What You Need to Do

 
 

Contest Dates and Prizes

Contest start date: June 15, 2009
Contest end date: July 15, 2009

Public Viewing and Rating: June 15 – July 22, 2009

Winners will be announced at the 2009 ELCA Churchwide Assembly, held in August in Minneapolis, Minn.

Beginning June 15, 2009, you may enter as often as you like in one of two categories:

ELCA Congregation:
Grand Prize: $5,000 ELCA ministry grant
Second prize: HD flip video camera

Individual:
Grand Prize: $2,500 cash
Second prize: HD flip video camera

Winners will be selected by a combination of popularity (determined by ratings) and the opinion of a panel of judges. The judges will evaluate each video on creativity, ability to inspire, interpretation of theme and popularity.

How to Enter and Register

Beginning June 15, 2009, you’ll be able to upload your entry once you’ve completed a registration form.

We accept video files from most digital cameras, camcorders and cell phones. We prefer an .mp4 format, but will also accept .AVI, .MOV, and .MPG file formats. Be sure to keep a higher quality original in your files, because we will request that version if you are a finalist.

Video Guidelines

  • Create a 30-90 second video illustrating the ELCA’s tagline: “God’s work. Our hands.”
  • We’ve provided a tool kit, sample videos, an instructional video and tips to get you started.
  • Be creative! Think outside the box and look for the surprising ways that God is at work in our world. We welcome funny (but not offensive) stories. God did bless us all with a sense of humor.
  • Maximum length of 90 seconds; minimum length of 30 seconds.
  • Only ELCA congregations are eligible for the $5,000 congregation ministry grant. Each congregation must have a contact person who submits the entry form.
  • Entrants in the individual category do not need to be ELCA members but must showcase people of faith and/or their places of worship at service for the sake of the world.
  • The top ten entries in each category will be judged on creativity, ability to inspire, interpretation of theme and popularity. See the official contest rules for full details.
    Entries must include the following:
  • Original content only! No obscenity or other objectionable material.
  • You may enter either category as often as you like; only one prize per individual or congregation.
  • Contestants must 18 years of age or older.