Contact: Autumn Black, Director, Public Relations, American Bible Society, 212-408-1215
ablack@americanbible.org

NEW YORK, Aug. 8 /Christian Newswire/ -- The American Bible Society and the Gospel Music Association (GMA) announced the winners of the first American Bible Society Scripture Song Awards during the GMA 34th Annual Music in the Rockies held this week in Estes Park, Colorado.

Jason Dyba and Clint Lamberth, co-writers of the winning song, King of Mercy took home the award for the Professional Non-Artist Class while Shelly Johnson and her song Draw Near won the Semi-Pro Class Award and Erik Bledsoe and his song Psalm 63 won the Amateur Class.

The Scripture Song Awards were established by the American Bible Society and the Gospel Music Association to celebrate the Gospel and to promote Bible engagement. These awards are part of a broader collaboration between the American Bible Society and GMA that encompasses the Bible Society's Scriptures from the Heart ministry, allowing participants to journey with today's top Christian musicians to explore the hopes and promises of the Bible.

The winners have been selected from nearly two hundred contestants who participated in a Scripture-based song writing competition to honor the excellence of those Gospel writers who write music connected to Scripture. The winner from each of the three categories will receive a Steuben Glass award, a Bible and a chance to have their winning song produced by a major Christian music-recording label.

"I want to congratulate all of the Scripture Song Award contestants," said Joseph Crockett, presenter of the Scripture Song Award and director of Strategic Ministry Initiatives at the American Bible Society. "This partnership with GMA provides the American Bible Society the opportunity to encourage writers and artists to develop music which inspires and compels Gospel music lovers to be exposed to the Bible's life-changing message through song."

The Scripture Song Award competition was announced by GMA in Fall 2007. The semi-final rounds of the competition took place during the GMA in the Rockies before a panel of Gospel industry and Bible expert judges with the finalists chosen Thursday, August 7, 2008. The Award presentations took place Thursday night during the GMA's Soundstage Concert with performances by the winners.
 
ABOUT THE AMERICAN BIBLE SOCIETY
Founded in 1816 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of the American Bible Society is to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so that all people may experience its life-changing message. The American Bible Society Web site is www.americanbible.org.