Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

This just in: The season finale of GSN’s hit series The American Bible Challenge has revealed its winner.  Team Wagner Warriors are the Season 2 champions. After winning two rounds of the intense competition, Team Wagner Warriors of Owasso and Tulsa, OK, went on to defeat Team Sisters of Mary and Team Girls of Grace in the finale, winning a total of $140,000 for One Nation One Day – an event in which Wagner Ministries International will be among the ministries from around the world who will gather to bring lifesaving aid and the teachings of The Bible to the people of Honduras.

 “We are incredibly thrilled and blessed to become The American Bible Challenge champions,” said Joshua Wagner, the oldest of the three Wagner brothers and the team’s leader. “The Bible has been at the center of our entire lives, and our love for it now makes it possible for us to extend our mission work to impoverished people in the neediest places in the world.  In light of the recent tragedy in Moore, Oklahoma, Wagner Ministries International will be donating 10% of all donations it receives between now and the end of June to the Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross for relief efforts.”

Team Wagner Warriors are Daniel, Joshua and Jesse Wagner, three brothers who are also best friends and sons of a pastor. Josh and Jesse are current students at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma and youngest brother Daniel will start as a freshman in the fall. They have been part of their family’s international ministry their whole lives. They’re also four-time Bible Quiz Bowl champions, and were determined to win on behalf of their family’s mission work, bringing food, clothing and shelter to people in the poorest places on earth.

Placing second on the show was Team Sisters of Mary (aka The Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist) who were also named fan favorites in a GSNTV.com poll (resulting in a $10,000 bonus for their Sisters of the Order charity). All told Sister Peter Joseph, Sister Maria Suso and Sister Evangeline won a total of $55,000 that will go toward providing for retired nuns. The Ann Arbor, Michigan-based Dominican Sisters showed America that they not only knew their Bible, but that they are a community filled with joy and can have fun.

The American Bible Challenge scored GSN’s highest ratings in its 18-year history with 1.7 million total viewers for its August 2012 series premiere. Factoring in the encore airing, the premiere episode was watched by over 2 million viewers. Comedian Jeff Foxworthy hosts the show in which contestants compete based on their knowledge of The Bible.  The contestants share their compelling back-stories and each team plays for a charitable organization. Grammy Award winner Kirk Franklin joined the show this season 2 as musical co-host.

The show is produced by Relativity Television for GSN, with Relativity Television’s Tom Forman (Extreme Makeover: Home Edition) serving as Executive Producer on the project along with Janelle Fiorito (Extra Virgin).  Nick Stuart and Maura Dunbar of Odyssey Networks are Consulting Producers. Odyssey Networks is the country’s largest multi-faith coalition dedicated to producing and distributing media that creates understanding among people of different beliefs and perspectives. Jeff Foxworthy also serves as Producer. Embassy Row’s Michael Davies as well as Parallel Entertainment’s J.P. Williams and Jennifer Novak serve as Executive Producers.

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11