NEW YORK, Aug. 8 /EMWNews/ -- 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

(http://www.scripturesfromtheheart.com), 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 http://www.americanbible.org.