Body: | How To Build an Evangelistic Bible Quiz Booth
(to reach lost souls)
Click to View See also, Fair question examples
Click to View True Bible Quiz booth Stories
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You need 6 basic things:
Tent
Signs
Quiz board
flyers to hand out
a willing congregation.
Duct tape. (Thanks to the Red-Green show, who learned the virtues of
Duct tape from me and made a great TV show out of it! The Red-Green show
started in Hamilton! Maybe Red-Green did our Bible quiz one summer long ago
and thought it would make a great idea for a TV show?)
Here is the finished booth!
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The Tent:
I use a 10 x 12 foot tent that is open air concept. Go to a specialty tent
store and buy one that is high so that you can walk right under each corner
without ducking. You do not need a tent with any sides. Notice I position
the button board at the just inside the very back (behind) of the tent. I
stand outside the tent facing those taking the quiz. Pictured below is a
3/4 inch x 12 foot rebar that supports the sign. We drill a 7/8 inch X 18
inch hole in the ground with a drill.(see below) Then we duct tape the tent
leg to the rebar.
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We get a specific rider from our insurance company for a blanket $2 million
liability endorsement for each fair. Think safety! The duct tape secures
the aluminum tent leg to the rebar so that it will not fly away in high
winds. Tents are like parachutes and very dangerous when they fly through
the air! Use lots of duct tape (10 wraps) to tape the tent leg to the
rebar. Below is the leg at the rear of the button board. Notice that we can
tie the sign rope to the bottom of the tent leg for stability in winds. So
the rebar holds the whole thing together. The Duct tape holds the tent to
the rebar and the rope holds the sign to the rebar. The rebar is doing all
the holding work! Pictured below is a 1/2 inch x 2 foot rebar. We hammered
into the gound.
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Then you can buy a steel "u-clamp" and bend it to fasten the tent leg to
the button board.
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Signs:
We use two kinds of signs. Four 1 x 2 foot double sided "Bible quiz" signs.
A banner sign that is 2 x 12 feet made from which plastic vinyl with vinyl
letters. This is the main sign that is over the booth.
Signs: If the booth is on earth:
Buy two 3/4 inch x 12 foot lengths of rebar. These are the vertical
supports for the sign. But an 18 inch long wood auger drill that is 7/8
inch in diameter. You may need to grind the end down so that it will fit in
your cordless 3/8 inch drill. Grind it down with a continuous slow spinning
motion so it remains circular, otherwise it will wobble when you actually
drill with it. You then drill an 18 inch pilot hole into which the 3/4 inch
rebars will fit into. Pictured below is the drill we use for the rebar for
the sign. It is a pilot hole that the rebar just dropped down into for
support. But you still need front and back support ropes for each side!
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Make sure you buy four 1/2 inch steel "rebar" stakes that are at
least 2 feet long. Drive them into the ground with a large mallet Buy 2
packages of 50 foot soft white nylon packing rope. Fold the rope in half
and tie the half way point at the top of the 12 foot rebar. This rope is
your front and rear "guy wires". On the front wires hammer a 1/2 inch x 2
foot rebar into the ground, tie the rope and put a double sided "bible
quiz" sign on top. Make sure you duck tape the top sharp side of the rebar
before you attach this small sign. Pictured below is a 1/2 x 2 foot rebar
about 10 feet out in front of the tent. This is the support for the front
guy wire for the large over head sign.
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After duck taping the top of the rebar like a hockey stick but end so no
one can impale themselves by falling on it, put a "bible quiz" sign on the
rebar. This sign is two pieces of "plastic corrugated cardboard". Tape the
sides together and put the rebar inside or between the two signs. More tape
on the top holds the sign on the rebar. Then you can tie the sign rope to
the bottom for wind support.
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Buy two 2 inch x 2 inch x12 foot AND two 2x2 x 2 foot spruce lumber.
Take the two 2 foot peices and attach them to the top of the 3/4 inch x 12
foot rebar using automotive "U-bolts". The round portion of the u-bolt is
next to the rebar and the flat portion is against the wood. Tighten the two
bolts down and use duck tape to protect the sharp edges from cutting the
vinyl sign. (You never need to remove the duct tape wrapped over the
u-bolts.)
At the top and bottom of the 2 foot pieces of wood, attach 4
"L-brackets" that are about 4 inches long. Use 1 inch X10 Robertson pan
head wood screws to fasten them permanently to the 2 foot lumber. Use these
screws to also attach the 2x2x12 foot lumber to the other side of the
L-bracket to complete the square wooden frame on the 12 foot vertical rebar
supports. Here is a close up of the corner assembly. Permanently duct tape
the U-bolts after they are tightened with a wrench.
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This makes the wooden frame that you fasten the vinyl sign to with a T-50
or T-18 staple gun as this child below is doing.
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Staple the banner around the back of the wooden frame and drop into place!
(Remember the two holes you drilled with th 7/8 inch x 18 inches auger into
the ground?
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When you are done the sign support you will have only two different
components (four pieces): Two 12 foot rebars with 2 foot wood attached by
U-bolts to the rebar and the L-brackets attached to the 2 foot lumber, with
the rope. (these remain permanent units that you never take apart) AND Two
2x2x12 foot pieces of lumber. When you unload the truck, all you need is 8
screws to attach the 12 foot lumber to L-brackets on the 2 foot lumber!
Pictured below are the components that never need to be taken apart. To
build the sign support simply use 2 screws for each corner!
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Signs: If the booth is on concrete:
Substitute the 12 rebars with two 1/2 inch x 10 foot lengths of
standard steel electrical conduit. Instead of using "u-bolts" to attach the
2 foot lumber to the conduit, simply drill two holes through the middle of
each of the round conduits and use a two 2 1/2 inch bolts for each conduit.
The rope, the L-brackets and the 12 foot lumber is the same. When the fair
is on the street, I will tie the ropes up to 50 feet away to a tree or
building for support.
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Here is a close up of one pole attached to the block and the other laying
beside it. The two twelve foot by 2x2 spruce horizontal supports attach to
the steel supports exactly the same way as pictured above when the sign it
on ground, not concrete. The finished pole at the right bottom, laying on
the ground is a complete unit that never needs to be taken apart! All you
need is 2 screws per corner to attach the 2x2x12 to the L-clamp.
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You cannot drill a hole in the road so instead, buy two concrete
cinder blocks. Buy 6 standard U-brackets that mate with the 1/2 inch
conduit. Attach three U-brackets to each cinder block by using a concrete
drill to create pilot holes for the U-brackets to attach to. Make sure you
buy bolds that are at least 3 inches long so you can loosen and tighten
them to the conduit without the nuts falling off. Buying long bolts that
run right through the block make assembly easy! Just slide the pole into
the three u-clamps and tighten!
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When you are done, you have only 3 different components (6 pieces):
two cinderblocks that each have 3 U-clamps permanently attached. You also
have the 2 conduits with the rope and 2 foot lumber and the 2 L-brackets.
Plus the two 12 foot lumber pieces.
Here is what the booth looks like on a roadway or concrete surface.
Pictured below is the booth set up inside a hockey arena on a concrete pad,
normally ice. You can see the cinder blocks work quite well! We did not use
any supporting guy wires in the indoor arena because wind was not a factor!
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Wiring the Quiz board
The quiz board is actually two separate units. Each unit is 2 x 6
feet in size. They are fastened together with a clasp and screws.
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Buy a 4 X 8 chunk of high gloss white shower board from a specialty
plywood supply store. This stuff can be used as a white board with dry
erasable markers. Cut out two 2x6 foot pieces.
Build a slanted frame out of 3/4 inch x plywood for the white top to
rest upon.
Use a glue stick and paste a copy of the questions on the white
board exactly where they will end up going. Mark out with dry erasable
markers on the white board, where the buttons will go and the lights above
each question pages.
Buy a 12 volt 7 AH dry cell rechargeable battery. (the same ones
that are in every home or business alarm system box in the basement)
Buy the 20 lights and corresponding sockets from radio shack. Use 12
volt incandescent. Buy two cans of spray paint. Spray 10 with florescent
green and 10 with florescent red. The red are the "wrong answer" and the
greed are the "right answer" lights.
Make the templates like you see below and glue them to the board.
Pre-drill the holes for the two light bulbs so when they are screwed into
the socked the white board holds them in place. Here are four different
examples of templates. When any button is pushed, either the green or red
light will come on in side this template! Just use a glue stick.
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Buy 50 red buttons. These are momentary contact mini buttons.($1
each). Find a drill that is exactly the right size for the button to push
up through the white board from below and be fastened with the nut and
washer that comes with each switch. Pre-mark the holes with a dry erasable
marker. Make sure the questions are glued on first so you drill the holes
exactly where they need to be.
Get a soldering gun and use light gauge wire. (AWG 22) I use
standard telephone and strip off the outer casing so I get 4 different
wires. Each wire then can be used individually. Soldier 8 inch leads onto
the momentary contact buttons.
Use "b-connectors" or "chicklets" to make connections. (put the two
or more wires in and squash with pliers.)
All the electric circuits are simple "series". The battery positive
goes to one of the two 8 inch switch wires, which when pressed, the other
switch wire sends power to one of the light leads, then the other light
lead is wired back to the battery negative. It is best if you find someone
in the congregation who has had some electrical experience to do the
wiring. But in fact, anyone can do it!
Wire up the two button boards in parallel to one battery.
When all is working ok, remove the 8 paper questions off the two
boards and use water to wash it down. After drying, print a colour set and
use a glue stick to fasten the final questions to the board. I generally do
this after the booth is set up.
Various types of questions:
Click to View See also, Fair question examples
For multiple choice questions you have a question with three answers. Only
one is correct, two are wrong. Wire up the two wrong buttons so that whey
they are pressed, the red "wrong" light turns on. Wire up the one right
answer to light up the green correct light turns on.
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This gospel preacher doesn't realize that the two quiz boards are screwed
together (see above) and he does not need to hold the two boards together
with his arms.
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Above is a multiple choice question. Below left is what the same 3 button
multiple choice question looks like from underneath. Below right is a 10
button true or false question. The wiring is simple series circuits.
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For true or false questions: you have a single theme like: True for false:
Is it sin? Then you have 10 buttons. Each question is either true for
false. If true, the green light turns on. If false, the red light turns on.
Below is the "identify the sin" question that was very powerful.
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Below is the fabulous "Is it a Bible quote" question. This question sends
the "Billy Graham crowd" spinning away in confusion because they get almost
every one wrong based upon the false doctrine of salvation by faith alone
via the sinners prayer.
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Time line questions: The time line uses smaller lights and I start by
printing the time line and taping it to a piece of plywood and drilling the
holes right through the paper. Then each button lights up a single light on
the time line. This question has 10 buttons. When each button is pushed, it
lights up a different light drilled into the time line. You can see the
"first pope" button is pushed and 606 AD lights up on the time line. I use
a smaller 12 volt light that comes with two 6 inch leads. The glass in the
bulb is less than 1/4 inch in diameter. Chose a drill size that allows the
bulb to slide into place then silicone them into place. Make sure the bulb
is flush to the 1/2 inch plywood because people will push the bulbs and
break them.
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How to be saved conversion examples questions: This is a little more
complex to build, because one button may turn on "believe or repentance or
confession or baptism" or one button may turn on "believe AND baptism" or
"believe AND repent AND baptism".
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The last question lights up all four. So some buttons light up one light,
two lights, three lights or four lights, depending on the Bible verse. Buy
20 1 watt diodes and put one in series of every conductor that runs from
the button and the lights. For example, if a button turns on two lights,
the circuit starts at the battery, goes to the button, then two separate
wires to each separate light, then back to the battery. But two diodes on
each conductor between the button and the light. Diodes are about $1 each.
If you put the diode in backwards, it won't light at all. Just reverse the
polarity on the diode. If you don't use diodes, all lights will light up
every button you push.
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Standard folding legs:
Each button board can be mounted on standard collapsible table legs for
easy set up and transportation.
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Rain cover:
In case of rain, buy a heavy gauge clear plastic cover so people can play
the quiz in the rain through the plastic.
The Skirt:
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Buy a 40 foot x 5 foot chunk of good quality non-cotton cloth. Fold it in
half and staple the folded edge up against the top of the white board. To
remove, just grab the cloth and yank!
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Night time:
Use either 2 white liquid gas lanterns at the top inside peak of the tent
or two twin halogen lights on contractor tripods (500 watt bulbs in each
light.) Point one at the sign and the other at the roof inside the tent.
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Home Depot sells these. Make sure you buy the tallest and largest one they
sell. (7 feet hight)
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Below is one of our lady members at night standing behind the button board.
You can see there is lots of light.
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Flyers to hand out:
Click to View See also flyer examples.
We hand out one flyer that is 8.5 x 5.5 double sided. One side invites them
to church and the other side is a Bible study offer where we can fill in
their name, address and phone number.
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We also hand out a second paper like this: It is the 5.5x8.5 in size and
you could actually combine this with the coupon above that requests their
name and phone number to create a great double sided coupon. But we hand
out two separate papers.
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Running the booth:
As people come into the booth we say, "would you like to take the Bible
quiz?" If they say yes, we hand them a flyer as we say, "The first question
is at this end." We explain that it is a question with three possible
answers and that when they press the buttons it will tell them if it is
right or wrong from the lights that turn on. I usually do a question with
them, then back off. A while later I will come back and ask two questions:
"Do you attend church every week?" and "Which church". I want to know if
they are committed and their religious affiliation. As they finish, we ask
them if they are interested in Bible study. We then hand them a second
flyer (same as what they have in their hands) on a clip board and ask them
to fill in their personal information. I take this flyer and after they
leave write down any additional information I know about them, like where
they attend etc.
A willing congregation:
Obviously this booth is to a preacher, what candy is to a baby. It is a
riot. However, the preacher must not hog all the fun for himself. Invite
anyone in the whole church to help. Men, Women, teens, kids.
Women help:
We often find that without women at the booth, our jobs would be hindered
because of the large number of women who take the quiz. Pictured bottom
right is gospel preacher Mark Copeland, who helped one week!
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Teens help:
Notice this teen has a clip board, flyer and pen in hand. She will ask the
police officer if he is interested in Bible study. If he says yes, she will
hand him the clip board and ask him to fill out a coupon with his name
address and phone number. She keeps it and hands him a second one to keep.
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Children help:
All of the children in the congregation help "man" the booth. If they
cannot read, they can hand out flyers. This child is a good reader and is
actually reading the questions for the adult who cannot read! She asks him,
"Is this true or false"? After he gives his answer, she would push the
button for him and he would see from which light turned on, if he was right
or wrong.
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Written and Designed by Steve Rudd 1990-2003
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