Each year, the Associated Church Press honors faith-based publications—including magazines, newsletters, websites, and more—with its “Best of the Church Press” awards. The Banner, official publication of the Christian Reformed Church, received several recognitions for work produced in 2018. The RCA-CRC Disability Concerns ministry and the journal of CRC Worship Ministries, Reformed Worship, were also honored this year.
Disability Concerns received one Award of Excellence and two honorable mentions for its newsletter Breaking Barriers (Terry A. DeYoung and Mark Stephenson, co-editors)and one Award of Merit for its blog The Network: Disability Concerns. Reformed Worship issue 128 received an honorable mention for magazine/journal design (Dean Heetderks, art director; Frank Gutbrod, graphic designer) and an honorable mention for a theme issue or series (Theme Issue on Mental Illnesses and Worship, Rev. Joyce Borger, editor). The awards were presented at the ACP’s annual conference held in Chicago on April 10 to 13.
Awards for The Banner:
Awards of Excellence
The Banner, Dean R. Heetderks, art director (Online media: website redesign)
“The Banner Update,” Shiao Chong, editor (Electronic newsletter) Are you getting it? Sign up!
April 2018 Fundraising Appeal, Shiao Chong, editor (Direct mail fundraising campaign)
“As I Was Saying,” Shiao Chong, editor (Blog)
“2018 Annual Ministry Report,” Pete Euwema, graphic designer, Dec. 2018 insert (Annual report/print or electric)
Awards of Merit
The Banner, Dean R. Heetderks, art director (Print publication redesign)
“Why Read the Bible?” by Benjamin Lappenga, July 2018 (Bible resource)
Honorable Mentions
“Uncomfortable Conversation” by Chuck DeGroat, July 2018 (Feature article, long format)
“Prayers of the Infertile: Longing, Hope, and Solidarity” by Cory Willson, October 2018 (Devotional/inspirational, long format)
Related: Nine Evangelical Press Association Awards for The Banner