Mt. Zion AME Church will be hosting the annual Christian Faith Quiz this week, featuring six teams from throughout the AME denomination in Bermuda.

In its fourth year, the annual quiz competition was the brain child of Tony Roberts.

“Mr. Roberts brought me a proposal and I really caught the vision,” said Rev. Dr. Wilbur Lowe, pastor of Mt. Zion. “The quiz is about promoting the Gospel and learning the Bible in a fun and exciting way.”

Contestants range in age from as young as eight and nine years, up to well over 80 years of age. The teams include the Angelic Hosts, from the Sunday School department, the Mighty Men of Valour, Jay Tucker’s Zion’s Lions, Grace and Mercy, Evangelist Ross Smith’s Mt. Zion Eagles, and defending champions, the Golden Girls.

Each team has been meeting regularly since last October to learn the answers to 500 different questions in four different categories — Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Disciple of the AME Church, and Trivia and Miscellanea — as well as study the Religion section of The Royal Gazette each week for a final category that seeks to test the participants knowledge of religion around the world.

Preparation, however, has become more than just a study period for most of the teams.

“The bonding that takes place goes beyond just their preparing,” said coordinator Tony Roberts, who said that many of the teams develop deep bonds and share together socially and spiritually.

Charles Paul, who is the coach for both Grace and Mercy and the Mighty Men of Valour, says that his teams get together around twice a week to prepare and compare the questions with the Bible. The intense study not only helps individuals grow spiritually, he said, but also develop relationships.

“That’s the biggest prize. It’s not about winning — it’s about the relationships,” Mr. Paul explained. He also said that the strong are able to help the weak, and that the teams also provide a source of encouragement for those not competing.

“We’re able to define a great source of encouragement to other people,” he added.

While the competition has been limited to within the AME church in the past, next year, the church hopes to open it up to groups across denominational lines next year.

“I hope to see it develop bonding within the community,” Rev. Lowe shared. “We know of each other, but we don’t really know each other.”

Most of the categories will remain the same next year, however, the Doctrine and Discipline category is planned to be broadened to cross-denominational doctrines. Teams interested in competing next year are advised to contact the church office at Mt. Zion for more information.

As for this year, the first round of semi-finals will be held at the Samuel Wade Memorial Hall beginning at 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17. Teams competing include the Angelic Hosts, the Mighty Men of Valour and Zion’s Lions. The second semi-final round will find the champions, the Golden Girls, Grace and Mercy and Mt. Zion Eagles battling it out at Mt. Zion at 7.30 p.m. as well on Thursday, April 19.

Two teams from each night will then proceed to the finals on Saturday, April 21. The finals will be held at The Fairmont Southampton Princess, beginning at 7.30 p.m., and will be televised on ZFB TV 7.

“The competitive spirit is very high this year,” Mr. Roberts explained, especially after the Golden Girls beat the Mighty Men of Valour last year by a mere five points.