"God's Grace in Our Lives"

About the Competition

The 2003 Olive Branch Church Essay Competition — "God's Grace in Our Lives" — was the first formal writing competition organised by the church. Launched in our second full year of ministry, it was created to give young people in Gandaki Province a platform to reflect on their faith through the written word.

Writers were invited to share personal stories, theological reflections, or community observations — all centred on the theme of grace: how God's undeserved love has appeared in their lives, their families, and their neighbourhoods.

The competition drew 42 entries from students across Pokhara and surrounding areas. Submissions were reviewed by a panel of three church elders and two educators.

Competition Theme

How God's grace has shaped personal life and transformed communities.

Writers were encouraged to approach the theme through personal narrative, theological reflection, argumentative essay, or a combination of these forms.

Who Can Enter

• Students aged 14 to 25 residing in Gandaki Province
• Open to members of Olive Branch Church and the wider community
• No prior competition experience required
• Submissions must be original, unpublished work
• One entry per participant

Word limit: 1,000 – 2,500 words  ·  Language: English or Nepali

Criteria

All submissions are reviewed by a panel of church elders, educators, and community representatives. Entries are scored across four weighted criteria:

Deadlines