Co-Creator of Junior Bible Quiz, George Edgerly, Dies

Rev. George A. Edgerly, 76, one of the original developers of the Assemblies of God Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) program and the Bible Fact-Pak, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2016, in Springfield, Missouri, following a massive stroke.

In addition to pastoring six Assemblies of God congregations in Iowa, his home state, Edgerly was well-known for his work in Bible Quiz. Edgerly was a Bible Quiz coach in Gray, Iowa, in the mid- to late-1960s and later coached Park Crest Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, to the 1992 national Bible Quiz title.

Edgerly also worked at the Assemblies of God national office beginning in 1973, serving in various areas of the Sunday School Department, ultimately directing all of the ministries of that department. He also served for a time as a field representative for Marketing and Distribution.

However, most will remember Edgerly for his work in co-creating the Junior Bible Quiz program and in co-developing the Bible Fact-Pak. The Fact-Pak offers 576 graded questions that were designed to be memorized and included Scripture passages, Bible facts, and Bible doctrines, which Edgerly called a solid foundation of facts and truths upon which a lifetime of learning could be built.

“What seemed a trivial thing at the time, has gone around the world,” Edgerly said in an interview conducted several years ago. “The Fact-Pak has been translated into French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, Swahili, Braille, Portuguese, and others [including German and Lithuanian].” JBQ and the Bible Fact-Pak have also been adopted by other denominations. Among these are Foursquare, Christian Missionary Alliance, and the General Association of General Baptists.

The success of the materials followed Edgerly’s passion for placing the Word of God into the minds and hearts of children. He stated, “I count JBQ to be the greatest contribution to our Fellowship with which I have been involved.”

“George’s contributions to kingdom of God and the Assemblies of God are innumerable,” states Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God. “Wherever he served, lives were impacted for Christ — he is a hero of the faith and will be deeply missed.”

Edgerly is survived by his wife of 57 years, Atha; three of their children, Dawn Rae Rethman, Max Allan Edgerly, and Jorin Lee Edgerly; five grandchildren; and his brother Veryl (Sally) Edgerly. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and Edith, and an infant child, Ruth Mariee.

Visitation will be held at Walnut Lawn Funeral Home in Springfield, from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 25. Funeral services will be at Life 360-Park Crest Campus in Springfield at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 26, and at First Pentecostal in Ottumwa, Iowa, at 10 a.m. Friday, May 27. Burial will follow the Iowa service at Mt. Moriah Cemetery.

Contributions can be made in Edgerly’s name to the Once Lost Now Found ministry at First Pentecostal in Ottumwa.

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