The 2019 International Teen Talent festival earlier this month was a huge success and the leaders of the Church of God International Youth and Discipleship Department recently reflected on the results and reasons for the success.
International Director David Blair praised the hundreds of parents, chaperones, youth leaders, judges, Lee University staff, and Y&D staff for the multiplied hours of preparation prior to the event and the efforts to pull off the event during the week of July 29 – August 2.
Blair provided the following statistics related to this year’s competition:
• Over 880 entries in 60 categories within the six Teen Talent divisions of Art, Bible, Multi-Media, Creative Writing, Drama, and Music.
• Eleven countries and 28 states raised thousands of dollars to send hundreds of students to this international competition.
• The first International Teen Talent participants from Taiwan, Cayman Islands, Antiqua/Nevis, Guatemala, Argentina, and Belgium.
• The first International Teen Talent winners from Taiwan, Argentina, Cayman Islands, and the South Central Hispanic Region.
• $500,000 in scholarship funds awarded by Lee University to Church of God Teen Talent participants.
• The Teen Talent 2019 Online Results:
o 51, 186 individual views on Teen Talent Live Stream.
o 14,329 individual views on Facebook Live.
o A grand total of 14,431 hours viewing from across the world.
“The strategic partnership with Lee University President Dr. Paul Conn and the superior team of leaders there hosted the event with excellence,” Blair stated. “The constant support of General Overseer, Dr. Tim Hill, Youth & Discipleship Executive Liaison, Dr. John D. Childers, and the entire International Executive Committee – Dr. Raymond Culpepper, Dr. J. David Stephens, and Dr. David Ramirez also contributed to the success of Teen Talent.” Blair went on to commend the “elite team of Regional, National, and State Youth & Discipleship Directors who worked tirelessly both at home and at international competition to help execute a successful event.”
The six Teen Talent Divisions were headed by International Youth and Discipleship leaders and spouses including Music Division Liaisons – Dr. David and Janet Blair, International Youth and Discipleship Director; Multi-Media Division Liaisons – Rob and Christal Bailey, International Youth and Discipleship Assistant Director; Drama Division Liaisons – Tony P. and Joy Lane, International Coordinator of Children’s Ministry; Art and Creative Writing Divisions Liaisons – Dr. B. Randall and Rhonda Parris, International Coordinator of Discipleship and Leadership; and Bible Division Liaisons – Mark and Jody Swank, International Coordinator of Youth Missions.
“We congratulate the winners, runners-up, honorable mentions, superiors, and all participants in the 2019 International Teen Talent Competition,” Blair concluded. We pray the Jeremiah Generation will continue to use their gifts for His glory!”