Get Published and Win $500!

Young adults aged 16–25 are invited to submit an original essay for a chance to win a prize and be published on TGC’s website. Contest begins June 1, 2026, and ends July 1, 2026. Interested? Details, topics, and submission information below.

• Contestants must be 16-25 years (born between 2001–2010) to enter.
• Each contestant may only submit 1 essay.
• Essays must be original works that have not previously been published elsewhere, including on a personal blog or social media page.
• The use of generative AI (such as ChatGPT) at any point of the writing process (including ideating, organizing, drafting, and editing) is not permitted.
• Essays must be 800–1,000 words and address one of the topics below.
• Essays will be judged by the TGC editorial team. Winners will be announced September 1, 2026.
• First prize is $500. Second prize is a $100 gift card to the TGC bookstore. Third prize is an assortment of books.*
• Winning essays will be published on TGC. All other submissions will be considered for publication.

*Prizes can only be awarded to U.S. residents, but contestants from any country are welcome to submit an essay to be considered for publication.

Topics

Choose one of the following prompts for your essay. 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.

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 read, 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.