This past Friday, May 15, The Salvation Army’s territorial magazines and digital/other media won 20 awards from the Canadian Christian Communicators Association (CCCA) during a conference held in Toronto, with 10 awards being first-place wins.
Overall, Salvationist took home seven awards, Faith & Friends received five and digital/other media garnered eight. Award categories ranged from News Story to Photo Essay to Original Song. The awards were given for work published in the 2025 calendar year.
Salvationist.ca took top honours in the General Excellence—Website category, as did the Salvationist podcast in its category. Dr. Isaiah Allen's reflection on Joseph, the father of Jesus, received two awards—a first place for Biblical/Theological Reflection and a third place for its accompanying illustration, by Rivonny Luchas.
Both magazines were honoured in the From the Editor category, with Geoff Moulton, director of communications and editor-in-chief, taking first-place for "I Was in Prison ..." in Salvationist and Ken Ramstead, editor of Faith & Friends, securing third for "Teachable Moment."
Reflecting on the conference as a whole, Moulton notes, "It was inspiring to gather with Christian communicators from across denominations, united by a shared calling to point people to the gospel.
"I’m grateful for the remarkable work being done across The Salvation Army—from our Editorial team to video production, photography, music and arts, and digital communications," he adds. "The awards reflect creative excellence and a commitment to ministry through storytelling."
The CCCA (formerly the Canadian Church Press) has 60 members, including individual writers, musicians and representatives from publications of mainline, Catholic and evangelical churches. The awards are judged by accomplished secular journalists, writers and academics.
Here is a full list of the awards:
Salvationist
1st place—From the Editor
Author: Geoff Moulton
1st place—Photo Essay—Magazine
Author: Colonel Brenda Murray
Photographer: Mark Yan
1st place—Biblical/Theological Reflection
A Righteous Man: Who was Joseph, the father of Jesus?
Author: Isaiah Allen
2nd place—News Story
Hurricane Heroes: Emergency disaster services teams deploy to United States for Milton relief
Author: Abbigail Oliver
3rd place—Column
Grace Notes:
- How Long, O Lord?: A lament for Afghan women
- Untamed: Do we try to domesticate God?
- While Women Weep: Sixteen days of activism against gender-based violence
Author: Captain Laura Van Schaick
3rd place—Original Artwork
A Righteous Man: Who was Joseph, the father of Jesus?
Artist: Rivonny Luchas
3rd place—Front Cover—Magazine (circulation of up to 9,999)
Play It Again, Lam, featuring retiring Canadian Staff Band Bandmaster John Lam
Designer: Lisa Suroso
Faith & Friends
1st place—Headline and Deck
The Prodigal Father: Guillermo Del Toro's Frankenstein is the Garden of Eden gone wrong
Authors: James Burrell and Kristin Ostensen
2nd place—Front Cover—Magazine (circulation above 10,000)
Toy Story (Christmas issue)
Designer: Lisa Suroso
3rd place—Feature Layout and Design—Magazine
Designer: Lisa Suroso
3rd place—Biographical Profile
Author: Ken Ramstead
3rd place—From the Editor
Author: Ken Ramstead
Digital/Other Media
1st place—General Excellence—Website
Editors: Editorial department staff
1st place—Blog Series
Gen Z and Faith:
- The World of Generation Z: What is shaping young adults today?
- Generation Z in the Church: Our young adults are watching us. What do they see?
- The Open Generation: Inviting gen Z into the practice of spiritual disciplines.
Author: Major April McNeilly
1st place—Podcast
Salvationist Podcast:
- John Lam, Bandmaster of the Canadian Staff Band
- Gen Z and Jesus, with Major April and Rebekah McNeilly
- Conception Bay South's Live-Stream Ministry
Host: Kristin Ostensen
Producer: Lisa Suroso
1st place—Original Song
God for All, from Salvation Worship (Canada and Bermuda Territory, music and arts ministries)
Songwriter: Dan Elson
1st place—Original Album, CD, Book or Booklet Cover
His Light in Us, by the Canadian Staff Songsters
Designer: Rivonny Luchas
1st place—Advertisement
Clutter-Free February | Join the Movement, Donate Today
Producer: Rui Feliz
3rd place—Marketing Campaign—Public Relations, Marketing or Fundraising Campaign
Partners in Mission 2025 Video Series
Director and Videographer: Rui Feliz
Honourable Mention—Video Production
Partners in Mission 2025 | Denpasar's Girls Home
Director and Videographer: Rui Feliz
Territorial Editorial Department and Internal Communications Team
Editors: Geoff Moulton; Abbigail Oliver; Kristin Ostensen; Ken Ramstead; Giselle Randall; Pamela Richardson
Designers: Rivonny Luchas; Emily Pedlar; Lisa Suroso
Circulation and Administrative Support: Logan Graves
Video Production: Rui Feliz and team
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