The concept
The Truth Hunters Board Game was designed and created with multiple purposes in mind:
1. To give families a fun and engaging way to review the information that they learn in the Truth Hunters Vacation Bible School. There is a deck of questions based on the Elementary-level lessons (the blue deck), and a deck of questions based on the Junior/Teen/Adult lessons (the silver deck).
2. To tie together some of the concepts from the Truth Hunters book with the material that it represents in a way that helps young people remember important information about the inspiration of the Bible.
3. To give families a way to learn general information about the Bible in a fun and exciting way. There is a deck of general Bible questions (the red deck) that comes with the game, and there will also be a Booster Pack of 1,000 additional general Bible questions coming soon!
The Characters
If you and your family are unfamiliar with the Truth Hunters book and/or the Vacation Bible School material, here are some simple explanations of the characters and what they represent:
Val
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Val (short for “valor”) represents COURAGE. When we first meet him in the book, he is willing to face some powerful enemies by himself so that his friends can escape. Throughout the book, he displays the courage to overcome fear and face his enemies and obstacles. In the search for truth, it is crucial that we have the courage to face our fears and overcome our enemies and obstacles. Val is a good representation of this courage!
Quote from Truth Hunters: “Val sat silent, thinking, ‘Okay…then I’ll hold them off while you escape.’” – Truth Hunters, p. 20
Ginny
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Ginny represents the importance of being GENUINE. Ginny always tells the truth and maintains an honest approach towards other people and towards the situations that the group faces. When Ginny says something (even if the others might not like what she says), she is going to tell the truth.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “But Ginny couldn’t help but speak her mind, though she meant nothing by it.” – Truth Hunters, p. 85
annika
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Annika represents the concept of CURIOSITY and shows us that asking lots of questions is an important part of seeking and finding the truth. Although she is the youngest Truth Hunter, she constantly wants to learn more. This approach leads to tremendous growth for Annika, and shows us the value of continuous learning.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “’What is it?’ asked Annika, straining her eyes over her glasses.” – Truth Hunters, p. 182
Chase
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Chase represents the concept of PERSEVERANCE. In the book, Chase never wants to quit, no matter what happens. He wants to keep going, even when things get difficult. The quality of perseverance is an important part of seeking truth, since it can be a challenging pursuit.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “I’m chopping all the way. I’m not going to get tired. I’m not going to quit until we get there.” – Chase, Truth Hunters, p. 143
K-9
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, K-9 is an important part of the story. He represents the CANON OF SCRIPTURE (the Bible). In the Truth Hunters book, K-9 helps the kids find the Forerunners, and even though he is attacked several times in the story, he survives and continues to help them. He has helped lots of Truth Hunters before them, and he will help others after them. K-9 helps us understand that God’s Word is truth, no matter what we believe, and that God wants all of us to find it and believe in it.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “K-9 barked and jumped. He began sniffing along the ground, circling, then barked again and trotted away, into the forest. ‘I guess follow him,’ said Ginny.” – Chase, Truth Hunters, p. 56
Dugout
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Dugout represents the ARCHAEOLOGICAL ACCURACY of the Bible. His interest in digging up artifacts from the past and studying them illustrates the vast amount of archaeological evidence that supports the inspiration of the Bible.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “Digging out the truth is dirty work. But it’s worth it.” – Dugout, Truth Hunters, p. 94
Dr. Augur
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Dr. Augur represents the PREDICTIVE PROPHECY found in the Bible, which is evidence of its Divine inspiration. The word “augur” literally means “someone who foretells the future and interprets omens.” Although the book does not present Dr. Augur as a prophet, he represents the idea and concept of predictive prophecy in the Bible. In the story, his job was to carefully study everything that the King said or wrote (the King’s “oracles”). Sometimes the King would predict something, and Dr. Augur would watch until that prediction came true. In the Truth Hunters story, all of the King’s predictions came true!
Quote from Truth Hunters: “I don’t know anything…the King knows. I merely watch his oracles.” – Dr. Augur, Truth Hunters, p. 128
Psy-law
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Psy-Law represents the SCIENTIFIC FOREKNOWLEDGE of the Bible. When the Truth Hunters meet Psy-Law, she is using her giant telescope to examine things that are right in front of her, as well as things that are far away. She sees the “fingerprints” of the King in everything she studies, just as we see evidence of God in the world. The scientific foreknowledge of the Bible is seen in many ways, and is further evidence of its inspiration!
Quote from Truth Hunters: “I study everything the King created in order to learn more about him.” – Psy-Law, Truth Hunters, p. 165
The Crimson cord
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, The Crimson Cord represents the UNITY of the Bible. He lives in the root system of three giant trees that are connected, and he teaches the Truth Hunters a valuable lesson about the unity that they can have when they work together. The remarkable unity found within the Bible is compelling evidence that it was inspired by God.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “This is the Nexus. The thread of the King that runs through his entire creation, but especially through the truth.” – The Crimson Cord, Truth Hunters, p. 212
Coda
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Coda represents the LEGACY of the Bible. In the story, Coda is the last Forerunner that the Truth Hunters meet before they must face The Accuser. Coda represents the influence and effect that the Bible has had on our culture and on the entire world for almost 2,000 years. Her clothing gives “clues” pointing to the influence of God’s Word and revealing compelling evidence that the Bible is no ordinary book!
Quote from Truth Hunters: “You have already crossed the river. You have already scaled the cliff. You have your swords. You have only now to fight, and win.” – Coda, Truth Hunters, p. 237
The Accuser
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, The Accuser is the leader of The Adversaries, and he represents our only real enemy: Satan. He is mean, cruel, scary, and sneaky, but you might notice that he has chains around him. This means that his power is limited, and there is only so much he can do to try and stop the Truth Hunters. In fact, if they make good choices, he can be defeated fairly easily.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “The Accuser sat upright, gripping the arms of his throne, scowling at the two forms who stood at attention before him, Mass and Thrope. They were his most…useful, his most effective servants.” – Truth Hunters, p. 5
Mass
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Mass loosely represents the idea of the “rocky ground” in the parable of the sower/soils. He is a loyal servant to The Accuser, and his goal is to stop the Truth Hunters from completing their quest, at all costs.
Quote from Truth Hunters: “’Another group of…recruits…my lord.’ The deep voice sounded like rocks tumbling together, grating and pounding on each other. The huge form behind the voice seemed even more solid than the blackened stone walls and floor behind him.” – Truth Hunters, p. 5
Thrope
Description: In the Truth Hunters book, Thrope loosely represents the idea of the “thorny ground” in the parable of the sower/soils. He is a loyal servant to The Accuser, and his goal is to stop the Truth Hunters from completing their quest, at all costs. The names “Mass” and “Thrope” are a play on words and come from the word “misanthrope,” which is defined as “a person who hates or distrusts humankind.”
Quote from Truth Hunters: “All you have to do is join us. Join the real sssside of truth, and help us eliminate those lying Truth Huntersss.” – Truth Hunters, p. 17