Inter-America’s Youth Ministries Department will wrap up its largest Bible reading competition during a live-streamed event on May 6, 2025. The event will feature the top five Bible Connection winners from annual competitions held since 2020.
The top contestants will win the opportunity to serve as a youth delegate representing the Inter-American Division (IAD) during the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s upcoming General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, this July.
The finalists include:
Rúben Maltez, 2020 winner from El Salvador
Yerid Ruiz, 2021 winner from Nicaragua Union
Antony Guevara, 2022 winner from West Venezuela Union
Héctor Merino, 2023 winner from Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union
Bryan Rodríguez, 2024 winner from Cuba Union
“We are excited to close the quinquennium with our top winners, who have demonstrated strong Bible knowledge and shown real commitment and transformation through their study journey,” said Al Powell, Youth Ministries director for the IAD. “Studying the Bible leaves an indelible impression on the hearts of children and young people who dedicate themselves to it.”
According to Powell, there are more than 1.5 million young people across the IAD territory and hundreds of thousands have participated in the Bible Connection initiative over the years.
“It’s all about connecting with the Word, which is really Jesus,” he added.
This marks the third quinquennial Bible Connection finale organized since the Bible reading initiative gained traction in 2004. The program has since expanded to include children as young as four years old participating in Adventurer clubs, Powell explained.
In the final showdown, the five contestants will face 50 questions covering a range of topics, including the Book of Luke (chapters 1-24), Ellen White's The Desire of Ages (chapters 12, 25, and 86), and the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary (chapters 2, 4, and 22-24).
The competition will take place during the IAD Mid-Year Executive Committee meetings, streamed live in Spanish, English, and French.
Powell said the finale will include new features such as time-based scoring and risk-reward questions.
“This year, it’s going to be dynamic and exciting. We’ve developed new software that enhances the competition experience, and even allows participants to earn more points based on how quickly and accurately they respond,” he said.
The decision to hold the event online was made due to challenges with travel visas.
“We’ve been working closely with union youth ministries directors and our technical staff to ensure a smooth and engaging experience for everyone,” Powell added.
The original article was published on the Inter-American Division news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.
