May 2006The Bible Quiz MinistryThe purpose of the NYI Bible Quiz Ministry (BQM) is “To get our youth into God’s Word and the Word into their lives.” This ministry of helping youth to explore the details of God’s Word through the challenge of competition continues to demonstrate its real value in training our NYI members in both scriptural knowledge and personal discipleship development.
This past year again had many examples of this and the strength of the existing volunteer support structure. Several of these stories from the USA, Mexico, Africa and other world areas, have been published on the website www.NYITODAY.org. From the joy of having the first Korean Quiz Tournament at the Global convention to the plans to expecting over 1,000 in attendance at the next USA/Canada General Bible Quiz (GBQ) event this coming summer, BQM is on the move.
The challenge ahead, however, is not a small one. For several years now, this ministry has been introduced and implemented in global fields where individual leaders (usually experienced ex-quizzers) have shared their passion for the ministry. Regional NYI leaders have also been sharing introductory materials at regional training sessions. Today, there are strong ministries active in Central America, the Caribbean, and many fields in Africa. There also are or have been ministries in other fields such as Italy, Portugal, France, and Papua New Guinea, and the new start in Korea. While this method of growth has been useful, there are many parts of our youth organization that are either not aware of this ministry option or do not know who to contact or where to start.
A ministry strategy has been developed to provide a more organized, effective, and measurable approach to improve the opportunity for the use of this ministry in local congregations around our world.
Leader AwarenessOne of the greatest needs that exist is to do all we can to inform our youth leaders of the value and benefits of BQM (not as a required element but as an available method for developing and encouraging Bible study and discipleship).
• To accomplish this, training is being planned for the January 2007 Johannesburg events and will be available to regional events as requested.
• Planned attendance at the SE Europe Youth conference August 2006
• Possible attendance and training in Asia-Pac in 2007
• Training materials need to be reviewed, revised or developed as needed to aid in the communication of the BQM values and methods. This effort will require essential insight and advice from Field leaders.
Another need is to enable exposure to and transfer of the passion for this ministry from youth and adults who have experience to local youth and leaders.
• This kind of firsthand exposure and ownership have been shown as valuable results from close cooperation of World Mission and the NYI via Youth in Mission, YouthServe, Work & Witness, and Mission Corps.
• Plans to connect with local leaders during Mission Corp assignments related to planned training opportunities.
• Working with Missions, plans can be put together for BQM work and witness project to not only share the passion and value of the ministry but to encourage the walk of all participants.
Another significant challenge is the matter of having the BQM materials, such as questions and study guides, translated into multiple languages.
• This is a matter that requires close cooperation and coordination with WML department, Field Literature committees, and NPH. It also requires funding ($1,500) for each year’s materials in each language. (This year’s USA major BQM tournaments are raising mission offerings for this specific cause.)
• $4-5,000 already collected for translations.
• Need to establish annual translation assignments for additional languages like MAC has been doing for Spanish
• Take advantage of combined NYI contributions, Regional WML, Global NYI, and Global WML funding for on-going translations.
Anyone who has been exposed to BQM is aware that some amount of equipment is usually needed for the competitive “jumping” that takes place. While this equipment is not essential for the key values of the study sessions at the local level, it can be very helpful in the competition setting.
• This equipment is available in a variety of forms from simple battery-operated lights to complete computer scoring systems. Historically, there has been good support from existing BQM organizations at all levels to give or fund the purchase of needed equipment. We will seek to continue this practice.
• In addition to donations for the purchase of equipment, there are a number of local, district, and regional sets of “experienced” equipment that is being replaced by computer sets. These can be collected and redistributed to the Global ministry as needed.
• Trophy collection and redistribution is still possible as we identify needs.
At the heart of this approach is the need for a person in each region (and field where possible) to be a BQM coordinator. At the regional level, this person will be a member of the Global Quiz Council (GQC).
• The purpose of this council is to enable youth leaders in all world areas to nurture the study of God’s Word through the ministry and concept of Bible Quizzing.
• The approach will be to equip youth leaders through training, resourcing, direct support, networking and improved communications among all the global programs.
• The vision is for this ministry to become a key element in basic youth ministry and New Start tool sets adapted to each region and cultural need.
Efforts will be made to quantify and track our progress as we go forward so that there are reasonably clear measurements of our progress in the number of youth that are being touched by this ministry.
• Improved communication is an important and key element for expanding this ministry. Newsletters and the new Global Bible Quiz Web page will be intended to provide a place for the sharing of resources, stories, challenges and blessings.
• A vital key to our growth and useful communication is the response and input from our regional and field leadership. Please let us know what is helpful and needed in your ministry plans.
VisionFinally, we have a vision for the next Global NYI Convention. Along with the plan to hold the 2009 Convention at multiple global sites, the opportunity exists to also conduct multiple BQM tournaments at those same sites. Quizzing has been a traditional part of NYI Conventions since 1964 and it is only natural, as the NYI expands its convention boundaries, that truly international BQM tournament celebrations be included.
ObservationIn a recent conversation with a local pastor in Ecuador, another opportunity was highlighted. There was an expressed desire to have a tool like BQM for his whole church… This immediately reinforced the desire to be bridging with Sunday School ministries toward the vision of easing the transition between Children’s and NYI Quizzing and helping to make Children’s Quizzing available globally also.
ETC.Then, there are the opportunities for using field-translated materials in congregations here in the U.S. that worship in that language. For example, 4 local Korean youth groups this past summer (from major U.S. cities) were involved in the USA NYI in a new way because the BQM material was translated into their language.
These truly are exciting days for the NYI Bible Quizzing Ministry and I am pleased to bring this report of our plans to continue its growth and value to the Kingdom.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dan Reinhart
NYI Global Quizzing Consultant