea Palpant Dilley, Timothy Dalrymple. Second Place: Plugged In, Dune, The Eternals & Sci-Fi Spirituality — Adam Holz, Paul Asay, Emily Clark, Bob Hoose, Kristin Smith, Jonathan McKee. Third Place: Alabama Baptist, Peach and Pit — Grace Thornton, Hannah Munoz, Jennifer Rash. Fourth Place: Fuller Studio, Abuelita Faith, with Kat Armas — Patrick Duff, Elijah Davidson, Lindsey Sheets, Jerome Blanco. Fifth Place: The Christian Post, What Is Fueling The Trend Of Christians ‘Deconstructing’ Their Faith? — Brandon Showalter
Poetry
First Place: Alliance Life, A Prayer for Those Struggling to Pray — Sarah Bourns. Second Place: Crux, Thin Place — Sarah Crowley Chestnut. Third Place: Brio Magazine, Shh… — Beth Sickel. Fourth Place: Fathom Mag, Sepia — Kirsten Lasinski. Fifth Place: The Banner (CRCNA), The Agony of a Son — Habib Steele
Publication Design
First Place: Peer — Major Jamie Satterlee, Andrea Martin, Olivia Scherzer, Elizabeth Hanley. Second Place: SAConnects — Reginald Raines, Lea La Notte Greene, Keri Johnson, Joe Marino, Mabel Zorzano, Dave Hulteen. Third Place: Answers Magazine — Dan Stelzer, Chris Neville. Fourth Place: Influence — George P. Wood, Rick Knoth, Christina Quick, Steve Lopez, Ron Kopczick. Fifth Place: Sojourners — Candace Sanders, Ed Spivey Jr.
Publication Redesign
First Place: SAConnects — Lea La Notte Greene, Reginald Raines, Warren L. Maye. Second Place: Influence — George P. Wood, Rick Knoth, Christina Quick, Steve Lopez, Ron Kopczick. Third Place: Advent Christian Witness — Justin Nash, Cara Brock, Meredith Broadway
Reporting
First Place: Religion Unplugged, Charismatics Are At War With Each Other Over Failed Prophecies Of Trump Victory — Julia Duin. Second Place: Lifeway Research, Christians, Conspiracy Theories, and Credibility: Why Our Words Today Matter for Eternity — Aaron Earls. Third Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, Focus on abortion as Supreme Court considers crucial case — Bobby Ross Jr., Kenneth Pybus. Fourth Place: Sojourners, Rewriting the Script: Churches across North America grapple with how they’ll be different in the post-quarantine era — Christina Colon. Fifth Place: Christianity Today Online, Ravi Zacharias Hid Hundreds of Pictures of Women, Abuse During Massages, and a Rape Allegation — Daniel Silliman, Kate Shellnutt
Single Photo: Candid
First Place: Cru Storylines, Grace Without Conditions — Ted Wilcox. Second Place: Word&Way, SBC Civil War — Brian Kaylor. Third Place: Alliance Life, West African Refugee Camp — Ewein van Bergeik-Kwant. Fourth Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, Compassion at capacity — Audrey Jackson. Fifth Place: The Christian Chronicle, Foreign operations: health care in Honduras — Audrey Jackson
Single Photo: Controlled
First Place: Cru Storylines, Gen Z: Reaching Out With What Means Something to Them — Guy Gerrard. Second Place: Pursuit, Our 9/11: How COVID-19 changed everything, again — Luc Stringer. Third Place: Proclaim!, Light Your World — Katie Bredemeier, Jay Fordice, Charlotte Sanchez, Kevin Nordyke. Fourth Place: Alliance Life, Grieving Our Losses — Stephanie Reindel, Olivia McCash, Peter Burgo, Emma Houk, Caylie Smith. Fifth Place: World Vision Magazine, Maize Farmer — Rafael Zalvidar
Single-Theme Section or Issue
First Place: World Vision Magazine, Called by God — Kristy J. O’Hara-Glaspie, Kari Costanza, Laura Reinhardt, Heather Klinger, Journey Group. Second Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, Journey into the Red Zones — Cheryl Odden, Dennis Waterman, Felipe Carranza, Natasha Fullard, Jon Green, Kim van Veen. Third Place: Christian History, America’s Book: How the Bible Helped Shape a Nation — Jennifer Woodruff Tait, Jonathan Den Hartog, Kaylena Radcliff, Dawn Moore, Doug Johnson, Max Pointner. Fourth Place: Alabama Baptist, Back to Campus — Jennifer Davis Rash, Lauren Grim, Carrie Brown McWhorter, Dianna Cagle. Fifth Place: The Covenant Companion, On Mission Together — Mary Chung March, G. Dany Flores, Juana Nesta, Bryan Murphy, TJ Smith
Standing Column
First Place: Illinois Baptist, Table Talk — Eric Reed. Second Place: Influence, Ministry Preaching — Shannon Polk, Robert M. Eby. Third Place: Faith Today, Go With God — Carolyn Arends. Fourth Place: Answers in Genesis, Answers News — Ken Ham. Fifth Place: Advent Christian Witness, Marriage & Family — Willie Batson
Student Writer of the Year
First Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, A place to grow and learn about Jesus — Chloé Franklin. Second Place: Liberty Champion, Lessons from “The Lord of the Rings” — John Simmons. Third Place: Pursuit, Our 9/11: How COVID-19 changed everything, again — Luc Stringer. Fourth Place: Peer, Unapologetic — Nicole Williams. Fifth Place: The Threefold Advocate, A Christian perspective on the humanitarian crisis at the border — Maria Aguilar
Table of Contents
First Place: Sojourners — Candace Sanders,Thiago Limon, Nicolas Ortega. Second Place: World Vision Magazine. Third Place: The Great Commission Magazine — Ryan Thomas. Fourth Place: SAConnects — Lea Greene, Warren L. Maye, Robert Mitchell, Hugo Bravo, Reginald Raines
Titles
First Place: Answers Magazine, Out for Blood, The World Beneath the Waves, Wildfires-Cause for Alarm? — Dr. Matthew Ingle, Dr. Gordon Wilson, Sarah Eshleman. Second Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, Finding ‘Jesus’ on a Prison Wall, God’s Word in Guerrilla Territory, When Terror Comes Home — Kevin Selders, Kim van Veen. Third Place: The Covenant Companion, The Fabric of Imago Dei, The “Already Not Yet” Playlist, My Backwards Ordination. Fourth Place: SAConnects, Unparalleled Times, 9/11 Return to the Tower, Turning the Beat Around — Warren L. Maye, Robert Mitchell, Reginald Raines, Lea La Notte Greene. Fifth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., One More Acorn, Bad Hair Day, No Budge Judge — Lexie Rhodes, Kate Jameson, Jesse Florea, Rachel Pfeiffer
Two-Page Spread Design
First Place: SAConnects, Return to the Tower — Lea La Notte Greene. Second Place: Influence, Leading a Multi-Racial Ethnic Generational Church — Steve Lopez. Third Place: Teachers of Vision, Bridging the Language Barrier in the Classroom — Daniel Stelzer. Fourth Place: War Cry, The Man In My Mirror — Joshua Morales, Ashley Schena. Fifth Place: Answers Magazine, Out for Blood — Chris Neville, Dan Stelzer
Typography and Lettering
First Place: SAConnects, Return to the Tower — Warren L. Maye, Lea La Notte Greene, Reginald Raines. Second Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Redrawing Boundaries — Brian Mellema. Third Place: Peer, Lonely — Major Jamie Satterlee, Andrea Martin, Olivia Scherzer, Elizabeth Hanley
Website Design
First Place: Fuller Studio — Katy Cook, Elijah Davidson. Second Place: Answers Research Journal — Andrew Snelling, Joel Leineweber, Jim Smith, Brandon Clay, Frost Smith, Laurel Hemmings. Third Place: The Baptist Paper — James Hammack, Jennifer Rash. Fourth Place: Caring Magazine — Cory Gaudaur, Christin Thieme, Kevin Dobruck. Fifth Place: Cru Storylines — Journey Group.
