United in Song

The popularity of singing competitions has apparently made its way across the world to Myanmar. LHM—Myanmar (known locally as Word of Hope) held a Valentine’s Day singing competition in Yangon that attracted almost 450 young people to participate. This was the first outreach program that LHM—Myanmar specifically targeted to youth.

The organizers of the competition reached out to youth from many different church denominations, as well as other religions. But the focus of the contest was the Gospel message and how young people could live fulfilled, Christ-centered lives.

Participants were judged based on their performance of three Christian songs. The winners received 100,000 Kyat (the equivalent of US$50). There were cash prizes for second and third place winners also.

“We gave cash prizes because all the other secular songs competitions attract youth with high cash amounts. Our cash prize is still significantly less than the secular world but it got the youth interested,” said one of the LHM—Myanmar staff.