In December, Christianity Today released its 2021 Book Awards and Jesus Creed, which is part of Christianity Today’s Blog Forum, released its 2020 Book Awards. We are excited to announce that two Gordon-Conwell alumni, Carmen Joy Imes (MABS ’11, Charlotte) and Sandra L. Richter (MATS ’90, Hamilton), received awards in Jesus Creed’s Old Testament Studies category. Alumnus Esau McCaulley (M.Div. ’05, Hamilton) received Christianity Today’s The Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year award, and Barbara L. Peacock (D.Min. ’13, Hamilton) received Christianity Today’s Award of Merit in the Spiritual Formation category!

Learn about these alumni and their books below.

Have you ever wondered what the Old Testament, especially the Old Testament law, has to do with your Christian life? In Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Matters, Carmen Joy Imes explains the meaning of events at Sinai and helps those who follow Jesus understand why the Old Testament is still relevant. Imes’ book is particularly relevant as some Christian leaders choose to completely cast off the Old Testament.

As a master storyteller and expert in ancient Israelite society and economy, Sandra L. Richter shows how significant environmental theology is to the Bible’s witness in Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters. Richter calls Christians to apply this understanding to today’s environmental concerns, even offering case studies that connect biblical ethics to current issues.

At a time in which some within the African American community are questioning the place of the Christian faith in the struggle for justice, New Testament scholar Esau McCaulley argues in Reading While Black that reading Scripture from the perspective of Black church tradition is invaluable for connecting with a rich faith history and addressing the urgent issues of our times.

In Soul Care in African American Practice, Barbara L. Peacock offers an engaging journey of prayer and spiritual direction by drawing from the examples of Christian leaders of African American heritage, including Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Darrell Griffin, and others. Her book encourages the reader to care for their own souls and nurture their love for Christ.

Note: In the original blog post, we accidentally neglected to include Esau McCaulley’s award. We apologize for this omission. In addition to checking out Esau’s book, we encourage you to watch his sermon from our recent Anglican Week chapel service.