27 Feb 2025, 13:12Dr Mandela Thyoka
Can Anything Good Come Out of the Adventurer Bible Experience?
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46, NKJV)
The North England Conference (NEC) finals for the Adventurer Bible Experience (ABE) took place on Saturday 15th February 2025, at Faith Living Temple in Corby, Northamptonshire. Teams that had achieved first place in the previous round gathered for this penultimate testing before the British Union Conference (BUC) finals. Our team, Doncaster Doves ABE, set off early that morning, as registration was scheduled for 1:30 PM.
I accompanied my 7-year-old daughter, who served as the scribe for the Doncaster Doves ABE team, which consisted of seven Adventurers. Unfortunately, we miscalculated our travel time due to traffic congestion on the A1 South. To make matters worse, the testing started nearly an hour earlier than advertised. The other team members panicked upon hearing that we were still on our way, and my daughter became anxious, feeling she was letting her team down.
One thing that pleased me most was hearing my daughter say a loud prayer as I continued driving. She asked God to intervene so that we could make it to the venue in time. When we finally arrived, the first three of the forty-two questions had already been asked. However, our team praised God upon seeing us, believing He had answered our prayers.
There was a minor power failure that temporarily affected the projection of the questions. As a result, my daughter only missed the first three questions—none of which were part of her allocated chapter. When the power issue was resolved, the very next question happened to be from her chapter. The way God answered our prayer was monumental, strengthening our faith in Him.
A Celebration of Faith and Fellowship
Like many of the other teams, our team achieved first place, securing a spot in the BUC finals at Newbold College on 8th March 2025. To celebrate, we stopped at McDonald’s at the Peel Centre for a meal before heading home.
No one could have scripted our stopover better. Our ABE team members, coaches, mentors, and parents gathered around two long tables, sharing food and fellowship. At the end of our meal, I led a thanksgiving prayer on behalf of our team.
A lady sitting nearby called me over to her table. As I began to explain why I had been praying, she interrupted and said, “I knew that you were praying, but I didn’t know what it was for.” She was amazed to see young Adventurers, dressed in their Class A uniforms, enjoying themselves while actively engaging in Bible study.
Reflections on the Adventurer Bible Experience
On reflection, I realised two important things about the Adventurer Bible Experience. The ABE program provides young children with the opportunity to know God and develop a personal relationship with Him. During our practice sessions, the leader often encourages the children to lead a short devotional message based on their assigned chapters, helping them bring the Bible to life in a meaningful way. It is during these moments that the young Adventurers also pray for specific requests, allowing them to experience God's power in a personal and tangible way. It is no surprise that my daughter instinctively turned to prayer when we faced delays on our way to the testing centre.
If you, like me, are a parent, I strongly encourage you to involve your children in the Adventurer and Pathfinder programs and support their participation in the Bible Experience. The benefits far outweigh any cost associated with travelling to the testing venues. Many parents have shared testimonies of how their children, through this program, have reached their full potential academically, to the amazement of their teachers. The long-term benefits are equally valuable, as children learn teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, building strong foundations for their future.
Like Philip, I urge parents to let their children “Come and see” the Adventurer (ABE) and Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) for themselves.
And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” (John 1:46, NKJV)
The North England Conference (NEC) finals for the Adventurer Bible Experience (ABE) took place on Saturday 15th February 2025, at Faith Living Temple in Corby, Northamptonshire. Teams that had achieved first place in the previous round gathered for this penultimate testing before the British Union Conference (BUC) finals. Our team, Doncaster Doves ABE, set off early that morning, as registration was scheduled for 1:30 PM.
I accompanied my 7-year-old daughter, who served as the scribe for the Doncaster Doves ABE team, which consisted of seven Adventurers. Unfortunately, we miscalculated our travel time due to traffic congestion on the A1 South. To make matters worse, the testing started nearly an hour earlier than advertised. The other team members panicked upon hearing that we were still on our way, and my daughter became anxious, feeling she was letting her team down.
One thing that pleased me most was hearing my daughter say a loud prayer as I continued driving. She asked God to intervene so that we could make it to the venue in time. When we finally arrived, the first three of the forty-two questions had already been asked. However, our team praised God upon seeing us, believing He had answered our prayers.
There was a minor power failure that temporarily affected the projection of the questions. As a result, my daughter only missed the first three questions—none of which were part of her allocated chapter. When the power issue was resolved, the very next question happened to be from her chapter. The way God answered our prayer was monumental, strengthening our faith in Him.
A Celebration of Faith and Fellowship
Like many of the other teams, our team achieved first place, securing a spot in the BUC finals at Newbold College on 8th March 2025. To celebrate, we stopped at McDonald’s at the Peel Centre for a meal before heading home.
No one could have scripted our stopover better. Our ABE team members, coaches, mentors, and parents gathered around two long tables, sharing food and fellowship. At the end of our meal, I led a thanksgiving prayer on behalf of our team.
A lady sitting nearby called me over to her table. As I began to explain why I had been praying, she interrupted and said, “I knew that you were praying, but I didn’t know what it was for.” She was amazed to see young Adventurers, dressed in their Class A uniforms, enjoying themselves while actively engaging in Bible study.
Reflections on the Adventurer Bible Experience
On reflection, I realised two important things about the Adventurer Bible Experience. The ABE program provides young children with the opportunity to know God and develop a personal relationship with Him. During our practice sessions, the leader often encourages the children to lead a short devotional message based on their assigned chapters, helping them bring the Bible to life in a meaningful way. It is during these moments that the young Adventurers also pray for specific requests, allowing them to experience God's power in a personal and tangible way. It is no surprise that my daughter instinctively turned to prayer when we faced delays on our way to the testing centre.
If you, like me, are a parent, I strongly encourage you to involve your children in the Adventurer and Pathfinder programs and support their participation in the Bible Experience. The benefits far outweigh any cost associated with travelling to the testing venues. Many parents have shared testimonies of how their children, through this program, have reached their full potential academically, to the amazement of their teachers. The long-term benefits are equally valuable, as children learn teamwork, discipline, and perseverance, building strong foundations for their future.
Like Philip, I urge parents to let their children “Come and see” the Adventurer (ABE) and Pathfinder Bible Experience (PBE) for themselves.
