Twin brothers David and Jason Benham wear more hats than your average person: In addition to their work as real estate entrepreneurs and public speakers, they're also bestselling authors, husbands, and fathers.
Now, the brothers, who famously saw their planned reality show scrapped by HGTV in 2014 due to their Biblical views regarding marriage and life, are taking on yet another role, serving as co-hosts alongside Kirk Cameron on season two of the National Bible Bee Game Show.
"To be able to be on the Bible Bee Game Show and to host it like we did was such an honor," Jason Benham told The Gospel Herald in a sit-down interview in Nashville, Tennessee. "It gives us an opportunity to remind young kids, 'You get into God's word, you have no idea what's coming down the pipe, you have no idea what the devil has planned for you, because you have made yourself an enemy of his.' You need God's word because when you do get put in a tough situation, God's word will come right out of you. It happened to us, and it can happen to you."
Produced by EnthuseEntertainment, the Bible Bee Game Show brings 72 young people together in a Jeopardy-style contest that showcases Bible verse memory and application of Bible study. Players are chosen from National Bible Bee contestants-grouped as primary (ages 7-10), junior (ages 11-14) and seniors (ages 15-18). From each age division, the top 3 percent of contestants compete in the tournament, and the winner receives $150,000 in prize money.
Last year's winner, 17-year-old Hannah Leary, also joins this year's panel of co-hosts, along with Emeal ("E.Z.") Zwayne, president of Living Waters Publications. Leary told The Gospel Herald that for her, the show is far more than just a competition.
"I was really encouraged as I went through the competition...It allowed me to memorize God's word and hide it in my heart, and learn how to study a book of the Bible for myself," she said. "The Bible Bee taught me to really dig into the Bible and discover God's truth. Before I ever set foot onto the platform of the game show and played the game, I committed it to the Lord. I prayed, 'This is an opportunity for me to share your word, this is an opportunity for me to proclaim what you have given me. Help me to glorify you in it.' I'm so excited for the opportunity, and what a privilege it was to be able to do that."
The Benham brothers are also passionate about Scripture memorization, crediting their own knowledge of God's word with allowing them to stand firm when asked to compromise their beliefs.
"David and I committed to reading the Bible cover to cover when we were 12 - we started with the New Testament, and by the time we were 18, we'd gotten to the Old Testament," Jason said. "We were fired from HGTV when we were 38. That's 26 years of hiding God's word in our heart. When we stood boldly in that moment. It wasn't just cuz we're uber spiritual; it was because God's word was so deep inside of our hearts that it was just a natural outpouring of what we did."
Season one of the National Bible Bee Game Show reached 80 million homes on three TV networks and broadcast globally on NRB Network, CTN and UPLIFT TV.
The National Bible Bee Game Show airs on television and online at ChristianCinema.com in April 2016. To learn more or to participate in the competition, visit www.biblebee.org.
