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Final three teams compete in the championship rounds
By Cari Arrias
Bible Bowl returned in 2013 after a one-year hiatus due to the 2012 territorial congress, and proved as strong as ever. After making it through qualifying rounds, three teams sought the title of territorial champion during Commissioning weekend.
With participation from all 10 divisions, a weekend devoted to Bible Bowl took place in May at Camp Kuratli in the Cascade Division. The rigorous competition, focusing on the book of Matthew, produced the top three teams: Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center Corps (Southwest Division), Vancouver/Renton Corps (Northwest Division), and All Nations Corps (Golden State Division).
On June 15, a morning round between the Northwest and Golden State divisions impressed onlookers at the Pasadena Convention Center with the participants’ quick responses, sometimes after hearing only two or three words. Eventually, the Vancouver/Renton Corps earned third place for the territorial competition, and the All Nations Corps moved on to the afternoon championship round with the Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center Corps.
A large audience cheered on the final two teams. The last round was close—Southwest lost, but since this was their first loss of the competition, the competition went into a sudden death round.
At half-time in that round, the score was tied. At last, after the closest game ever in the history of Bible Bowl, Quizmaster Major Pam Brackenbury declared the competition winner: the Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center Corps.
Every participant received a plaque, and each corps a trophy for display.
“This is my first year being on a Bible Bowl team,” said Tiyona Taft, from the Phoenix South Mountain Kroc Center Corps. “Learning the Bible has brought me closer to God. It’s helped my relationships with others. My older sister encouraged me in my memorization and in sticking with it when the practices were hard and long. It has made us closer. That’s really cool.”
Bible Bowl is a program for youth ages 12-18. Next year, the focus will be the books of Romans and James. A Territorial Bible Bowl weekend is scheduled for the beginning of May 2014. Contact your divisional youth secretary for more information.
