by Karen North

In 2019, the North American Mission Board launched its personal evangelism initiative, “Who’s Your One?”, with the goal of challenging every church member to intentionally build a relationship and share the gospel with at least one person during the year. I’d like to expand on this as we go past sharing the gospel to the part of discipling and mentoring those in the faith in our churches.  

If you have ever been involved in Student Speakers Competition, think back – although it may have been a bit daunting to get started and to work up the courage to speak in front of a group, what positive things did you learn from your experience?  What I have seen from the viewpoint of a parent of several Student Speaker Competition participants is that they had to think about their Christian faith and find something they could share with others. They developed discipline in sitting down to write, rewrite, memorize, rehearse, and rehearse again.  They learned public speaking skills that some have been able to put to use in their careers.  Long lasting relationships were formed with other student speakers at the different levels of competition. 

As an audience member and a judge, I have been challenged, encouraged, and convicted by the many messages I have heard over the last 15 years. There are points that I have heard in speeches that still affect me to this day.  It doesn’t make a difference if the speaker was the state winner or not – he/she still had an impact. 

If you have been a former student speaker participant, who’s your one?  If you have been the parent, or sibling, or grandparent of a former student speaker participant, who’s your one? If you have been the pastor, the Sunday School teacher, or the friend of a former student speaker participant, who’s your one? If you have been a member of the audience whether at church or at a church level, association, region, or state drill and have heard former student speakers, who’s your one?  

Who is the one student in the 10^th -12^th grade in your church who has a message, a testimony, or a life experience others need to hear?  Who is the one student in your church who needs encouragement to share God’s Word through a channel such as Students Speakers Competition?  Who is the one student you know who needs to be given a voice to share with those around him or her?  Who’s your one you can encourage to participate in the competition and then walk along side them as they choose a topic, develop a speech, and prepare to present their message?  

Who’s your one you can impact for life via Student Speakers Competition?  

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For more information on how to develop a speech, a student speakers’ guide book, a sample judge’s sheet/guide, a list of suggested topics, and a list of dates for the region and state competitions, see 

https://bibledrillandspeakers.com/student-speakers-competition/   

https://bibledrillandspeakers.com/5-steps-for-developing-a-speech/

https://bibledrillandspeakers.com/events/

Karen North is a Bible Drill Leader at Covenant Baptist Church in Valdosta and a champion of Student Speakers Competition. She serves as a State judge and a member of our board for Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc.

Betsy Milburn, Bible Drill Leader at Wrens Baptist Church recently shared with me six creative Bible Skill activities that they are using with their group.

1. Keys and locks (Key Passage Activity)

Items needed: card stock (optional: color code by cycle), scissors, envelope(s)

Prep: Copy the Keys and Locks on blue cardstock (blue cycle) and laminate the pages.  Cut the keys and the locks out and put the pieces in an envelope.

Play: Match the keys and locks. 

Variations: (1) Make a set for each child. (2) Call a reference or a key passage title and drillers find the lock and key.

2. Matching Lids (Key Passage Activity)

Items needed: 20 liquid laundry detergent lids, permanent marker, self-adhesive circle labels (optional) 

Prep: Write the key passage titles on 10 lids and the matching references on the remaining 10 lids.

Optional: Write the key passage titles and references on self-adhesive circle labels and adhere to the tops of the lids.

Play: Instruct children to match the key passage titles and references.   

Tip: Enlist members of your church to save the lids for you.

3. Tablecloth Review

Items needed: cheap plastic tablecloth from a dollar store, painter’s tape, permanent marker

Prep: Fold the tablecloth so that the tablecloth is about ¼ of the total length.  Hang the folded tablecloth on the wall where children enter the room. Using the permanent marker, write books, verse, or key passage activities on the tablecloth. (Examples: (1) Instruct kids to Write a book before and a book after a book that is on the cloth; (2) Write a verse and include blanks for some of the words.  Kids will fill in the blanks; (3)  Write the reference of a verse and ask kids to write out the verse; (4) Write a Key Passage Title and kids will write the matching reference.  

Do: Instruct kids to complete one of the activities as they enter the room. 

Tip: Pull out an additional blank area of the tablecloth and reattach to the wall the next week.Add additional Bible skill activities to complete!

4. Proverbs 22:1 Activity

Items Needed: Styrofoam ice chest(s), gold spray paint, gold toy coins, ultra-fine permanent marker, paper, scissors, double-sided tape or other adhesive, foam packing pieces

Prep: Spray paint Styrofoam ice chests with gold paint.  Using a permanent marker, write each word of the verse on paper, cut to fit the coins and adhere one word of the verse to each coin.  Don’t forget to include the reference.

Play: Instruct children to dig through the chest filled with packing noodles to find the gold coins and then put the coins in order.  

Variation: Make an extra chest with coins and form groups or have a relay race.

5. The Conversion of Saul – Acts 9:1-30

Prep: Enlist a volunteer to portray this passage. (Optional: Biblical Costume)

Do: Instruct children to travel the road to Damascus with the volunteer as he portrays Saul’s Conversion.

6. Malachi 3:10 Idea

Ask your pastor if a child can recite Malachi 3:10 before the offering is collected.

What are your favorite Bible Skills activities? Share your ideas with us!

by Karen North

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”  Proverbs 3:5-6 

I initially met Mary Ann Wheelis over 25 years ago at a homeschool support meeting.  Our paths later crossed again when our churches competed at the association level Bible Drill, and then again when she taught Bible Buddies at the same church we attended, preparing the kids for their move to the Bible Drill classes. Through the years, we worked together in Bible Drill at the church, association, region, state, and even national level as teachers, judges, and speakers/teachers at Bible Drill retreats.  Our friendship grew even closer as she became my son’s mother-in-love, sharing her daughter with me, as well as being Granny to our shared granddaughter and grandson.  We were even camping buddies, enjoying the outdoors on several trips. 

Mary Ann quietly devoted over 20 years teaching, judging, and sharing God’s Word with children and youth. She trained many groups of young children from K5-2^nd grade in Bible Buddies, teaching them Bible skills, but most importantly, teaching God’s Word in the form of Bible Drill verses.  She shared her love of God’s Word by teaching the Books of the Bible classes at the Bible Drill retreats using fun relay races and other learning games. Not only did she teach on her own, but she was almost constantly at her husband Roger’s side as they taught children, youth, and high school classes, substituting when they stopped teaching on a regular basis, and hosting many groups of children in their home for a cookout and a time of fun and games centered around Bible Drill. 

Her love of God’s Word was not just reserved for Bible Drill – it was a part of her very life.  When I asked Roger what her favorite verse was, he said it was hard to pick just one because she had so very many.  He said he was blessed that many of their favorites seemed to be those that she had taught in Bible Drill.  If he had to pick one, though, he said that Proverbs 3:5-6 would be at the top of the list because it had provided direction and comfort for them both in every situation and stage of their lives: marriage, raising children, finances, as well as facing difficulties. 

Even in the last weeks of her life, her love for God’s Word was evident as she and Roger asked friends to send their favorite verses to encourage them during her time in the hospital and her recovery period. That is why for me, as well as for many others, her homegoing was bittersweet.  We thought we were encouraging her while she was looking forward to coming home, never realizing God had plans to take her to her heavenly home. While we rejoice that Mary Ann is with the Lord, we miss her terribly here on earth. Matthew 6:21 has an extra meaning for her family and friends: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Mary Ann laid up treasures for her Lord by being faithful to help little ones to hide God’s Word in their hearts.  Now she is with her heart – her Lord Jesus.  Now a little of our heart is with her there, also, as she was truly a treasure as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. 

Karen North is a Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. board member and a Bible Drill Leader at Covenant Baptist Church, Valdosta, GA

This spring, Georgia Baptist Bible drill and Speakers, Inc. is sponsoring a College Essay Competition. The prize is a $500 scholarship to the College of your choice. This essay competition is open to current college students. Students may choose any topic related to Christian Discipleship.

Judging Criteria:

* Creativity  (Originality; thought provoking)

* Grammar (Use proper sentence and paragraph structuring; punctuation and spelling)

* Scripture Based (Scripture used meaningfully and is applicable)

* Evidence of Research: Minimum of 5 footnotes or endnotes and at least 4 bibliographical entries. Scripture can only be used once in your bibliography count and twice as footnotes or endnotes count.  A separate bibliography is required. 

* Length:  Minimum of 1000 words

* Judges will take into consideration the Baptist Faith and Message as they judge any theological elements. Students may use the 1963 or 2000 version depending on their individual or church preference.

Students should Include a personal bio sheet with the following information: name; address, email, phone number; church membership, and college attending.

Your Essay will be submitted via the dropbox link below: https://www.dropbox.com/request/cg3JgvYdAi62zm8Ivvrc

Essays are to be submitted in pdf format.

Deadline: April 15, 2022

*Photo by Zen Chung on Pexels.com

As Kids Ministers, we all have had the last minute texts, phone calls and emails of a leader notifying us that they will not be at church to teach due to a sick child, etc. Many times we send out multiple texts searching for an “approved volunteer” to cover the class. Often there is little to no time for the volunteer to prepare a lesson.

We desire to intentionally lay spiritual foundations every time kids attend our church. By providing Emergency Bible Skills Kits in our ministry area, we provide instant teaching activities that allow spiritual foundations to be laid.

Here are some things that I have chosen to put in my Emergency Bible Skill Kit:

Books of the Bible Flash Cards

Foam Numbered Cube (Dollar Tree)

Sticky Notes

Clothes pins

Craft sticks

Books of the Bible Bookmarks

Spinning top

Permanent markers

Colored index cards

Beanbag

List of Bible Skill Games and teaching instructions

You can download the list of games that I have in my box.

Tip 1: You may want to create a couple of these activities ahead of time for your volunteers so that they are ready to go when they open the box.

Tips 2 – Many of these Bible Skills activities also can be adapted to teach/review the Bible Story.

What would you include in your Emergency Bible Skills kit?

Congratulations to our 2021 High School Essay Winner – Suanna Morris! As the 2021 winner, she is the recipient of a $500 College Scholarship to use at the college of her choice. Suanna is a 9th grader and is Homeschooled. She is a member of Covenant Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA. This year’s High School Essay Topic was “Living for Christ in a Woke Culture.”

You can download and read a copy of her essay using this link:

For more information on our essay contests, you can visit our webpage.

Fun, life-changing, 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.

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)

Life-changing – “I cannot adequately express how important Bible Drill was as a part of my spiritual formation. I didn’t simply memorize verses; I developed a love for scripture. To this day, I can recite many of the verses I learned in the mid-1980’s. These verses guided me through childhood, and they continue to guide me as an adult. Even though many of our discipleship methods have changed, I remain committed to the simple, life-changing ministry of Bible Drill. – Rev. Inman Houston – Pastor, FBC, Lawrenceville, GA

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

Bible Drill is truly an investment for a lifetime as spiritual foundations are laid in the lives of kids and students. This Giving Tuesday, invest for a lifetime by donating to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc.

We are excited to announce our 2022 Event Dates and Locations! Mark your calendars!

April 14 – Regional Drill, Bible Skills Exhibition, and Student Speakers Competition – Tom’s Creek, Martin

April 12 – Regional Drill, Bible Skills Exhibition, and Student Speakers Competition – FBC Douglas

April 18 – Regional Drill, Bible Skills Exhibition, and Student Speakers Competition – FBC Lawrenceville

April 19 – Regional Drill, Bible Skills Exhibition, and Student Speakers Competition – FBC Cochran

April 21 – Regional Drill, Bible Skills Exhibition, and Student Speakers Competition – Cassville Baptist Church, Cartersville

April 24 – Regional Drill, Bible Skills Exhibition, and Student Speakers Competition – FBC Powder Springs

May 14 – State Youth and High School Bible Drill and Student Speakers Competition – FBC Monroe

June 16-17, 2022 – Nationals – Hosted by Georgia – FBC, Brunswick

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:

1. 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.)
2. Use in your Youth Bible Drill Class. Print these Cycle 2 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.
3. 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.

Download ESV Verse Posters Here

Download KJV Verse Posters Here

Download CSB Verse Posters Here

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.

5.  Psalm 56:3 – Light Switch Cover

Items Needed:  Light switch cover and several colors of thin permanent markers

Preparation:  None 

Directions:  Have drillers print the verse onto the light switch cover, take it home, and put it in a place that they see each day to remind them of the verse.

6.  Psalm 119:11 – Bible Bag Knockdown

Items Needed:  Paper bags, newspaper, permanent markers, and bean bag

Preparation:  Print phrases from the verse onto paper bags including the reference for one bag.  Fill the bags with crumpled newspaper then staple bags at the top.  Line the bags up in a row.

Directions:  Allow drillers to knock down one bag at a time with a bean bag.  When a bag is knocked down remove it and have the driller say the verse.  Repeat until there are no bags remaining.

7.  Proverbs 22:1 – Digging For Gold

Items Needed:  large bowl, rice, and coins with phrases on it

Preparation:  make several “coins” with phrases of the verse on them and fill bowl with rice

Directions:   Let drillers take turns digging for gold in a large container of rice to find “gold” with phrases of the verse written on them.  Have them read the phrase as each coin is found.  When all of the coins are found have the children put the verse in order.

8.  Isaiah 6:8 – Voice Relay

Items Needed:  None

Preparation:  None

Directions:  Divide drillers into two teams.  Next, divide each team in half.  Send 1^st half of both teams to the opposite side of the room.  Each half of the teams stands in lines and faces the rest of their team.  Divide the verse into parts depending on the number of children.  Example KJV:

• Part 1 – Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying,
• Part 2 – Whom shall I send,
• Part 3 – and who will go for us?
• Part 4 – Then I said, Here am I;
• Part 5 – send me.
• Part 6 – Isaiah 6:8
• Begin relay by having driller #1 of each ream run across the room toward the other part of their team saying part 1 of verse, and tag driller.  The tagged driller on each team then runs across the room to the opposite side while saying part 2 of the verse.  They will tag the next driller in line.  Continue until the verse is completed.  When the team has finished the relay, the halves of each team will have traded sides of the room and the verse will be complete.

For today’s blog post, I’ve gathered up 7 fun teaching activities! Scroll down and under each picture is a link to one of our webpages with complete instructions for creating and playing the game/doing the activity. The water games would be a great to include for a Bible Drill Kick-off or an extra Sunday afternoon practice while it’s still warm!

Pool hoop-de-loop and Kickboard Books of the Bible Scavenger Hunt

Water Balloon Toss

Looking for some new games and teaching activities to use this year in Children’s Bible Drill? Today, we’ve got 4 creative verse activities for you to use in teaching and reviewing the first 4 Blue Cycle Verses!

1. Genesis 1:31 – Put the Verse in Order
   • Items Needed:  Genesis 1:31 verse on cardstock, scissors, and laminator (optional)
   • Preparation:  Print out the Genesis 1:31 verse onto cardstock. Cut apart and laminate.
   • Directions:  Have drillers put the verse in order as quickly as they can.  Variation:  Using more than one set, have a relay to see which team can put the verse in order the quickest.

2.  Deuteronomy 16:17 – Fill in the Blanks

• Items Needed:  Poster board cut in half, permanent marker, and Jenga blocks
• Preparation:  Print every other word of the verse onto the poster board with a block shape the size of the Jenga block in between each word you have printed.  Print the words of the verse that were not printed onto the poster onto the Jenga blocks.  Don’t forget to include the reference.
• Directions:  Have the drillers fill in the spaces of the missing words with the correct word.  Drillers can see who can fill in the blanks the fastest.

3.  Joshua 24:24 – Spinning Top Game

• Item Needed:  Spinning top
• Preparation:  None
• Directions:  Use a spinning top (or multiple spinning tops).  For individual drillers or a pair of drillers – begin spinning the top and see how many times a driller can say Joshua 24:24 before the top stops spinning.  To play in teams (1 top needed per team) – spin the top and see how many times driller #1 can say the verse before it stops spinning.  Pass the top to driller #2 and repeat.  The team that can say the verse the most times wins.  

4.  1 Chronicles 16:9 – Sign a Verse

• Item Needed:  Signing video of verse
• Preparation:  View 1 Chronicles 16:9 video.  Become comfortable with the signs so that you can teach them to the children.
• Directions:  Teach the drillers the verse using the signs.

For some, writing an essay can be a fun and creative process. For others, it can be a challenge and sometimes intimidating. However, writing an essay can often also be beneficial.

This fall, Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. is holding an essay contest that offers 3 benefits:

The first benefit is that of spiritual growth. Students who participate in the contest will engage with the topic and scripture as they develop their essay. This provides an opportunity for students to grow spiritually as they examine their beliefs. Churches, ministries, schools, and families can use this essay contest as a discipleship mentoring process for high school and college students. Mentors are encouraged to engage students through intentional conversation related to the topic. Students can be guided to examine God’s Word prayerfully as they begin to write. An added bonus is for students to discover that writing can be an avenue to share their faith with others.

The second benefit is the development of writing skills. Through the process of this essay contest, students can develop their writing skills. Parents, mentors and teachers can assist students in setting intentional goals in the development of their essay by guiding them in the development of an outline, a first draft, and final draft. An offer by a teacher or a mentor to proof their essay can be valuable in this process. Feedback students receive help students grow as writers.

The third benefit is a college scholarship. The winners of our High School and College Essay Contests each receive a $500 college scholarship to use at the school of their choice. For more information regarding our Essay Contests, visit our essay webpage using this link: Essay Contests

Photo by Ivan Samkov on Pexels.com

Here are 10 tips to for kicking off a new year of 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!

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).

Choose your translation (ESV, KJV, or CSB) if you are beginning your first year of Bible Drill.

Download Bible Drill cards in the translation of your choice from our website: bibledrill.bluemoosesolutions.net

Download our administrative materials including our New Children’s Bible Drill Leader’s Guide, Our handout on how to have a winning year in Bible Drill, and scoresheet. We also have similar administrative resources on our Youth and High School pages.

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 dates of the Church, Associational, Regional and State Drills as well as 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.

Order Children’s Bible Drill Resources from https://www.lifeway.com/en/product-family/bible-skills-drills-thrills or contact Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc (maria@bibledrillandspeakers.com) for Youth Bible Drill Resources.  

Utilize new resources this year in teaching Bible Drill: (1) Family Bible Drill Devotions for Children’s Bible Drill – Alabama Baptist Bible Drill (2) Use the Verse Ring cards from North Carolina featured on our Children, Youth, and High School pages. These are Bible Study flash cards about the size of a baseball card. Choose your age group and translation, then download and print out on white card stock. This is a great printable to have your drillers cut out and use to review verses. They can be used whenever and however you meet.

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.

Be flexible in how you do Bible Drill this year. Having a schedule with the flexibility to meet people where they are will allow us to engage more kids and students in discipleship and hiding God’s Word in their hearts. Download our free ebook that shares strategies for Bible Drill to take place at home, online, at church, or outdoors

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!

Each year we recognize Bible Drillers at the 3, 6, and 9 year milestones of participating at the Regional Level of Bible Drill. By the time students complete their 9th year of Bible Drill, in addition to learning Bible Skills, they have memorized 359 verses plus learned where 30 Key Passages of Scripture are located. At our State Drill this year, we asked two 9-year drillers (Will Bowick, FBC Monroe and Mary Carol Kletcke, FBC Cochran) to share what Bible Drill meant to them and/or how it helped them grow spiritually and their favorite Bible Drill verse.

These High School Students shared the following comments with us:

• It’s a great way to learn scripture and have fun.
• I just wanted to keep doing it (Bible Drill) over and over again.
• These scriptures will stick with me the rest of my life.
• I am going to miss it.

As I thought over their comments about their 9-year discipleship journey through Bible Drill, I asked myself, how many of us could view our last 9 years the same way?

• Are we learning scripture?
• Are we enjoying our time with God’s word (having fun)?
• Do we want to go back to God’s word over and over?
• Are we abiding in God’s word in such a way that His Word is with us throughout our lives?
• Do we miss it when we are not spending time in His Word?

What does Bible Drill mean to you? To your church as part of a discipleship journey?

Our 2021 National Invitational Youth and High School Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament was held Friday, June 18th at Dallas Baptist University in Texas. Leala Hutchens, our 2021 State Youth Bible Drill Winner from FBC Cochran, received a perfect score award and tied for 2nd place in the National Youth Bible Drill.

Andrew Wisely (FBC Dallas, Southern Baptist of Texas Convention) won 1st place in Youth Bible Drill. Lillian Felton (FBC, Dallas, Southern Baptist of Texas Convention) won 1st place in High School Bible Drill. Jonathan Perkins (Prestonwood Baptist Church, Southern Baptist of Texas Convention) won 1st place in the Speakers Tournament.

Congratulations to all the State Winners who were a part of the 2021 National Tournament! Georgia will be hosting the 2022 National Youth and High School Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament.

Our 2021 State Youth and High School Bible Drill was held on Saturday, May 8th at FBC Cochran. To qualify for the State Youth/High School Drill, drillers had to score 270 points or higher at the Regional Drill. In addition to memorizing the books of the Bible in order and being able to locate books and verses in 8 seconds, Youth Drillers learned 30 verses and our High Schoolers memorized 68 verses including Exodus 20:3-17 (The Ten Commandments).

Leala Hutchens was the State Youth Bible Drill Winner and Rose Reardin was the Youth Bible Drill 2nd place Winner. Both drillers received Perfect Score Awards. Leala and Rose are students are from FBC Cochran.

NenaBeth Mickle was the State High School Winner and MaryCarol Kletcke was the 2nd place Winner. Both drillers received Perfect Score Awards. NenaBeth and MaryCarol are also from FBC Cochran. As the 2021 High School Bible Drill Winner, NenaBeth received the Waldo and Sarah Woodcock $500 College Scholarship.

Congratulations to Jordan Sanvidge (FBC Jackson) and Rachel Frantz (FBC Garden City) for also receiving the Perfect Score Award.

Leala and NenaBeth will be representing Georgia at the 2021 National Invitational Tournament for Bible Drill and Speakers June 17-18 at Dallas Baptist University in Texas.

I will never forget a VBS teacher coming to me several years ago, shocked that the kids in her 4th grade class (most of who with their families were regular attenders of our church) could not locate passages of scripture in their Bibles. She said, “Maria, I had to stop what we were doing in class and teach these kids how to find a book, then a chapter and the verse!” As a parent and a Kids Minister, I feel it is a priority for kids to learn Bible Skills, especially how to locate Bible Books and passages of scripture. This year we are excited to offer an opportunity for Children and Students to develop their Bible Skills through locating Books of the Bible and Scripture passages.

* 2021 Children’s Bible Skills Exhibition – We will offer a Bible Skills Exhibition for 3rd-6th graders at our Regional Bible Drill Locations. This Bible Skills Exhibition includes Book and Scripture Searching Drills only. There will be 12 Book Calls and 12 Scripture Searching Calls. Children will have 10 seconds to locate the book or scripture passage. References for the Scripture Searching Drill will be taken from the current Bible Drill card. Children may qualify for the State Exhibition by receiving a score of 16 or higher at their church level. Children will receive a certificate. This is great for kids who are beginning to learn Bible Skills, new or potential drillers or for churches who were not able to resume their Bible Drill program in 2020-2021 due to COVID. 

2021 Bible Skill Exhibition for Students. – We will offer a Bible Skills Exhibition for 6th-12th graders at our Regional Bible Drill locations. This Bible Skills Exhibition includes Books and Scripture Searching Drills only. There will be 12 Book Calls (2 points each) and 12 Scripture Searching Calls (3 points each). A perfect score would be 180 points (60 from each judge). A Bonus point will be awarded to the driller who steps out first in 8 seconds on each call. Students may qualify for the Exhibition by receiving a score of 135 at their church level. Drillers who participate in the Regional Bible Skills Exhibition will receive a certificate. This is a great option for new or potential Youth Bible Drillers or for churches who were not able to resume their Bible Drill program in 2020-2021 due to Covid. Note that there is no State Level for the Bible Skills Exhibition for students.

For dates and locations, click here

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In 2021, Student Speakers may qualify for the State Speakers Competition by speaking at one of our in-person Regional Competitions. The top two speakers from each region will represent their region at the State Competition. Speakers have the option of advancing directly to the Regional Speakers Competition from their Church Competition. However, if your Association is offering a Bible Drill/Speakers Competition, it is a great opportunity for you to speak and to get feedback from the judges.

If a speaker is in quarantine or is unable to attend their Regional Speakers Competition due to Covid, their leader may send a request to maria@bibledrillandspeakers.com to participate via video submission. If two winners have already been announced for their Regional Competition, their speech video will be entered into the State at Large category for videos and the top two video scorers will advance to the State Competition. The deadline to submit these videos is April 26.

Due to covid concerns and the work that speakers put into a speech to compete for the college scholarships, it is recommended that they record a video of their speech before Regionals in that event that a video submission is needed. Our recommendation is that this video be recorded at your church at least two weeks prior to your Regional Competition

Dates for Regional Student Speakers Competitions:

April 13 – Tom’s Creek Baptist Church, Martin, GA (NE GA)

April 15 – FBC Douglas (South GA)

April 19 – FBC Lawrenceville (East Metro)

April 20 – FBC Cochran (Middle GA)

April 25 – FBC Douglasville (West Metro)

April 26 – Cassville Baptist Church (NW GA)

Registration is now open on our website. Register by clicking this link: Speakers

In 2021, qualifying Youth and High School Bible Drillers can drill in person at one of the Regional Locations to qualify for the State Drill. This year, churches may choose to participate in an Associational Drill (if it is offered by your association) or they have the option of letting drillers advance directly from their church drill if their score qualifies them as an Associational Winner. Youth and High School Drillers must have a score of 225.

A leader may submit a request by email to maria@bibledrillandspeakers.com for a driller to qualify for the State Drill via video submission if the driller is in quarantine due to covid. This video drill must be submitted to our office by April 27.

Below are the dates and locations for Regional Drills:

April 13 – Tom’s Creek Baptist Church, Martin, GA (NE GA)

April 15 – FBC Douglas (South GA)

April 19 – FBC Lawrenceville (East Metro)

April 20 – FBC Cochran (Middle GA)

April 25 – FBC Douglasville (West Metro)

April 26 – Cassville Baptist Church (NW GA)

*New* 2021 Bible Skill Exhibition for 7th-9th graders – We will offer a Bible Skills Exhibition for 7th-9th graders at our Regional locations. This Bible Skills Exhibition includes Books and Scripture Searching Drills only. There would be 12 Book Calls (2 points each) and 12 Scripture Searching Calls (3 points each). A perfect score would be 180 points (60 from each judge). A Bonus point will be awarded to the driller who steps out first in 8 seconds on each call. Students may qualify for the Exhibition by Receiving a score of 135 at their church. Drillers who participate in the Regional Bible Skills Exhibition will receive a certificate. This is a great option for new or potential Youth Bible Drillers or for churches who were not able to resume their Bible Drill program in 2020-2021 due to Covid. Note that there is no State Level for the Bible Skills Exhibition for 7th-9th graders.

We are offering this new Bible Skills Exhibition option in 2021 in addition to our Traditional Youth Bible Drill because we recognize our churches are in various states of reopening. Some churches are on schedule with their Bible Drill programs while many others are “behind schedule” or were unable to begin their Bible Drill program this year.

Registration is now open on our website. You can register by clicking this link: Registration

Churches who have donated at the Member Level ($250 or more) for the school year of 2020-2021 will receive a 50% discount on their registration fees. Churches donating by March 31st will receive their discounted registration link by email.