Last year, FTE celebrated our remarkable 70th anniversary. That's seven decades of supporting young leaders discerning and pursuing callings into ministry. As we moved into the beginning of a new decade of service, education, and exploration this year, we've continued to ask the same question:
What's next?
What's next for God's church?
What's next for the academy?
What's next for theological education?
What's next for the world we want to create?
Discovering answers to these vital questions together has never been more important than it is today. We're standing in a moment of great uncertainty. Unprecedented shifts in our religious, political, legal, and economic landscapes are happening with greater frequency and consequences. Navigating these realities with the hope that there is more good still ahead requires tremendous faith. Inspiring what's next in a world where what currently feels broken and battered isn't an easy task. Yet in an era marked by so much economic, political, and social unrest, I stand reassured by the presence of a God who still calls young leaders and bright scholars to shape a better world today and a more compelling future tomorrow. This conviction sits at the heart of FTE's mission. In the course of our existence, we have remained committed to inspiring emerging leaders who feel called to explore vocations in Christian ministry and theological scholarship. We believe these leaders are essential to building the better world and creating the more compelling future we hope for and envision. Together, we can continue to inspire what's next for the church, for the academy, and for the world God loves.
The evidence of this commitment speaks powerfully. Approximately 7,500 alumni have benefited from FTE's programming and are now doing inspiring work in their communities as Christian leaders, pastors, religious scholars, and theological educators.
As I witness what young adult leaders, doctoral students, ministry partners, and social entrepreneurs are accomplishing to inspire what's next in their own communities, I am deeply inspired and all the more hopeful about what's next for our world. As you read through the pages of this year's annual report, I hope you will be, too.
In spite of all that weighs heavily on our hearts about the culture today, one truth remains clear: The world needs more leaders to rise up and nurture, accompany, teach, and call the next generation to shape a more hopeful future through Christian ministry and theological scholarship.
These leaders exist.
They are answering the call.
They are making a difference.
And they need your support to keep going.
So, I invite you to partner with FTE's mission and work in the world to support the next generation of change-makers, leaders, and heroes of our faith. Together, we can continue to inspire what's next for the church, for academia, and for the world God loves.
With hope and gratitude,
Stephen Lewis
FTE President
In 2025, FTE focused on continuing to inspire what's next for God's church, theological studies, and the world. In a time of great uncertainty and unrest in our religious, political, legal, and economic landscapes, we have stayed committed to our mission of inspiring emerging leaders called to ministry and theological education. This year, we focused on innovative and inspiring ways to continue the transformative work of cultivating Christian leaders, pastors, scholars, and educators. Young leaders, doctoral students, and ministry partners desire a more hopeful future for their communities and the world. By providing resources, support, education, gatherings, and ministry opportunities, FTE continued the vital work of serving and supporting the next generation who will rise up and shape what's next for our world.
explored pastoral ministry as a vocational pathway and discerned their purpose and potential callings to congregational ministry.
discerned a call to doctoral studies.
joined a community of advanced, under-resourced, and underrepresented scholars for support and mentorship in completing their programs.
participated in a retreat focused on scholarly writing and publishing.
2025 Young Adult
Cohort Participant
learned about FTE practices and their efficacy in helping diverse young people explore their purpose and to Co-CREATE a better future.
collaborated with peers in congregational and college settings to learn how to support young adults in their discernment journeys.
gathered to discuss opportunities they have created at their universities to help high school students think theologically about their lives and vocational aspirations.
under-resourced and underrepresented faculty explored executive leadership in the academic world through an online course.
Christian entrepreneurs and innovators gained resources and connected with peers to jumpstart businesses that create positive change.
faith-based entrepreneurs participated in the DO GOOD X Built For This Course.
participated in the DO GOOD X Mastermind Retreat.
participated in the DO GOOD X Startup Accelerator.
2025 DO GOOD X Fellow
Christian leaders received grants to identify gifted young adults for ministry roles.
under-resourced and underrepresented doctoral students were granted fellowships and received mentoring to help them succeed in graduate school and teaching.
young adults received grants to explore faith communities and establish mentor relationships with ministry leaders.
2025 Discernment
Labs Participant
Since 1954, more than 1,200 FTE Doctoral Fellows have received financial support and joined a community to explore their calling to ministry and teaching.
Since 2014, FTE has inspired and ushered 2,000 young adults and 478 doctoral students through forums, mentorship, online courses, fellowships, and grants.
In the past decade, FTE has convened 760 leaders from partner organizations at events and virtual meetings.
During that period, FTE established relationships with 650 organizations: 197 churches, 322 church-related organizations (campus ministry, non-profit, faith-based service year programs, and youth institutions), and 50 doctoral and theological institutional partners.
DO GOOD X Podcast In 2025, the DO GOOD X podcast published 49 episodes, earned 41,479 downloads, and had 7,594 views on YouTube. These episodes delve into topics such as mastering sales, prioritizing well-being, legal insights, AI adoption and ethical technology, business marketing, and tracking real social change. Our most popular episodes include:
FTE's Online Community unites 795 young adults and faith leaders in all stages of discernment. Crafted for like-minded individuals to collaborate, connect, and grow, FTE Leaders build meaningful connections and broaden ideas about ministry.
2025 Doctoral Workshop
on Writing and Publishing
Participant
Pastor Kelsey Kresse's journey from mentee to colleague with Pastor Ray Ranker highlights the power of mentorship and intentional leadership. Passionate about guiding young people, Kelsey reflects on Ray's influence on her path as they work together to help others discern their faithful next steps.
4:00
min
Heartfelt conversations can change the world. Dr. Gregory Ellison's “Fearless Dialogues” fosters genuine connections, breaks down barriers, and plants seeds for future generations. With 70,000+ leaders impacted globally, this movement is scaling digitally to reach even more people.
4:08
min
Discover how faith leaders unite to support young adults in their journey of discerning meaning, purpose, and God's call. Through FTE's cohort-based Discernment Labs, leaders explore innovative ways to guide young adults in vocational exploration using FTE's Discernment Disciplines framework. Hear how cultivating a sense of belonging and creating intentional spaces for reflection has transformed how young adults find their place in the church and the world.
0:52
min
The Youth Theology Network (YTN) is a national coalition of colleges, universities, and theological schools dedicated to transforming campus ministry and student ministry by helping high school students explore their faith and discern a call to ministry. Funded by Lilly Endowment Inc., YTN provides resources and support for vocational discernment, empowering young leaders to impact the world through various forms of ministry—whether within church walls, educational settings, community engagement, or social justice initiatives. This video offers insights into YTN's mission and the opportunities for students and program leaders.
3:14
min
After the Trayvon Martin case, Dr. Gregory Ellison sparked a conversation on supporting youth. A single invitation drew 400 attendees, revealing the power of radical hospitality to foster openness and connection. This led to the official creation of Fearless Dialogues—a platform for envisioning new possibilities through meaningful conversations.
1:00
min
2025 Young Adult Cohort
Participant
FTE is primarily funded through foundational grants, investment income from those grants, and contributions from the FTE community.
Program Personnel
Administrative Personnel
Travel
Consultants
Conferences/Events
Fellowships/Awards
Other Program Costs
Operations
FTE's ability to inspire what's next is only possible because of the continued support of generous donors and community partners who believe in our mission and the young leaders we seek to inspire. Thanks to their continued generosity, we can pour our resources into faith communities, theological institutions, scholarships, and more. If you're inspired by the vision to invest in the future faith leaders who will shape what's next in our world, we humbly ask that you consider contributing to their callings by supporting FTE. Your donation will help us continue to collaboratively shape a more hopeful future for the church and our communities. Thank you for believing in our vision, their work, and the power of what's possible when we dare to dream what's next together.
Rev. Dr. Ronald Burns
Brandon Harris
John Hershberger
Jordan Lassiter
Megan Le Cluyse
Colin Mathewson
Jeffrey McCurry
Lee Anne McGaha
Troy Mendez
Richard Sundeen
Heather Wallace
Marissa Akery
Allison Arsenault
Jon and Amanda Bergstrom
Monica A. Coleman
Rev. Joe Ella Darby
Rev. Dr. Neichelle Guidry-Steward
Chrishaun Hoopes
Darlene Hutto
Carol E. Lytch
Pr. Ray Ranker
Christina Repoley
Marcia Y Riggs in honor of Dr. Sharon
Watson-Fluker
Marlene Underwood
Dr. Sharon Watson-Fluker in honor of Dr.
Michael Joseph Brown
Jaclyn Williams
Samaria Divine
Rev. Jennifer Ikoma-Motzko
Soon Mee Kim
Sheri Oluyemi
Andrea Perrett
Aracelis Vazquez
James Weimer
Stephen Lewis
Lilly Endowment, Inc., Indianapolis, IN
Partner
Isaacson, Miller
Washington, DC
Dean & Director
Sisters Chapel and WISDOM Center of Spelman College
Atlanta, GA
Board Chair
Diversity Action Alliance
Fridley, MN
President
Forum for Theological Exploration
Atlanta, GA
Attorney
Wimberly, Lawson, Steckel, Schneider, & Stine, P.C.
Atlanta, GA
Church Planter & Leadership Associate
Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod and Centre for Missional at St. Andrew's Hall
Vancouver, BC
Púlpito Fellows
Urban Strategies
Waterford, CT
Director BoardWalk Consulting
Atlanta, GA
