JBQ team headed to regionals

The Decatur Assembly of God Junior Bible Quiz team won fourth place at the state championship in Searcy on Saturday and are headed to the regional championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., in May. Pictured are team members Amber Lydon, Amanda Duncan, Emily Lydon, Matt Anderson and Trey Anderson with coaches Sandy Duncan and Pam Anderson.
The Decatur Assembly of God Junior Bible Quiz team won fourth place at the state championship in Searcy on Saturday and are headed to the regional championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., in May. Pictured are team members Amber Lydon, Amanda Duncan, Emily Lydon, Matt Anderson and Trey Anderson with coaches Sandy Duncan and Pam Anderson.

— The Decatur Assembly of God Church’s fourth through sixth grade Junior Bible Quiz Team is headed to the regional championships after winning fourth place in the state championship on Saturday.

JBQ tests children’s memories and knowledge of the Bible. Teams study to compete in game-show style quizzes with the intent of giving children a fun and exciting way to learn Bible facts.

Decatur‘s team - comprised of four fourth graders and one fifth grader - competed against about 20 teams made up of fifth and sixth grade students on Saturday, coaches Pam Anderson and Sandy Duncan said.

“We’re very proud of them. They worked really hard this year,” Anderson said.

In fact, the team has been working hard for quite a few years, considering their young ages. Three of the team members - Amanda Duncan, Matt Anderson and Trey Anderson - have been involved in JBQ since kindergarten.

The team has qualified and competed in the state championship for the past four years, according to Anderson and Duncan. Because only fifth and sixth grade teams can go on to compete in the regional level, this will be the first time the team has qualified to go to the regional championship, Anderson said.

The team will be competing in the Gulf Region Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn., on May 6-7.

A win at the regional level could take them to the national championship in Michigan.

Community, Pages 20 on 04/13/2011