DES MOINES—Grandview Park Baptist Church hosted its 50th annual Iowa Talents For Christ competition on April 5. Though the categories in which teens competed varied greatly, the purpose behind the competition is the same: to encourage young people to use their abilities in their churches. Eight teens were awarded college scholarships for first or second place ($1,000 and $500 respectively). They are now eligible to compete in the national Talents For Christ scholarship competition June 23–27 at the GARBC Conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. Fourteen additional students competing in the non-scholarship competition also placed high enough to compete nationally. Iowa’s Talents For Christ is open not only to high schoolers but also to junior high students. “Their competition is a little less stringent, but gives younger students the opportunity to see what the competition is all about, and encouragement to serve in their local churches,” says Chad Hol, pastor of Missionary Baptist Church, Carlisle, Iowa, and director of Iowa’s TFC. Pastor Hol says, “Talents For Christ would not be possible without all those who volunteer their time to judge the competition and help sharpen our students’ skills. So thank you, judges, for the time and energy you have spent ministering to this upcoming generation for the glory of the Lord!”DES MOINES—Grandview Park Baptist Church hosted its 50th annual Iowa Talents For Christ competition on April 5. Though the categories in which teens competed varied greatly, the purpose behind the competition is the same: to encourage young people to use their abilities in their churches. Eight teens were awarded college scholarships for first or second place ($1,000 and $500 respectively). They are now eligible to compete in the national Talents For Christ scholarship competition June 23–27 at the GARBC Conference in St. Petersburg, Fla. Fourteen additional students competing in the non-scholarship competition also placed high enough to compete nationally. Iowa’s Talents For Christ is open not only to high schoolers but also to junior high students. “Their competition is a little less stringent, but gives younger students the opportunity to see what the competition is all about, and encouragement to serve in their local churches,” says Chad Hol, pastor of Missionary Baptist Church, Carlisle, Iowa, and director of Iowa’s TFC. Pastor Hol says, “Talents For Christ would not be possible without all those who volunteer their time to judge the competition and help sharpen our students’ skills. So thank you, judges, for the time and energy you have spent ministering to this upcoming generation for the glory of the Lord!”