Young Adult Cohort at The Festival of Discernment

October 8 - October 11, 2025 Atlanta, GA

FTE’s Festival of Discernment is a four-day experience where attendees will have unique opportunities to discern what’s next concerning God’s calling, their purpose, and the church’s future and work in the world.

APPLICATIONS OPEN APRIL 1, 2025

Discern a bold path forward.

FTE invites nominations and applications for young adults, ages 18-30, to participate in the Festival of Discernment this fall. Joining together with FTE ministry partners, participants in the Young Adult Cohort will be introduced to practices of discernment to explore God’s call in their lives, possibilities for what’s next for the church and its work in the broader community.

Hosted at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, GA, this event will honor the collective power of discerning together. Over four days, we are gathering artists and dreamers, pastors and priests, imagineers and fellow sojourners to accompany one another in discerning a shared purpose about God’s call in their lives and what’s to come. Come and join us if you have hope that our gifts are more than enough to discern a bold path forward and if you feel called to discern and live your life in response to a deep longing for what’s next.

Featuring interactive plenary and workshop sessions, inspiring worship and meaningful small group conversations, participants in the Young Adult Cohort at the Festival of Discernment will have the opportunity to discern their own next most faithful steps and cast a broad vision for the future of the church.

Applicants and nominees should be young leaders in their church, college ministry or community and are interested in making a difference in the world through faith communities. FTE will cover all costs for participants in the Young Adult Cohort.

Come and join us if you have hope that our gifts are more than enough to discern a bold path forward and if you feel called to discern and live your life in response to a deep longing for what’s next.

Frequently Asked Questions

FTE seeks nominations and applications from young adults, ages 18-30 who are living in the United States or Canada. Priority acceptance will be given to applicants who are either a) nominated by a Discernment Lab partner OR b) are a college student in the Atlanta area. However we encourage nominations and applications from anyone who fits the criteria.

We are seeking young adults who are:

  • Thoughtful, curious and open to learning
  • Willing to step outside their comfort zone 
  • Not enrolled in or graduated from seminary 
  • Asking big questions about meaning and purpose 
  • Interested in leadership, making a difference and are guided by their faith and service

October 8-11 at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center in Atlanta, GA.

If selected to attend, FTE will cover the cost of all expenses for participants in the Young Adult Cohort including travel, lodging, and meals. 

Discernment: Participants will deepen their exploration of FTE’s discernment framework and practice of discernment with others regarding God’s call in their lives, possibilities for what’s next for the church and its work in the broader community.

Imagination: Participants will cultivate their vocational imagination and excitement for different ways to live out their sense of call, or accompaniment of the next generation of leaders in their discernment.

Community: Participants will make connections, nurture community, identify and share resources to support and advance their collective discernment efforts.

The event begins with an opening session at 5 pm EST on Wednesday, October 8 and ends after lunch on Saturday, October 11, 2025. Participants are expected to attend the entire gathering.

Young Adults: Heather Wallace

All other inquiries: Marissa Akery