'Amish Grace' named a 2008 Christianity Today Book Award of Merit

The topics of forgiveness and the Amish continue to widely resonate, one and a half years after the killings of five Amish schoolgirls in Nickel Mines, Pa. Christianity Today announced its 2008 Book Awards today and "Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy" (Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint, Sept. 2007) received an award of merit in the "Christianity and culture" category. Goshen College Professor of History Steven M. Nolt, a leading expert on the Amish, is one of the co-authors of the book, along with Senior Fellow at the Young Center of Elizabethtown College Donald B. Kraybill and Associate Professor of American Religious History at Messiah College David L. Weaver-Zercher. The book explores the history, theology and culture of the Amish, connecting forgiveness to their entire way of life. The book is based on conversations with more than two dozen Amish people in the Nickel Mines area, including family members of the slain children. For two decades, the annual Christianity Today Book Awards have recognized outstanding volumes that shed light on people, events and ideas that shape evangelical life, thought and mission. This year, 49 publishers nominated 359 titles published in 2007. Rather than naming one overall winner, Christianity Today editors selected the top books in each category, and then panels of judges -- one panel per category -- voted. In the end, they chose 10 winners and also recognized 11 awards of merit. For a complete list of award winning books and authors, visit www.christianitytoday.com.

Following the Oct. 2, 2006, shooting, the three authors explored
reports about Amish forgiveness that followed in the wake of the
shooting. They conducted many interviews with Amish people to probe
their beliefs about and their practice of forgiveness. In addition
they studied Amish writings on forgiveness as well as other
historical examples in which Amish people expressed forgiveness to
those who had wronged them, and reviewed hundreds of news stories and
editorials on Amish forgiveness at Nickel Mines. Finally, the authors
compared Amish practices of forgiveness with the broader research on
forgiveness in American society. The research was conducted from Nov.
1, 2006 through April 1, 2007.

The book has received much high acclaim, including being featured on Bill Moyers Journal and being listed on Publishers Weekly's Best of 2007 list (one of 15 religion titles). For more information, visit www.amishgrace.com.

Because the authors did not want to profit off of this tragedy, all
author royalties from "Amish Grace" are being donated to Mennonite
Central Committee (MCC) to benefit children suffering because of
poverty, war and natural disaster. MCC is a relief, development and
peace agency of the North American Mennonite and Brethren in Christ
churches.