Who is a coach? According to some definitions, a coach trains or instructs. While I have never personally coached JBQ, I did quiz, officiated, and now get the honor and privilege of leading churches across North Carolina in one of the best ministries for our kids. After completing ten seasons (9 if you take out our covid year) as the leader of this ministry, I have watched coaches interact with their quizzers. Sometimes the coaches are parents, and sometimes you have coaches that believe in what Junior Bible Quiz can do for the next generation and are willing to sacrifice their time, energy, and money to build these programs within their churches. No matter which description fits, our JBQ program would be nothing without our coaches.
While the picture above only shows a handful of North Carolina coaches I have worked with, these individuals are missionaries to our kids and families in North Carolina. They are laying a Biblical foundation like no other. It has been said, by some of these coaches’ former quizzers, that they learned more during JBQ than they did in Bible College. Speaking as a former quizzer, I concur. Bible quiz made my college years at Southeastern much easier when taking Bible classes. However, none of my quiz years would have been possible without coaches.
I have seen the frustration with their quizzers when things go wrong, but I have also heard the encouragement and prayers prayed over their teams after they have to shake off the negative and head into another room. JBQ coaches are demonstrating to our quizzers that when the negative comes, and it will, they can turn to Jesus – to the One who can bring peace. They learn how to react to stressful and unexpected situations.
If you are a JBQ coach, or any other coach, let me leave this thought with you. Proverbs 11:14 (The Passion Translation) says: People lose their way without wise leadership, but a nation succeeds and stands in victory when it has many good counselors to guide it. Coaches, you are preparing our kids to succeed and not lose their way in this crazy world. Lead with love, lead with kindness, but most of all, lead with Jesus.
Coaches, we honor you and all that you do for our children!
While the picture above only shows a handful of North Carolina coaches I have worked with, these individuals are missionaries to our kids and families in North Carolina. They are laying a Biblical foundation like no other. It has been said, by some of these coaches’ former quizzers, that they learned more during JBQ than they did in Bible College. Speaking as a former quizzer, I concur. Bible quiz made my college years at Southeastern much easier when taking Bible classes. However, none of my quiz years would have been possible without coaches.
I have seen the frustration with their quizzers when things go wrong, but I have also heard the encouragement and prayers prayed over their teams after they have to shake off the negative and head into another room. JBQ coaches are demonstrating to our quizzers that when the negative comes, and it will, they can turn to Jesus – to the One who can bring peace. They learn how to react to stressful and unexpected situations.
If you are a JBQ coach, or any other coach, let me leave this thought with you. Proverbs 11:14 (The Passion Translation) says: People lose their way without wise leadership, but a nation succeeds and stands in victory when it has many good counselors to guide it. Coaches, you are preparing our kids to succeed and not lose their way in this crazy world. Lead with love, lead with kindness, but most of all, lead with Jesus.
Coaches, we honor you and all that you do for our children!
Carla P.
Former Quizzer
NC Junior Bible Quiz Coordinator