JBQ Ninja Challenge is Now in Session

Junior Bible Quiz (JBQ) leaders are known for their ability to inspire kids to memorize Scripture and Bible truths. But this year, the National JBQ office is switching things up just a bit to help get leaders and kids get excited about the upcoming quiz season. 

Recently, Mark Entzminger, senior director of AG Children’s Ministries, helped launched the JBQ Ninja Challenge. However, this unique challenge isn’t aimed at the students; it’s aimed at JBQ leaders. 

The challenge, which exposes the mental nimbleness — or lack thereof — of JBQ leaders attempting to answer JBQ questions in rapid-fire succession over a two-minute time limit all while being videoed, is self-perpetuating. Entzminger, following his remarkable 31-questions-answered-in-two-minutes performance, issued the challenge to eight other JBQ leaders, who then have 24 hours to post a video of themselves on Facebook LIVE attempting the challenge. Following their JBQ Ninja Challenge efforts, these eight leaders are to call out at least two other JBQ leaders to participate, who will then post and call out more leaders. 

“This is not about winning any big prize,” Entzminger says, “but it is a fun way of getting leaders and students excited about the upcoming quizzing year. And we have some really creative leaders out there, so I’m hoping we’ll be seeing some videos that, while perhaps not setting a record for answered questions, may set the bar for fun and laughter.” 

Junior Bible Quiz is a program designed for elementary-age children. Using the 576 graded questions (varying from 10 to 30 points) found in the Bible Fact-Pak, which cover Bible truths, facts, and Scripture quotation questions, JBQ teams compete against each other in seasonal tournaments that advance to regional and then national competition. 

In concert with the challenge, Entzminger says that the Bible Fact-Pak is being offered by My Healthy Church at a 20 percent discount through the end of September 2016. “To get the discount,” says Entzminger, “just use ‘JBQNinja’ as the coupon code when checking out online.” 

Entzminger says that videos will be posted on the National JBQ Facebook page, and although the challenge isn’t for JBQ students, they could possibly participate in the video. “Would it raise the bar if a leader was taking on the JBQ Ninja Challenge while, say, being bombed with water balloons?” Entzminger theorizes with a smile. “Who knows, maybe we’ll find out!”

Dan Van Veen

Dan Van Veen is news editor of AG News. Prior to transitioning to AG News in 2001, Van Veen served as managing editor of AG U.S. Missions American Horizon magazine for five years. He attends Central Assembly of God in Springfield, Missouri, where he and his wife, Lori, teach preschool Sunday School and 4- and 5-year-old Rainbows boys and girls on Wednesdays.