Second Annual Youth Speech Contest
FOREST HILL, TEX. – Public speaking, like riding a bicycle, is a skill that is best acquired through practice. As you can imagine, the benefits of public speaking are numerous and advantageous for academics, social life and personal growth for our youth. By providing opportunities and activities for our youth to engage in, we can help them improve this valuable skill.
On March 23, 2024, the second annual Youth Speech Contest was held at Forest Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church. Jamal Williams, youth director at Canyon Creek Project Seventh-day Adventist Church, shared this idea last year, and I felt impressed to have our AY department host such an event. After a successful first competition, we decided to make this an annual event.
The speech contest was divided into two divisions: a junior division, and a senior division. The awards included a first ($200), second ($100) and third ($50) place prize per age division, along with trophies and medallions. Participants had to choose from a list of topics established by the judges LaTavya Foster, Lawanna McCoy, Johnny Mckenzie, Jonathan Knoll and Alison Hill, and write an original speech applying the topic to biblical principles. The topics included time management, friendship and change.
Our junior division contestants included Isaac Murray (first place) and Abigael Mokua (second place); our senior division contestants included Debra Mokua (first place), Gabrielle Ekwue (second place), Reagan Wilson (third place) and Caleb Lewis.
Though the contestants were nervous, they shined, and we learned many facts from their speeches.
I pray that this event will continue to grow each year, motivating young people to continue to polish their public speaking abilities, challenge themselves, recognize their potential and build their confidence. But most importantly, they will be able to apply God’s Word to the knowledge they obtain and share with others, spreading the gospel as God has commanded us to do.
Please look for information to come regarding the third annual speech contest. My hope is that this event be not only for a specific church or conference, but a union and maybe eventually a General Conference event for all our youth. Dream big!
By Linda Murray
