Southwest Region Teams Shine at Bible Bowl Championship

Southwest Region Conference teams showcased their dedication and biblical knowledge at the 2024 National Bible Bowl Championship, with Arlington Metro's senior youth team winning the national title.
February 19, 2025

SOUTH LANCASTER, MASS.  – On Oct. 25 and 26, 2024, nearly 250 players across 39 teams from 10 conferences gathered for the National Bible Bowl Championship at the College Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Lancaster, Mass. 

The Southwest Region Conference has been a part of this event for 25 consecutive years, with four teams from the Arlington Metro Community Seventh-day Adventist Church representing the pre-junior, junior youth, senior youth and adult divisions.

Southwest Region Associate Youth Coordinator Kevin Bruce inspired the participants with an uplifting opening charge on Friday evening, setting a positive and motivating tone for the event. Every team from the Southwest Region had a strong start, performing well in the opening rounds.

In 2023, the senior youth team from Arlington Metro church placed as first runner-up to the senior youth team from Ontario, Canada, in the finals. Before the 2024 event, senior youth team member Debra Mokua shared her anticipation, saying, “I can’t wait to go because I am determined to win this year.” The senior youth team ended the event with an impressive 5-0 record, securing the National Championship after facing the same Canadian team in the finals. Congratulations to the senior youth team for their dedication and months of study. This team included Debra Mokua, Deborah Tachiri (who also served as coach), Tamara Ogato, Caleb Nchore and Deborah Nyabuto.

By the end of the event, all Southwest Region teams had earned at least three wins, a reflection of their hard work and commitment. Each team proudly brought home plaques, celebrating their collective efforts and growth over the weekend.

Bible Bowl is an annual opportunity to dive into the Word of God with Bible Bowl games organized by the Youth Ministries Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and endorsed by the North American Division. The Black Adventist Youth Directors Association (BAYDA) organizes Bible Bowl Nationals that bring together participants from different regions. While the program is sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, individuals from all backgrounds are welcome to participate, starting at the local church level and advancing through various competition tiers. These games are intended to encourage youth, young adults and adults to study the Word of God and to find a degree of enjoyment in doing so. 

Each year youth, young adults and adults within their respective peer groups gather together to play Bible Bowl games. These peer groups are pre-junior (ages 6-9), junior youth (ages 10-15), senior youth (ages 16-22), young adult (ages 23-35) and adult (ages 36 and up). After receiving guidance from their team coaches and conference coordinator, the teams demonstrate their ability to answer random questions from the Scriptures within a four-second time frame and for a total game time of 12 minutes. It's a game of quick recall, a way to demonstrate one’s knowledge of the Word and a sustaining and retaining ministry. Also, it's a way to be blessed, for, as Luke 11:28 says, "blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”