HOWARD Brown is the epitome of determination.

After five successive years of entering the competition, he was selected this year’s winner in the Jamaica Gospel Festival finals at the Ranny Williams Entertainment Centre in St Andrew on Sunday.

An emotional Brown, with tears streaming down his face, broke down as he performed his entry A Word From You.

“I’ve been trying for five years. This is the first time I am in the finals,” he told the cheering crowd as his voice cracked.

“Follow your dreams. When people tell you that you not gonna make it, follow your dreams,” he continued, after pausing from his song to speak with the audience on hand.

The singer had to be helped from the stage.

In an with interview with the Jamaica Observer, the singer was still teary-eyed.

“I am so grateful. I’ve been trying for years, but it’s just God, He did this,” he said, before being led away by a member of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission’s team.

For his victory, Brown earned $400,000, a plaque and gift baskets. In addition to the main prize, Brown also won the Spirit of Praise Award for his song.

Other winners for that evening were: second-placed winner Vennica Nicholson, who earned $200,000 for her entry song Victory; and third-placed Leroy Richards for Mi Nah Give Up.

Best Arranged Song went to Taneisha Mills for Never Give Up On Jesus while Vennica Nicholson earned Best Performance.

Earlier in the programme, all finalists started off performing their choice of past entrants before singing their own.

Finalist Dionne Collins gave a highly charged performance with her entry song I’m Going Through.

“I was ready to give up and commit suicide. I said I was going to church for the last time, but I got a word not to give up,” she said during her performance.

“Any problem you’re having, trust God,” she encouraged.

Guest artistes for the evening were Jermaine Edwards and last year’s winner Levy’s Heritage, who spiced things up with their jazzy One Touch.