Youth members of the National Road Church of Christ, from left, Julia Cronin, Lydia Cole, Micah Parsons participate in last year’s Miami Valley Bible Bowl in Centerville, Ohio. This year’s event is being hosted at the National Road Church of Christ in Wheeling this weekend. (Photo provided)

WHEELING – The National Road Church of Christ, 1310 National Road, Wheeling, is slated to host the annual Miami Valley Bible Bowl this weekend, March 7-8.

Church member Sean Cronin said the church has participated in the bowl for the past six years at various churches in Ohio and West Virginia. This will be the first year his church will host the competition that started 40 years ago.

He said there will be 37 teams representing 13 different churches. The first day of the competition is multiple choice questions answered out loud. The second day is action-packed with teams competing against each in the style of Jeopardy by buzzing in with their answers.

“We had some members involved in the past and it’s just a fun time for the kids,” Cronin said. “The kids enjoy getting together and reading through the books of the Bible.”

He noted the children also enjoy meeting and getting to know kids from other churches.

“We try to keep it a light and fun competition,” he said.

Cronin said there are two divisions – fourth-sixth grade and seventh-12th grade. Each division will have a team winner. There will also be top individual winners.

This year’s competition will focus on the books of Judges and Ruth.

Cronin said the children who attend his church have been studying the books at church and on their own at home.

“We meet once a week on Sunday afternoon to study and get ready for the competition,” he said. “The members of our church have been preparing for this all year long. It’s been a big thing and it’s been good to see everyone prepare.”

Since this is a large event some organizations in the community are also getting involved to help out. For example, Wheeling Park High School is letting the church host its Saturday events at the school. Easterseals Rehabilitation Center is also offering up its parking lot to those participating in the Bible bowl.

“We have plenty of parking here at Easterseals and are always happy to help out our neighbors,” Easterseals marketing director Betsy Bethel-McFarland said.

Cronin said over the years has been helpful in offering up its parking lot for overflow, and there have been times when the church did the same.

“We appreciate them helping with the big crowd we’ll have with extra parking,” he said.

Cronin noted there have been many church members volunteering to get the church building ready for the event. Many church members have also donated snacks and drinks for the two-day affair.