25th Smoky Mountain Jubilee Is Next Week
The twenty-fifth annual Church of God National Senior Adult Retreat is scheduled to get underway April 28-30, 2015, at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Sponsored by Church of God USA Missions, and started in Florida in 1990, the conference was moved in 1993 to Gatlinburg and renamed the Smoky Mountain Jubilee. Approximately 1,300 seniors, ages 50 and older are anticipated. Dr. James E. Cossey, Executive Administrator of USA Missions will serve as the retreat host, and will be assisted by co-host Terrell Brinson—back for his 22nd year!
Tuesday night’s opening session at 6:00 p.m. will be dubbed “An Evening of Gospel Music,” and will feature a variety of Church of God gospel artists including Leola Sellers, James Cossey, Blenda Wicker, and the Bluegrass group, Mercy’s Road. The capstone of the evening will be the concert by the world-famous Kingsmen Quartet.
On Wednesday, beginning at 9:00 a.m., senior talent winners from state competitions across the nation will compete in the National Senior Adult Talent Competition. Functioning very much like the popular Teen Talent program, senior adults will compete in various categories of vocal and instrumental music, creative writing, and art. The final session on Thursday morning will be the awards celebration.
The Wednesday night session, which begins at 6:00 p.m. will be a dynamic Pentecostal worship service featuring special music by the popular 1970s group, The Churchmen—reunited for this special mini-concert. Dr. Raymond F. Culpepper, state administrative bishop in Alabama, and former general overseer, will bring the message.
Preregistration (at a cost of $69 per person) is already closed; however, delegates may still register at the door (walk-on registration is $75 per person). The sessions are by registration only and not open to the public, although session passes may be purchased at the registration desk (Tuesday night session: $25; Wednesday day session: $25; Wednesday night session: $25. There is no charge to attend the Thursday awards celebration). Since this conference is focused on ages 50 and older, no childcare is provided.
