Last year was marred by tremendous violence and murder of religious people in their houses of worship. It shows how religion is only more important rather than less important in the world. The Media Project staff, board and members worldwide submitted nominations for the excellent efforts in religion journalism that we admired in 2019. We are listing 20 of our favorites below so our readers can also reflect on some of the year’s biggest stories and best story-telling efforts. In addition to the stories on this list, there were several other notable stories worth mentioning. Here's our list: (in no specific order):

1. Whistleblower Alleges $100 Billion Secret Stockpile By Mormon Church” by Paul Glader, Religion Unplugged  and Mormon Church has misled members on $100 billion tax-exempt investment fund, whistleblower alleges by John Swaine, Douglas MacMillan and Michelle Boorstein, The Washington Post

2. Editorial: Trump Should Be Removed from Office by Mark Galli, Christianity Today

3. Blood and Soil in Narendra Modi's India by Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker and Mass Protests In India Are Resisting Hindu Nationalism More Than Ever by Meagan Clark and Avinash Giri, Religion Unplugged

4. Notre Dame came far closer to collapsing than people knew by Elian Peltier, James Glanz, Mika Grondahl, Weiyi Cai, Adam Nossiter and Liz Alderman, the New York Times and Notre Dame fire destroys iconic spire, CBS News

5. Bolivian President Evo Morales Resigns Amid Protests Driven By Politics And Religion by Reynaldo Aragon, Religion Unplugged

6. Ebola survivor Dr. Kent Brantly returning to Africa as medical missionary by Bobby Ross Jr., The Christian Chronicle

7. As his daughter lay in a pool of blood in an El Paso Walmart, a pastor held fast to his faith by David Montero, Los Angeles Times

8. Slavery and Religion: 400 Years by Adelle M. Banks, Religion News Service

9. Meaning and Mayhem by Robert Saviano, The New York Review of Books

10. THE SACRIFICE: Rachael Denhollander surrendered her deepest secrets to help put Larry Nassar away by Matt Mencarini, Louisville Courier Journal 

11. Across Mister Rogers’ actual neighborhoods, his faith echoes by Ted Anthony, The Associated Press

12. Theodore McCarrick Still Won’t Confess by Ruth Graham, The Slate

13. Trump’s Apostle by Michael J. Mooney, Texas Monthly

14. The life and death of John Chau, the man who tried to convert his killers by J. Oliver Conroy, The Guardian and The American Missionary and the Uncontacted Tribe by Doug Bock Clark, GQ

15. Will Chinese House Churches Survive the Latest Government Crackdown? by Fenggang Yang, Christianity Today

16. Sikh drivers are transforming U.S. trucking. Take a ride along the Punjabi American highway by Jaweed Kaleeem, Los Angeles Times 

17. What we misunderstand about religion's role in the abortion debate by Kelsey Dallas, The Deseret News 

18. "Abuse of Faith" series investigating sexual abuse among Southern Baptist churches by Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News reporters.

19. Pope Francis apologizes that Amazon synod 'Pachamama' was thrown into Tiber River, Catholic News Agency

20. #MAGA Church: The Doomsday Prophet Who Says the Bible Predicted Trump by Sam Kestenbaum, the New York Times 

Books: 

• Dominion by Tom Holland

• The Thirty-Year Genocide: Turkey’s Destruction of Its Christian Minorities, 1894–1924 by Benny Morris

• On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts by James K. A. Smith

• The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis by Alan Jacobs

Honorable Mentions: (in no specific order)

• Author of Christian relationship guide says he has lost his faith by Harriet Sherwood, The Guardian

• Sneakerhead Pastors Are Riling Up the Faithful by Jacob Gallaghar, The Wall Street Journal 

• John Crist Cancels 2019 Tour Dates After Reports of Sexting, Harassment, Manipulation by Taylor Berglund, Charisma magazine

• Rabbis urge teaching of empathy to counteract religious hate by Gary Fields, Associated Press

• Palestinian Evangelicals gain official recognition by Jayson Casper, Christianity Today

• Pope interview addresses violence against women and more, Televisa

• Church of Canada may disappear by 2040 by John Longhurst, Religion News Service

• Finding a faith that is stronger than death — or my family’s rejection, posthumous by Heidi Hall, Religion News Service 

• Faith, Football and the Fervent Religious Culture at Dabo Swinney's Clemson by Tim Rohan, Sports Illustrated 

• For God and country: A religious revival is climbing the charts by Holly Meyer, The Tennessean 

• Pope closes Amazon Synod warning of walls, neglect of tradition, Crux