November 8, 2019 | Miami, Florida United States | Libna Stevens/IAD
Regional Bible Connection competitions have now finished across Inter-America’s major church territories, setting the stage for the finals later this month in Curaçao. The 24 young finalists will go head-to-head to test their knowledge of the books of Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther in front of a live audience. The event will be shown live on the internet on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019.
The event becomes the 16th annual territory-wide competition initiative in which thousands of young people throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Inter-American Division have dug deep into the assigned bible books in an effort to enrich their spiritual life and promote a lifelong habit of studying the Scriptures, church leaders said.
“Studying the Bible needs to be the most important habit for a young person,” said Pastor Al Powell, youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America, and main organizer of the event. “It grounds them in faith and provides the guidance for young people to face their many challenges and helps develop a relationship with Christ.”
Thousands of young people finished off regional competitions from the church, district, conference/mission and union levels by September and October, said Powell. In addition, thousands of children completed church and district bible competitions in their respective Adventurer and Pathfinder clubs where they live.
“We are excited to have young people travel to Curaçao, meet each other and testify of their experience in clinging to God’s Word so far this year,” said Powell. “Studying the Bible is also an opportunity for young people to understand their call to service, to commit their lives to God and be used in a mighty way.”
This year’s finalists per union include:
Atlantic Caribbean Union: Torri Knowles
Belize Union: Noelle Copoe
Caribbean Union: Xabina Hamilton
Central Mexican Union: Jessica Lupercio
Chiapas Mexican Union: Verónica Solis Sánchez
Cuba Union: Hector Zaldívar Cabrera
Dominican Union: Altagracia Avelino Frias
Dutch Caribbean Union: Jean Maurice Faneyte
East Venezuela Union: Jesus Zamora
El Salvador Union: Edith Meza López
French Antilles Guiana Union: Jemina Priscille Louis
Guatemala Union: Hilda López
Haitian Union: Mackenson Codio
Honduras Union: Belkis Gómez García
Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union: Tonny Martinez Gregorio
Jamaica Union: Kamesha Chambers
North Colombia Union: Gleidis Polo Marimón
North Mexican Union: Rosa Higuera Morales
Panama Union: Moisés Puerta Cueto
Puerto Rico: Johany Pérez Colón
South Central American Union: Emmanuel Aguirre Páez
South Colombia Union: Fabian Yamith Tovar
South Mexican Union: Stephanie Dionisio González
West Venezuela Union: Ricardo Zamora
To watch Inter-America’s Bible Connection finale competition on Nov. 23, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. Miami Time, visit us at webcast.interamerica.org