This is the Writing Awards page for the Minnesota Christian Writers
Guild and contains inspiring affirmation that MCWG Members are reaching
the world through their God-given writing talents.
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Minnesota Christian Writers Guild Spring 2008 contest winners:
Congratulations to the Winners Guidelines: Write a short story (1,500-2,000 words) that brings a Bible character into modern-day society. The story must include an inspirational take-away. All entrants must be members of MCWG. Winners will receive: 1st prize - $100, 2nd prize - $75, 3rd prize - $50. 1st Place: Grandma’s Garden Grandma’s Garden is based on a single verse, 2 Timothy 1:5b: “That faith first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I know you now have that same faith.” In this story, Timothy is a father of two young daughters, and is telling them a bedtime story about a little boy who visits his grandma in her garden every day. The little boy hears his grandmother “talking to her flowers,” and is determined to discover why she does so. At the end of the story, Grandma tells the little boy her flowers remind her of the people she loves and she is talking to God, praying that he will bless each of them and that they will bloom for him. Throughout the story, Tim drops hints about the identity of the little boy, and his daughters figure out that he is the little boy in the story. It is a tender story about faith being passed down through the generations, as the girls’ Great Grandma Lois prayed for them even before they were born, that they would be planted in God’s garden and grow up to love him. 2nd Place: Adventures of Zeke and Jimmy God required Ezekiel to lay on his side for 390 days in order to bring the people of Israel to repentance. Ezekiel then, as now, would be chosen by God to warn the people of the dangers of their idol worship. He asks a lot of hard questions about his suffering. But what better way to get Zeke's attention? The story shows how God, who doesn't waste any of our experiences, can use even our pain to lead us to do his will and bring him glory. "His power is made perfect in weakness." 3rd Place: True Patience: The Story of Anna “Patience is a virtue,” says her mother. But four-year-old Anna has little interest in such grown-up terms. Determined to make Christmas come faster, Anna often sneaks Baby Jesus into the Nativity scene despite her family’s tradition to hide the main character away until Christmas Day. Many years pass and the empty manger still torments Anna as an adult, but for an altogether different reason. It’s a painful reminder of her miscarriage and the absence of her own baby at Christmas. Inspired by the Biblical Anna mentioned in Luke, “True Patience” follows a modern-day Anna as she grieves the loss of her child and commits her life to waiting on Christ. Honorable Mention: Confessions of a Hit Man Honorable Mention: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Candidate
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Minnesota Christian Writers Guild Spring 2007 contest winners: |
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1st Place: Scott K. Stroud, "The Salad Conspiracy." 2nd Place: Patty Ostrem, "Lizzie is Boss." 3rd Place: Chawna Schroeder, "Fighting Like a Girl." HONORABLE MENTIONS: Kathleen F. Gross, "Treasure in the Woods." Wendy Koning, "The Pufflewinks' Spring Adventure." Dodie Davis, "Stop the Lions!"
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Minnesota Christian Writers Guild Spring 2006 contest winners: For the Spring 2006 contest, contestants were asked to write a 800-1,000 word biographical sketch (or personal experience story) connected to a contemporary issue. Here are our winners. Congratulations, everyone, on a job well done! |
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First Place: Suzanne Campbell "Silent Sufferers" was an article about Habitat for Humanity based on an interview with Jonathan Reckford, who became CEO in August 2005. It outlined his personal story and his hopes for the organization to have an ever greater impact on the world's 1 billion people who are inadequately sheltered.
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Second Place – Mary Heitzman Mary’s contest-winning piece, “Unchained” was written about her weekend as a volunteer at a women’s correctional facility and her changed point of view afterward. “I entered the weekend with a few preconceived attitudes about the prisoners,” Mary said, “but found in many ways, their concerns and fears are the same as women everywhere.” She is still seeking publication for this article. Way to go, Mary!
Third Place – Donald Roome Donald’s article arose from watching the trials of his good friend. “I wanted people to know about his life and the wonderful testimony he is to the grace of God.” “From Sorrow to Song” is about his friend, who lost two teenage sons—one of them to suicide, and how through his heartbreaking losses, was able to bring praises to God. Donald has sent out the article and awaits news of its publication.
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Winners of the 2005 Minnesota Christian Writers Guild Writing Contest
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First place: Nancy A. Hudson "The Church at Work." My article was The Church at Work and was a story of how churches in the Twin Cities are anointing their members to be ministers at work. I used interviews from someone who was saved as the result of at work ministries who is now heading up the His Church at Work ministry at Hosanna! The article focused on what people are doing everyday to make their workplace their ministry.
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Second Place: Lanae Doiron "Special Needs; Unique Ministries " It tells the story of a growing outreach in Twin Cities churches, that being disability ministry. As a writer of this article, without a disability ministry in our own church, we would not be able to attend as a family due to the special needs of our autistic son. This article shares stories of various volunteers and families in different churches across the Twin Cities who are connected to disability ministries. It also describes different opportunities available in the church to families and adults affected by disability. These opportunities range from one-on-one support in Sunday school, respite nights for families, and social events for young adults. It is an article for all to read as it raises awareness of the needs and the blessing of getting involved with those in the body of Christ affected by disability.
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Third Place: Kathy Johnson "Center for Hmong Studies Established at Concordia University." Nearly half of the Hmong immigrants to the United States live in Minnesota. Concordia University in St. Paul is situated near the core of the Hmong community in the Twin Cities. The Hmong society places a high value on education, and soon the university counted many Hmong students as part of their student body. Located close to one another, the two communities sought ways to enhance their relationship. |
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The 2005 judge was Bryan Malley, editor of the Minnesota Christian Chronicle.
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Winners of the 2004 Minnesota Christian Writers Guild Writing Contest |
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 1st Place Winner Sharon Miller "Sisters – Ugh!" |
 2nd Place Winner Chawna Schroeder "The Heart of Faith" |
 3rd Place Winner Julie Saffrin "The Invitation" |
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protect rights, the above stories are available to members only.
Contact the
Information Coordinator if
you, as a member, would like to read them.
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by Minnesota Christian Writers
Guild |
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