Congratulations to our Fall 2022 High School Essay Contest winner – Benjamin Bayless. As the High School Essay Contest winner, he is the recipient of a $500 college scholarship to use at the college of his choice. Benjamin is a member at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta and is in his senior year at Open Bible Christian School. He plans to attend Georgia Military College to complete his core classes and then transfer to Valdosta State University.
Benjamin shared that writing this essay challenged him to think more thoroughly about his faith, and has caused him to strive to be unwavering in his faith through trials and circumstances. You can download and read a copy of his essay using this link:
Due to a family emergency with our speaker, this webinar has been postponed. A rescheduled date will be announced in the near future.
Kids Ministry leaders, teachers, and Bible Drill leaders, join us January 19th at 12:30 pm EST for our third lunch and learn. Taylor Garmon, Family Ministry Pastor (Sagamore Baptist Church, Texas) and Bible Drill Consultant with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention will share some great ideas for partnering with parents to teach Bible Skills. Register for this free webinar using this link: Partnering with Parents to teach Bible Skills.
If you missed our November Bible Drill webinar with Mark Jones from Mr. Mark’s Classroom, you’ll want to watch this video for all the creative ideas Mark shared for teaching Bible Drill/Bible Skills and for encouraging/motivating our kids in Bible Drill.
Mark your calendar to join us for our January 19th Bible Drill Lunch and Learn at 12:30 pm EST. Taylor Garmon, Southern Baptist of Texas Convention, will join us to discuss Family Discipleship. He will be focusing on partnering with parents in teaching Bible Skills.
Fun, sticks with me, and I want to keep doing it! These words are not describing a new app, or a fun road trip. All of these are words that have been used to describe Bible Drill.
Hear what these students shared about Bible Drill:
Fun – I memorized Bible Verses during this time (Bible Drill), I had fun at competitions, made lifelong friendships, improved my public speaking (Student Speakers), and most importantly, I had the opportunity to share God’s Word with others – Sarah North Scheffler (former Bible Drill and Speakers Competition State Winner)
Sticks with me – ” These scriptures (from Bible Drill) will stick with me the rest of my life.” – Mary Carol Kletcke, 9-year-driller, FBC Cochran
I want to keep doing it – “I just wanted to keep doing it (Bible Drill) over and over again.” – Will Bowick, 9-year Driller, FBC Monroe
Tuesday, November 29th is Giving Tuesday. Join us in investing in the lives of kids and students. When you donate, you impact the lives of students like Darren Li, a 9-year Bible Driller. Darren recently shared with us what Bible Drill means to him:
Darren Li, First Chinese Baptist Church of Atlanta: Bible Drill is important to me because it helps me answer questions about my faith and points me to verses whenever I am faced with any situation. Bible Drill helps me reaffirm my beliefs and reevaluate my relationship to God by making sure I am following God in all aspects of my life.
Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. relies on donations from individuals and churches to make this ministry possible. Join me today in making a difference through discipling kids and students by donating to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Posting scripture verses in a room are a great way to focus on and memorize God’s Word. Today, we are offering a free download of 10 Scripture verse posters. The posters are available in ESV, KJV, and CSB.
3 creative ways you can use these posters to help with scripture memorization:
Print out the posters on 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock, trim and insert one in an inexpensive 8 x 10 picture frame. Place the framed verse on your kitchen counter or table so that your family can read and memorize the verse together. Change the verse weekly (or monthly.)
Use in your Youth Bible Drill Class. Print these Cycle 3 Youth Bible Answer Verses in color on 11×17 sheets. If you don’t have access to a copier that prints on 11 x17 paper, check out a local store that offers copy services. Hang the verse posters in your Classroom.
Print out 8 1/2 x 11 size on white cardstock and laminate. Use these with teaching activity stations as students are learning the verses.
Thank you to Karen North for creating these posters and sharing them with us! She is the Bible Drill Leader at Covenant Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA and one of our Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc board members.
Mark Jones (Children’s Pastor, Quail Springs Baptist Church and Mr. Mark’s Classroom) took a few minutes on a break at LifeWay’s ETCH conference earlier this month to share about our upcoming Bible Drill webinar on Creative Ideas for Bible Drill.
We are excited about our upcoming November 3rd Bible Drill webinar in which Mark Jones will share some creative ideas for Bible Drill as well as ideas to motivate our drillers. Mark Jones is the Children’s Pastor at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City where he loves and teaches preschoolers, children and their parents. He also teaches Bible Drill at Quail Springs.
Mark speaks around the nation training kids ministry leaders and parents. He is the founder of Mr. Mark’s Classroom, an online leadership development and teacher-resource company which helps overwhelmed children’s ministry leaders get clarity, confidence and the resources they need to win at reaching kids for Jesus, equipping kids with Bible skills and teaching kids to serve others.
Make plans to join us on November 3rd at 12:30 EST/11:30 CST. Register using this link:
This fall, Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. is sponsoring a High School Essay Contest. The prize is a $500 scholarship to the college of your choice. This essay contest is open to 9th-12th grade High school students. Students may choose from the following list of topics:
How Recent World and National Events Have Affected My Faith.
Where Does Christian Stewardship Most Impact My Faith?
How Can I Best Express My Faith in My Relationships?
The deadline to submit the essay is December 1, 2022. To view more information on the Essay Contest, judging criteria, and submission link, visit our website: https://bibledrillandspeakers.com/essay-contests/
*High School students must be a resident of Georgia and/or a member of a Georgia Baptist Church.
Plan a fun kick-off event to get kids and students excited about Bible Drill. Include some fun Bible Skill games as well as an overview/introduction of Bible Drill. Door prizes and food are always a big hit. Consider including parents (for Children’s Bible Drill).
Determine when and where you will meet. Be creative and flexible. You can meet on Wednesday or Sunday nights at church, Thursday afternoon in a homeschool group, or with a group of friends during the week at your house!
Choose your translation (ESV, KJV, or CSB) if you are beginning your first year of Bible Drill.
Communicate with Parents – Connect with parents on a regular basis sharing the current verse you are learning and other Bible Drill information using social media, texting, email, mail, flyers, etc.
Create a Bible Drill calendar or checklist for the school year. List out all the dates related to Bible Drill: Bible Drill kick-off/parent meeting, dates you will have class, dates you will take a break (due to holidays, fall festival, etc.), Christmas party, special practices/activities, and which verse(s) you will be teaching each night. We’ve created a checklist for each age group that you can fill in your dates Children, Youth, and High School.
Utilize new ideas and resources this year in teaching Bible Drill: (1) Consider providing a Bible Drill drawstring backpack for your drillers to use in Bible Drill this year. You can order ones imprinted or add a special backpack tag for your drillers. (2) Create some new learning games and activities using ideas from our blog and/or Pinterest page.
Keep connected with Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc and other Bible Drill leaders by subscribing to our website/blog and/or by joining our Facebook group. By entering your email on our website, it will allow you to receive our latest Bible Drill updates by email. Joining our Facebook group is a great way to connect with other Bible Drill leaders in the state.
Make plans to be a part our our National Bible Drill webinars. Currently four are scheduled for this year. These webinars will feature different Bible Drill leaders from around the country. Our first one will be August 25th at 12:30 pm and will feature Maria Brannen (Georgia) and Belinda Stroud (Alabama). More information about the August webinar will be released soon.
I hope you have a fun year as you help kids and students develop a love for God’s Word and to memorize scripture! We’d love to hear what you have planned for your year in Bible Drill!
This fall, Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc is sponsoring a College Essay Contest. The prize is a $500 scholarship that can be redeemed at any college. This essay contest is open to currently enrolled undergraduate college students. Students may choose from the following list of topics:
How Recent World and national Events Have Affected My Faith.
Where Does Christian Stewardship Most Impact My Faith?
How Can I Best Express My Faith in my Relationships?
The deadline to submit the essay is December 1, 2022. To view more information on the Essay Contest, judging criteria, and submission link, visit our website: Essay Contest
College students must be a resident of Georgia and/or a member of a Georgia Baptist Church. College students who attend a Georgia University/College campus in person are also eligible.
Join us on August 25 at 12:30 pm EST for a National Bible Drill Webinar on Starting Up Bible Drill. This webinar is for Kids Ministry Leaders, Pastors, and Bible Drill Leaders. Maria Brannen (Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc) and Belinda Stroud (Alabama State Board of Missions) will provide tips and ideas on how to start, restart, and/or rejuvenate Bible Drill in your church. Register for this free webinar by clicking this link: Registration
You can make a difference now and in the future for the ministry of Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. Consider leaving a bequest from your estate or contribute to an endowment fund through the Georgia Baptist Foundation. If you are 72 or older and do not need all of your Required Minimum Distribution from your retirement account, you can realize tax savings by making a direct gift to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. For further information about Required Minimum Distribution donations, visit the link below: