How Do I Start a JBQ Ministry?

SELECT LEADERS. Be sure that all individuals who work with children (Sunday school teachers, children's pastor, children's church leaders, Royal Ranger commanders, Missionette leaders, bus captains, and other auxilliary ministries in your church) are aware that the children are studying the Fact-Pak. Encourage them to find ways to use Fact-Pak questions in their programs.

Appoint at least one individual to oversee the awards program and test the children as they progress through the seal program. (Click here to see additional information on the seal program.) If you choose to enter team quizzing, select at least one coach per team.

REGISTER YOUR TEAM. Contact your district Christian Education Department to discover plans for informal, league, or district official competition and when the team is to register. If nothing is provided, you may want to contact other interested churches and develop your own league.

ORDER SUPPLIES. Each child should be given, or encouraged to purchase, a FactPak. They are available from Gospel Publishing House, 1445 Boonville, Springfield, MO 65802, or from your district Assemblies of God Christian Education Department. To order, call 1-800-641-4310.

While you do not need electronic equipment to use the Fact-Pak (nor to begin team quizzing), you will likely want to buy or build a set. One recommended source for purchasing a quiz set is Electramatic, Inc., 1815 Jefferson Street NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418, (612) 781-9588.

GET TOGETHER. While the Fact-Pak can be effectively used in conjunction with other programs, the greatest benefits come from regularly scheduled study and practice sessions. JBQ should not replace any other ministry; rather, it should reinforce them. Many groups come early before another regular church service; others schedule an occasional Sunday-afternoon or after-school session.

BIBLE QUlZ TEAM A quiz team consists of a head coach, a maximum of two assistants, and two to eight children eligible to quiz. All must be from the same church and Sunday school. A church may have more than one team. Non-Assembly of God churches must have district approval in order to compete in district or regional competitions.

Eligibility is restricted to children starting grades 1-6 as of September 1. League quizzing may begin in October. If regional championships are sponsored by the districts, a child may compete even though he completes the sixth grade during the year.

All quizzing in the district is under the guidance of the district Christian Education director or a quiz coordinator designated by the director. Regional quizzing, if provided, is under the direction of the district Sunday School directors of the region. However, districts or regions may sponsor nationally-approved JBQ invitational tournaments and festivals.

Adapted from JBQ Guidelines ©1998 Gospel Publishing House