LAS VEGAS, NEVADA (ANS) -- Four nominees have been named for a new award that exemplifies those in culture who promote peaceful dialog and understanding between Christians and culture.

Now that the award season is in full swing, Eric Bumpus and Tim Moranville, cofounders of www.CeaseFireStrategies , announce the nominees for the 2008 'Cultural Diplomat Award.'

"While not exclusive to Christians, the nominees for the first annual award have all been chosen as Christians that are stepping up to begin the healing process between two divided cultures -- the Christian 'sub-culture' and the overall culture of America," said Eric Bumpus.

"With films like Religious and divisive talk shows, America cannot continue to 'insure domestic tranquility' nor 'provide for the common defense,' if it's fighting a hostile 'civil war' of ideas," he said.

"We will nominate four people each year who Tim Moranville and I believe are an example of promoting 'diplomacy' in culture between Christians and society, Bumpus told ASSIST News.

"Our judging panel will review each nominee's work, then decide who they believe should receive the award for that year. A 'cultural diplomat' is one who creates work that promotes positive and peaceful interaction between two 'cultures' that have either fought or misunderstood each other for too long. In our analogy, these two cultures are American culture and the Christian 'sub-culture'," Bumpus said.

He explained the name of the award extends from the new name he and Moranville gave their online 'radio' show at www.ceasefirestrategies.net  .

He added: "This year's nominees all happen to have been guests on the show before, but this will not be a requirement for nomination."

"I think the online show has the potential to be even more 'ahead of its time'. A tech friend of mine is helping tweak a flash player that will allow us to use ads and devotionals between show segments, much in the same vain as watching TV online," Bumpus said.

Once enough shows are 'in the can', he and Moranville will begin approaching radio stations for possible syndication.

In hopes of turning the tides, CeaseFireStrategies announced the following 2008 Curural Diplomacy award nominees:

1. Dan Merchant, documentary filmmaker of Lord, Save Us From Your Followers, winner of the Best Spiritual Documentary from the Belief Net awards; and featured by USA Today and The Today Show. Lord, Save Us asks “Why is the Gospel of Love Dividing America?” and setting
out across America, Dan Merchant seeks to figure out the answer to that question. (www.lordsaveusthemovie.com )

2. Craig Detweiler (screenwriter of Extreme Days; and author of A Matrix of Meanings and Into the Dark) and John Marks (author of Fangland and Reasons to Believe; and former 60 minutes producer) for their film Purple State of Mind which received the honor of Best Spiritual Film at the 2008 Brekenridge Film Festival. This film aims to do exactly as its tag line suggests: “finding middle ground in a divided culture”. While Lord, Save Us focuses on a larger group, Craig and John focus on their friendship with each other. Having roomed together in college, it was Craig's first year as a Christian and John's last. (www.purplestateofmind.com )

3. Pastor Joost Nixon, Michael Collender, and the crew of St. Anne's Public House, a quarterly audio magazine sent to subscribers discussing issues, such as: A PG look at XXX, An Evangelical Tribute to Whiskey; even current issues such as the global financial crisis. Their presentations also feature music, poetry readings and other material for intellectual reflection.(www.stannespub.com )

4. Barbara Nicolosi is a writer, educator and speaker on the topic of scriptwriting. She also trains young Christians on how to build a career in Hollywood by shaping their understanding of how Christians can be professional in their work without compromising their morals or integrity.(www.barbaranicolosi.com )

For more information about CeaseFireStrategies, visit: www.ceasefirestrategies.com  Or, to learn more about the 'Cultural Diplomat' nominees and discuss their work, visit: www.ceasefirestrategies.net.  

Contact Information: Eric Bumpus, ceasefire_strategies@yahoo.com  

** Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent of ANS, is an international British freelance journalist who was formerly a reporter with a London (United Kingdom) newspaper and has been a frequent contributor to UCB Europe, a British Christian radio station. Michael has traveled to Albania and the former Yugoslavia, Holland, Germany and the former Czechoslovakia, Israel,and Canada. He has reported for ANS from Jordan, China, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Michael's volunteer involvement with ASSIST News Service is a sponsored ministry department -- Michael Ireland Media Missionary (MIMM) -- of A.C.T. International at: Artists in Christian Testimony (A.C.T.) International.