Submission Rules

  • All submissions should include a completed entry form, a digital photograph, and a written reflection
  • All submissions should be emailed to gaugerlf@mlc-wels.edu or fill out our online form
  • The photograph should
    • Be taken in the foreign mission field in which you serve(d)
    • Be clearly related to the submitted written reflection
    • Be taken by you, not a third party
    • Be either a color or black and white digital
    • Be submitted as a large JPG at high resolution
    • NOT be panoramic
    • NOT be “photo-shopped” or enhanced (The following small enhancements ARE allowed: red-eye removal, cropping, rotating, and one-step auto enhancement.)
  • The written reflection should
    • Tell a story about your WELS/CELC ministry (Examples: a blessing from God received, a lesson learned, a moving experience, an inspiring moment, etc.)
    • Have a title
    • Be clearly related to the submitted photograph
    • Be written by you, not a third party
    • Be not more than 300 words (no exceptions)
  • Entrants may submit as many entries as they wish, each with a separate entry form
  • Deadline for all submissions: April 30, 2024

Judging Criteria

  • The photograph will be judged on the basis of
    • Effectiveness in conveying the intended message regarding overseas WELS/CELC ministry
    • Quality of image (composition, clarity, color)
    • Style, creativity, originality
  • The reflection/narrative will be judged on the basis of
    • Effectiveness in conveying the intended message regarding overseas WELS/CELC ministry
    • Quality of writing (content and mechanics)
    • Style, creativity, originality
  • The evaluation committee will consist of MLC professors / staff who are involved with the Daylight International and Teach Abroad programs and are qualified judges of writing and photography
  • Tip: Although overseas landmarks and landscapes may be very beautiful, submissions should reflect the human element of ministry—real people, real stories, real lives.

Prize

  • The $1,000 prize will be divided equally between the winner ($500) and a WELS/CELC international mission of the winner’s choice ($500).
  • The winning submission may be published in MLC and WELS publications, posted online, and displayed on campus.