The Mahomet Bible Bowl team will begin their competitive season on Oct. 5 at Mahomet Christian Church when teams from all over the state gather to answer questions over Joshua 1-8.
Mahomet Christian Church hosts a Bible Bowl competition every Saturday October through May. From May to June, the team competes at the Regional tournaments at Christian Colleges throughout the Midwest.
The five-member team has two students from Mahomet Christian Church, and three other members from other churches.
During the first week of July, the team travels to the National Bible Bowl competition to compete against nearly 100 teams from all over the United States.
Three Mahomet students voluntarily traveled to Ozark Christian College over Sept. 6 and 7 to take first place in their Division at the Bible Bowl Pre-Season Conference and Tournament. They were tested over their knowledge of Joshua 1-4.
“They really wanted to go see their friends,” said Bible Bowl sponsor Barby Johnson. “One of our young men who participated in Bible Bowl, and is now at Parkland College went as the quiz master for the team.”
At the end of the year, many students who participate on the Bible Bowl team will have memorized Joshua, Judges and Ruth.
Each year, the National Bible Bowl Committee chooses a different New or Old Testament text for students to learn.
Mahomet-Seymour High School senior Elijah Gioja was asked to stand at the Bible Bowl booth at the North American Christian Convention with other students who could recite the entire book of Acts this summer.
Goija placed third on the Top Brain Test at Nationals in July. He also won the Top Brain Test at Cincinnati Christian University and placed second at Johnson University this summer.
The Mahomet Bible Bowl team placed tenth at Nationals this summer.
“I’m thrilled when they do well, but I’ve also had teams that haven’t won games,” Johnson said. “I’m thrilled that they are learning the Word.”
Johnson has coached Bible Bowl teams since 1974.
“I’ve seen kids (who’ve participated in Bible Bowl) become great church leaders,” Johnson said. “They know God’s Word.”
When a student participates in Bible Bowl from 6th to 12th grade, they learn approximately 400 chapters of the Bible.
“It’s not just brain knowledge,” Johnson said. “They’re learning it, and then applying it.”
Johnson said the students enjoy building relationships with the congregation that supports the program, and the friends they meet through competition.
“The people in the congregation support the program financially, with their presence, and encouragement when they tell the kids what a great job they’ve done,” she said.
Students also keep in touch with their friends outside of Mahomet through Facebook and prayer support.
“It’s a community and it’s a community that cares about each other,” Johnson said.
The Oct. 5 competition begins at 9 a.m. at the Mahomet Christian Church. All Mahomet youth is encouraged to join the team which practices on Monday afternoons from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
