"WRITING WINNERS" 
In the 2007 "Youth P.E.P.-Plus Contest"...

9 - 11 Age Group

FIRST PLACE... 

MARY

She was just Mary young, faithful and true,
God had a plan which Mary never knew.

He sent an angel to tell Mary of her mission,
The angel said God chose her, it was His decision.

A baby would be born to Joseph and Mary,
His name would be Jesus, the angel did not tarry.

"You will care for the Savior," said the messenger from above,
"He will be your son on earth to cherish, hold and love."

Though God would want Him back when Jesus was only thirty-three,
He would no longer be her son, Mary watched him die on a tree.

Her son was now her Savior, she accepted His selfless act,
For she was just Mary, Jesus' mother and that's a fact.

Katrina Kalp
Age 11


SECOND PLACE...

MY FAVORITE BIBLE CHARACTER

When you were a child I'm sure your parents read many bedtimes stories to you. My parents read stories to me from the Bible. There are people that do not believe in what the Bible says, but there are also many people that do. Those people are like me!

Jesus is a very important Bible character and that is one reason why he is my favorite.

Jesus is the person who died on the cross to save us. He decided to sacrifice himself so that we might live.

There are many favorite children's stories in the Bible. Jesus is a character in many many of them. In "Luke 3:12-22" and "Matthew 3:13-17" the Bible tells you a story about when John baptizes Jesus. If you look up "Luke 5:1-11" you'll hear about four men named Peter, Andrew, James and John who stayed up all night trying to catch fish in a boat on the Sea of Galilee. By morning they had not caught a single fish but Jesus told them to let down their nets and the nets came up overflowing with fish!

If you go to church I'm sure you've heard of miracles that Jesus did. In one story he walked on water. And at the end of his life he rose from the dead after he was crucified. Jesus did many miracles!

As you can see, Jesus was a person that died on the cross for us, he is in many Bible stories and he made several miracles happen. Jesus is my favorite Bible character.

Amanda Lehman
Age 10


12 - 14 Age Group

FIRST PLACE...

NOAH

Noah always knew what to do,

He followed God through and through.

He could put up with the disbelieving.

And just follow the orders he was receiving.

Even though no one believed him,

Noah built a boat.

As people teased him,

He got two of his goats.

No matter what happened,

He followed God's words.

While others were doubting,

Noah collected his birds.

Noah always trusted God,

Even if others thought he was rather odd.

Noah did everything God had said,

Noah had the right priorities in his head.

        Lexie Lauson
        Age 14


SECOND PLACE...

MY FAVORITE BIBLE CHARACTER

Many parents read a lot of stories to their children as they are growing up. A few of the stories were probably events that were written about in the Bible. Like myself I'm sure that all kids who have heard the stories of ancient history have a favorite Bible character from one of the tales they have heard.

My favorite character from the stories I was told is Moses, for many different reasons. He has always been brave, noble, trustworthy, and forgiving to God's demands and his people.

Some reasons why Moses is my favorite is because God chose him out of millions of humans to help his people to get out of Egypt. Also Moses must have been very loyal because he was willing to give up everything to help God with anything he asked him to do. He gave up his trust and friendship with his stepbrother who did everything to make him feel like family. Moses even went against his brother's Empire and did something that God asked him to do that killed his brother's son to help the people to get out of the city.

Moses' story is filled with adventure, caring, sacrifices, and romance. This wonderful hero that did everything he could to get God's people out of Egypt, lived out a tragic event. It made me think that if one man was able to do all of this for God when he was asked maybe I could do what my parents ask me to do every once in a while. Those are the reasons why Moses is my favorite bible character.

Ashlee Lehman
Age 12


15 to 19 Age Group

FIRST PLACE...

DAVID

THE HEROES OF THE BIBLE

GREAT MEN YOU CAN SEE

YET IN MY HEART

THERE'S ONE SPECIAL TO ME

I SEE A YOUNG BOY TENDING HIS FLOCKS BY NIGHT

DEFENDING THE SHEEP, ALWAYS READY TO FIGHT

HIS BROTHERS RODE OFF

TO FACE A GREAT FEAR

THIS BOY KNEW NOT THAT HIS DESTINY WAS NEAR

THE GIANT CLAMORED AND THE SOLDIERS GAVE FLIGHT

NOT ONE WOULD FACE THIS EVIL

YET HE STOOD READY TO FIGHT

FIVE ROCKS HE DID GATHER

ONE FROM A SLING HE FLUNG

THE HERO OF THE DAY

HIS DEED WOULD BE SUNG

HE LED THE PEOPLE

THE APPLE OF GOD'S EYE

HIS SIN CAUSED HIM SORROW

THE LUST AND THE LIE

A GREAT MAN OF GOD

THOUGH SIN BROUGHT HIM LOW

IN THE END SAVED BY GRACE

JESUS CHRIST MADE IT SO.

Nicholas Ritenour
Age 15