The Winners' Circle
From the page to the podium.
2025 · Kairos Prize Winner
Between Us.
Chris Easterly
"A fiercely independent young musician on the brink of her big break is thrown into turmoil when her estranged mother..." _
Previous Winners
2025
GRAND PRIZE | BETWEEN US by Chris Easterly
FIRST RUNNER UP | CAROLINA STORYTELLER by Marcia Chandler Rhea & Margaret Ford Rogers
SECOND RUNNER UP | INSIDE THE MOUNTAIN by Clint Morey
2024
GRAND PRIZE | ASSASSIN MADE PERFECT by Attila Iacob Peli
FIRST RUNNER UP | FAKE FRIENDS FOREVER by Alexandra Boylan
SECOND RUNNER UP | TRAVELING LIGHT by Jeff Evans
2023
GRAND PRIZE | FILMORE COUNTY VS. SWARTZENTRUBER by Brian Lipford
FIRST RUNNER UP | JUNK MAN by Jaclyn Whitt
SECOND RUNNER UP | A SHOT AT FAITH by Carl Lord
2022
GRAND PRIZE | OUT OF THE FLAMES by Stephanie Hutchinson
FIRST RUNNER UP | TRACKS IN THE SNOW by Sandi Hendrickson Esch
SECOND RUNNER UP | WATCHFUL DRAGONS by Robert Williams
2021
GRAND PRIZE | PRODIGAL by Oscar Salazar, Gerald Hanks
FIRST RUNNER UP | MULENGA by Karen Aaker
(TIE) SECOND RUNNER UP | THE BRIDGE by Shelia Watson
2020
GRAND PRIZE | SEARCHING FOR SHEIDA by Anne Cataruzza, Kim Feeney
FIRST RUNNER UP | THE ROAD TO YOU by Amy Molina, Kelli Cloud Barton
(TIE) SECOND RUNNER UP | THE PIANO GOSPEL by Tony Gonzalez
2019
GRAND PRIZE | GRACE BY NIGHT by Nathan Leon
FIRST RUNNER UP | MULENGA by Karen Aaker
(TIE) SECOND RUNNER UP | THE GREAT by Marshall Foster and Ben Davies and THROUGH FAITH by Billie Harris
2018
GRAND PRIZE | NORTH STAR by William Gebby
FIRST RUNNER UP | SKIRTING THE NAUGHTY LIST by Christopher Paige
SECOND RUNNER UP | BODEY'S BIBLE by Ernestina Juarez
2017
GRAND PRIZE | THE PRAYER BOX by Trisha Mammen
FIRST RUNNER UP | HELPING HANDS by Billie Harris
SECOND RUNNER UP | THE PUBLICATION by Eric "Doc" Benson
2016
GRAND PRIZE | HEAVENS MESSENGER by Christopher Lovick and Wayne Sable
FIRST RUNNER UP | WIND AND A PRAYER by Harry Kleinman
SECOND RUNNER UP | THE HAND OF A WOMAN by Birgit Myaard
2015
GRAND PRIZE | WHEN MOUNTAINS MOVED by Jeff Peabody
FIRST RUNNER UP | A SEED OF FAITH by Glenn Brown
SECOND RUNNER UP | A HEART OF FLESH by Gina Brulato
2014
GRAND PRIZE | THE LION’S DEN by Kathryn F. Taylor
FIRST RUNNER UP | KEEPSAKE by Connie O’Donahue
SECOND RUNNER UP | FULL DISTANCE by Jeff Malphurs
2013
GRAND PRIZE | GIDEON by Randall Hahn
FIRST RUNNER UP | PLAY BALL by Romeo Ciolfi
SECOND RUNNER UP | THE BASKETBALL by James M. De Vince
2012
GRAND PRIZE | HALO THEORY by Amy Williams
FIRST RUNNER UP | A DOLPHIN IN OUR LAKE by David (Nicholas) Hartmann
SECOND RUNNER UP | I, JOHN by Sean Paul Murphy
2011
GRAND PRIZE | BLUE WATER METAL by Justin Eade
FIRST RUNNER UP | A GENTLE WHISPER by Katherine T. Koonce
SECOND RUNNER UP | UNDER THE APPLE TREE by Matthew Hill and Landon Johnson
2010
GRAND PRIZE | THE GOOD DOCTOR by Dwight Carlson & Greg Carlson
FIRST RUNNER UP | THE SHOE BOX by Sherry Cook
SECOND RUNNER UP (TIE) | LION OF THE NORTH by Johnny Davis
SECOND RUNNER UP (TIE) | THE TRANSLATOR by Alan Sproles & Lizanne Southgate
2009
GRAND PRIZE | A MATTER OF TIME by Christina D. Denton
FIRST RUNNER UP | TOUCHED by Rusty Whitener
SECOND RUNNER UP | MOODY FIELD by Darcy Faylor
2008
GRAND PRIZE | IF BY CHANCE by Guy Forest
FIRST RUNNER UP | STAIRWAYS by James Rogers
SECOND RUNNER UP | ANGELS ON EARTH by Caroline Friday
2007
GRAND PRIZE | CHEERS & LAUGHTER by R. Wyatt Scott
FIRST RUNNER UP | BY MIGHT AND POWER by Daniel S. Elliott
SECOND RUNNER UP | SARAH’S GIFT by Stan Himes
HONORABLE MENTION | UNLIMITED by David de Vos
2006
GRAND PRIZE | JOHN, THE REVELATOR by David M. Anthony
FIRST RUNNER UP | COINCIDENTAL MIRACLES by Heather Hughes
SECOND RUNNER UP | MEN OF IRON by Graham Harrison Moes
