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Contents:
1. Q2002-BEYOND QUIZZING
2. WHAT DOES SPORTSMANSHIP LOOK LIKE?
3. YOU'RE HERE TO PLANT A WHAT?
(By Joel Mullen, Eurasia regional quiz director and former quizzer)
4. WHAT IF THE CORINTHIANS HAD ASKED PAUL ABOUT BQMS? (By Roger Sauter, Washington Pacific district)
5. GUYANA QUIZ Q2002
(By Joel Greene, Caribbean region)
6. 2001-2002 INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
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Q2002- BEYOND QUIZZING
Have you registered your team for Q2002 yet? Registration ends April 30th. Don't miss your chance to participate
in the fun, the ministry, and the quizzing at Q2002. If you need more information contact your district quiz director
or email us at nyiquiz@nazarene.org.
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WHAT DOES SPORTSMANSHIP LOOK LIKE? (By Nicole Morrow, Global
Ministry Assistant)
On the last episode of the television show "Survivor," Colby, the final contestant, had a challenging
decision to make. He had received "immunity," which in Survivor language meant that he couldn't be voted
off the game by the other contestants. Two other contestants remained as well, Tina and Keith. Colby had to vote
one of them off the show. Keith had made a lot of enemies. Tina on the other hand had become everybody's friend.
She was supportive, gracious, and diplomatic.
If Colby voted to eliminate Tina, Colby would certainly win against Keith. Compared to Keith, Colby had many friends
and was fairly likable. But if he voted to eliminate Keith, his chances against Tina were slim. Faced with that
decision, Colby still voted to eliminate Keith. Colby's comments afterwards was something like: "If I lose
to Tina there is no one in the world better to lose to."
In the last Quizupdate, there was an article about burning questions (jumping to gain an advantage without necessarily
intending to answer the question). We received many responses some of which say that by burning questions quizzers
are taught to play the game to the best of their ability. Others said that by burning questions one quizzer is
put at a disadvantage by another quizzer. Here are some of the comments that we received.
"I have seen teams at events be outright joyous about burning a question. This is something we need to try
to share as being wrong. It leaves everyone feeling bad and disappointed."
"I have the highest respect for quizzers who quiz with sportsmanship and in the Christ-like manner that they
should. However, like any competition there are always strategies to gain the advantage. I see nothing wrong with
any strategies in quizzing-whether it is jumping faster on the 15th question or erring intentionally near the end
of a close round."
"Let me simply say that winning is not what quizzing is all about. It is about knowing where each kid is spending
eternity because you have seen them grow in the Lord through the Bible study they have done through quizzing."
"Can you separate the game from real life? Some people can and some cannot. The question really is "should
you?" The answer lies in your motivations for playing the game-what is most important to you."
"I agree that we should respect each other's feelings. But once again, trying to win a quiz round had nothing
to do with caring or not caring about another person's feelings. Quizzing is a competition. It is fair and right
to try to win a competition (according to the rules.) Burning a quizzing is trying to win and it is within the
rules."
"I understand more and more why other denominations have the rule to not end a quiz with an incorrect question."
I like many people was frustrated when knowing that Colby had the game practically won, he decided to give it (and
a million dollars) away to his friend. No one expected him to make that sacrifice, especially Tina. No one would
have accused him of not caring enough about Tina if he would have played the game to the best of his ability to
the end. Recently the issue of burning questions has been left up to teaching each other good sportsmanship. Obviously
there are many different interpretations as to what that means. We encourage each one of you to play the game to
the best of your ability but also to take time to build and nurture relationships with those around you. This will
undoubtedly look different among different teams. Yet whether you view burning questions as okay or not okay, we
urge you to live and play with integrity.
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YOU'RE HERE TO PLANT A WHAT?
(By Joel Mullen, Eurasia Regional Quiz Coordinator and former Bible quizzer)
"You're here to plant a what? Come on, now. You have got to be kidding me, right? That's too crazy-there's
no way I can believe that! Okay, hold on-you mean that you're trying to tell me that you are here . . . to plant
a church? Why would you want to go and do something like that? Haven't you seen all the Christian Cathedrals all
over Italy? This is a Christian nation, buddy-why are you trying to mess things up?"
When we stop to consider why we are living in Palermo, Italy, it sometimes strikes us as unbelievable. We have
been sent here to minister to people, to build relationships, to make disciples, to prepare leaders and pastors,
and to help form new churches.
Why in Palermo? Well, let me tell you just a little about this "Christian" city. Take the following "colors"
and try to paint a picture of the neighborhood around our house: corruption, scandal, immorality, indifference,
self-centeredness, drunkenness, hopelessness, disillusionment, dishonesty, drug abuse, pornography, prostitution,
sexual promiscuity, fatalism, darkness, and evil. Every day we talk with people who are atheists, agnostics, and
skeptics. Everywhere we turn we find people who are hurting, lonely, and depressed. Many people of all ages are
disillusioned with Christianity, feel the church is irrelevant, and find it hard to believe that God is anywhere
around.
So, why Palermo? Because we are convinced that God has been preparing us for a time like this and for a place like
Palermo. We are exactly where we are supposed to be in order to witness to the hope of the Kingdom and shine the
light of God's grace. That sure doesn't make our task easy, and it certainly doesn't mean that we know all the
right steps to take. Plant a church? In Palermo? Sounds impossible to me.
But let us consider some of Paul's encouraging words from 1 Corinthians 3:5-9:"What, after all, is Apollos?
And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe-as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I
planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything,
but only God, who makes things grow. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will
be rewarded according to his own labor. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building."
Paul and Apollos are only servants, but they have an assigned task and one single purpose. They aren't supposed
to spend all their time and energy trying to convince the seed to grow, but they sure are responsible to make certain
it is planted and watered. This is a huge encouragement to us here in Palermo. We are just servants with a given
task and purpose. We don't have to make a church grow (in fact, we can't), but we sure are responsible for planting
and watering seeds in the hearts of people.
"You're here to plant a what?" Maybe we're here to plant a seed. Maybe we're here to watch God's love
take root in the heart of a new neighbor. Maybe we're here to demonstrate God's grace through new friendships.
Maybe we're here to see God's Kingdom come and establish itself in some of the dark and hidden corners of Palermo.
Yeah, that's it! Although we're "only servants," we're here to plant the seeds of His Kingdom . . .
(Joel and his wife Sara are missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene in Palermo, Italy. If you would like to
be added to their email list to receive prayer requests and updates of their ministry in Palermo, email them at:
<jsmullen@interfree.it>.)
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WHAT IF THE CORINTHIANS HAD ASKED PAUL ABOUT BQMS? (By Roger
Sauter, Washington Pacific District)
Just in case you are not familiar with BQMS, it stands for Bible Quizzing Mission Sponsorship. Each region in USA
and Canada partners with a region from another part of the world in order to share finances, resources, and prayer,
and in order to build relationships. Paul addresses partnering, giving, and supporting in both 1 and 2 Corinthians.
He told the church that their giving should take on at least three forms. He showed that all should give consistently,
responsibly and willingly.
In 1 Corinthians 7:1, beginning to address questions sent by the Corinthians, Paul says "Now for the matters
you wrote about." Based on his response in 1 Corinthians 16:1, one of the matters they must have asked about
was giving money to the Christians in Jerusalem. Corinth surely had people in need locally just like we all do
today. Yet Paul was encouraging them to think globally-beyond their city-and be willing to give to help others.
He responds, "Do what I told the Galatian churches to do," and "On the first day of every week,
each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with their income." He wanted them to give consistently.
In Galatians 6:6, Paul told the Galatians, "Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good
things with his instructor." In the original Greek, the work share used here implies continuous, repeated
action. It is not an instruction to share just one time, but to share continually. Paul extends the idea to sharing
with all believers in Galatians 6:10, "Therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all men, especially
to those who belong to the family of believers." BQMS provides great opportunity for us to share our ideas
and our finances, recycle our old trophies and materials, partner with another quiz team and pray for each other.
Paul revisits this important topic in 2 Corinthians with an emphasis on giving responsibly ("according to
your means"). In 2 Corinthians 8:7 he tells them to "see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
He makes his point by using Jesus' example. In 2 Corinthians 8:9 it says, "For you know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor so that you through his poverty might
become rich." Knowing what Jesus did for us should spur us on toward similar action for our brothers and sisters
in the Lord in our partner regions. Paul provides some guidelines in 2 Corinthians 8:11. First, follow through
with whatever you plan to share or give. Second, give according to your means. We all have something to give to
one another whether it is prayer support, a note of encouragement or needed resources.
In the next chapter, Paul approaches the topic from a different perspective. He wants them to be willing to give-to
begin to think about others. He tells them the way they share will determine the results. In 2 Corinthians 9:6
Paul says, "whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows generously will also reap generously."
He emphasizes the importance of their attitude in the next verse, "Each man should give what he has decided
in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." He reminds them
of the gift of God's grace and of His faithfulness in verse 8, "And God is able to make all grace abound to
you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
The rest of the chapter continues to remind us of God's faithfulness and generosity, "Now he who supplies
seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest
of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through
us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the
needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which
you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel
of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their
hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable
gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 (NIV)
He has given us so much! May our hearts overflow to each other so that we share His wealth!
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GUYANA QUIZ 2002 (Joel Greene, Caribbean quizzer)
The Bible Quiz Launch 2002 event held on January 26th was a success. This competition staged at the Meadowbrook
Church of the Nazarene in Georgetown, Guyana attracted three teams. These were the Herstelling team captained by
Rhonda Hamilton, the Queenstown team captained by Lynda Woolford and the South team captained by Joel Greene.
The teams competed against each other once in a preliminary round of competition to determine which two teams would
meet in the finals. The team from South emerged as the top team with two wins, followed by the Queenstown team
which had one win and one loss and then the Herstelling team which registered two losses.
The stage for the finals was set after some intense preliminary rounds. South now took on Queenstown in a best
of three finals. In the first round of the finals, South edged Queenstown by scoring 240 points to Queenstown's
220. Queenstown, now having to win to keep their hopes alive, rebounded to win the second and then the third rounds
of the finals to clinch the title of being the Bible Quiz Launch 2002 champions.
Individually, Joel Greene from South won the best quizzer award by scoring the most points in the preliminary rounds.
He was followed by Lynda Woolford and Caroline Alert from Queenstown, Kerry Prince from South and Rhonda Hamilton
from Herstelling.
All of the quizzers, some of who were quizzing for the first time, were excited to have this opportunity to study
God's Word and compete with each other in competition. They are looking forward to future quizzing events.
The district quiz director, Joel Greene thanked the teams for their participation and encouraged the quizzers to
continue to study God's Word and help to promote Bible quizzing ministry. The regional Bible quiz director, Rev.
Rudolph Prescod, served as quizmaster at this tournament and also extended his gratitude to the quizzers and other
young people who supported them. God was glorified on this day when the youth confessed His Word in a time of worship
and fellowship.
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2001-2002 INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
SOLI DEO GLORIA TOURNAMENT
Locations: New Hampshire, Ohio, and South Carolina (limit-16 teams per location)
Dates: May 24-27, 2002
Cost: $420 per team (five quizzers plus one coach)
Material: 1st and 2nd Corinthians
Contact: Dr. Paul Madtes Jr.
740-397-7073
720-397-6862 ext. 3202
paul.madtes@mvnc.edu
Q2002
Location: Olivet Nazarene University
Date: July 2-6, 2002
Material: 1st and 2nd Corinthians
Contact: Chuck Sailors
nyiquiz@nazarene.org
CARYCAC
Location: Jamaica
Date: July, 2002
Material: 1st and 2nd Corinthians
Contact: Rev. Rudy Prescod
nyiquiz@nazarene.org
OR for a application go to:
www.nazarene.org/nyi/index.html
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QuizUpdate is a production of Nazarene Youth International. Send any articles,
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any related items to the address below. All submissions become the property of Quiz Specialties.
Nazarene Youth International
Quizupdate
6401 The Paseo
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Phone: 816.333.7000 x2209
Fax: 816.333.4315
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Quizupdate articles can also be accessed through the NYI website: www.nazarene.org/nyi.
Chuck Sailors
Global Ministry Coordinator, NYI
Nicole Morrow
Global Ministry Assistant Coordinator, NYI
Resourcing . . . Supporting . . . Networking Bible quizzing ministry around the world!
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