Adventist Virtual Library Crowns Winners in First Online Bible Contest
Yanet Cima (left), in charge of the Adventist Virtual Library displays the awards for finalists alongside Heidi Baez (right), librarian of the Adventist Virtual Library, during the livestreamed event from Miami, Florida, on Sept. 23, 2025. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
September 26, 2025 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News
The Inter-American Division’s Adventist Virtual Library (BiVA) crowned winners of its inaugural online Bible contest for middle- and high-school students during a Sept. 23 Miami, Florida, livestream that brought together 11 finalists from across the division’s unions.
Alicia Hidalgo of the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union claimed first place, answering 37 of 40 questions correctly for 410 points in 2:24. Contestants faced four rounds of 10 multiple-choice questions drawn from Judges 1–21 and Ellen G. White’s Patriarchs and Prophets, chapters 53–54.
Winner of BiVA Bible Reading Contest Alicia Hidalgo is embraced by her parents as soon as her name was called as the winner. [Photo: Screenshot]
As Hidalgo’s name was announced, she was embraced by her smiling parents as the online audience celebrated.
Why it Matters
“This is the first time the Adventist Virtual Library has organized such a contest to promote the habit of Bible reading,” said Yanet Cima, who oversees BiVA in the IAD. “We want to help K–12 students develop a closer relationship with God through the study of the Bible.”
Top three winners for this year’s Adventist Virtual Library Bible Reading Contest. [Image: Adventist Virtual Library]
Inter-American Division President Pastor Abner De los Santos highlighted the purpose behind the initiative. “The Bible is more than a source of knowledge; it is a tool of transformation,” he said. “God wants children and young people to grow, serve, and ultimately be with Him.”
He shared that every morning the first thing he does is open the Bible, study a chapter, and ask how it applies to his life. “We need faith—and faith must be rightly focused on God and His Word; ‘faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God’ (Romans 10:17).”
Abner De los Santos, Inter-American Division president, speaks during the online Bible contest finale in Miami, urging students to make the Bible a “tool of transformation,” Sept. 23, 2025. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
Cima thanked teachers in IAD primary and secondary schools for championing the initiative and acknowledged the support of parents. “It’s exciting to see how many young students participated across hundreds of Adventist schools, moving through several rounds at the school, local field, and union levels before reaching this finale,” she said. While not all schools entered the contest rounds, many actively engaged in the reading program, she said. “We expect even more participation next year.”
The top three winners will receive a division-funded one-year scholarship. Throughout the year, BiVA supported students with a microsite for reading sessions, note-taking, and review. The quiz ran on the IAD’s Bible Connection platform, long used by youth ministries for Bible competitions.
Certificates and awards each finalist will receive for participating in this year’s Bible reading contest. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]
BiVA announced the launch of a new app to simplify access to digital resources for students and teachers.
Cima invited students to begin preparing now for next year’s Bible reading contest on Sept. 22, 2026, and said Adventist teachers will participate in a special contest on Ellen G. White’s Adventist Education on Oct. 3, 2026.
“The important thing is not what you don’t understand, but what you do understand—apply that, and your faith will grow,” De los Santos said, encouraging students to keep their Bibles open long after the contest ends.
Final scores of the bible reading contest. [Image: Adventist Virtual Library]
To watch the event, click
HERE for English
HERE for Spanish
HERE for French