May 30, 2010 – Miami, Florida, United States…[Libna Stevens/IAD]
Inter-America’s Youth Ministries department concluded its annual Bible initiative with its Super Bible Bowl event during a special live program held at the Inter-American Division (IAD) headquarters in Miami, Florida, on May 20. It was an initiative that began six years ago with the first division-wide Bible Bowl, an annual competition which has inspired more than one million youth throughout the territory to study their Bibles for a chance to compete.
Top winners from each of the previous five Bible Bowls participated in this year’s competition. Glimar Garcia Oliveira of the Cuban Union won first place, becoming the Super Bible Bowl Champion and receiving an all-expenses-paid trip to the upcoming General Conference Session in Atlanta, Georgia, as a youth delegate.
Garcia came out on top with a score of 520 points and a nearly perfect score answering 50 multiple-choice questions. The questions concerned the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Proverbs, Song of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Isaiah, and Revelation, during the two-hour competition.
Garcia, 32, the winner of the 2008 Bible Bowl in Colombia, said preparing for the Super Bible Bowl was a challenge yet a true blessing.
“Just the fact that I was able to come here is a true blessing for me,” said Garcia. “Studying all these books of the Bible have truly enriched my life and I thank God for this wonderful opportunity to have a closer relationship with Him through his Word.”
Garcia, who is married and a father of three children, relocated to the United States after his win in 2008. His main method of studying for the competition was memorizing complete chapters of the assigned Bible books— a method he encourages other young people to follow.
Motivating young people to study the Bible has been at the heart of the Youth Ministries department during the past six years, according to Pastor Bernardo Rodriguez, youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America.
“We have always strived to emphasize to our young people throughout the territory to build a closer relationship with God through the reading and studying of the Holy Bible,” said Pastor Rodriguez. “Through this Bible Bowl initiative, the church leadership in our unions, fields and churches have seen a real fire for the Word of God in our young people which has in turn has created a wonderful spirit of unity and fellowship.”
“When we study the Word of God every day, we are champions in Christ Jesus–that’s been our goal this quinquennium,” Pastor Rodriguez added.
Second place winner Federico Daniel Mendez of the Central Mexican Union also feels like a champion. A participant in three Bible Bowls, and was the finalist in last year’s competition in Martinique.
Mendez, 22, said memorizing the Bible and participating in dozens of local Bible competitions in Mexico City only brings rewards.
“We have more to gain than just a prize for we are all winners,” Mendez said.
It’s the same for Neyda Perez of the Dominican Union, who tied with Mendez with a score of 510 points during the final competition. The winner of 2005’s Bible bowl winner on the book “Messages to Young People,” Perez said she began to study the assigned Bible books after the Super Bible Bowl was announced two years ago.
“I’m so thankful to God for this experience,” said Perez.
Although Perez tied for second, she was awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to represent the youth of the Dominican Republic at the church’s next month’s General Conference session in Atlanta.
Coming in third with 505 points was Bilgai Abner Cruz of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union. Cruz, the 2006 Bible Bowl winner, participated live via the internet and telephone because he was unable to obtain his travel visa to the United States.
“You are all winners,” said Pastor Rodriguez. “It’s been a real privilege to see the youth in Inter-America motivated to study the Scriptures.”
Benjamin Aguilar Lopez of the North Mexican Union came in fourth. Aguilar, the 2007 winner, said that participating in the Bible bowl was one reason he is studying to become a pastor.
“Studying the Bible helped me to see the Bible from another perspective, and has given me certain direction in my life,” he said.
Each of the five finalists was given a cash prize from Inter-America’s Health Food Company and books from Inter-America’s Publishing Association.
Garcia also won a unique Bible illustrated by children around the world from a representative of the Israeli Press.
Awards of recognition went to top church leaders of the unions which hosted the five previous competitions.
Pastor Rodriguez publicly thanked Juan Carlos Nino, software developer for special projects for the church in Inter-America, who wrote the interactive software the Bible Bowl competitors use on their computers. He designed the software after the popular United States television gameshow “Who wants to be a Millionaire.” Nino’s software can function in English, Spanish, and French, the three main languages of the territory.
At the conclusion of the event, Pastor Rodriguez announced the books of the Bible, as voted by Inter-America’s Executive Committee, which will be the focus for the next four Bible Bowls:
2011 – Acts of the Apostles to be held in Puerto Rico
2012 – Galatians to Hebrews – to be held in Trinidad and Tobago
2013 – Minor Prophets – Hosea to Malachi – to be held in Cuba
2014 – Inter-America’s Super Bible Bowl – Miami, Florida
“Our goal is to have more young people involved in the reading and studying of the Bible,” reaffirmed Rodriguez. “We want 100 percent of the youth in our territory to treasure the Scriptures and be ready for Jesus soon return.”
Inter-America’s Super Bible Bowl was streamed live over the internet. To view a photo gallery of the event, click here.
