A friendly volleyball match brought together seven teams and cheerful supporters
About thirty years ago, the Adventist
Church held a popular event called Bible and Ball Days, where youth teams from
different congregations competed on Saturdays in Bible knowledge and on Sundays
on the volleyball court. The overall winner was determined based on the total
points scored in both areas. Over time, the format of the event has changed,
and after a brief hiatus, what remains of Bible and Ball Days is the middle P –
a friendly volleyball match.
Led by the family ministry, these friendly
matches have now been held regularly for years, twice a year, in the spring and
at the beginning of winter. On the second Sunday of Advent this year, seven
mixed teams gathered in Põltsamaa for the tournament: TISDAC, HaPäkad,
Kloostri, Entusiastid, Viljandi, Põltsamaa, and Latvia. The players were of
varying skill levels – some trained regularly, while others had not touched a
volleyball in years. Taking each opponent’s skills into account created a
friendly atmosphere worthy of the event’s name.
All teams played each other in a spacious
three-court hall. Each match consisted of two 15-point games, with short breaks
in between. The second friendly match in 2025 was won by Põltsamaa, who did not
lose a single game during the tournament. HaPäkad (a joint team from Haapsalu
and Pärnu) came in second with nine game wins, and Kloostri came in third with
eight wins, narrowly beating the Latvian team.
TISDAC received special recognition,
finishing seventh this time, but standing out for their bold approach and large
fan base. For the members of the international congregation and their friends,
this was their first experience competing against each other in a union event.
The tournament was made especially
memorable by the larger-than-usual audience – children, young people, and
families who had come to cheer on their teams. A blue poster and fan drum
brought out from the back room added momentum to Põltsamaa’s good results.
The next friendly match will take place on
March 29, the last Sunday of the month, in Haapsalu. Maybe we’ll see you there!
Article written by Marge Randlepp