VALENCIA — The annual St. Barnabas Bible trivia challenge is why nursing home resident Ann Ziros first read the Bible.

"I read it right through, chapter by chapter," said Ziros, who has been part of the competition for six years.

The Oct. 26 event pitted St. Barnabas Nursing Home residents against residents of the The Arbors at St. Barnabas assisted living facility and Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas nursing center.

Residents began meeting to bone up on their Bible knowledge six months before the competition, which has been held for more than 10 years.

The competitors are not athletes — at least not anymore. Most have lost the use of their legs, and all of them are assisted living residents or nursing home residents. But they have not lost a will to compete, to meet new people and enjoy the Bible. "Everyone here looks forward to it. We find it keeps (residents') minds alert, decreases dementia and helps to keep everyone active," said the Rev. Joseph Wargo, chaplain at St. Barnabas, who began and runs the trivia challenge.

The atmosphere is tense, even exciting. Sometimes three or four teammates shout the answer; sometimes a hushed conversation needs to take place before giving a final answer. Several residents struggled to keep from shouting out an answer for the other team.

The trivia challenge had two teams of about six people, along with some residents simply watching, and three judges officiating the competition.

A captain from each team approved the team's official answer, while Wargo asked questions, alternating between teams. A question posed to one team could not be answered by the other unless the first team answered wrong.

"It's a wonderful thing to get the groups together. The quiz gives the opportunity for us to join a small group, be a part of something," said Mary Louise Brown, captain of the St. Barnabas Nursing Home team.

To prepare for the challenge, residents from each facility meet about once a week for Bible studies conducted by Wargo.

The Bible study is where Ziros first sat down to read the Bible, and she said it made getting through the day easier. The sessions begin with a review of 200 questions, and residents pick out which 80 will be on the quiz. They can review the questions up to the day of the event, but then the papers go away and participants rely on memory.

The knowledge sticks. Only two out of 80 questions were answered incorrectly, but they were answered correctly by the opposing team.

Topics ranged from the New Testament to the Old, including questions like, "What did Noah see in the sky?" and "Who asked Jesus: 'Are you the King of the Jews?'"

Valencia Woods won by two points this year, squeaking by to hold the trophy for the fourth year in a row. After the competition, the trophy goes to the winning team to keep until next year. Then the team members mingle, meet new people and discuss the competition.

"We talk, we unwind," said Brown. She was upset about St. Barnabas' loss, but said she enjoyed the value of the competition. "It's been good getting to know the people here. We're like family," said Brown. She said she has learned a lot about others in the Bible study, including that many of the female residents enjoy football.

After the competition, a resident who went to school with the daughter of another resident talked for the first time. Residents caught up with each others' lives, and talked of next year's trivia challenge.

"Next year, it's going to be in our house," said Brown, meaning the challenge will be at the nursing home instead of Valencia Woods.

Both St. Barnabas Nursing Home and Valencia Woods at St. Barnabas are part of St. Barnabas Health System. The health system includes retirement and nursing facilities serving about 900

inpatients

and residents and about 35,000 outpatients and home care clients, according to a news release.

The event was the first part of the international Pastoral Care Week, which celebrates clergy and volunteers who provide spiritual care to places such as St. Barnabas. The event is sponsored by the Coalition on Ministry in Specialized Settings Network, an organization that includes pastoral care providers and professionals, and faith group endorsers.

Other St. Barnabas events last week included a stump-the-clergy session in which members of the Mars Ministerium fielded trivia questions from residents, and a lunch in honor of the Richland Ministerium.