By the time the third place was announced, Xabisa Hamilton began to doubt she would land in the top three. She knew she had answered every question correctly during the Inter-American Division’s Bible Connection grand finale, but she also knew her response time might have been slower than the other 24 finalists.

“Well, maybe I can try again next year,” she thought. When second place was announced, she became even more certain of it. But when her name appeared on the screen as the territory-wide champion, she was stunned.

Xabisa, 24, rose to her feet as her parents, aunt, cousins, and Guyanese friends surrounded her in a 30-second wave of cheers and embraces. Students, leaders, and friends from across the Caribbean Union, whom she represented, stood to applaud, fully aware of her long Bible Connection journey. This marked her sixth consecutive year advancing through church, district, conference, and union levels. Winning the final crown on Nov. 15 at the University of the Southern Caribbean in Trinidad made the moment even sweeter, especially as it took place within her home union.

Now in her third year of medical school, Xabisa says she could not have reached this point without the spiritual transformation that began when she first joined Bible Connection at age 15. The experience grounded her in Scripture, deepened her relationship with Jesus, and taught her to depend on His guidance in every part of her life.

“I trust God with my life because my relationship with Him has deepened a lot over the years. You can’t just read the Bible—you have to dive into it and experience it. I literally feel Jesus close to me every single time I read the Bible.”

After finishing the exam, she told her director, Marvyn Smith, Youth Ministries director of the Caribbean Union, that she felt genuinely proud of having answered every question correctly and that, whatever placement she received, she was happy with her performance.

Xabisa held third place through the first three rounds, fluctuated in the fourth, and finally surged ahead in the fourth and fifth rounds. She finished with a perfect score, answering all 100 questions correctly, with three faulty questions eliminated, earning a final score of 970 in 9 minutes and 25 seconds.

“This is a great win for Xabisa and for the entire Caribbean Union,” said Smith. He admitted he was bracing for the mild disappointment they had experienced in previous years, which made her victory all the more thrilling. “There is a big buzz across our fields because of this victory.”

The win represents the Caribbean Union’s first-ever Bible Connection championship.

Over the years, Xabisa has formed friendships across countries and islands through her participation in Bible Connection. She intends to continue helping others in their Bible study journey while pursuing her medical degree and preparing for a future specialization in neurosurgery.

Her focus now includes encouraging more young people to join Bible Connection. For the past two years in Guyana, her home country, she has been guiding Pathfinders through chapter-by-chapter Bible reviews, creating questionnaires, teaching memorization techniques, and helping them explore corresponding chapters of Adventist pioneer Ellen White's The Desire of Ages. The routine has become part of her own daily spiritual life.

“I always tell them to keep going, even if they don’t win the first time. Studying the Bible will always benefit them.”

Her resilience and commitment to Scripture are admirable, said Daniel Torreblanca, Youth Ministries director of the IAD. Addressing the 23 finalists present and two connected online from Cuba and Haiti, he commended their dedication.

“Everyone is a winner. No one who studies the Bible can remain the same, because the Bible transforms lives,” he said.

He reminded the group that Bible Connection is a calling—an invitation for young people to encounter God and to connect with one another through Scripture.

“It’s about getting every young person across our territory to connect with Jesus Christ and experience the Bible together,” he added.

Jenny Yazmin Vázquez, 28, of the Chiapas Mexican Union, secured second place, answering every question correctly and earning 970 points with a total time of 12 minutes and 12 seconds.

Originally from Pantepec in northern Chiapas, she discovered the Bible Connection program four years ago after joining a new church while studying medicine.

“I joined at first out of curiosity. I didn’t really know what it was, but once I understood its purpose, it captured my attention and I kept studying.” This year marks her second appearance at the IAD level; she placed sixth in the competition last year.

For Vázquez, the daily discipline of Bible study has been the most transformative part of her journey. She says it has shaped her character, her relationships, and her view of others. The friendships she has formed along the way have been just as meaningful.

She said, “People talk about competition, but honestly you don’t feel that here. Everyone gets along with everyone,” she said. “From last year’s group, many of us still text almost every day. We ask about exams, about life—there’s a real community.”

Despite being the only Adventist in her immediate family, Vázquez has remained active in the church since childhood and currently serves as her congregation’s youth director.

“Whatever goals or dreams you have, if God isn’t first, nothing will truly work. We need to take His hand, and everything else will happen in extraordinary ways,” she said.

For 17-year-old Johannes Medina, representing the East Venezuela Union, placing third was a deeply emotional achievement. He also answered every question correctly, finishing just 17 seconds behind Vázquez with a final time of 12:29.

“I didn’t check my scores in any of the rounds. I wanted the surprise at the end,” he said. “When I heard my name for third place, I went into shock—I really didn’t expect it.” As the youngest of four siblings, he shared the news with his family immediately.

Medina had completed nearly every answer accurately, and the one he missed was later discarded due to an error. Memorizing the book of Luke and chapters 12, 25, and 86 of The Desire of Ages deepened his understanding of Scripture. Balancing school, violin practice, and orchestra rehearsals, he found Bible study to be a source of peace and spiritual clarity.

“Luke is one of my favorite books, especially the stories about the temptations of Jesus. It shows that if He could overcome, then with Him we can too,” he said. The lessons pushed him to reflect on how he uses his time. “It’s so easy to waste time on things that don’t bear fruit, and this inspired me to rethink my habits and spiritual life.”

Bible Connection 2025 was Medina’s first time at the division finals—and his first time flying. Securing a travel visa and receiving special court permission as a minor made the journey possible, something he and his family saw as God’s intervention. In Trinidad, he cherished meeting peers from across the territory.

“I’ve made friends from many countries. In Trinidad, we spoke a kind of Spanglish—half Spanish, half English—and we understood each other perfectly,” he said.

All IAD finalists received medals, certificates, pins, a special youth leadership Bible, a computer, and eligibility to study at several Adventist universities, including Linda Vista University in Mexico, Central American Adventist University in Costa Rica, Colombia Adventist University, and the University of the Southern Caribbean.

Medina says he is still praying about where God may lead him for his first year of university.

“You might come for the prize or the trip, but God changes your purpose,” he added. “For me, Bible Connection is an excuse—an excuse God uses to help young people study the Bible and get closer to Him.”

The Bible Connection grand finale, streamed live from the University of the Southern Caribbean auditorium, included music, prayer, and spiritual messages before finalists answered five rounds of questions. During the program, youth leaders announced that next year’s Bible study content will include the Book of Daniel and several chapters from The Great Controversy by Ellen G. White.

The 2026 IAD Bible Connection finale is scheduled for November 21, 2026, in the Dominican Republic.

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division news site.