For Benita Washington, winning Gospel Dream Talent Search 2003 has been like the answer to a prayer.

The former Selma resident is currently working on her first recording with Full Gospel Entertainment to be released in July 2004.

The talent search was conducted this past summer during the 10th year celebration of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International Conference, held in Philips Arena in Atlanta.

Washington has since been performing for audiences across the country, including Walt Disney World, The Gospel Music Workshop of America, the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International Leadership Conference and more, with positive reviews, according to Full Gospel Entertainment.

Winning the talent search catapulted Washington, a Nashville optician, into the spotlight as one of gospel music’s brightest new stars.

Currently Washington serves as an alternate praise and worship leader at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Nashville.

Launched in July 2001, Full Gospel Entertainment is owned by the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship International Inc. The purpose of Full Gospel Entertainment is to introduce a new generation of entertainment with diversity and unique identity on behalf of the Full Gospel Church Fellowship.

The purpose of the competition was to discover new gospel music talent. A field of more than 500 contestants was narrowed down by a panel judges to 10, and the final competition was taped on July 9.

The show was aired on BET Television Network.

Full Gospel Entertainment has announced that its next talent search will take place Jan. 5-8, 2004, in Houston.