Heritage Edition Soldiers Pocket Bible Graphic Arts Competition Announced

Dec. 17, 2009 - PRLog -- Media Contact: John Hoben, Volunteer Executive Director
Soldiers Bible Ministry (SBM)
john.hoben@soldiersbibleministry.org
+1 585 395 9512

Heritage Edition Soldiers Pocket Bible Graphic Arts Competition Announced

ROCHESTER, NY:  The saying goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover."  However, that’s not necessarily true for the Soldiers Pocket Bible Heritage Edition.  

Soldiers Bible Ministry is sponsoring a Graphic Arts Competition to design the cover of the new publication which will highlight the role of faith in the United States.  We are looking for the right graphic to convey the theme and draw the interest of the reader to look beyond the cover into the richness of this treasure.

“The Soldiers Pocket Bible predates tanks, airplanes, missiles, rockets, automobiles and nearly the flintlock rifle not introduced until 1630” says John Reynolds, SBM Heritage Bible Project Director. “It first appeared in England during the English Civil War.  The practice of distributing Bibles to soldiers in the field began with Oliver Cromwell who distributed them to his troops.  Since an entire Bible was inconvenient and burdensome for a soldier to carry, a 16 page, 4 ½” x 7” “Souldiers Pocket Bible” was printed and distributed to Cromwell’s Army in 1643,” Reynolds explains.

A great deal of research has been done to authenticate the fact that the Bible has played an important role in the history of the US military.  It is this history that is the theme of the Graphic Art Competition.

The Heritage Edition of the Soldiers Pocket Bible will be published in two sizes:

• 4-1/8” wide and 6” tall  (1 to 1-1/4” spine)
• 3” wide and 4-1/2” tall  (1/2” spine)

The first printing is scheduled for second quarter 2010 and will be the smallest size containing only the New Testament and Psalms.  This edition will have a light camouflage (digi-camo) mask over the graphic which will also serve as a fill-in for any uncovered area.

The schedule for publishing the 4-1/8” x 6” edition has not yet been determined although it is assumed it will be within the 2010 calendar year, tentatively targeting the second quarter.  Final details will be announced as soon as they become available.

The winning graphic will most accurately represent the history of the US military from the Revolutionary War to present.

A cash prize of 75% of the total of entry fees will be awarded to the winning submission along with a list of other awards. A panel of judges will review each submission anonymously and rate the graphics based on Adherence to American Military Heritage Theme, Skillful Development of Theme, Technical Quality, Content, Overall Impression, and Publishability.

According to John Hoben, Executive Director of Soldiers Bible Ministry, this new military Bible will be an immediate best seller based on demand.  The winner of the graphic art competition will receive recognition which will benefit him or her far beyond any monetary prize.

Competition rules and guidelines can be found on the Soldiers Bible Ministry website   (http://soldiersbibleministry.org) under Competition menu item.  
 
Submission deadline is February 28, 2010.

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Soldiers Bible Ministry (SBM) to assists with the spiritual care and well-being of active and veteran US and allied troops by working directly with chaplains to provide Bibles and Bible Study materials to any who request them, totally free of charge. SBM has recently announced the new Heritage Edition Soldiers Pocket Bible to be published in second quarter 2010. A Graphic Arts/Design competition is underway to create the cover of this immediate best seller. Cash prize plus a trip are only a small part of the award for the winning graphic. Deadline for submission is February 28, 2010.