Friday, July 29, 2022 |St. John’s, Antigua | Calesia Thibou
Sabbath, July 16, 2022, brought the excitement of months of preparation to a climax. The second annual Antigua and Barbuda island-wide Adventurer Bible Connection Challenge had arrived. The grand finale of the Adventurer Bible Connection Challenge saw 13 Adventurers from the various churches around the island coming together to display to the world their diligence and commitment to the study of the Word of God in an explosive and thrilling Bible challenge hosted at the St. John’s Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The challenge began at 4:30 p.m. with a warm welcome. Opening remarks and prayer were done by Director Calesia Thibou of the Villa Adventurer Club. The very energetic assistant island coordinator, Maribaine Romeo, led the spirited Adventurers in reciting the Adventurer Song, Law, and Pledge.
The Seaglans Adventurers then conducted the praise in motion segment with a beautiful rendition of the song “Thank You Lord”. They were followed by the Youth Ministries director, Pastor Carl Hastings, whose words of encouragement for the Adventurers and the team of Youth Ministries leaders really set the tone for an exciting event. The congregation was favoured with a beautiful instrumental rendition by the All Saints Adventurers “When the Saints Go Marching In”.
Poised and ready for action, the 13 Adventurers listened as Area Coordinator Browne shared the instructions. The Adventurers had been training for months for this very moment and like a well-oiled machine, they began as the first question popped up on their screens. The challenge was on as their quick responses demonstrated that they were all ready to put their knowledge to the test.
The young Adventurer scholars dressed in full uniform brought to mind that wonderful quotation by E.G White “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world!”—“Education,” page 271. The questions in Rounds 1 and 2 were based on Revelation chapters 1 - 4, 12 and 20 - 22 and The Great Controversy chapters 4 and 42. It must be noted that as fast as Island Coordinator Galloway could upload the questions, they were answered with lightning speed. At times, even before they were read out in the hearing of the congregation by Area Coordinator Ronis Browne, the Adventurers had already submitted their answers.
With the first round completed, the privilege was given to Pastor Sherwin White to interview the champions. The Adventures shared insights of their journey as they prepared for this challenge. This served to be both informative and entertaining for all. The children were not the only ones put on the spot as Pastor White engaged some of the parents and friends of our young soldiers in a short question and answer section. The Bible Connection warriors sat poised and smiling as they eagerly awaited the start of round two.
During the second round, the audience listened attentively as every question was read out by Area Coordinator Browne. The Adventurers on the other hand, read and answered each question as they popped up on their devices to ensure they would be the first to give the correct answer. The challenge was intense as each Adventurer battled for the desired first place.
As Island Coordinator Galloway and her team recorded the scores of each Adventurer, the parents were placed in the hot seat and participated in the trivia segment, “Parents Bible Connection Challenge”. The congregation was divided into two teams, males and females. It was clear from the scores 6 to 6 that, the parents had indeed played an integral role in getting their Adventurers ready for the challenge as they rattled off the correct answers to the various questions posed by assistant island coordinator, Loy Weste.
When the last question was read and the last answer was submitted, Sean-Marie Samuel from the All Saints Adventurer Club emerged the winner followed by Jordan Weste from the St. Johns Adventurer Club in second place while Ramique Mascall from the New Winthropes Adventurer Club claimed the third position in the Adventurer Bible Connection Challenge, 2022.
Of course, every Adventurer is and was a winner in the Bible Connection Challenge and no one went home empty-handed with various prizes and certificates being distributed to every single Adventurer participant.
This Adventurers Bible Connection Challenge achieved and surpassed all expectations as a fun-filled and exciting session filled with songs, instrumentals, trivia, games, prizes and so much more.
Make plans now to be a part of the 2023 Adventurer Bible Connection Challenge, it promises to be even better. The prayer of the Antigua and Barbuda Adventurer ministry is that the Adventurers will continue to be champions for Jesus beyond this Bible Connection Challenge event through continued daily study of the Word of God. We hope that every participant who took place in this challenge will strive in such a way that they may all win the ultimate prize and that they will press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.