Urban Outreach
First Summer: Hands-on ministry alongside diverse community settings that deepens faith and grows true leadership.
Summer 2026 Cohort Forming Now.
Your college summers are more than a break—they’re your chance to build something that truly matters.
Josiah Project is a two-summer experience designed to help you find clarity, purpose, and direction. It’s for college students ready to ask the big questions, grow in authentic community, and live with real impact
First Summer: Hands-on ministry alongside diverse community settings that deepens faith and grows true leadership.
First Summer: Supporting high school and college students as they discover God’s voice, lead boldly, and live the Great Commission.
First Summer: Working alongside communities abroad to tackle real challenges and witness God's love in action across cultures.
Second Summer: You'll identify where God's bigger story meets your unique gifts, then step boldly into action with mentors who support you every step of the way.
During two summers of deep discipleship, hands-on ministry, and Spirit-led growth, students are stretched beyond comfort into true calling.
Foundation & Formation
In your first summer, you'll live in an authentic community with a tight-knit group of college students who share your heart for something bigger. Together, you'll dive deep into three key ministry areas:
You'll unplug from all the noise, experience real-world ministry, and build relationships that last. Most importantly, you'll wrestle with the question:
"God, where do You want to use my life in Your story?"
and start finding your answer.
Your Ministry Incubator
This is your opportunity to test your ideas and take risks, or serve in established ministries doing incredible work. Whether you launch a community arts initiative, intern with an organization helping refugees, start a campus prayer movement, or something no one's thought of yet—it's between you and the Holy Spirit.
You’ll work with mentors to dream, pray, and design something bold—and then go for it.
Because you're investing your summer instead of earning from a typical job, we provide comprehensive fundraising support plus scholarship opportunities.
Fundraising Support: Each team member works toward a group fundraising goal that goes toward the team’s total summer. This covers all program expenses—travel, training, airfare, living expenses, emergency insurance, everything. Don’t worry, we’ll guide you through this entire process.
Academic Scholarship: Here's the amazing part—you can qualify for a $4,000 academic scholarship based on your full participation in your First Summer requirements.
Josiah Project is for college students (typically ages 18–22) who are serious about their faith, eager to grow as leaders, and ready to invest their summer in something meaningful.
You don’t need to have ministry experience—just a willing heart and a desire to grow.
The first summer is a full-time, immersive experience that typically runs early June through late July. Students live and serve together on a small team.
The second summer is more flexible and student-led—it could be anywhere in the world and shaped around your unique calling.
Your first summer will be based in Pittsburgh, PA, and surrounding communities, with incredible local outreach opportunities throughout the region and beyond.
Second summers happen wherever God leads—could be your hometown or the other side of the world.
You’ll live in community alongside other students who are serious about following Jesus and supporting one another. Many students form friendships that last long beyond the summer.
You’ll also find yourself among a wider community of support and prayer partners who have gone before and want to support you every step of the way.
This is your opportunity to test your ideas and take risks, or learn from established ministries doing incredible work. Whether you're launching a community arts initiative, interning with an organization helping refugees, starting a campus prayer movement, or something no one's thought of yet—it's between you and God.
You’ll work with mentors to dream, pray, and design something bold—and then go do it.
Past participants have:
Started youth fellowships that are still thriving
Launched sports camps in underserved communities
Joined international missions teams
Helped African communities develop sustainable energy
Started prayer rooms in the Middle East
Your turn. What's your idea?
Certainly not.
Josiah Project isn’t just for future ministry professionals—it’s for anyone who wants to live boldly and faithfully in whatever calling God has for them: education, business, healthcare, the arts, or even professional ministry callings. This experience will help you figure that out.
Participants do not get paid. Some students have received college credit, however this is dependent on each student’s college or university. Additionally, students’ financial aid packages are not impacted by the receipt of our academic scholarships.
Since you won’t be working a summer job while you’re in Josiah Project, we’re committed to making sure finances aren’t a barrier.
You’ll receive practical and spiritual training in ministry leadership, cultural engagement, and making disciples.
More than that, you’ll be mentored deeply and learn how to listen clearly to God’s voice in your life.
Fill out the form below to start your application.
If you're nominating someone to participate in Josiah Project, you can include their name in the comments section of the form.
We can't wait to hear from you!
Applications for Josiah Project 2026 are open now. While our final deadline is April 15th, we strongly recommend applying by January 31st—this gives you maximum time to prepare, fundraise, and potentially recruit friends to join you. We keep our cohorts intentionally small—typically 6-8 students total—so we can provide deep community and personalized mentoring. Since we review applications on a rolling basis and spots are limited, the sooner you apply, the better your chances. Don't wait to get started.
Josiah Project is named after King Josiah, one of the youngest and boldest reformers in the Bible. By the time he was your age, he was a king leading a powerful spiritual renewal in Israel. When he discovered God’s Word, he didn’t hesitate—he acted. He tore down idols, restored true worship, and helped an entire nation return to God.
Like King Josiah, this program invites young people to step into courageous leadership, listen to God’s call, and spark transformation in the world around them.