Contact: Gregg Wooding, 972-567-7660

ORLANDO, Fla., July 2, 2015 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, McDowell, the best-selling author of "More Than A Carpenter" and "New Evidence That Demands a Verdict" who has penned 142 books in 100 languages since 1960, praised his wife Dottie as the reason for his ministry success, while being honored with the Christian Bookseller Association's (CBA) highest honor—the International Lifetime Achievement Award. It was awarded at opening ceremonies at the annual International Christian Retail Show (ICRS), currently being held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, June 28-July 1.

Dottie, McDowell's beloved wife of 43 years, sat on the front row among a crowd of his industry peers including Duane Zook, Josh McDowell Ministry president. Accepting the plaque from CBA President Curtis Riskey with his name engraved on it, Josh doted on Dottie: "I never knew a woman could love a man so much. God has used my wife, Dottie, to change my life, and I am so grateful!"

In spite of all the honors and awards Josh has received over the years, he consistently tells everyone enthusiastically that his greatest joys and pleasures come from his family. Fittingly, before accepting the award, CBA played a surprise home video produced by and starring McDowell's four children and 10 grandchildren on the jumbo overhead screen. "God has faithfully allowed my ministry, my family and me to share his God-breathed word for more than 50 years," Josh added.

"God-Breathed" is McDowell's most recent book, published by Shiloh Run Press, a division of Barbour Publishing. In conjunction with the launch of "God-Breathed," McDowell will unveil for booksellers and convention attendees his recent acquisition of ancient Egyptian burial fragments that contain some of the earliest recordings of the Bible, dating back between 1600 to 2200 BC, to underscore the reliability of biblical scripture.

CBA President Curtis Riskey bestowed McDowell with the honor, saying, "We see Josh as a pivotal leader for our industry. We are excited to present this special award to Josh this year for his outstanding service and lifelong accomplishment in creating, distributing, and using Christian resources to achieve ministry and further the Gospel around the world." Then, he shared a personal story about when Josh planted a seed of faith in his life while speaking at his college. "I am so thankful Josh came to Oshkosh, WI, and how many more million lives has his ministry touched?"

Barbour Publishing President & CEO Tim Martins said of McDowell's achievement, "We are delighted to partner with Josh McDowell and his ministry during such an important milestone in his prolific ministry. We pray that Josh will continue to touch lives with biblical truth for the Kingdom of God."

Josh McDowell Ministry President Duane Zook said, "Over the past 34 years of serving alongside Josh, I have seen his consistent enthusiasm and passion for letting everyone in the world hear about Jesus. I am thrilled that Josh has received this Lifetime Achievement Award. And I know that this award will motivate him even more to communicate biblical truth, so that there are true followers of Jesus everywhere who live, defend, and share their faith."

Well known as an articulate speaker, Josh has addressed more than 25 million people, giving over 27,000 talks in 125 countries. Among his publishing accomplishments, Josh has distributed more than 27 million copies of his popular More Than A Carpenter, and New Evidence That Demands a Verdict was named one of the twentieth century's top 40 books and one of the thirteen most influential books of the last 50 years on Christian thought by World Magazine. In addition to many other awards, Josh has been nominated 36 times for the Gold Medallion Award and has received that award on four occasions.

As Josh traveled to other countries, he quickly realized that where people were sick, homeless, and hungry, words were not enough. In 1991, Josh founded Operation Carelift, currently known as GAIN, to meet the physical and spiritual needs he discovered in orphanages, hospitals, schools, and prisons in the countries of the former Soviet Union.

As a young man, Josh McDowell considered himself an agnostic. However, when challenged to intellectually examine the claims of Christianity, Josh discovered compelling, overwhelming evidence for the reliability of the Christian faith.

After his conversion, his plans for law school turned instead to plans to tell a doubting world about the truth of Jesus Christ. After studying at Kellogg College, Josh completed his college degree at Wheaton College and then attended Talbot Theological Seminary, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Divinity degree.