Randall Goodgame's "Scripture Hymnal" Nominated for the ECPA Christian Book Award

By Timothy Yap Apr 10, 2025 05:34 PM EDT

The Scripture Hymnal, a landmark volume of more than 100 word-for-word Bible passages set to original music-conceived and created by Randall Goodgame and published last year by Rabbit Room Press-is among the 2025 finalists in the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association's (ECPA) prestigious Christian Book Award® program, it was recently announced.

Marking the first-ever ECPA Christian Book Award® nomination for both Goodgame and Rabbit Room Press, the Scripture Hymnal is a finalist in the Ministry Resources category alongside Fighting Shadows by Jon Tyson and Jefferson Bethke (Thomas Nelson); Forming Faith by Matt Markins, Mike Handler and Sam Luce (Moody Publishers); How Not to Waste a Crisis by Tod Bolsinger (InterVarsity Press); Proclaiming the Word by David J. Jackman (Crossway); and You're Not Crazy by Ray Ortlund and Sam Allberry (Crossway). The winning title will be announced at the ECPA Awards Celebration to be held later this month in Nashville.

With hand-drawn cover art and interior illustrations from Stephen Crotts, as well as a foreword by W. David O. Taylor, Goodgame's Scripture Hymnal showcases contributions from a diversity of award-winning songwriters, including Ellie Holcomb, Ginny Owens, Andrew Osenga, Taylor Leonhardt, Dwan Hill and Ben Shive, among others.

"It's so exciting for the Scripture Hymnal to be honored as a Christian Book Award® finalist because it's such a joy to help God's people remember His Word," says Goodgame, who also created the family favorite Slugs & Bugs series and is an acclaimed singer/songwriter. "The Word is a light to our path, nourishment to our bones, and the sword we wield in battle against the enemy. I pray this recognition ultimately results in more people falling deeper in love with Jesus as they grow in the knowledge of Him through Scripture."

Goodgame adds, "As I reflect on the long journey of bringing this project to life, I'm overflowing with joy and gratitude for all the hands and hearts that supported and encouraged the Scripture Hymnal, and I'm grateful and humbled to be a servant of the King. God is so good."

"The Scripture Hymnal project has been a labor of love for the whole production team at Rabbit Room Press, and I'm thrilled to see their good work recognized," says Pete Peterson, publisher, Rabbit Room Press. "We sing these songs in church all the time, right alongside hymns by Fanny Crosby and Isaac Watts. Randall has created a body of work in the Scripture Hymnal that has the potential to bless congregations for generations to come. It's a real gift to the Church, and I think these first 106 songs are just the beginning of what this project will ultimately offer to the Body of Christ."

The Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) is an international nonprofit trade organization comprised of member companies engaged in the publishing and distribution of Christian content worldwide. For nearly five decades, the ECPA has conducted The Christian Book Award® program, one of the oldest and most prestigious honors in the religious publishing industry. Recognizing the "best of the year" in 12 categories, with five finalists chosen in each category (unless there is a tie), this year's Christian Book Award® winners will be announced at the ECPA Awards Celebration held during the organization's Leadership Summit on April 29 in Nashville.