How God Uses Quizzing
by
Julie McKinley
Children's Quiz Coach
Pleasant Hill Missionary Church

I am one of the coaches from Pleasant Hill Missionary Church and the main reason for my writing is to share with you how God has used quizzing (especially learning the quotes) in our lives.  It is not my intention to "brag" or to say that I have all the answers - only God does! But just to let you know that He has used this in our lives and it is my prayer He will use it in yours!

I began my "quizzing career" when I was around 12. I was involved with a well established teen team and quite honestly they didn't need me! (But they never made me feel that way!) My brother encouraged me to learn some Finish the Verses as that might be easier for me just starting out. So I did, every year learning a few more than I did before.  God used that Scripture to build a foundation in His Word.  I don't really remember much about my "quizzing career".  I have a few medals and a newspaper clipping from the year we won a lot of trophies.  But I cannot count the times God has brought a verse or passage to mind, and I know it's there because of quizzing!  Or, the times I listened to a teaching over a certain passage and it seemed so "comfortable" and "familiar" because I had memorized it years ago.  I don't mean to say that quizzing is the only way this can be accomplished, but it sure is a fun way.

I have been extremely blessed with the opportunity to see the same thing happening in my children as well. This is our 12th year to be involved in children's quizzing. It has been our "goal" to learn the "whole story" of the passage we were quizzing over, spending some extra time learning some, if not all, of the Finish the Verses.  We didn't learn all of the Finish the Verses at first.  We gradually built up to it.  About 7 years ago, our youngest son was 3 years old and we discovered we could not review the verses if he was in the room. He could say half of them (about 30 verses) and would quote them before the older boys!  He learned them just by being in the same room and hearing what we were doing. About 6 years ago, another son (who was 5 at the time) had a real hard time learning Matt. 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  We worked and worked at it until he got it.  A few weeks later he sat in service with us one Sunday morning and our Pastor made a passing comment about where our heart was that was where our treasure would be. Our son immediately looked up at me and said "He got it wrong!"  

I have heard people time and again say how they can't memorize anything.  The Lord has given me an example that I shared with our children: remember when you tried to ride a two-wheel bike for the first time - you fell down! Or when you first tried to write your name - it was pretty sloppy and hard to read! (How about you, the first time you tried to send an email, or work with the computer - pretty frustrating!).