The Gospel Coalition invites young adults to reflect on and write about kicking unhealthy habits, committing to the church, and staying human in an AI world.
Writers aged 16–25 (born between 2001 and 2010) may submit their essay to this summer’s essay contest. The winning writers will receive a prize along with the opportunity to have their essays published on TGC’s website.
Essay Requirements
Each essay must be an original, previously unpublished response to one of the following three prompts. With each prompt, contestants should draw from their own experiences and convictions, and use Scripture to support their conclusions. (Want examples? Read the winning essays from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025.) Contestants must give permission to TGC to publish their work, and each essay will be judged by TGC’s editorial team.
Submissions will be accepted from June 1 to July 1, and winners will be announced on September 1, 2026
1. How My Faith Helped Me Kick My Unhealthy Habit
Cultivating habits is a way to grow in self-discipline and even spiritual discipline, but not all habits are good. Some habits are destructive and even sinful. Tell us about a time your faith helped you defeat an unhealthy habit like gambling, using pornography, or being addicted to social media. Was it a particular Scripture passage that the Spirit used to open your eyes? A church member who noticed your struggle and came alongside you? Or the example of a long-ago saint who likewise fought sin in his or her own life? We want to hear about how faith in Christ helped you kill sin.
2. When Church Became My Church
Church attendance is increasing among young adults, but committing to a church isn’t about just showing up on Sunday. Tell us about the moment (or entire year!) when you finally owned your relationship to the church. Maybe it was the day you stood up front and became a member, or maybe it happened in another way—as you served weekly on the greeting team or when your congregation showed up to help in a crisis or as you became convinced of the biblical doctrine of the church. We want to hear about what led you to feel personally invested in your church and how committing to the church has changed your Sundays since then.
3. How I’m Staying Human in the Age of AI
AI is everywhere. From classrooms to the workplace, new ways to use and misuse AI show up seemingly every week. How are you affirming and maintaining your humanity in the digital era? Maybe it’s through the books you’re reading, what you’re creating, or how you’re caring for others. Tell us about how you glorify God in a way that’s unique to those who bear his image.
Prizes
The first-place contest winner will receive $500; second place will receive a $100 gift card to the TGC bookstore; third place will receive an assortment of books. The winning essays will be published on TGC’s website, as will any other essays the judges select.
Read the full contest rules and submit your essay. Questions? Contact [email protected].
