ARTICLE

Discipleship Essay Writing Contest:

Rules and Guidelines

Theme: “What It Means to Be a Disciple of Christ in the 21st Century”

1. Eligibility

• The contest is open to participants in the following age categories:
  • Ages 8–12
  • Ages 13–17
  • Ages 18 and Above
• Participants must enter the category that corresponds to their age on the submission date.

2. Essay Requirements

• Original Work: The essay must be the participant’s own original writing.
• Length:
  • Ages 8–12:                200–400 words
  • Ages 13–17:             400–700 words
  • Ages 18 & Above:    700–1,000 words
• Language:       English
• Format:
  • Typed in a Word document
  • Font size 12, readable font (Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman), double-spaced.
  • Include the title of the essay at the top.

3. Topic Focus

Essays should explore the theme, “What it means to be a disciple of Christ in the 21st century,” guided by one or more of the following questions::

• How do I follow Jesus in my daily life today?
• What challenges and opportunities influence discipleship in this digital age?
• How can Christ’s teachings be lived out in today’s world?
• What does authentic discipleship look like in my community, school, home, or workplace?

4. Judging Criteria

Essays will be evaluated based on:

• Understanding of the theme
• Personal insight and reflection
• Relevance to the 21st-century context
• Organisation and clarity
• Creativity and originality
• Grammar and mechanics

5. Submission Guidelines

• Deadline:    March 2, 2026
• Submission Method:
  • Send your writing to communications@adventistontario.org
• Participants must include a cover page with:
  • Full name
  • Age category
  • School/church (if applicable)
  • Position/Title/Grade level
  • Contact information (email address and phone #)

For participating minors, the parents’ contact information will be required.

6. Disqualification Criteria

Essays may be disqualified if:

• They contain plagiarism.
• They exceed the word limit significantly.
• They include inappropriate or disrespectful content.
• They are submitted after the deadline.

7. Awards and Recognition

• Gift card prizes will be given to the top winners in each age group.

1^st Place = $150      2^nd Place = $100      3^rd Place = $50

• Certificates will be awarded to all participants or finalists
• Winning essays will be published in the Ontario Highlights or the Ontario Conference News (OCN).

8. Additional Notes

• Judges’ decisions are final.
• By submitting an entry, participants grant permission for their work to be used for the Ontario Conference’s publications or presentations.
• Assistance from adults is allowed only for basic proofreading (especially for younger participants). No rewriting or content creation is permitted.