The Banner editors have chosen the winners of this year’s Young Adults Writing Contest.
This year, the biennial contest, with the theme “Sustaining Faith,” is sponsored by Plough Publishing House
“What does sustaining faith look like? What does it mean to be sustained in faith in today’s world? How does God build a faith that lasts?” the Banner team asked.
Our readers responded. We received 10 submissions, and of those, three winners were chosen through a blind judging process, along with an honorable mention.
The first-place winner is Meg Pheifer, 22. Pheifer grew up in Lakewood, Calif., and describes herself as “an unapologetic fan of avocados and year-round sunshine.” She is a third-generation alumna of Calvin University (class of 2026), where she studied history, political science, and urban studies. Pheifer is doing an internship for International Justice Mission in Bangkok, Thailand.
In second place is Julia Fernandez, 18, who attends South Kendall Community Church CRC in Miami, Fla. She is working toward a degree in psychology. She said she loves playing guitar, pickleball, and ice skating. “Yes, we ice skate, even in Miami!” she added.
Third place went to Leah Hoksbergen, a 17-year-old student at Pella Christian High School who enjoys participating in youth group and the praise team at her church, Calvary CRC in Pella, Iowa.
Our honorable mention is Kara Toornstra, a sophomore at Crosshill Christian High School in Marion County, Ore., who attends Sunnyslope Christian Reformed Church in Salem, Ore. She throws the discus and shot put for her school’s track team and loves writing and theater.
The judges, made up of Banner editors, were impressed by the clear and compelling writing of the writers, along with their insights. Through story and reflection, “these young writers showed us that God creates sustaining faith by forming endurance in the ordinary, by meeting us in suffering and by nurturing us—across the generations—in community. A gift to read!” Lora Copley, editor of The Banner, said.
Readers will be able to read their articles online, posted weekly through the month of August, leading up to the September/October print issue, which also will include the top three winners’ articles.