Book on Unanswered Prayer Wins 2005 Gold Medallion Book Award
The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association recently named Whitworth Theology Professor Jerry Sittser’s book When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayer (2003, Zondervan) the recipient of a 2005 Gold Medallion Book Award.
The award, which has been given annually since 1978, recognizes Christian books of the highest quality based on excellence in content, literary quality, design and significance of contribution.
"Such an award reminds me of the wonderful opportunities I have been given," said Sittser in an announcement released by Whitworth College. "It also reminds me of the need to provide literature that addresses the perennial religious questions, whether spoken or unspoken, that hover in our minds and demand our attention.”
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The book was among hundreds of entries publishers submitted for the 2005 awards, of which 100 books were chosen as finalists and 20 books – each representing a particular category – were selected as Gold Medallion winners, Whitworth explained in its announcement. When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayer won the award in the Christian Living category, which recognizes publications that facilitate or model what it means to live as a Christian. A panel of judges comprising Christian retailers, authors and experts related to the category chose five finalists, from which they selected Sittser's book to receive the award.
According to Sittser, When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayer plumbs the depths of the question of unanswered prayer – a question that is on the minds of most praying people. He wrote the book for those who have been disappointed by prayer and thus may be alienated from traditional religion or traditional religious answers.
“I hope my book offers a measure of perspective, hope and encouragement to readers who have wondered why God does not seem to answer some of our best prayers," he said.
The four runners-up in the Christian Living category were: The Five Love Languages for Singles, by Gary Chapman; God as He Longs for You to See Him, by Chip Ingram; Serious Times, by James Emery White; and In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart, by Ruth Graham with Stacy Mattingly.
