Christian Book of the Year Named

“Practicing the Way” by Pastor John Mark Comer was named the Christian book of the year by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association this week. The book grew out of a five-year spiritual formation initiative at Bridgetown Church in Portland, where Comer served as founding pastor, to organize community around the simple idea of practicing the way of Jesus together.

The ECPA Pinnacle Award was presented to Josh McDowell and Kay Arthur in special recognition of the outstanding contribution of their body of work to the industry, church and society at large.

“Since 1978 when ECPA first began honoring excellence in Christian publishing through these annual awards, nearly a thousand books significant to their time have been recognized,” ECPA President Jeff Crosby said. The prestigious recognition program continues to highlight the highest quality in Christian literature across multiple categories. “Each of the 2025 category award winners and John Mark Comer’s ‘Practicing the Way’ are examples of this level of excellence. I commend each of the authors and the publishing teams who helped make these books known throughout the world.”

The awards recognized sales figures as well as the cultural and spiritual conversations a book generates. “Comer’s book is a very simple and profound construct,” Crosby said. “It’s right there in the title. And as you get into the book you see how transformative the message is.” The book has received widespread acclaim for its accessible approach to discipleship.

These are the winners in various categories:
• Christian Book of the Year: “Practicing the Way” by John Mark Comer
• Audio: “I Want to Trust You but I Don’t” by Lysa TerKeurst
• Bibles: “Oswald Chamber Bible”
• Bible Reference: “40 Questions About Pentecostalism” by Jonathan Black
• Bible Study: “Luke in the Land: Walking with Jesus in His First-Century World” by Kristi McLelland
• Biography and Memoir: “Ghosted: An American Story ” by Nancy French
• Children: “All Creation Waits: Children’s Edition” by Gayle Boss
• Christian Living: “Waiting Isn’t a Waste” by Mark Vroegop
• Devotion and Gift: “Letters to Grief” by Kate Motaung
• Faith and Culture: “Kingdom of Rage” by Elizabeth Neumann
• Ministry Resources: “Forming Faith” by Matt Markins, Mike Handler and Sam Luce
• New Author: “How to Tell the Truth” by Preston Perry

–Dwight Widaman | Metro Voice