Thank you for your interest in the Encounter the Bible Young Adults Leadership Academy (YALA). YALA is a yearlong program with a minimum monthly commitment. We understand you are busy, but we also know that growth requires work and commitment of time.

THIS APPLICATION HAS FOUR PARTS:

1. General Information

2. 4-Pillar Assessment (Faith, Fitness, Family, Finances)

3. Financial Agreements

4. Pay-It-Forward

We encourage you to be thoughtful in your answers. You might want to write them out in a separate document prior to submitting them in our online form. This will give you time to write out your thoughts, pray and reflect over them, and then submit them with the confidence that you have conveyed what you really want us to know about you. This itself is a part of the growth process!

DATES TO REMEMBER:

• All applications are due by Thursday, January 15.

• You will be notified no later than Friday, January 23 of your acceptance and scholarship award.

PLEASE BE HONEST IN YOUR ANSWERS. Do not answer questions based on what you think we would want to hear. Your answers are confidential and are only viewed by our selection committee. This process is to evaluate where you currently are, where you want to go, and our role in helping you find the best path to get there. The more honest your answers, the better we can partner with you. Please do not copy and paste from Chat GPT! :-) AI is a valuable tool to organize your thoughts, but in this case, please make your final answers authentically your own!

Authenticity is what we are looking for!

PART 1: GENERAL INFO

What is your current participation in church, ministry, leadership, and/or service?

• Phase 1: Discover Your Divine Design

• Phase 2: Pre-Trip Curriculum – Life, Times, and Leadership of Paul

• Phase 3: Footsteps of Paul – Biblical Study Tour (Oct. 7-17, 2026)

• Phase 4: Power Immersion – Monthly Roundtables

PART 2: 4-PILLAR ASSESSMENT

The first step to full engagement and powerful leadership is to get clear and take an honest inventory of your current reality in four key pillars of your life. You must be completely honest in grading yourself within each of your major life pillars (Faith, Fitness, Family, Finances).

Score yourself 1-10: A score of 10 would mean you’re thriving; no need for change, nothing could be better. In other words,"I’m killing it in this area of my life!” A score of 1 would mean you are completely struggling in this area of your life. In other words, "I am falling short in this area of my life and I need some help!”

Describe your why: You must be completely honest as to why you scored yourself the way you did. When filling out this portion of the assessment, think about what you are currently doing or not doing. What are the good or bad habits that you know are the cause of your current situation in each pillar and the reason for why you scored yourself the way you did? Remember, it's the truth that sets you free!

PART 3: FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS

As a student helping to pilot this program, you will receive a 100% scholarship for phases 1, 2, and 4 outlined above. The total cost for phase 3 (Footsteps of Paul - Biblical Study Tour to Turkey) is $5700 per person, which is an all-inclusive price (airfare, hotels, three meals daily, transportation, hot air balloon ride, hydration backpack, study guide, field journal, and travel insurance.)

While we would love to fully scholarship everyone, we have limited scholarship funds. Phase 3 scholarships will be awarded based on the applicant’s commitment to the entirety of the program, total number of applicants, and the estimated financial need based on each applicant’s level of honest and reasonable financial contribution.

PLEASE NOTE:

• Answering NO to either of the previous two questions does not disqualify you from phases 1, 2, and 4 of the program.

  
  

• For those that can attend the study tour, it is not a vacation. Although there will be elements of fun and adventure, this is a full immersion pilgrimage tour with the expectation of full engagement, learning, transformation, and growth for everyone traveling together.

PART 4: PAY–IT–FORWARD

The growth of this program largely depends on each participants excitement and willingness to share and participate in making it known to others. Are you willing to participate in a “Pay-It-Forward” campaign that would allow Encounter the Bible to raise financial support for your ongoing participation in this program as well as raise scholarship funds for future candidates of YOUR choosing that ETB would help you mentor in a future YALA program?

THANK YOU for your interest in our Encounter the Bible Young Adults Leadership Academy (YALA). By submitting your application, you are declaring that you are ready for God to do something amazing and new in your life!

Please note:

• Terms and Conditions for "Pay-It-Forward" will be outlined in the Acceptance Letter.

• Schedule of dates for meetings and workshops will also be outlined in the Acceptance Letter.

• If you have any questions in the meantime, don't hesitate to reach out to support@encounterthebible.org