America's Got Talent Top 10

We're down to the finals in season four of America's Got Talent.
The winner will be announced tonight (9/16) live on NBC.
Here's how I'm ranking the final 10 contestants (1 being the highest):

(10) Drew Stevyns
(09) Grandma Lee
(08) Hairo Torres
(07) Fab Five
(06) Recycled Percussion
(05) Voices of Glory
(04) Lawrence Beamen
(03) Kevin Skinner
(02) Barbara Padillia
(01) Texas Tenors

The Tenors have been among the best on a consistent basis. Barbara has an incredible voice, but can only do opera. The trio from Texas can do a wide range of music and would, in my mind, be a better Las Vegas act. I'm rooting for my fellow Kentuckian Kevin Skinner, but I don't see him taking the top spot.
It's been great. I can't wait for season five.

- Greg Herriford

Teen Mission Notes (August, 2009)

I hope and pray you had a great Labor Day weekend. Here's a look at the recently-completed month of August:

As the month of August began, Kelly, the girls and I took a few days a went to Louisville and southern Indiana. We took in a Louisville Bats game and spent a day at Holiday World in Santa Clause, IN.
I'm not a big amusement park person, but I did like Holiday World. It was very affordable and family friendly. I highly recommend it as a good family destination.
The girls went back to school on Wednesday, August 12th. Kelly went back to work (in a local school's cafeteria) a few days prior.
While the summer is fun, it's good to have the family back in a routine. It's a lot easier on the wallet, too!
Concerning Teen Mission, August is a nice change of pace. It's usually my first chance to catch my breath since the late winter/early spring.
During the month, I was able to have a lot of meetings with folks as we begin looking ahead to the fall and beyond. Here's some of what's been happening with Teen Mission:

TWICE ANNUAL
Our 2nd call letter went out in early August. In the spring, we had a nice response to our Twice Annual mailing with over $7,500 raised.
Historically, though, the 2nd call letter has not been as well received as the spring one. Regardless, it has given some relief during the late summer/early fall.

FALL BANQUET (10.15.09)
Our annual fall banquet will be Thursday, October 15th at the Gardenside Christian Church Gym (940 Holly Springs Dr; Lexington, KY 40504).
The theme will be: “Honoring the Past…Looking to the Future.”
We’ll have a meal followed by music from the Messengers, a very popular Southern Gospel quartet.
Our program will involve honoring Wayne B Smith, the longtime minister at Southland Christian Church (Lexington, KY), and arguably the most beloved preacher in our brotherhood.
Wayne has always been a great friend of Teen Mission and he was very helpful in getting Ken get Teen Mission “off the ground” in the late 1960s/early 1970s.
We will close the evening's events by updating folks about where Teen Mission is heading with future ministry efforts.

2010 MISSION JOURNEYS
Work on next year's mission trips is already underway.
The Mission Journeys web site, www.missionjourneys.org, has been updated and has a tentative 2010 list posted. A 2010 Mission Journey newsletter will be available sometime in late September/early October.

TEEN MISSION, USA, BOARD MEETING (09.14.09)
The Teen Mission, USA, quarterly board meeting will be on Monday, September 14, 11:30 am @ Gardenside Christian Church (940 Holly Springs Dr; Lexington KY 40504).

In Him,
Greg Herriford (Teen Mission, USA )