After careful review and significant deliberation, Word Alive Press thrilled to announce the winning manuscripts for our 2023 Braun Book Awards!

2023BBA_Winners
2023 Non-Fiction Winner
David Kitz and Dr. Ed Hird, The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival

“We are thrilled to receive this award. The award serves as a validation of the truths found in The Elisha Code and the Coming Revival. Together, let’s discover and walk in those truths for the glory of Jesus.” — David Kitz and Dr. Ed Hird

By David Kitz

I am writing this report just before Pentecost Sunday, so when reflecting on the May 5^th Christian writers’ conference in Surrey, BC, this scripture readily comes to mind: “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1, NKJV).

Yes, we gathered in one accord in one place. And yes, in various ways, I believe all the conference participants sensed the Holy Spirit, and the spirit of unity, as we came together for an afternoon and evening of teaching, inspiration, music, drama, art, and sweet fellowship at Peace Portal Alliance Church.

The conference began with a brief land acknowledgement statement that ended with this sentence: “With our First Nations brothers and sisters, we celebrate the manifold gifts of our Creator, land, sea, air, and life in all its rich and varied forms.”

Carolyn Arends has released 14 albums and is the author of 3 critically-acclaimed books.

The evening ended with a keynote address by award-winning songwriter and recording artist Carolyn Arends. Arends sprinkled her presentation with songs that illustrated her love for her Creator and her engagement with the creative writing process. From start to finish, the conference truly was a celebration of the Creator and the creative process across the broad spectrum of the arts.

In the afternoon, a total of eight workshops were on offer in three distinct time sessions. The workshops built on the theme of faith igniting creativity. Each workshops featured some aspect of creativity in the writing, marketing, and platform building process. One of the most intriguing workshops included an “ask me anything” session where attendees were encouraged to build community as they posed writing related questions to experienced authors.

Perhaps the most appreciated feature of the conference was the visual art display in the conference area foyer organized by artist and writer Violet Nesdoly. Writers were encouraged to jot down their musings on the art on offer, then some of these thoughts were read out following the evening banquet. Also, there was a draw for a large painting that was graciously donated for the conference.

The Surrey Christian Writer’s Conference came together as a collaborative effort between The Word Guild and Inscribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship. The event beautifully illustrated this slightly modified rendering of Psalm 133:1. “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live [and work] together in unity!”

That’s where our Creator LORD bestows His blessing.

Dr E Stanley Jones, the Billy Graham of India and friend of Mahatma Gandhi, sold millions of his 28 books during his lifetime , being the most widely read spiritual writer in the world. My wife Janice P Hird and I are currently writing a book “E. Stanley Jones: Fire in the Fireplace”.

Dr. E. Stanley Jones, The Way, 1946, p.361

“A Chinese scholar recognizes three reasons why Christ attracts the Chinese mind: (1) Because He is the great Synthesizer —brings life into unity (2) Because of his scholarhood, instead of scholarship — the latter is analysis, the other is synthesis (3) Because of the Kingdom of God. Here is a great scholar seeing the great things in the Christian faith. But often the Church announces the big but deals with the little…we must talk and provide the big, the ultimate; and the only ultimate is the Kingdom.”

View the Greetings by David Kitz at The Word Guild conference, cosponsored with Inscribe Christian Fellowship.