Spiritual feat for teen teams
THE mood was expectant as the competitors listened attentively to quiz questions at the 20th National SPM Oral Bible Knowledge (BK) Quiz held last month at SMK(P) Assunta in Petaling Jaya.
Earlier at the morning assembly, Malayan Christian Schools’ Council chairperson Moey Yoke Lai welcomed the participants. The weather was excellent and the atmosphere was vibrant, with quiz personnel and helpers wearing chili-red t-shirts emblazoned with the BK quiz logo.
A total of 31 teams from Ipoh, Penang, Malacca, Kota Kinabalu, Labuan, Miri, Sibu, Kuching, Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, all winners at regional quizzes held in June, had come to compete for the seven spots at the national level.
Besides the oral quiz, another 300 students from Forms One to Six took part in a written quiz that was held concurrently.
Moey said: “What thrills my heart most is seeing so many students having read Acts and Luke (parts of the Bible), coming so far to test their knowledge,” she added.
She hoped that they will continue to live out the principles they studied and practise them beyond the BK quiz.
National quiz coordinator Satkunamary Gnanakkan said: “This is a historic year as the quiz turns 20.”
“A number of alumni of the quiz turned up to lend their support and meet their BK teachers.
“What’s special about the quiz is that it’s headed by teacher volunteers working with a large team of students on Quiz Day.
“We bring together students and teachers from the regional centres in a single-minded effort to enjoy an oral quiz on the Bible books of Luke and Acts,” she said.
Satkunamary said the Malayan Christian Schools’ Council funds the quiz. Winners, she added, receive certificates and trophies while the national winners receive scholarship awards from Methodist College Kuala Lumpur.
A familiar face was school teacher Jacob Matthews, who has emceed this quiz since 2004.
He commented that students enjoy being part of such an event, and the BK quiz also helps SPM candidates to revise for the BK subject in their upcoming exams.
Former Malayan Christian Schools’ Council chairman Goh Keat Seng noted that the BK Quiz had crossed many milestones.
He recalled that when the first quiz was organised in 1997 by SMK(L) Bukit Bintang, students for KL and PJ schools, Goh had helped his son Chee Su, then a Fourth Former, to draft the rules.
He said: “I never expected the BK quiz to expand to other regions in the country.”
The National Champion team comprising Jeremy Ng Guan Kit and Ang Tsu Jien from SMK(L) Methodist KL, commented that they had prepared as well as they could but did not expect to be Wilayah champions and to also take the trophy.
“I’m overjoyed at winning a full scholarship from MCKL,” said Jeremy. “We are thankful to God for blessing my team-mate Jeremy and me with the scholarships. It is such a privilege for me to have studied this subject.
“The words of the two books Luke and Acts speak to the heart,” said Tsu Jien.
Their teacher, Karen Pang, likened the study of SPM BK to having a compass for life.
The sole candidate from Rawang, Vincent Lee, partnered Joanne Chong from Kota Kemuning to win the Outer Selangor State Trophy.
“It was an exciting and wonderful experience for me. I gained more from the quiz than I expected!” said Vincent.
Council member Datin Paduka Sister Enda Ryan who is also on the board of governors for SMK(P) Assunta, said: “In this day and age, young people have many other pursuits, so I was delighted by the sight of so many young enthusiastic students at the event.”
“They showed that their hearts are in it. I was also very glad that Sabah and Sarawak teams were able to come over here.
“When other subjects would be long forgotten, this subject SPM BK would last, especially in hours of difficulty.
“This is something for life. Those who have the knowledge in their hearts and souls would know how to thank God,” she said.