Since joining The Christian Chronicle in 2005, I’ve been blessed to receive numerous awards.

• First Place, Election Reporting (with Hamil R. Harris and Cheryl Mann Bacon): “Flags, faith and fury” from Washington and related coverage.

• First Place, Spot News Reporting: “Christians offer physical, spiritual help after historic flooding” from Waverly, Tenn., and related story “Emotions high as Tennessee church floods — again” from Nunnelly, Tenn.

• First Place, Sports Features: “All in the family: baseball and Jesus” from Montgomery, Ala.

• Second Place, Best Reporter (all divisions), for a portfolio of five stories:

1. “Tulsa Race Massacre prayer room highlights churches’ 1921 sins, seeks healing” from Tulsa, Okla.

2. “In Canada, a reckoning after remains of 215 Indigenous children are found.”

3. “In city where George Floyd died, minister emerges as key champion for justice” from Minneapolis.

4. “Picket signs, honking horns and sidewalk sermons: Inside an anti-abortion ministry” from West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

5. “Will Candice McQueen really be the first female president of a Church of Christ university?”

• Second Place, Government Reporting (with Kenneth Pybus): “Could U.S. Supreme Court soon overturn Roe v. Wade?” and related story “Picket signs, honking horns and sidewalk sermons: Inside an anti-abortion ministry” from West Bloomfield Township, Mich.

• • •

Associated Church Press “Best of the Church Press” Contest

First Place (with Hamil R. Harris), National News Story (Long Format), for “Flags, faith and fury” from Washington, D.C.

First Place, Newspaper Best in Class, for The Christian Chronicle (staff award).

Second Place (with Deana Nall), In-Depth Reporting, for coverage of the first anniversary of George Floyd’s killing, including my stories “In city where Floyd died, minister emerges as key champion for justice” from Minneapolis and “A tragic death, a tough dialogue” from Woodbury, Minn.

Second Place, International Reporting (Long Format), for “In Canada, a reckoning after remains of 215 children are found.”

Third Place, National News Story (Short Format), for “Showing Jesus: Christians offer physical, spiritual help after historic flooding.”

• • •

Great Plains Journalism Awards, an eight-state regional contest sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club

Finalist, News Reporting (Outside the Region), for “A moving ‘reunion’ for descendants of Holocaust survivors” from Westlake, Texas, for The Associated Press.

• • •

Evangelical Press Association National Contest

First Place, Best Print Newspaper, for The Christian Chronicle (staff award).

My entries placed in four categories:

Article Series (with Hamil R. Harris and Cheryl Mann Bacon), for coverage of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, including my story “Flags, faith and fury” from Washington, D.C.

Reporting (with Kenneth Pybus), for “Picket signs, honking horns and sidewalk sermons: Inside an anti-abortion ministry” from West Bloomfield Township, Mich., and related story “Could the U.S. Supreme Court soon overturn Roe v. Wade?”

General Article (Medium Length), for “In Canada, a reckoning after remains of 215 Indigenous children are found.”

E-newsletter, for “Weekend Plug-in.”

• • •

2021

Religion News Association “Awards for Excellence in Religion Reporting”

Third Place, Reporting at Magazines and Non-daily Newspapers, for “Volunteer State” from Cookeville, Tenn. (with sidebar), “Protests and prayers” (with sidebar) and “Ousted by Democrats, anti-abortion preacher runs as independent in Tennessee.”

Finalist (with Cheryl Mann Bacon, Chellie Ison and Hamil Harris), Gerald A. Renner Award for Excellence in Religion Enterprise Reporting. Our team covered the faith response to George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis police custody last year, producing a series of videos and stories.

• • •

Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Pro Chapter Contest (Major Newspapers and Wire Services Division)

First Place, Best Reporter (all divisions), for a portfolio of stories for The Oklahoman, The Associated Press and The Christian Chronicle:

1. “‘The world doesn’t stop’: Her 15-month-old daughter died in the bombing but she lived on” (reporting from Moore, Okla.).

2. “25 years ago, a prayer service gave hope to a shaken America” (reporting from Oklahoma City).

3. “Forgiving Carla’s killers: After a Harding University junior was raped and murdered, her parents found peace by sharing their faith with the men responsible.”

4. “Protests and prayers: Christians respond to George Floyd’s death with outrage, rallies and calls for justice.”

5. “Volunteer State: After Tennessee’s deadly tornadoes, churches play a leading role in the disaster relief effort” (reporting from Cookeville, Tenn.).

• First Place (Staff Award), Best Newspaper, for The Christian Chronicle.

• First Place, Personal Column: “‘The world doesn’t stop’: Her 15-month-old daughter died in the bombing but she lived on.”

• First Place, Diversity Coverage (with Cheryl Mann Bacon): “Protests and prayers” and related stories on George Floyd’s killing.

• First Place, Editorial/Commentary: “Christians react to minister’s claim of ‘crocodile tears’ and ‘phony outrage’ over George Floyd’s death.”

• Second Place, Feature Writing: “Forgiving Carla’s killers.”

• Second Place, Sports Feature: “At 84, retired major-leaguer Lindy McDaniel still ‘Pitching for the Master.'”

• Third Place, Feature Writing: 25 years ago, a prayer service gave hope to a shaken America.

• • •

Great Plains Journalism Awards, an eight-state regional contest sponsored by the Tulsa Press Club

Finalist, Great Plains Writer of the Year, for a portfolio of stories for The Oklahoman, The Associated Press and The Christian Chronicle:

1. “‘The world doesn’t stop’: Her 15-month-old daughter died in the bombing but she lived on” (reporting from Moore, Okla.).

2. “25 years ago, a prayer service gave hope to a shaken America” (reporting from Oklahoma City).

3. “Forgiving Carla’s killers: After a Harding University junior was raped and murdered, her parents found peace by sharing their faith with the men responsible.”

4. “Protests and prayers: Christians respond to George Floyd’s death with outrage, rallies and calls for justice.”

5. “Volunteer State: After Tennessee’s deadly tornadoes, churches play a leading role in the disaster relief effort” (reporting from Cookeville, Tenn.).

Finalist, Feature Writing, for “‘The world doesn’t stop’: Her 15-month-old daughter died in the bombing but she lived on” (reporting from Moore, Okla.).

• • •

Associated Church Press “Best of the Church Press” Contest

First Place (with Cheryl Mann Bacon, Erik Tryggestad, Chellie Ison and Hamil R. Harris), In-Depth Coverage, for “Protests and Prayers” and related coverage, including my stories “History repeats: Civil rights hero’s great-grandson shows courage” and “Why the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement is so controversial to many Christians.”

Third Place, Feature Article, for “Forgiving Carla’s killers: After a Harding University junior was raped and murdered, her parents found peace by sharing their faith with the men responsible.”

Third Place, News Story, for “An emotional return: At site of Texas church shooting, a new beginning.”

Third Place (with Erik Tryggestad, Chellie Ison, Cheryl Mann Bacon, Laura Akins, Erin Floyd and Hamil R. Harris), In-Depth Coverage, for “Faith and COVID-19.”

Third Place, Theme Issue, Section or Series, for “Trump vs. Biden.”

• • •

Evangelical Press Association National Contest

First Place (staff award), Best in Class, newspapers, for The Christian Chronicle. 

My entries placed in six categories (including two stories in the reporting category):

Personality Article, for “Ousted by Democrats, anti-abortion preacher runs as independent in Tennessee.”

Reporting, for “Volunteer State: After Tennessee’s deadly tornadoes, churches play a leading role in the disaster relief effort” from Cookeville, Tenn.

Reporting, for “Protests and prayers: Christians respond to George Floyd’s death with outrage, rallies and calls for justice.”

Standing Column, for “Inside Story.”

Article Series, for “Trump vs. Biden.”

Cause of the Year Article, Christian Citizenship, for “Why these 21st century David Lipscombs won’t vote for Trump or Biden.”

E-newsletter, for “Weekend Plug-in.”

• • •

2020

Associated Church Press “Best of the Church Press” Contest

First Place, News Story, for “A perpetrator in the pews” from Uniontown, Pa.

First Place, In-Depth Coverage, for sex abuse stories, including “A perpetrator in the pews,” “Tell somebody. Don’t keep quiet,” “Stunning reversal” and “It’s time to talk about predators in the church.”

First Place, National or International Newspaper, for The Christian Chronicle (staff award).

First Place, Social Media Presence, for The Christian Chronicle (with Chellie Ison and Erik Tryggestad).

Second Place, Feature Article, for “From global justice champion to Christian university president” from Malibu, Calif.

Second Place, In-depth Coverage, for “Guilty and forgiven” from Searcy, Ark., with related story “To Botham Jean’s parents, shooting still feels ‘as if it just happened’” from Dallas.

Second Place, Theme Issue, Section or Series, for “Is the Holy Land the Promised Land?” my related column “In Israel, a missile attack and a monk stir reflection” and “Churches of Christ in the Holy Land” by Erik Tryggestad.

Second Place (staff award), Publication Website, for ChristianChronicle.org.

Third Place, Feature Article, for “Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly returning to Africa as medical missionary” from Fort Worth, Texas.

Third Place, Personal Experience (Short Format), for “In Israel, a missile attack and a monk stir reflection” from Jerusalem.

• • •

Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Pro Chapter Contest (Major Newspapers and Wire Services Division)

• First Place, In-Depth Enterprise and Investigative Reporting, for  “A perpetrator in the pews” (main story, related Q&A, follow-up story and column).

• First Place, Diversity Reporting, for coverage of Oklahoma Christian University’s efforts at racial reconciliation, including stories by Erik Tryggestad and me.

• Third Place, Criminal Justice Reporting, for “Guilty and forgiven” from Searcy, Ark., with related story “To Botham Jean’s parents, shooting still feels ‘as if it just happened’” from Dallas.

• • •

Religion News Association “Awards for Excellence in Religion Reporting”

Finalist, Reporting at Magazines and Non-daily Newspapers, for “A perpetrator in the pews” from Uniontown, Pa., “Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly returning to Africa as medical missionary” from Fort Worth, Texas, and “Texas church grieves, prays, sings after deadly shooting” (with sidebar) from White Settlement, Texas.

• • •

Evangelical Press Association National Contest

First Place (staff award), Best Print Newspaper, for The Christian Chronicle.

Second Place, Reporting, for “A perpetrator in the pews” from Uniontown, Pa.

Fourth Place, Interview, for “Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly returning to Africa as medical missionary” from Fort Worth, Texas.

• • •

2019

Religion News Association “Awards for Excellence in Religion Reporting”

Third Place, Reporting at Magazines and Non-daily Newspapers, for “Tears and fears: Church teen killed by police” from North Little Rock, Ark., “Marshall Keeble’s ‘boy preachers’ still baptizing and saving souls” from Los Angeles and “18 wheels and a heart to serve” from Panama City, Fla.

• • •

Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists Pro Chapter Contest (Major Newspapers and Wire Services Division)

• First Place, Election Reporting, for “In red-state Oklahoma, marijuana ballot question splits people of faith.”

• First Place, Diversity Reporting, for “Tears and fears: Church teen killed by Arkansas police.”

• First Place, Feature Writing, for “When God wants your kidney.”

• Second Place, Diversity Reporting, for “Glitz and a surprise guest at the prom for those who often don’t get to go.”

• Third Place, Election Reporting, for “Interfaith service blesses Oklahoma Democrat Kendra Horn for her new role in Congress.”

• Third Place, General News Reporting, for “Cult leader? ‘Sinful Messiah’? 25 years after Waco, interest in David Koresh still strong,” with sidebar “Waco tragedy and David Koresh’s beliefs still haunt former FBI agent.”

• • •

Associated Church Press “Best of the Church Press” Contest

First Place, News Story, for “Tears and fears: Church teen killed by Arkansas police” from North Little Rock, Ark.

• • •

First Place, Feature Article, for “18 wheels and a heart to serve” from Panama City, Fla.

• • •

First Place (with Erik Tryggestad and Chellie Ison), Theme Issue, Section or Series, for “Big Questions” project, including my stories “Can Churches of Christ reach millennials?” and “In urban Oklahoma, a growing congregation takes a big step” from Tulsa, Okla.

• • •

Second Place, News Story, for “After Botham Jean’s shooting death, his Dallas church intent on seeking justice” from Dallas.

Second Place, In-Depth Coverage, for Botham Jean stories, including “Botham is singing with the angels,” “Christians ask God to bring #Justice4Botham” and “Fatal mistake.”

• • •

Second Place (staff award), Best in Class, National or International Newspaper, for The Christian Chronicle.

• • •

Third Place (with Hamil Harris), Theme Issue, Section or Series, for “50 Years: Racial Reconciliation and the Church” series, including “Marshall Keeble’s ‘boy preachers’ still baptizing and saving souls” from Los Angeles, “Two legacies: 50 years later,” “Fifty years after historic meeting, race still divides Churches of Christ” and “Once-segregated Christian university targets racism with launch of new research center” from Abilene, Texas.

• • •

Third Place, Convention or Meeting Coverage, for “‘Love Wins’ at same-sex conference” from Dallas.

• • •

Evangelical Press Association National Contest