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“They Could Not Deny the Transformation That Had Taken Place” Quizzer of the Year Jay Lytle—The ninetyandnine.com Interview October 15, 2007 Interviewed by Kent d Curry and Jonathan Walker
Every year, there is one Bible quizzer chosen that the judges believe best exemplifies the character traits of a true follower of Christ. It’s rarely a puzzling choice. However, this year’s winner had an amazing testimony to go with his personal and team success. When several different people insisted he was a believer worth interviewing, I agreed. I’m glad I did.
This interview took place over mid-September, 2007. ---------
90&9: Tell us your family composition at home. JL: I am one of five. I live with my father, mother, older sister, and younger brother.
90&9: What was your family’s religious background before you entered high school? JL: My family grew up in a Methodist church. We went to a Presbyterian church when we lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana. We became members of a Methodist church here in Columbus, Ohio.
My dad used to be an usher and my mother was a children’s Sunday school teacher. We used to go to church regularly, but as we entered into our teen years, we wanted less and less to do with the boring and dry services to which we had become accustomed.
Eventually it got to the point where only my mom would go to church. We joined her on special occasions.
JL: In middle school I met Austin Spann. We became friends, and began spending time together outside of school. I really liked his family. They were obviously different than your normal family. They were peaceful and very kind.
Austin and I played basketball and hockey together. He invited me to various youth activities at what is now my church. At first it was the yearly Memorial Day amusement park trip to either Cedar Point or Kings Island. From there I met people and the youth group and grew to like them as well.
90&9: What were your initial impressions the first time you visited a Pentecostal church? JL: I was very much a person who wanted to fit in. At the same time, I had a hunger for something more—the Truth.
My initial experiences in a Pentecostal church were intimidating. If you’ve ever been in a Methodist service you realize the polar differences in the praise, worship, music, and preaching of a Pentecostal service.
The thing that kept me coming back was the kind people and the friendship I had with Austin and a couple of other people in the church.
JL: My family did not oppose me becoming a part of a Pentecostal church. However, they were not necessarily ready to jump on board either. The big thing they saw was the difference in me. I was truly a changed person.
They could not deny the transformation that had taken place at the First Apostolic Church of Dublin (Ohio). For this reason, I think they were all for me living for God. The same goes for my interest in Bible quizzing.
JL: I’m not really that sure. Perhaps because Austin was
doing it. Austin invited me to the January kick-off tournament in the Ohio
District. In between quizzes he would talk to me about Bible quizzing, the grand
scope, the in-game strategies, and who’s who. I just thought it all looked
really fun. I had little idea how much work it required. 90&9: How did you get involved? JL: After that first kick-off tournament, during a Sunday at our home church, I went up to Derek West (the quiz coach) and told him that I was interested in doing Bible quizzing. He was really excited and got me started by giving me the Intermediate material.
He told me how much studying he thought I should do. From that time to the first team practice I really tried hard to memorize verses. I wanted to start quizzing right away but I also wanted to impress everyone, because I knew expectations were low.
During the first practice they were really impressed that I had learned “X” amount of verses and was able to answer some of the questions. I remember Derek telling me that now they expected big things.
90&9: Any specific memories of those first few months? JL: The material was (Pentecostal) Doctrine I and I found it difficult to quote the scriptures. I had not yet mastered the skill of learning verses.
My “locating” and “quotes” were very shaky; the problem was probably my lack of repetition. I was not at all disciplined enough to sit down every day and study for about an hour.
One fond memory I have took place during my first tournament. Sis. (Susan) Heimkrieter was the quizmaster. I answered what I think was a three-part question on Hebrews 4:12. This had been my favorite verse in the material thus far. Sis. Heimkreiter made a note to announce that I had answered my first question. The audience clapped and cheered. It really made me feel good.
WINNING HIS FAMILY 90&9: Now you didn’t have the Holy Ghost did you? JL: Yes I did. I don’t remember if I joined quizzing first and then got the Holy Ghost or if it happened the other way around. I think I joined quizzing first because I joined soon after the January tournament and I got the Holy Ghost in February.
90&9: When did you get it? Explain that process. JL: On February 15, 2004, at my home church, I went to the altar after the preaching. Kneeling on the steps of the altar, just to the right of the pulpit, I repented of my sins. My quiz coach and co-youth leader, Derek West asked me if I wanted to get baptized. I said, “Yes, but that I want my mother to be here.” They called my mother, and as she rushed to the church I prepared to get baptized.
After putting on the baptismal outfit I sat on the pew in the prayer room, behind the stairs to the baptismal. It was dark and the rest of the congregation was on the other side of the wall in front of me. Derek came and sat next to me on the pew. He explained to me that when I came up out of the water I could fully expect God to fill me with the Holy Ghost.
When they told me my mother was there, I got into the icy waters (the heater of the baptismal was broken). Joel Richardson (my other youth leader) baptized me. When I came up out of the water, with my hands lifted high, I felt weightless. I felt like a feather rising up. My tongue began to move in a fashion not controlled by myself. I worshipped in an unknown tongue.
90&9: How did your family respond when you received the Holy Ghost? JL: My mother was so happy for me, even though I don’t think she quite understood what was taking place. I think she was happy because her son was happy. I called home and told my dad about it; I was very emotional. I don’t think any of them quite understood what being filled with the Holy Ghost was. It was a great opportunity to teach them.
90&9: How did the process unfold of your family connecting
with the Apostolic church in Dublin, OH?
It had been a part of their life for so long. They were friends with people in the Methodist church and the culture of the church was all they knew. For my brother though, the Methodist church really had little impact on him. This is why I believe he was the first to join the Apostolic church.
Next came my sister, who, after going through many battles with sickness, decided to reach out to the Lord. My mother and my father came slowly, I think partially because they wanted to know what their kids were so caught up in. Almost like dominos, my brother was baptized, then my sister, and finally my dad and mom. They all received the Holy Ghost, each at their own time.
90&9: Did your friends at high school act differently toward you? JL: My friends saw a difference in me for sure. I used to be a person who didn’t mind making crude jokes now and then and using foul language at times. When my affections became pure and my standards higher, they realized they were dealing with a different friend. I’m not sure if I lost any friends, they just had to cope with a new Jay.
THE REAL TROPHIES 90&9: While speaking at the NABQT 2007 you mentioned that the real trophies in your life are your family members. Describe what you meant by that? JL: When someone looks at Bible quizzing, it doesn’t take long for them to realize that hardware is dealt out at the end of the tournament. As I neared the end of my quiz career, I started to see more and more that Bible quizzing is about spiritual “trophies,” not trophies which glorify men, but trophies for God.
Bible quizzing is a ministry able to save not only those who participate, but others as well. This ministry equips people to be better witnesses, preachers, teachers, pastors, missionaries, and evangelists. It strengthens any ministry to better reach people because Bible quizzing involves a greater ability to put the Truth into action.
90&9: How has Bible Quizzing helped deepen your relationship with God? JL: Bible quizzing is a daily devotion. At least I think it should be. Toward the end of my quiz career, because of school and work, I could only quiz a few days a week. Even those few days were blessings though.
God sees the sacrifices made by people who search His word. I believe the Lord loves it when people sit down, especially to learn the Word of God. Those daily devotions provide revelations, discipline, passion for Truth, closeness to the Lord, as well as knowledge. Once you engrain the concept of “Study to show thyself approved…” it affects your teaching, preaching, and any other ministry you become involved in.
When I stood before everyone with the mic in my hand, I knew what I was going to say. The Lord had impressed a certain point upon me not long before the banquet. I felt that somebody needed to hear what God had showed me. The Lord drew my attention to Daniel 6:1-3. He told me that Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes because an excellent spirit was in him. Daniel did not have an excellent spirit because he was preferred. So it is with Bible quizzing.
I’m not sure what all led me to that moment. I remember my first quiz practice and first tournament. I had a lot of wins and a lot of losses. I met a lot of great people. I had some great quizmasters and inspiring coaches. My teammates were vitally important to help me grow and we had so much fun. Ultimately, it still comes down to God blessing me. He looked down and decided to pour out a blessing.
90&9: Your quiz team from Dublin, OH experienced tremendous
success on a National level in the last two years. Where did your team finish
those years and who helped you achieve that success?
God blessed us; He really blessed us. I really appreciated my coaches: Dale Yokum, Brian Spann, and Austin Spann and fellow quizzers (Austin Spann, Brittany Yokum and Randy Lytle) during those National tournaments, but at the end of the day, God was the one who delivered the results. I’m not just talking about the Lord giving us confidence (which He did), I truly believe He blessed us with wins and losses at specific times during those tournaments.
90&9: What was your favorite moment in your Bible Quizzing career? JL: It’s hard to pick one moment in a four year journey and call it your favorite. The NABQTs were especially life-changing for me. It wasn’t just the public events though.
I can remember thinking about my “Prayer and Share” speech for last year quizzers during lunch time on a Tuesday. There was a small meeting for last year quizzers so the rest of my team went ahead of me to a restaurant. I couldn’t figure out where they went when the meeting was over so I went up to the second floor lobby.
I wanted to be alone anyway. I wanted to reflect. I began to think about my testimony and how quizzing was strongly tied to it. Tears began to fill my eyes. I tried to find an empty room to pray in, but I couldn’t find one.
Bro. (Russ) Faubert was alone in the quizzing ballroom doing some work on his laptop so I reluctantly asked him if he minded me using the ballroom to pray in. As I knelt at a chair and wept I just thanked the Lord for His mercy and grace on my family. I thanked Him for Bible quizzing and for His mighty presence. I left refreshed and with a better perspective on how Bible quizzing and my family’s testimony are connected.
90&9: What was your worst moment in your Bible Quizzing career? JL: I can remember ending a tournament with a negative average. For me though, the worst memories I have were when I would sit at the quiz board while Austin had to do all the work. Because of my lack of studying, I left my best friend and captain to pour out all that he had to win some difficult quizzes. I think the only time I ever saw Austin get emotional after a quiz was in Cincinnati at a Tournament of Champions. Seeing him so discouraged was probably the worst I ever felt at a Bible quizzing tournament.
90&9: What would you say to a young person that might be
considering joining the Bible Quizzing ministry?
The first time you witness to somebody and God quickens a Bible quizzing verse to your heart, you’ll realize it was worth every second.
PERSONAL FUTURE 90&9: What’s next for you? JL: I’m going into my second year at Ohio State University. God has called me to the career of Optometry. I have at least six years of school remaining to obtain that degree.
I’m also entering my second year at Purpose Institute Bible College. It is a UPCI Bible college designed to train men and women who might not be able to attend a full-time, campus Bible college. It takes place one weekend a month, with hours of classes during those times.
90&9: What do you plan to do in ministry now that your quiz career is behind you? JL: I’ve recently become a Sunday school teacher in my church. It is a great privilege and I probably learn more than I teach.
Austin Spann and I will be starting a Junior Bible Quizzing ministry in Dublin, OH. Our church hasn’t had a junior ministry for five years. We are very excited about starting down a brand new path with our juniors.
I would like to work in the Senior division as well, if schedules permit. I’m looking forward to seeing what God has in store for each of these quizzers.
ninetyandnine.com
© 2007, Kent d Curry and Jonathan Walker
--------- Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com, a college and career speaker, and now, a part-time literary blogger. Jonathan Walker is a former Quizzer of the Year who now pastors the youth at The Calvary Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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