By Jim Nieman
There were at least two “firsts” at this year’s Bible Bowl National Tournament: It was the first time the national event was hosted by a college—in this case, Johnson University Tennessee in Knoxville—and the Individual Written Test saw its first three-time winner: Madeline Hansen of Bear Creek Christian Church, Rochester, Minnesota.
And the bad news for the other test takers? Madeline has three more years of eligibility.
“What she has done is incredible,” said Josiah Gorman, executive director of Bible Bowl. “She is a very knowledgeable young lady.”
Madeline has competed on the Individual Written Test for four years, finishing second the first year and winning it the next three, Gorman said. She just finished her freshman year of high school. (Over the years, there have been only two repeat winners on the Individual Written Test, he said.)
And, lest we fail to mention, Madeline’s team, Bear Creek Christian Church (Team 1), won the Double-Elimination Tournament with a perfect 7-0 record and also won the Team Test Average. (Pictured in the photo at top is Bear Creek Team 1, from left to right: Parker Hansen, Madeline Hansen, Mitchell Grabau, and Brianna Boyer.)
The runner-up in the double elimination tournament was Southeast Christian Church (Team 2), Louisville, Ky., followed by Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Team 1), Greenwood, Ind., in third place.
The runner-up in the Team Test Average was Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Team 1), followed by Bear Creek (Team 2) in third.
Bible Bowl contestants this year studied and were tested on the books of Romans, Hebrews, and James.
The national competition went “very well,” Gorman said. “Johnson University was a very good host.”
The university welcomed 53 teams and 212 competitors for the national tournament, June 17-21. Overall, 225 teams and 939 players competed in Bible Bowl this past year, Gorman said. Participation has gradually increased over the past few years.
Tournament play for the next regular season of Bible Bowl will begin in early October. The focus of competition next year will be “Heroes of the Old Testament,” with competitors quizzed on Scripture dealing with the lives of Joseph, David, Elijah, Elisha, Daniel, and Esther.
Next year’s Bible Bowl National Tournament will take place at Johnson University Florida, in Kissimmee, June 16-20.
If your church is interested in competing in Bible Bowl, go to https://home.biblebowl.org. The national competition is for students in grades 6 to 12 (known as Teen Bible Bowl). Beginner Bowl is for students in grades 3 to 5.
Here are the top 5 finishers in the various categories from the most recent national tournament.
DOUBLE-ELIMINATION
- Bear Creek Christian Church (Team 1), Rochester, Minn.
- Southeast Christian Church (Team 2), Louisville, Ky.
- Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Team 1), Greenwood, Ind.
- Indian Creek Christian Church (Team 1), Indianapolis, Ind.
- Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Team 3), Greenwood, Ind.
INDIVIDUAL WRITTEN TEST
- Madeline Hansen, Bear Creek Christian Church, Rochester, Minn.
- Andrew Charlton, Mount Pleasant Christian Church, Greenwood, Ind.
- Parker Hansen, Bear Creek Christian Church, Rochester, Minn.
- Reagan Haise, Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky.
- Abigail Haagen, First Christian Church, Kernersville, N.C.
TEAM TEST AVERAGE
- Bear Creek Christian Church (Team 1), Rochester, Minn.
- Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Team 1), Greenwood, Ind.
- Bear Creek Christian Church (Team 2), Rochester, Minn.
- Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Team 2), Greenwood, Ind.
- Southeast Christian Church (Team 2), Louisville, Ky.
Go online to see the complete results: http://biblebowl.org/Stats.aspx?VSN=BBX&FILE=Teen_Nationals.txt&CODE=Teen_Nationals&TOURN=Teen:_Nationals&SEASON=2018&MONTH=0
(SEE PHOTOS OF THE SECOND- AND THIRD-PLACE TEAMS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS ARTICLE.)
Jim Nieman serves as managing editor of Christian Standard.
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NEWS BRIEFS
Cecil Todd is entering his 70th year of Christian ministry. Todd started Revival Fires Ministry in Missouri in 1964. He has preached in more than 30 countries and made numerous trips to post-Cold War Russia, where he started a church and distributed more than 2 million Bibles. Todd also had a weekly television program that aired nationally for 20 years.
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At its annual Heartland Celebration of Freedom which culminated in a fireworks display, Third City Christian Church in Grand Island, Neb., presented its second annual “Freedom Award” to a local deputy sheriff whose daughter is struggling with cancer. The award includes a significant monetary gift. The event, now in its 16th year, began as a response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
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Edge|X, a conference for leaders (emerging, seasoned, bold, creative, business, and others) is set for Oct. 5 at Traders Point Christian Church in Indianapolis. Up to 3,000 people are expected for the half-day conference that starts at 9 a.m. Among the speakers this year will be former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy. General admission is $99. Learn more here.
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The Southwest Indiana Restoration Preaching Rally is slated for Oct. 5 and 6 at Camp Illiana in Washington, Ind. Among those preaching will be evangelist Tony Sullivan of Atlanta, Kerry Allen of Person to Person Ministries in Hillsboro, Ohio, and evangelist Kendall Faull of New Whiteland, Ind. More information is available here.
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Kingsway Christian Church in Avon, Ind., hosted the Hendricks County Rib Fest and Avon Balloon Glow on June 29. The event featured a 5K run and live entertainment, games, tethered balloon rides, and fireworks.
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South Rock Christian Church in Derby, Kan., hosted its third-annual “Mud Run @ the Rock” event earlier this year. The two-mile run included 20 obstacles participants had to climb over or crawl under—many of which were wet and muddy, of course.
The two-mile run included 20 obstacles participants had to climb over or crawl under—many of which were wet and muddy, of course.
The money raised is being used to send the church’s middle and high school students to Christ in Youth’s Mix and Move gatherings.
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Members of East 91st Street Christian Church in Indianapolis participated in Jubilee Village Project’s “Walk for Water” Aug. 4 to raise awareness and funds for those around the world who struggle to find clean drinking water.
In the 3-mile “Walk for Water,” participants carry a 5-gallon bucket of water to gain understanding of what women and children around the world experience as they gather water for their families.
Funds raised from the walk will be used to bring safe water to rural villages in western Kenya through Jubilee Village Project.
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More Bible Bowl Photos
Southeast Christian Church (Team 2) was the runner-up finisher in the double-elimination tournament. Team members include, from to right: Nicolas Askew, Jonathan Jackson, and Christopher Dowdy.
Mount Pleasant Christian Church (Team 1) finished third in the double-elimination tournament and second in the Team Test Average. Members include, from left to right: Andrew Charlton, Ethan Simpson, Meredith Charlton, and Naomi Dumitrescu.
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