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ACSI Europe Poetry Contest Winners 2026

Poetry Contest Winners 2026

What a great blessing it was to offer our ACSI Europe students an opportunity to participate in our first ever ACSI Europe Poetry Contest. Students were invited to respond to the theme of "Oh how I love Your law" — drawn from Psalm 119:97 — expressing their faith in their own words, in their own language.

"One of my favorite things from this contest was that students were able to write and submit poetry in their own language. We thought this would allow them to write more creatively and from the heart, without worrying so much about grammar and word choice. We were encouraged that several students chose to step out of their comfort zone and write in English even if it was not their native language." — Dan Bishop, Director of Student Services, ACSI Europe

Participating schools

  • Black Forest Academy

— Kandern, Germany
  • Christian International School of Prague

 — Czechia
  • Georg-Müller Schule

— Bielefeld, Germany
  • Life International School

— Madrid, Spain
  • Liceul Teologic Baptist

— Cluj, Romania
  • Liceul Teologic Penticostal

— Oradea, Romania

 

Top winners

Language Group Champions

Top Winner
"Wach auf"
Ida
Grade 7 Georg-Müller-Schule Bielefeld German Language — Middle Grade
 
Top Winner
"Meditating on the Mirror's Reflection"
Lavinia
Grade 11 Betel Pentecostal High School Oradea English Language — High School
 
Top Winner
"Nașterea din nou"
Oana
Grade 11 Liceul Teologic Penticostal "Betel" Oradea Romanian Language — High School

Judges award recipients

Judge's Award
Vitoria
Grade 6 Life International School, Spain
English Language
 Judge's Award
Caleb
Grade 11 Liceul Teologic Penticostal "Betel" Oradea, România
English Language
 
Judge's Award
Alesia Rebeca
Grade 11 Liceul Teologic Penticostal "Betel" Oradea, România 
Romanian Language
 Judge's Award
Maria Giulia
Grade 11 Liceul Teologic Penticostal "Betel" Oradea, România 
Romanian Language
 

 

Winning Poems

A selection of the winning entries. More poems will be shared on our social media pages throughout the summer.

  Wach auf

German

   Ida · Grade 7 · Georg-Müller-Schule Bielefeld

Gott ging ans Kreuz allein aus Gnade,
weil wir bös gewesen waren,
nahm die Schuld allein auf sich,
doch erkennt man es nicht.
Und noch immer sind wir frei,
von der ganzen Beterei,
und können tun, was wir wollen.
Doch ist es richtig, obwohl wir ihn doch lieben sollen?
Das sieht man alles viel zu eng,
die Vorschriften zu streng,
ich hab kein bock auf diesen Stress,
besser wenn man es lässt.
Aber siehst du denn nicht?
Du bist gefangen in einem Traum,
und du merkst es kaum,
aber Jesus versucht dich zu wecken,
doch du bist gefangen in der Sünde.
Wenn du jetzt aufwachen würdest und checken,
doch du sorgst um deine Würde, also schläfst du weiter.
Er wartet schon auf dein Ja,
und das Jahr für Jahr.
Bald schon ist's zu spät,
und es gibt kein andren weg,
als den mit Jesus zu gehen,
um stolz im Himmel zu stehen, und zu sagen:
Ich habe Ewigkeit erlangt.

  Meditating on the Mirror's Reflection

   Lavinia · Grade 11 · Betel Pentecostal High School OradeaEnglish

I'd often glanced into its reflection,
Veiling my face with a smile,
Admiring the distant image
Distorted by dark denial.
Yet, as I peered into its reflection,
Drawn in by Your light,
I noticed an image,
Unrestorable by might.
And now, I despised its reflection,
Compelled to redeem
The faltering, failing image,
Ridden of its esteem.
I knew You also saw… my reflection;
The thwarted figure I'd tried to disguise,
My incurable image
Cowering, naked before Your eyes.
And, oh, I resented that reflection
Of You behind me,
The Radiant and Brilliant Image,
Untainted by deformity.
Your eyes met mine in this reflection,
The unforeseen compassion,
Depicted clearly in this image,
For one left to abjection.
You reached out and cleansed my reflection,
You renewed, forgave, purified
And restored me to Your perfect Image;
The image of God glorified.
Oh, mirror, I love your reflection,
Which revealed the depth of despair,
But, raised by a much Greater Image,
I now live and further declare!
Poet's note This poem presents the Law of God through the extended metaphor of a mirror. The mirror's reflection portrays a soul who, although ignorant at the beginning, progresses to loving the mirror by the end. A third character — another Image — cleanses and purifies the speaker's reflection, representing Christ, who sanctifies those who recognize their fallen nature by looking into the mirror of the Law. Just as the Law opens our eyes to the reality of our brokenness, it also offers the liberty of redemption through Christ alone.

  Nașterea din nou

   Oana · Grade 11 · Liceul Teologic Penticostal "Betel" OradeaRomanian

Când eram mică voiam să cresc,
Să văd dincolo de-acea balustradă nouă,
Unde corul cânta și păstorul ne vorbea,
Tot mereu de Legea Ta.
— „Tati, ce e 'legea', de fapt?"
— „Ceva ce trebuie respectat."
— „De încalci Legea Sa, săvârșești un păcat."
— „Dar eu sunt mică... am făcut-o deja?"
Și am crescut, nu am mai stat
În fața balustradei vechi.
Voiam totuși să aud și să-nțeleg
Cum Legea unui Tată iubitor
Pe mine doar mă condamna.
„Doamne, care-i scopul Legii?
Dacă o încalc, ajung în iad?
De ce-ai creat așa un laț
Din care nu pot evada?"
O... și balustrada nu mai era așa de mare...
Puteam vedea ce se-ntâmplă.
— „Poate că Legea este calea
Ce, da, mă condamna..."
Chiar de voi fi eu condamnată,
Tot la Tine voi veni.
Îmi cer iertare și m-apropiu.
O, cât iubesc eu Legea Ta
Ce de Tine și de cer m-a unit!
Poet's note Through this poem, the author conveys that even though Psalm 119:97 expresses a deep love for the Law of the Lord, this love is not felt from the very beginning. The Law itself is not something an earthly nature can love instinctively — but once you come to know the Lord personally, you arrive at loving the Law that draws you closer to Him.

Congratulations to all of our winners and participants. More of these beautiful poems will be posted on our social media pages throughout the summer — follow us to read more.

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