2024 Higher Goals Awards

The 2024 Higher Goals awards were presented at the annual convention in Lexington, KY, on April 22 and 23, 2024.

Click here to download a PDF of all the winners.

Click here to view the Awards of Excellence.

All award certificates and judging score/comment sheets are being emailed to the email address of the person who submitted the entries. If you do not receive your certificates or judge sheets by April 25, please email the executive director. Please allow 24 to 48 hours for a response.

Article Series 

First Place: The Baptist Paper, Endangered Youth — Denise George. Second Place: Lifeway Research, Church Switchers — Aaron Earls, Marissa Postell Sullivan. Third Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, Sacred Calling — Bobby Ross Jr., Audrey Jackson, Calvin Cockrell. Fourth Place: The Lion, Christian Teachers of the Year — Michael Ryan, Josh Mann. Fifth Place: The Christian Post, Politics in the Pews — Ryan Foley, Michael Gryboski.

Biblical Exposition 

First Place: DTS Magazine, Loving Well through Our Witness: 1 Peter 2:11-12 — Kraig McNutt. Second Place: Evangelical Missions Quarterly, A Missional Theology of Creation Care — David Bookless. Third Place: Church of God Evangel, Is My Family Cursed? — Lance Colkmire. Fourth Place: Influence, Joy — Mike Burnette. Fifth Place: Answers Magazine, Person, Presence, or Power? — Simon Turpin.

Critical Review 

First Place: Christianity Today Online, Journalists Won’t Earn Back Trust by Claiming a Monopoly on Truth — Bonnie Kristian. Second Place: The Covenant Companion, Reclaiming Our God-Given Superpowers — Jelani Greenidge. Third Place: Plugged In, Barbie — Emily Tsiao. Fourth Place: Mutuality Online, Pink Mirror: The ‘Barbie’ Movie’s Wry Reminders of Inequality — Daniel Fan. Fifth Place: The Christian Post, ‘Barbie’ review: Greta Gerwig film celebrates female empowerment but falls short on biblical values — Leah MarieAnn Klett.

Department 

First Place: Teachers of Vision, Director’s Letter — David Schmus. Second Place: Christianity Today, Close Reading — Madison N. Pierce, Osvaldo Padilla. Third Place: SAConnects, Volunteer Spotlight — Hugo Bravo. Fourth Place: World Vision Magazine, In the Kitchen — Laura Reinhardt, Kari Costanza. Fifth Place: War Cry, Healthy Habits — Major Janene Zielinski.

Devotional 

First Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Advent Reflections for Couples — Sheila Seifert. Second Place: Christar, Carried to Christ — Beverly Guy. Third Place: Church of God Evangel, Where Are Our Feet Taking Us? — David White. Fourth Place: Seana Scott, Hope and a Future Christmas Series: Struggling with Trust. Fifth Place: Faith Today, Three Gentle Spiritual Resolutions for a New Year: Growth that allows rest, not just hustle — Darryl Dash.

Editorial 

First Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, Women Whose Courageous Faith Should Inspire Everyone — Cole Richards. Second Place: Word&Way Online, Reading Genesis Literally … in Texas — Brian Kaylor. Third Place: The Baptist Standard, Editorial: Gazan Christians caught in Hamas-Israel crossfire — Eric Black. Fourth Place: Tez Brooks, How Should the Church Help Members with LGBTQ Issues?. Fifth Place: One Magazine, First Glimpse: Missing — Eric K. Thomsen.

Evangelism Article 

First Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Questions That Lead to Jesus — Andy Bannister. Second Place: The Banner, Faith Matters: Being Missional Means Avoiding Insider Language — Melissa Kuipers. Third Place: Leading Hearts, What to Pray When A Loved One Won’t Believe — Linda Evans Shepherd. Fourth Place: Outreach Magazine, Beyond Growth and Decline: Why We Need a New Narrative to Mobilize the Next Generation — Daniel Yang. Fifth Place: One Magazine, Reaching the Wi-Fi Generation — Tim York.

Fiction 

First Place: Kids Answers Magazine, For Better or Woof — Dustin Brady. Second Place: Brio Magazine, IIt’s Gone Viral — Brandy Bruce. Third Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Citi on a Hill — Grace Kelley. Fourth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, The Crimson Fox — Brock Eastman. Fifth Place: Fathom Mag, Cursetaker — LJ Sorenson.

First-Person Article 

First Place: Answers Magazine, Nostalgia-Holding on to Home — Laura Allnutt. Second Place: One Magazine, A Road Named ZZ — Brenda J. Evans. Third Place: Decision Magazine, When God Crashes Your Party — Becket Cook. Fourth Place: Influence, The Church Has Left the Building — Keisha B. Spivey. Fifth Place: Church of God Evangel, When Jesus Takes Us BY THE HAND — Shea Hughes.

Freelance Article 

First Place: Michael Foust, 4 Lessons C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Can Teach Us in ‘Freud’s Last Session’. Second Place: Janet Perez Eckels, How to Find Gratitude in the Trenches of Motherhood. Third Place: Joyce K. Ellis, Just What I Always Didn’t Want. Fourth Place: Tez Brooks, How Well Do You Know Your Fiancé? Ask These 100 Questions To Find Out. Fifth Place: Lori Arnold, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.

General Article: Short 

First Place: Answers Magazine, Time to Eat — Schuyler Vander Wilt. Second Place: Kids Answers Magazine, Adorable Arachnids — Valerie Principe. Third Place: Brio Magazine, Ditch the BFF Myth — Jessie Minassian. Fourth Place: DTS Magazine, Witnessing & Waiting — Dan Sered. Fifth Place: One Magazine, From the Cold War of Winter to the Genuine Hope of Christmas — Matthew S. Bracey.

General Article: Medium 

First Place: Sherri Langton, Finding Easter. Second Place: DTS Magazine, Passover: The Story of Everlasting Love — Vladimir Pikman. Third Place: Christar, What If I Struggle? Mental Health and Cross-Cultural Ministry — Beverly Guy, Thai Martin. Fourth Place: Forward, Human Trafficking-What Every Teen Should Know — Angie Outlaw. Fifth Place: Fuller, Talking Church with Your Teenager and Young Adult — Steven Argue.

General Article: Long 

First Place: Christianity Today, Living Reconciliation — Morgan Kelley. Second Place: Faith Today, A Theology of Singleness That Isn’t Looking for Its Cure — Karissa Sovdi. Third Place: Influence, We Are Not Immune — Matthew D. Kim. Fourth Place: Answers Magazine, Charged — Stuart Burgess. Fifth Place: Fuller, When Role Eats Soul: The Spiritual Needs of the Pastor’s Family — Cameron Lee.

Humorous 

First Place: The Covenant Companion, The Funkhouser Special Sauce — Dana Bowman. Second Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, Words I had to look up at the Christian Scholars’ Conference — Erik Tryggestad. Third Place: Church of God Evangel, The Day the CHURCH OF GOD Did Not Go Down With the Ship — Paul Conn. Fourth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, A Hole New Ball Game — Bob Smiley. Fifth Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, One Dirty Diaper at a Time — Patrick Dunn.

Interview Article 

First Place: World Vision News & Stories, The people who help shape us — Kristy Glaspie, Kari Costanza, Laura Reinhardt. Second Place: Outreach Magazine, Lecrae: Reconstructing Faith — Paul Pastor. Third Place: Baptist Press, Magician Stephen Bargatze ‘realizing how great God is’ — Laura Erlanson. Fourth Place: Fuller, Faithful Curiosity — Jerome Blanco. Fifth Place: The Chosen People, The Chosen People — Neal Surasky, Rachel Larsen, Elisabeta Karp, Juan Corrales, Lois Ruedinger, Maralynn Jacoby.

Personality Article 

First Place: Decision Magazine, Faith, Family & Freedom — Lee Weeks. Second Place: One Magazine, From Coal Country to Colquitt — Eric K. Thomsen. Third Place: The Lion, Christian Teacher of the Year: Bruce Hoover steps right out of history to take his students back there, all the while pointing to God — Michael Ryan. Fourth Place: Joyce K. Ellis, Mr. EPA Reflects on His 55 Years in EPA. Fifth Place: SAConnects, A Second Chance — Warren L. Maye.

Poetry 

First Place: Fathom Mag, Illegal Crossings — Sara Kyoungah White. Second Place: Christian History, The Two Messengers — Edwin Woodruff Tait. Third Place: Crux, Kintsugi — Naomi Pattison-Williams. Fourth Place: DTS Magazine, Hello, Light — Christine Chandler Prater.

Reporting 

First Place: Christianity Today Online, Grace Community Church Rejected Elder’s Calls to ‘Do Justice’ in Abuse Case — Kate Shellnutt. Second Place: Religion Unplugged, Jesus At The Ballpark: Why MLB Teams Host Faith Nights — Bobby Ross Jr.. Third Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, Sharing love – and Christ – with refugees — Bobby Ross Jr.. Fourth Place: Christianity Today, ‘We Are Ready to Meet God at Any Moment’ — Sophia Lee. Fifth Place: Baptist Press, Health concerns related to Ohio train derailment remain months later — Scott Barkley.

Standing Column 

First Place: Answers Magazine, Creation Every Day — Sarah Eshleman. Second Place: One Magazine, First Glimpse — Eric K. Thomsen. Third Place: MinistryWatch, Editor’s Notebook — Warren Cole Smith. Fourth Place: Influence, Leadership: Ethics — Shannon Polk, Joy E.A. Qualls. Fifth Place: Leading Hearts, Going Social — Edie Melson.

Student Writer of the Year 

First Place: Priscilla Papers, Authority to Cover Her Head: The Liberating Message of 1 Corinthians 11:13–16 — Juliann Bullock. Second Place: Concordia Seminary Magazine, Being the body of Christ — Lucas Moody. Third Place: The Lion, Missouri AG vows not to ‘let left-wing ideologues experiment on children, ‘ in lawsuit attacking state’s ban on trans treatments for kids — Brooke Gariss. Fourth Place: Liberty Champion, The Story Behind Liberty Hockey Player Sam Feamster’s Intriguing NHL Bloodline — Annie Cory. Fifth Place: International School Project, Six Ways to Help Shy Students Feel Comfortable — Anicah Brooks.

Cartoon 

First Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, The Magnificent Mulligans — Wan Mek. Second Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Friends Out Back — Kevin Zimmer. Third Place: Cadet Quest, Casey’s Cadre — Robert Lyzenga. Fourth Place: Teachers of Vision, Homework Hack — Steve Delmonte.

Original Art: Digital/Mixed Media 

First Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, Cooking Up a Character — Gary Locke. Second Place: War Cry, Five Women of Faith — Ashley Schena. Third Place: SAConnects, One in Christ — Lea L. Greene. Fourth Place: Influence, We Are Not Immune — Steve Lopez. Fifth Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Boundless — Sally Dunn.

Original Art: Traditional 

First Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, Sluggo for President — David Miles. Second Place: War Cry, A Snow Globe Christmas — Eleanor Taylor. Third Place: SAConnects, A History Rooted in Faith — Joe Marino. Fourth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Hole Lot of Trouble — Andy Elkerton. Fifth Place: Explorer’s Guide, Tales from Explorers Academy: Ancestry — Janiece Waldrop.

Single Photo: Candid 

First Place: World Vision Magazine, Children dancing and playing — Jon Warren. Second Place: World Vision News & Stories, A Desert 6K — Amy Van Drunen. Third Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, Kerusso Experience trains high schoolers to fill empty pulpits — Audrey Jackson. Fourth Place: Luke Society News, Flash flood crossing — Dan Breen. Fifth Place: Alliance Life, Fording the Flood in Thailand — Olivia McCash.

Single Photo: Controlled 

First Place: Fuller, A Holy Momentum — Nate Harrison. Second Place: One Magazine, Missing! — Marianne Stewart. Third Place: Alliance Life, Formation in the Unforeseen — Olivia McCash. Fourth Place: SAConnects, A Path Forward — Lu Lu Rivera. Fifth Place: DTS Magazine, The Clapham Sect: The Power of “We” instead of “Me” — Stephanie Johnston.

Photo Feature 

First Place: World Vision News & Stories, Celebrating Easter in a Time of War — Laura Reinhardt. Second Place: The Christian Chronicle, ‘If they go into full-time ministry, they’ll go back to poverty’ — Audrey Jackson. Third Place: Cru Storylines, Experiencing God’s Extravagant Love — Mick Haupt. Fourth Place: Alliance Life, If There is Only One — Olivia McCash, Caylie Smith. Fifth Place: War Cry, Down Home with The Napiers — Kenneth Hodder, Jolene Hodder, Staci Williams.

Photography Use – Print 

First Place: World Vision Magazine — Jon Warren, Laura Reinhardt, Amy Van Drunen, Lauren Reed. Second Place: Fuller — Nate Harrison, Lindsey Sheets, Karley Carillo, Katy Cook, Theresa Crooks. Third Place: The Voice of the Martyrs. Fourth Place: Alliance Life — Caylie Smith, Olivia McCash, Rose Xiong, Daron Short, Abby Hamilton, Ewein van Bergeik-Kwant. Fifth Place: SAConnects — Lea L. Greene, Reginald Raines, Lu Lu Rivera.

Photography Use – Digital 

First Place: World Vision News & Stories — Laura Reinhardt, Amy Van Drunen, Jon Warren, Lauren Reed, World Vision Global Staff.

Table of Contents

First Place: Peer — Andrea Martin, Art Director. Second Place: World Vision Magazine — Journey Group , Brittany Fan. Third Place: One Magazine — Marianne Stewart, Eric K. Thomsen, Eddie Moody. Fourth Place: SAConnects — Lea L. Greene. Fifth Place: Concordia Seminary Magazine — Courtney Koll, Beth Hasek, Melanie Ave, Vicki Biggs.

Typography and Lettering 

First Place: War Cry, Scripture Art — Debora Islas, Andrea Martin. Second Place: Alliance Life, For the Sake of the Harvest — Caylie Smith. Third Place: Peer, Scripture Art — Saskia Bueno, Andrea Martin. Fourth Place: Concordia Seminary Magazine, Faith in Action — Courtney Koll, Beth Hasek, Melanie Ave, Vicki Biggs. Fifth Place: Marianne Stewart, World Missions Offering 2023 Giving Campaign.

Cover 

First Place: SAConnects — Reginald Raines. Second Place: Caring Magazine — Christin Thieme, Hillary Jackson, Kevin Dobruck. Third Place: Influence — Steve Lopez. Fourth Place: Evangelical Missions Quarterly — Kurtis Amundson. Fifth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse — Ken Westphal, Jenny Dillon, Kenneth Crane.

Infographic 

First Place: World Vision Magazine, Responding Around the World — Jacob Melton, Sevil Omer. Second Place: Faith Today, By the Numbers: Who are Canada’s Non-Permanent Residents? — Janice Van Eck. Third Place: SAConnects, What is a stroke? — Mabel Zorzano. Fourth Place: Caring Magazine, What are you looking for? — Christin Thieme, Hillary Jackson, Kevin Dobruck. Fifth Place: Luke Society News, Worldview — Dan Breen.

Two-Page Spread Design 

First Place: Teachers of Vision, Trauma Sensitive Schools: Environments that Support Healing and Success — Dan Stelzer. Second Place: Influence, Dechurched America — Steve Lopez. Third Place: Cadet Quest, Extreme Buildings — Trevor Burnett, Steve Bootsma. Fourth Place: World Vision Magazine, Famine Closes In — Jacob Melton, Journey Group, Martin Muluka. Fifth Place: Peer, Tithing — Andrea Martin, Art Director.

Publication Design

First Place: Fuller — Theresa Crooks, Nate Harrison. Second Place: Peer — Andrea Martin, Art Director. Third Place: Answers Magazine — Chris Neville. Fourth Place: World Vision Magazine. Fifth Place: Christianity Today — Sarah Gordon, Jared Boggess, Rick Szuecs, Abigail Erickson, Erik Petrik.

Publication Redesign

First Place: Advent Christian Witness — Justin Nash, Cara Brock. Second Place: Velocity — Sondra Blackburn, Kathy Murphy, Carol Reid. Third Place: Luke Society News — Dan Breen. Fourth Place: Explorer’s Guide — Sondra Blackburn, Janiece Waldrop. Fifth Place: Adventure Guide — Janiece Waldrop, Andrea Young, Kathy Murphy.

Blog: Single post 

First Place: DTS Magazine, Pocketfuls of Real Treasure — Mirlenda Noëlliste. Second Place: Plugged In, We Love Our AI… But Should We? — Bob Hoose. Third Place: Stephen Clark, Why Christian Writers Write: A Meditation. Fourth Place: Joyce K. Ellis, Picture Yourself Writing for Kids?. Fifth Place: Mutuality Online, Let God Reign: Ditching the Umbrellas of Hierarchy — Julie R. Frady.

Blog: Website 

First Place: Brethren in Christ U.S. Blog — Salynda Hogsett, Michael Bowlin, Mitch Martin. Second Place: Plugged In — Adam Holz, Paul Asay, Bob Hoose, Emily Tsiao, Kennedy Unthank. Third Place: International School Project — Roy Christians, Russ Licht, Linda Brown, Tez Brooks. Fourth Place: Turning Points with David Jeremiah — David Jeremiah, Nathan Johnson, Leslie Lutes, Kimee Randall, Paul Joiner.

e-Newsletter 

First Place: World Vision News & Stories, World Vision eNews — Amy Van Drunen. Second Place: Lifeway Research, Daily Insights — Marissa Postell Sullivan. Third Place: Rapt Interviews, Rapt: The Newsletter — Justin Camp. Fourth Place: Word&Way, Word&Way News — Brian Kaylor, Jeremy Fuzy. Fifth Place: Caring Magazine, Do Good Digest — Christin Thieme, Cory Gaudaur.

Website Design 

First Place: The Lion — Josh Mann, Chris Vas, Elizabeth Roberts. Second Place: Peer — Elizabeth Hanley, Olivia Scherzer, Lt. Colonel Lesa Davis, Andrea Martin, Caleb Louden. Third Place: Turning Points with David Jeremiah — David Jeremiah, Nathan Johnson, Steve Devlin, Mishell Cook, Kimee Randall, Molly Mancuso. Fourth Place: Rapt Interviews — Justin Camp. Fifth Place: World Vision News & Stories.

Podcast 

First Place: Christianity Today, The Bulletin – Promised Land: It’s Complicated — Mike Cosper, Russell Moore, Nicole Martin, Matt Stevens, Clarissa Moll. Second Place: Message Magazine, China and the Future of Missions — Alex Kocman, Scott Dunford, David Brandt, Brian VanTimmeren. Third Place: The Christian Post, SEASON PREMIERE: A Breaking Point? Legislatures Revolt Against Gender Ideology — Brandon Showalter, Billy Hallowell, Rick Marquez, Stephen Robles. Fourth Place: Plugged In, How Pop Culture, Entertainment, and Technology Are Shaping Girls Growing Up Today — Adam Holz, Emily Tsiao, Kristin Smith, Sarah Rasmussen, Jonathan McKee, Bob Hoose. Fifth Place: The Christian Chronicle, Astronaut Victor Glover on Communion (in space), creation, discipleship, and doubt — BT Irwin, James Flanagan.

Video Social Media Short Video 

First Place: Christianity Today, Bible Verse or AI? — Mia Staub, Abigail Erickson, Kate Lucky. Second Place: The Lion, The Institute for Family Studies releases report on most effective parenting styles — Chris Stigall, Valerie Cabana. Third Place: Turning Points with David Jeremiah, Perhaps Today — David Jeremiah, Paul Joiner, Nico Bellarde, Grace Anne Baker.

Video Short-form 

First Place: DTS Magazine, Alumni Profile: Vladimir Pikman — Ryan Holmes, Jonathan Galloway, Hunter Grace, Amber Lythgoe, Jared Huang, Mike Mabie. Second Place: SAConnects, From Mat to Mission: Jordan Burroughs — Johnny Shyr, Alex Darcey, Julie Bacon, Jacob Douglass, Kevin Diaz, Joseph Pritchard. Third Place: FlightWatch, Kids Action Network — Lemuel Malabuyo. Fourth Place: Answers in Genesis, How Big Was Noah’s Ark? — Ken Ham, Timothy Smith, Sarah Bryne. Fifth Place: Turning Points with David Jeremiah, The Final Report — Paul Joiner, Weston Albert, Zach Andrews, Jeff Larson, Dane Tellinghuisen, Troy Dausend.

Video Long-form

First Place: The Clarion, Border of Dreams — Soraya Keiser, Nataly Basterrechea, Hana Ko, Bryson Rosell, Mild Du, Majo Diaz. Second Place: Brethren in Christ U.S. Blog, Finding Home — Michael Bowlin. Third Place: Fathom Mag, Is This The Weirdest Story in the Bible? — Jonathan Minnema, Carmen Joy Imes. Fourth Place: Fuller Studio, Anew: Creating Art that Points to the Divine — Patrick Duff, Lindsey Sheets, Lauren Meares. Fifth Place: Turning Points with David Jeremiah, Passages–Born Out of Suffering — Nico Bellarde, David Todd Jeremiah, Grace Anne Baker.

Feature Article 

First Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, Fleeing an Ancient Darkness. Second Place: Kids Answers Magazine, Your Terrific Tongue — Chris Neville, Kaitlyn Iocco, Sarah Eshleman. Third Place: World Vision Magazine, The Sound of New Dreams — Kari Costanza, Jon Warren, Jacob Melton, Journey Group. Fourth Place: Answers Magazine, Charged — Stuart Burgess, Sarah Eshelman, Chris Neville. Fifth Place: Christian History, Dormant and exploding volcanos — Edwin Woodruff Tait, Max Pointner, Doug Johnson, Jennifer Woodruff Tait.

Single-Theme Section or Issue 

First Place: Brio Magazine, Rejoice!. Second Place: SAConnects, Food Insecurity and Healthy Eating — Warren L. Maye, Robert Mitchell, Hugo Bravo, Lea L. Greene, Reginald Raines, Mabel Zorzano. Third Place: The Voice of the Martyrs, More Precious Than Jewels. Fourth Place: War Cry, The High Council Issue — Lt. Colonel Lesa Davis, David Reardon, Jolene Hodder, John Larsson, Ashley Schena, Rachel Domotor. Fifth Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Couples section — Sheila Seifert, Andrea Gutierrez, Levi Lusko, Gary Thomas.

Titles 

First Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse Jr., Hole Lot of Trouble, Hatching a Plan, Achoo at the Zoo — Jesse Florea, Lexie Rhodes, Rachel Pfeiffer, Grace Kelley. Second Place: Answers Magazine, Charged, When God’s People Play, Mulling Over the Multiverse — Stuart Burgess, Steve Golden, Danny Faulkner, Sarah Eshleman. Third Place: Teachers of Vision, A Masterpiece with a Purpose, “I Want a Transgender Support Plan.”, Lost and Found — Dawn Molnar, Lara Busold, Jere Vandewalle. Fourth Place: Focus on the Family Clubhouse, Strong as Steel; Peanut Butter Cat; Lights, Camera… Collision — Jesse Florea, Stephen O’Rear, Grace Kelley, Jenny Dillon, Kenneth Crane. Fifth Place: World Vision Magazine, The Sound of New Dreams, Pure Joy, Two Sisters Two Worlds — Kari Costanza.

Cause of the Year Article – FOSTERING & ADOPTION 

First Place: Answers Magazine, Tie-Dye Heart — Schuyler Vander Wilt.

Second Place: Alabama Baptist, A mother’s ‘yes’ — Grace Thornton. Third Place: The Christian Chronicle Online, In a Mexican resort city, Christians care for homeless ‘angels’ — Bobby Ross Jr.. Fourth Place: Christianity Today, The Invisible Orphanages — Kara Bettis Carvalho. Fifth Place: Focus on the Family Magazine, Holding on to Hope — Melissa Ohden, Cindy Lambert.

Cause of the Year Illustration/Photo – FOSTERING & ADOPTION 

First Place: Fuller, A Holy Momentum — Nate Harrison.

Posted, April 23, 2024