NEW VINEYARD -- Ten-year-old Stephen Brackley will travel with his family to the Tarryall River Ranch in Lake George, Colo., courtesy of the Children's International Arts Festival.

Brackley entered an online contest last winter for a chance to win the free vacation in Colorado.

"I won!," Stephen said. "I can't believe it."

To win, said his mother, Susan Brackley, the youngster had to answer the question, "How does Jesus give light to everyone?" (John 1: 6-13). The boy answered: "Jesus spread the light through the prophets, such as John. Now Jesus spreads the light by the Bible and by Christians who preach to the world. Jesus also spread the light when he came to earth; he exposed the light to the darkness. The light is righteousness, and the dark is unrighteousness."

Susan Brackley attributes her son's understanding of the question to the fact that they are devoted to their faith, read from the Bible daily and the family regularly attends the New Life Community church in New Vineyard.

"They (the New Life Community Church) really teach you to understand the Bible," Susan Brackley said. She found the contest on a home-schooling Web site and encouraged her son to enter.

"The rules clearly stated that he couldn't have any help from us," Brackley said. "So he had to do it on his own."

In order to take advantage of the vacation, the family must pay their own way there.

"We knew that we would have to pay for the flight before we entered," Brackley said.

Once there, the five family members will ride horses, go river rafting, fish the Tarryall River and do daily "dude ranch" things.

Stephen, who is a home-schooled fifth grader, will travel to Colorado with his parents, Robert and Susan, his older sister, Hannah, and his younger brother, Patrick.

Stephen received the telephone call that he had won, about three weeks ago.

The Children's International Arts Festival is sponsored by KidsTalkAboutGod.org and participating ranches. For details, go online to www.KidsTalkAboutGod.org.