MARK COLGAN
Upland, IN

1. What years did you quiz?
   1977-1980



2. Where and for what church did you quiz?
   New Castle (IN) FMC



3. What were the highlights of your quizzing years?
   My wife Kathy and I quizzed together as teens. My dad was our coach, and we enjoyed a lot of good family time. We had fun quizzing at Winona Lake for National Quiz Finals and going out for ice cream or pizza when we won quizzes. Rick Gensch was a young quizzer who not only quizzed well but also made things fun and interesting. Some of the quizzers we enjoyed quizzing against were Mike Hopper, Greg Sanders, Steve Coates and Gerry Coates.



4. Did you or your team win any championships? If so, what and when?
   We won the Alpha-Omega Trophy (1st place in Senior Teen Veteran) in 1980 quizzing over the Book of Acts. I also won the Individual Championship that year.



5. Did you receive any other special quizzing awards? If so, what?
   In 1978 at Quiz Finals I was on the All-star team with Mike and Nancy Hopper and Greg Sanders.



6. What was your favorite scripture? Why?
   While quizzing over the Book of Acts, I really liked Acts 20:24: "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." I liked the racing analogy Luke used because I always enjoyed sports and could identify with finishing the race. I felt like my life would only be a success if I could finish what God gave me to do.



7. How did Quizzing affect you as a teen?
   Bible quizzing gave me a foundation in the Scripture that changed my way of thinking by "the renewing of [my] mind" (Romans 12:2). I came to understand that all of life can be interpreted through the message of the Bible. Quizzing helped me grow in my faith year by year by constantly studying and memorizing the Word.



8. What difference has quizzing made in your life to this day?
   I still enjoy memorizing passages for QUIC quizzing and again experience the power of memorizing the Word and how the Spirit speaks in special ways when we memorize. When I hear statements made, I often think of how that fits or doesn't fit with various Bible passages. Quizzing has forever changed my way of thinking by helping me focus on what the Bible says about life. The discipline I learned through quizzing continues to help me in my walk with the Lord.



9. Are you presently involved in Bible Quizzing in any way or have you been since you were a quizzer? If so, how?
   My wife and I started coaching a quiz team at the North Anderson (IN) Church while we were students in college in 1982. A great quizzing highlight for us was coaching our team in 1985 at IYC in Colorado. When we moved to Bedford, Indiana, I had the opportunity to coach there for 6 years with Jerry Mullis and many other fine coaches and quizzers. Since 1991, I have enjoyed coaching the Anderson Wesley team. I have also served as the Mid-East Regional Director and as the national Co-Director with Mike Hopper.



10. What ministries are you currently doing? How are you presently active in serving the Lord?
    I am currently a mathematics teacher and department chair at Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Taylor is a liberal arts Christian college where I have many opportunities to serve students and faculty. Once each week I share a Bible memory verse with my students involving mathematics, and I encourage them to memorize the verses for extra credit. My experience with Bible quizzing has certainly touched every area of my life!