Friday, April 09 2010
Essay wins boy chance to visit dude ranch
By DEANNA POGORELC
Staff writer
“This is the best day of my life,” 7-year-old Drew Sigler of Columbia City exclaimed Thursday morning, clapping his hands and bouncing in his chair.
He had just learned that an essay he wrote for an online Christian arts festival won him and his family a week-long trip to a dude ranch in Colorado, where he will get to go horseback riding, fishing and experience a week in the mountains.
“I just can’t wait!” he announced to the family members and friends who had gathered at the Siglers' home to witness the phone call from Carey Kinsolving, who runs the Web site www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org and the online Children’s International Arts Festival, telling Drew about the trip.
Drew’s mom, Amy Sigler, said she read an article in a Christian magazine about a previous winner of the festival and it sparked her interest. She logged onto the Web site, which aims to encourage children to express and share their faith by posing questions referencing Bible verses and asking children to submit responses in the form of writing or artwork, and found the most recent essay topics. Then she had her two oldest children respond to them for writing practice.
Drew’s winning response encouraged children to tell others about God, which would in turn make them happy. Amy said she was touched by his answer but had no idea when she submitted it that it would be chosen as a winner.
The best pieces submitted are selected by Kinsolving for publication in the “Kids Color Me Bible Gospel of John” and the syndicated newspaper column “Kids Talk About God,” and a few of the top pieces are awarded trips. Drew is one of seven children who will win a trip this year.
In August, Drew and his parents, Wes and Amy, plus his sister Karris, 6, will fly to the Bar Lazy J Guest Ranch in Parshall, Colo., for a week of activities valued at more than $5,600 and donated by ranch co-owner Jerry Helmicki.
“We spent our honeymoon in Colorado but haven’t had the chance to go back, so we are excited,” Amy said.
Drew attends Cornerstone Christian School, and the Siglers are members of Good News Baptist Church in Churubusco.
To read his submission, log on to www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org/Drew.