Who is the first-ever Bible Heroes world champion?
In this article, let’s get to know the following about him:
- Name and personal background
- Childhood life
- Discovery of Heroes: The Bible Trivia Game
- Thoughts about the game
- Experience during and after the competition
- Advice to fellow youth
But first, let’s take a glimpse of the Heroes World Championship.
What is Heroes World Championship?
The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists conducted the Global Campmeeting last May 19–23, 2021.
Heroes World Championship was one of the programs in the exhibit. Its qualifying rounds took place from the 19th to the 22nd and the final round on the 23rd.
From each qualifying round, the 8 highest-scoring players entered the semi-final round. Then, the semi-finalists competed against 7 other qualifying players.
Can you imagine the pressure?
After which, the qualifiers from daily game sessions moved on to the final round. Pastor Sam Neves, the man behind the game, hosted the Finals himself.
What a grand event!
Who is This First-ever Bible Heroes World Champion?
He is Ian Grey Antoni Segui, a 14-year-old boy from the Philippines.
Young, isn’t he?
Ian hails from Lopez, Quezon. His parents are Greyson and Shyrell Segui, and his younger sibling is Ivy Shy.
Now, what about his education?
At the time this article was written (September 2021), Ian was in grade 9 at Lipa Adventist Academy in Batangas.
What Was His Childhood Like?
No gadgets at home!
Can you believe it? Well, it’s true.
“We [didn’t] have a television at home. We [didn’t] have our own gadgets. And we only [had] one Facebook account,” Ian confessed.
Unusual, isn’t it?
But through this upbringing, he was able to focus on his studies and spiritual life. And that’s the good side of it.
His family influenced him to study the Bible.
“Ever since I was a kid, they taught me so much about the Bible,” Ian shared.
For instance, his father would show him Amazing Facts and other Adventist programs and channels. With this, Ian would ask questions on things that caught his curiosity.
His father, mother, and grandfather would also render sermons in church services. Because of all this, he developed an interest in learning the Bible.
True enough, he spent most of his time reading this sacred book. Well, why not? He had no personal gadgets to distract him, right?
But his parents also encouraged him to read other Adventist resources. One of them was the Spirit of Prophecy.
This was the habit his parents instilled in him instead of playing computer games.
He was active in local Bible tournaments.
Growing up, Ian joined Bible trivia quizzes in his local church, school, and conference.
For instance, he took a Bible quiz and a conference-wide Bible spelling bee in elementary.
Guess what. Ian won both!
Do you think these Bible experiences gave him the courage to sign in for the global Bible trivia tournament? Let’s see.
Adventist education had a significant impact on his growth.
“Adventist education helped…in reinforcing Christian behavior and ethics to our children. It is important that whatever we teach at home is in sync with what the teachers [say] in school,” Ian’s mother said.
True enough, this education has served Ian well from elementary to high school. Hence, it must have shaped his childhood life.
Also, it helped him grow closer to God. As such, it could have been one of his motivating factors for finally deciding to get baptized at 12.
How Did He Discover Heroes?
As previously mentioned, Ian didn’t grow up playing games that much. But something caught his interest.
That is, he heard that Hope Channel developed its own Bible trivia game. It surprised him to know that the Adventist denomination could produce a gaming app.
Not only Ian but also his father was thankful for this brilliant initiative. He would like to commend the creators.
At the same time, his father saw the evangelistic potential of the game.
“This reveals to us that there are people we still need to reach through this medium.” Indeed, it is a way we can “cater to their needs and introduce Jesus,” his father commented.
What Does Ian Like About the Game?
“What I like most about the app is the different features…from the effects to the challenges,” Ian shares.
For instance, the power-ups are a great help in answering difficult questions. Plus, they help advance the game.
Second, it fascinates him to see modern graphics and animation. And true enough, this technology is better than that of other rated Bible trivia games in the market.
With that, Ian can’t help but appreciate the designers of the game.
Third, he loves the self-paced Bible study module because it answers life’s biggest questions such as the following:
- Is God real?
- If God is good, why do we suffer?
- What happens when you die?
With all these, the work of all people behind the game “paid off,” Ian concludes.
How Was His Experience During and After the Competition?
Ian joined the championship to play and interact with other players from all over the world. And did you know that his father Greyson joined, too?
But winning was not their intention. Ian and his father just wanted to have fun. At the same time, they liked challenging their gaming skills and knowledge of the Bible.
But did you know what? By God’s grace, they made it to the Finals last May 23!
The spot began with the Union Level competition. At this level, they played against 14 other world qualifiers from these countries:
- Philippines
- Indonesia
- Venezuela
- United Arab Emirates
- Lithuania
- Canada
- Ireland
- Mexico
- Brazil
But after this, only Ian made it one on one with the Canadian finalist David Jeffrey in a best-of-three series.
Live questions and answers. Fast pace. Limited time. Critical thinking. Stock knowledge. So much adrenaline rush going on.
Can you imagine the nerve-racking tension Ian felt?
Yet, he won both the first and third rounds in this series! And he emerged as the champion of the entire competition.
Well, he never expected it. In fact, he was nervous the entire game. But after that, he felt relieved knowing that he did something good for God and himself.
And yes, many people congratulated him. He was so overwhelmed.
What Can We Learn From Him?
For Ian, “Heroes is not [only] a game but a tool designed to reach millions of young people.” It is an app “designed to make its contents, interface, and [goal] close to the Bible.”
With this, he advises us to spend “more time in praying and reading the Bible.” It would “help us grow more in our spiritual life” and “relationship with…Jesus Christ.”
So, instead of playing other games, Ian invites us all to play Heroes. “It doesn’t only give us entertainment” but also “increases our Bible knowledge.”
But he just wants to remind everyone that there is no better substitute for knowing God than studying the Scriptures.
The game is only “a tool.” It “should never replace our relationship with God and other people.”
Finally, he encourages us to “use this media to introduce Jesus Christ to others.”
We Want to Hear From You
Did you enjoy reading Ian’s story? What lessons have you learned?
With this, would you want to be like him someday? Who knows, you’ll be the next world champion!
