"Living Faith"

About the Competition

The 2006 essay competition, themed "Living Faith," challenged participants to go beyond describing what they believe and instead explore how faith actively changes the way they live — in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.

Inspired by the Book of James ("faith without works is dead"), this competition sought essays that demonstrated the intersection of belief and action. It was our fifth year of ministry, and the competition had grown: 61 entries were received, nearly half again as many as the first year.

Entries were reviewed by a five-person panel including two guest reviewers from the Pokhara Literature Society.

Competition Theme

How active, living faith transforms the rhythms of everyday life.

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 all — members and non-members of the congregation
• Original, unpublished submissions only
• One entry per participant
• Participants may write in English or Nepali

Word limit: 800 – 2,000 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