The following recollections were written by Kari Brodin of the national championship team from Renton, WA.
Well, it’s been 28 years since that exciting week in St. Louis, and my memory is not perfect, but here are a couple reminiscences as I remember it.
Round 5 pitted our Renton Assembly team against perennial power Evangel Temple of Decatur, Georgia, with both teams even at the time with 3-1 records. After the 14th question our coach, Russ Barrans, called a time out and said, “Okay, team, you’ve really dug yourselves a hole: you need to get all 6 remaining questions in order to win this thing, and Kari needs to quiz out!” I believe I had three at the time so I still needed three (back in the days when it took six correct to quiz out). We took him at his word and went after it aggressively. When the dust settled after the match, and we had won, Russ told us that actually when he called the time out we didn’t have a chance to win unless the other team interrupted and missed a question in order for us to win–which they had ended up doing in response to our outburst of speed. That was a nail-biter, I’m sure, for everyone involved with both teams!
At the end of the round robin, three teams were tied for first place with 5-2 records.
According to the playoff rules, the team with the most points received a bye and automatic
entry into the championship round. We were just five points behind Springfield’s Evangel
Temple in total points, so we quizzed against Lanham, Maryland, in the first playoff round.
For some reason I don’t remember much of that quiz except that we won, but my vague impression
is that it was a close match. Then it came down to us versus Springfield. Again, I don’t remember
a lot of details, but after the 18th question, I think it was, Russ called a time out and told us
there were a 10 and a 30 left, and that, since I had five correct (two 30’s and three 20’s, as
well as one 20 incorrect), as long as I got one or the other we would win, because my ten bonus
points would clinch it even if it were the 10-pointer. When play resumed, it was the 30-pointer
that came up first. I remember the words: “Quotation Question. Quote the three verses which
contain the questions Jesus asked in the section of Matthew entitled…” I buzzed in as the
quizmaster formed the next word, and heard (and saw) the word, “Ask.” I remember being
overwhelmed by the realization, “This is it, and what a thrilling passage to end on!” I finished
the question loudly and clearly with the section title (“Ask, Seek, Knock”), then quoted
Matthew 7:9-11 (KJV): “Or what man is there of you, whom, if his son ask bread, will he give
him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know
how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give
good things to them that ask him?” The quizmaster announced that it was correct, and a
quiz-out. Everyone in the room (and there were a lot of people because Nationals was held
in conjunction with General Council at that time) then knew that we had won, and I’m told there
was a standing ovation, which I didn’t really notice amid the hugs and tears of our team.
I also remember being so blessed by the sincere and heartfelt congratulations of the
Springfield team, and particularly the kind, gracious, and encouraging words of Drs.
James and Twila Edwards, whose son was on the Evangel team. I truly understood that the bond
of unity and fellowship in the Word is vastly superior to the competitive aspect of Bible Quiz.
Kari is still involved with Bible Quiz and coaches the team from Bothell, WA.