To celebrate the month of the Bible in Guatemala, the Nazland Church of the Nazarene in Guatemala City held its first Bible quizzing competition for adults. About 25 people participated, with ages ranging from 35 to 65 years.

The event was held 27-28 August. The participants were organized into five teams, who studied the Gospel of Matthew in the New International Version. Nohé Pérez, coordinator of Bible quizzing in Guatemala, judged the competition.

The competition took place in an atmosphere of color, laughter, and great joy, said Laura Campos, who co-pastors Nazland with her husband, Wilmer Campos.

"We feel happy and proud of each quizzer who participated, memorized, and worked hard to make this activity possible,” Laura said. “Glory to God for the sacred Scriptures and for a people who seek to know the truth of it!"

Erika Franco, one of the competitors, said she was nervous about trying to memorize the texts.

“I asked God for understanding to memorize, and every time I read the chapters, I felt that God was speaking into my life,” Franco said.

Josefina Ruíz, who placed second in the individual competition, said, “This was definitely a new experience for me. It was very difficult for me to remember some things. One day I felt that I could not memorize, but I prayed and felt how the Father gave me the strength and the intelligence to learn the verses.”

Laura said that some of the most important achievements of this event were intentionally engaging adults in Bible study, familiarizing them with a different version of the Bible than the one they are used to, and strengthening the unity and harmony among adults.

On Sunday, the relatives of the quizzers were invited to attend church, many for the first time.

“The Sunday service was full, as it hadn't been in a long time,” Laura said.

Knowing that first-time visitors could be present, Wilmer shared a hopeful message with the good news of salvation.

Laura Campos said the church wants to hold this event next year also after having witnessed how God blessed everyone through it in many ways.

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica Region