The second annual Facts & Trends Online VBS photo contest concluded Sept. 8, with more than 2,800 votes cast during the final week of voting.
The winning photo was selected from a pool of more than 450 photos submitted by more than 150 churches, including churches in the Philippines, Indonesia and Mexico.
This year’s contest was decided by visitors to LifeWay.com/factsandtrends. Each week of August, online visitors were invited to vote for their favorite image from a pool of 10 semifinalist photos. Then during the first week of September, the winning photos were posted online for a final vote.
In the end, Westside Baptist Church, Simpsonville, emerged the contest winner with its bird’s-eye-view photo of individuals spelling “VBS” in a parking lot. Westside Baptist will receive a free 2009 VBS sampler kit when the resource becomes available later this fall.
“The photo contest is just such a fun way for churches to share their VBS experience,” said Polly House, editor of Facts & Trends magazine. “VBS is, first and foremost, an opportunity to share Christ, but these photos show that people can have a great time while serving a larger kingdom purpose.” – BP