Bishop’s Badge Competition - 2023 results
11-year-old Ezinne is the winner of the Bishop’s Badge Competition 2023, with her eye-catching badge design featuring the word ‘forgive’.
Ezinne Ehosiem from Rock Christian Centre has won the Bishop’s Badge Competition 2023, with her striking design: ‘Forgive’.
The Arise Sheffield team worked together with a team from the Diocese of Sheffield to create a shortlist from the 743 entries, before Bishop Sophie Jelley of Doncaster selected the winner and two runners-up. To make the competition as fair as possible, Bishop Sophie judged the designs without looking at any information about the designers.
Ezinne told the team, “The reason I chose the word forgive is because God teaches us to do that. Jesus teaches us to show love to one another by forgiving them for the wrongs they do to us. I chose the colours yellow and black because yellow is such a vibrant colour that everyone is able to see because of how bright it is, in the same way when Jesus is the light of the world and he shines so bright that he overcomes the darkness. As Christians, we should shine the light of God to the world.”
Ezinne’s design will now be made into a badge for Wear Your Faith Fortnight which starts in October, and will be made freely available to believers across Sheffield and beyond.
The two runners-up are Ava aged 10, and Bethany, aged 6. Ava’s design features the phrase, ‘Faith as small as a mustard seed’, and Bethany’s reads, ‘His love is warm and safe’. These beautiful designs will be made into stickers, freely available to churches and schools across the area.
Another design caught Bishop Sophie’s eye, and is inspiring a new project for Summer 2024. Sam, aged 11, drew a backpack, with the words, ‘Every journey, God is with you.’ This will be made into a button badge for primary school leavers next year.
The quality of the designs submitted were of such a high standard that an extra, ‘commendation’ category has been created to acknowledge the hard work and thought that children put into their designs. Bishop Sophie will be inviting all children with commendations - and their families - to join her for an award ceremony this Autumn.
In preparation for Arise:Hallow, young people aged 2-15 from across Sheffield and the wider Diocese sent in original, beautiful, and thought-provoking designs for the Bishop's Badge Competition.
Lights for Christ Enabler Hannah Sandoval - one of the selection team - said:
“It was a joy to see the huge variety of ideas that children and young people have come up with. It will be so exciting to be able to wear and share our faith in the autumn using the winning designs.”
The Bishop of Doncaster, the Rt Revd Sophie Jelley, said:
“We’ve been overwhelmed that we’ve had over 700 entries from children right across the Diocese and the surrounding areas. Young people have been so creative and imaginative, as they’ve thought about what their Christian faith means to them and how they shine as a light for Christ in the world today. Well done to everyone who took part. You’ve really put in a great effort and we’re absolutely thrilled!”
Arise Prayer Coordinator Rachel Hall was also part of the shortlisting process. She said, "Kindness has really shone through as a theme across the entries."
Ben Woollard, Arise Team Leader, said, "On the basis of these brilliant responses, I think the future of faith in Sheffield is in great hands."
Enjoy even more of the brilliant entries by taking a look at the GIF below, which scrolls through the shortlisted entries from children and teens across Sheffield and the wider Diocese.
