Teen Talent Is Vital Part of General Assembly
By Lindsey Calhoun
From the flow of adrenaline and nerves to the excitement and relief, participating in Teen Talent is always an exhilarating experience. The build up of high energy and anticipation from months of preparation guarantee you will be greeted with a spirited crowd and a memorable performance when you attend Teen Talent, this year staged in the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Teen Talent is a vital part of what takes place at the Church of God General Assembly every two years. This year there are over 3,500 participants not including sponsors or parents that have traveled from around the world to perform and compete against their peers. “There are multiple countries represented this year including Canada, the Caribbean, and England, and the Hispanic representation is the largest in Teen Talent history,” said David Ray, director of youth and Christian education. Diversity has become an intricate detail woven into the international Teen Talent experience.
I took some time to visit the Teen Talent venue where I found a number of enthusiastic participants. Jenna Murphy of Tennessee shares her second national Teen Talent experience competing in female solo. “In February I competed and won at the state level against 40 other girls. Then, in April I began practicing three times a day preparing for nationals.” Jenna faced many challenges during her preparation such as suffering with Mononucleosis only three weeks prior to nationals. “If I could give a piece of advice to others participating I would say to practice, practice, practice, but also prepare your heart for worship.”
It is difficult to fathom as each year passes that the talents performed at Teen Talent excel. Yet, this year improved talent is not the only thing topping the previous Teen Talent. Categories range from music, drama, art, writing, bible, and multi-media and this is the first year that the multi-media category has been on the national level; including areas such as video development, commercials, and long and short films. Also, “Drama is exploding!” Ray explained. “The category is beginning to rival music regarding participants.” Finally, one of the newest features Teen Talent has offered this year is a live streaming of the competition on the website www.YCEChurchofGod.org . Mother of a participant, Barbara Brown, complimented, “I love the live streaming so that the families not able to attend can watch the performances live from their home.”
The theme for Teen Talent is “Our Talent, His Glory.” Josh Brown of Georgia captured just that when he said, “I’m glad God gave me the ability to sing and use my talents for Him.” It is obvious that the youth competing are daily given multiple opportunities to perform. But as Jenna said, “Teen Talent is different. It presents a drive of motivation to prepare and excel.” If you have never had the chance to compete in Teen Talent, I encourage you to start preparing now and get involved! As a former competitor, I assure you that the opportunity of participating and the growth from the experience will be unforgettable.
David Ray stated confidently, “Teen Talent provides a platform where the youth of the Church of God can develop, display, and perfect their God given talents in a Christian environment with the focus of ministry in the local church.”
The week of competition concludes with an awards festival in the Alamodome on Friday, August 8 following the evening service.
