Grace Keir: The 'young preacher of the year' on the prize that changed her life

In Spring 2023 16-year-old Grace Keir gave a talk on the subject ‘Why there is hope’.  So far so unremarkable, plenty of 16-year-olds talk on similar subjects up and down the UK every week. But this talk was recorded and sent off to the Premier Unbelievable Youth Preaching Prize (with Spring Harvest) and Grace won. 

Winning the competition and having the chance to hear feedback from the panel of judges changed the direction of Grace’s life. 

As we wait to hear who has won this year’s competition, we have reconnected with Grace and her parents to catch up with her story, to hear what she is up to now but to also talk about the role her parents played in her journey. How have Rachel and Fraser impacted Grace’s discovery of her skills and calling? 

Thanks for joining us today, Grace, Rachel and Fraser, let’s start with a bit of background to the Keirs, tell us a bit about yourselves. 

Fraser: Well, Rachel and I originally met in Scotland but after we got married and had Grace and her younger sister Naomi, I persuaded Rachel to move back here to her native Hertfordshire mainly because of the better weather and football! 

Rachel: It was good to return but it was also helpful as I could then be near my parents who lived just around the corner and needed care, though they passed away a few years ago now. 

Grace: I don’t really remember anything of Scotland. Apparently, I did have a bit of a Scottish accent but that soon went. Hertfordshire has been home for my whole life really. Our family has always been a place of prayer and Bible reading and I grew up always going to church but also always going to Spring Harvest.