Congratulations to our 2020 State Student Speakers Competition Runner-up: Lexie Partain from Dewy Rose Baptist Church! The Student Speakers Competition is for Georgia Baptist students in grades 10-12 and a great opportunity for High School Students to grow in their discipleship and learn to share their faith. Traditionally, students write a 4-6 minute speech and present their speech at the Church, Associational, and Regional levels. The top 2 scorers from each region advance to the State Competition. The students are graded 50% on delivery and 50% on written content.
Due to Covid-19, we eliminated the Regional Competition, and our 2020 speakers submitted a written copy of their speech along with a video for the judges to score. Lexie was the runner-up and recipient of the Jenny Rogers Memorial Scholarship ($500) to be used at the college or university of her choice. For more information on the Jenny Rogers Memorial Scholarship and/or donate to the scholarship fund click here: https://gbfoundation.org/rogers-scholarship-fund/
You can read Lexie’s speech below and watch her virtual award presentation video above with Dennis/Judy Rogers, Lexie, and leader, Debbie Whitmire.
Congratulations to our 2020 State Student Speakers Competition Winner: Ellie Gray from FBC Lawrenceville! The Student Speakers Competition is for Georgia Baptist students in grades 10-12 who want to become better communicators, build confidence, and prepare for a lifetime of success and service. It’s about making a greater difference in the world, both now and for the rest of your life. Traditionally, Students write a 4-6 minute speech and present their speech at the Church, Associational, and Regional levels. The top 2 scorers from each region advance to the State Competition. The students are graded 50% on delivery and 50% on written content.
Due to Covid-19, we eliminated the Regional Competition, and our 2020 speakers submitted a written copy of their speech along with a video for the judges to score. Ellie was the top scorer and recipient of three college scholarships: the Jenny Rogers Memorial Scholarship ($1,000), the 2020 State Winner Scholarship ($500) and a Georgia Baptist College Speakers Scholarship ($4,000). The Jenny Rogers Scholarship and the State Winner Scholarship can be used at the college or university of her choice. The Georgia Baptist College Speakers Scholarship can be used at Truett-McConnell, Shorter, or Brewton-Parker.
You can read Ellie’s speech below and watch her virtual award presentation video above with Dennis/Judy Rogers, Ellie, her parents, and leader, Peggy.
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. In 2020, we had 3 drillers achieve this milestone. I asked each driller to share what Bible Drill meant to them and/or how it helped them grow spiritually and their favorite Bible Drill verse.
Lauren Tripp, Harp’s Crossing Baptist Church: “I began Bible Drill as a child at 8 years old. I thought it was “cool” because my older siblings also did Bible Drill. As I practiced more and more, I became very good at finding and memorizing scripture in the Bible quickly. There was a sense of pride I found in Bible Drill. It was not until I failed (missing a call at a state drill and relinquishing the opportunity to move forward) that the Lord laid upon my heart the real purpose for Bible Drill: to know His Word. It was from that moment forward that I looked at Bible Drill not as a competition or to show other people how “good” I was at it but as a way to meditate upon God’s word. What an invaluable skill I have learned. I desire to one day teach children and young adults this invaluable skill that others so graciously taught me.”
Lauren’s favorite Bible Drill verse: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
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.
Darren’s favorite Bible Drill verses: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13
Tiffany Dell, Warren Baptist Church: “The past nine years of getting to learn the Bible inside and out have meant more to me than I could ever put into words, and the friendships I’ve made through this will last a lifetime. I’m so, so thankful that I had the opportunity to learn so much about God’s Word and make so many amazing memories!”
Tiffany’s favorite Bible Drill verse: “I have said these things to you, that I me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
Join me in congratulating these students for 9 years of discipleship as they have memorized God’s Word!
Over the last several weeks, the Covid-19 pandemic has placed tremendous burden and stress on the workers of our healthcare community. One of those faithfully serving our medical needs is Rebekah North. Rebekah currently serves as a registered nurse on a medical-surgical unit at South Georgia Medical Center. As a 9-year Bible Driller, and 2012 Georgia Baptist Student Speakers Competition Winner, Rebekah knows what it means to combine hard work with a passion for God. Today, Rebekah lives out that combination of hard work and Godly passion in her service as a nurse amid the Cov-19 crisis.
The words of her winning speech, “Handling the Storms in Life,” continues to be an encouragement to all of us during this difficult time. “As Christians, there is no need to be afraid when He is there with us every step of the way. All we need to do is listen for his voice, trust His decisions, and obey His commands.” You too can find hope and encouragement from her speech.Read her speech here.
As a former Georgia Baptist Student Speakers Competition winner, Rebekah received the Jenny Rogers Scholarship that helped pay for her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Jenny Rogers was also an example of Christ’s call to serve those in need through healthcare. Jenny Rogers, the daughter of Dennis and Judy Rogers, was a nursing student employed by the Georgia Baptist Hospital, now known as the Atlanta Medical Center. Through the Jenny Rogers Scholarship, established in her memory, we have been able to impact the lives of Student Speaker Competition Winners for over two decades. As a part of the #GivingTuesdayNow emphasis going on tomorrow, May 5, 2020, will you consider making a gift to the Jenny Rogers Scholarship Fund? Your gift will provide even greater support to Godly young people like Rebekah and Jenny, who desire to make a positive impact for Christ.
Due to Covid-19, Student Speakers will participate in a 2020 State-Wide Competition via video with guidelines provided by Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. There will not be a Regional Student Speakers Competition for 2020, only a state-wide competition. Speakers will submit a video of their speech for scoring by our team of judges. For more information on this change, read our blog article: Covid-19 Update 3.
Deadline to register for the State-Wide Student Speakers Competition is April 30. Speakers have through May 11th to submit their video to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc.
Process for Speakers:
Student Speakers qualify at the Church Level by one of these options:
Qualifying in a Church Student Speakers Competition conducted under normal circumstances before Covid-19 impacted church schedules.
Qualifying in a small Speakers Competition/Presentation (limited to 10 or less). The presentation would include the speaker, 3 judges, a timekeeper, and speaker(s). Option: Livestream each speaker for the church family.
Qualifying in a Church Speakers Competition using technology (video/zoom, etc.):
The speech can be filmed using a phone or video recorder. Download our tips sheet at the end of this blog article for guidelines and helpful hints.
Upload the video file(s) and share with the judges. If a speaker is doing the speech at home, share the video of the speech with the Leader so that she can send it out to the judges for scoring.
If a Student Speakers Competition/Presentation is held at the church, make sure to follow current church, CDC, and/or State/National Guidelines regarding gathering together, social distancing, Shelter in Place orders, etc.
Register qualifying speakers online for the state-wide Student Speakers Competition.
Once you have registered the names of your speakers, click the link to pay your registration fees. The cost to register for the State Student Speakers Competition will be $10. The remote registration fee will cover partial cost of administrative expenses, certificates/awards, and shipment expenses. Member churches who contributed $250 or more to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc., earlier this year will receive special instructions to register each speaker at a 50% discount. To pay online, click this link: https://checkout.square.site/buy/PVSRCG6J6TFJIETD3U5VEZUM
Leaders will receive instructions for recording the speech and how to upload the Student Speakers video for State Competition score after they register and pay.
Recognition: Certificates and/or awards will be mailed to the church. If a participant is the State Winner/Runner-up, a future date will be scheduled to present the winner trophies at the speaker’s church.
Scholarships:
The 1st place State Student Speakers Winner will receive three scholarships: the Jenni Rogers Memorial Scholarship, a one-time (2020) Georgia Student Speakers Scholarship of $500 (due to Nationals being canceled), and a $4,000 scholarship ($1,000 per year) if speaker chooses to attend Shorter University, Truett-McConnell University, or Brewton-Parker College.
The 2nd place winner in the Student Speakers Competition will receive the second place Jenni Rogers Memorial Scholarship.
Get immediate updates from our website by entering your e-mail address on our main webpage.
Thank you for your patience and gracious consideration as events in our state and country are unfolding on a daily basis. Please understand that we may have to make additional future adjustments.
Contact us if you have any additional questions at bibledrillspeakers@gmail.com
Due to Covid-19, Youth/High School Bible Drillers will participate in their 2020 Regional Drill via video with guidelines/materials supplied to their church by Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. Bible Drill Leaders will submit a video of the drill for scoring by our team of judges. For more information on this change, read our blog article: Covid-19 Update 3.
Churches/drillers have through May 17th to conduct the Regional Drill and to submit the video to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. We recommend you host your Church Drill no later than May 3rd.
Process for Youth/High School Drillers:
Youth/High School Drillers qualify at the Church Level by one of these options*:
Qualifying in a Church Drill conducted under normal circumstances before Covid-19 impacted church schedules.
Qualifying in a rescheduled drill if time and circumstances allow. We realize that this will may not be an option for many churches.
Qualifying in a small Church Drill (limited to 10 or less). These drills may have to be scheduled on different days and only drill 3-5 at a time with no family in the audience because of the need for judges/and caller. Option: Limit drillers to 3-4 per drill and livestream a church drill.
Qualifying in a Church Drill using technology (video/zoom, etc.) For instructions on how to do Bible Drill by video check out our blog article: Bible Drill by Video
*If a church is unable to have a Church Drill using one of these options, please contact us at bibledrillspeakers@gmail.com.
Youth/High School Drillers qualify at the Associational Level by one of these options:
Qualifying in an Associational Drill under normal circumstances before Covid-19 impacted schedules.
Qualifying by applying Associational standards to the church drill. Any Youth/High School drillers who scored 225 at the church level may advance to the Regional Drill.
Qualifying by participating in a second drill at your church or by video. (If hosting a drill at your church, it is recommended to limit attendance as described above with Church Drills) This drill is designated as an Associational Drill, using different “calls” and applying the Associational standards to advance.
In any Church or Associational Drill, if held at the church, make sure to follow current church, CDC, and/or State/National Guidelines regarding gathering together, social distancing, Shelter in Place orders, etc.
Register qualifying Youth/High School Bible Drillers online and designate the date you will conduct the “Regional Drill.”
Once you have registered the names of your Youth/High School drillers, click the link to pay your registration fees. The cost to register for regional competitions for each driller/speaker will be $10. The remote registration fee will cover partial cost of administrative expenses, certificates/awards, and shipment expenses. Member churches who contributed $250 or more to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc., earlier this year will receive special instructions to register each driller at a 50% discount.
You will receive a copy of the Regional Call sheet by email, 24-48 hours before the date of your Regional Drill you indicated when you registered. (Important: If you have not paid your registration fees, you will not receive the call sheet.) This call sheet is to only be viewed by the Bible Drill Leader and/or caller. It cannot be used for a practice drill.
Leaders will receive instructions on how to upload the Regional Bible Drill video for scoring when they are emailed the call sheet.
Recognition: Regional Drill certificates and awards (3,6, 9 years) will be mailed to the church or presented at the State Youth/High School Drill to those qualifying drillers.
Get immediate updates from our website by entering your e-mail address on our main webpage.
Thank you for your patience and gracious consideration as events in our state and country are unfolding on a daily basis. Please understand that we may have to make additional future adjustments.
Contact us if you have any additional questions at bibledrillspeakers@gmail.com
Many of our churches were not able to host a church drill before Covid-19 impacted ministry. Some of our families are self-isolating due to a variety of reasons: someone in the household undergoing cancer treatment, aging grandparents living in the household, parents in the medical profession, etc. Other families live in cities or counties that have issued shelter in place or stay at home orders. In this day of social distancing and rethinking how we do church and ministry using technology, we are offering drillers the option to do their 2020 Church Drill via video.
Process:
Choose whether to do this at home (single driller or siblings drilling together) or as a small group of less than 10 (including drillers, caller, and any on-site judges). Friends and family can watch the video at a later time or via live stream.
For a Church Drill, the Bible Drill Leader will provide a copy of the call sheet to the caller or parent, if doing an in-home drill. For Regional Youth and High School Drills, Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers will provide the call sheet. It is recommended that the call sheets be provided approximately 24 hours before the drill. The call sheets should not be used as a practice for the driller(s).
The Drill can be filmed using a phone or video recorder. Download our tips sheet below for guidelines and helpful hints.
Upload the video file(s) and share with the judges. If parents are doing the Church Drill at home – Share the video of the Drill with the Bible Drill Leader. She will send it out to the judges for scoring.
A Video file can be uploaded and shared using Google or Dropbox. Best practices for sharing files of drillers:
Parents – share the video with the Bible Drill Leader and at least one other leader (Children’s Minister, Student Minister, Pastor, etc.)
If students are uploading and sharing the file, always include one or both parents in addition to sharing the link with your leaders.
Bible Drill Leaders:
Share the video file with your judges. Send an e-mail to the judges. Include attachments and links for Judges (scoresheets, a copy of the call sheet, judge guidelines) as well as any other instructions.
Remind Judges that they can only view the video of the drill once. They cannot rewind the video, etc.
Determine if someone will serve as the judge chairman to collect and tally sheets via e-mail/text or if the judges will send the scoresheets to you to tally. Include these instructions in the e-mail to the judges.
Text or call parents with the results.
Recognize drillers after the Church Drill.
In church newsletter
On Church’s Social Media (with parents permission)
Register Drillers for the State Drill (Children) and Regional Drill (Youth and High School)
Contact us if you have any additional questions at bibledrillspeakers@gmail.com
Due to Covid-19, Children’s Bible Drillers will participate in a State Drill at their local church with guidelines/materials provided by Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc. Churches have through July 31st to conduct the State Drill at their church and to submit the names, scores, and 3rd year Bible Drill award recipients to us. (This deadline will be extended if needed.)
Process:
Children’s Drillers qualify at the Church Level by one of these options*:
Qualifying in a Church Drill conducted under normal circumstances before Covid-19 impacted church schedules.
Qualifying in a rescheduled drill if time and circumstances allow. We realize that this will may not be an option for many churches.
Qualifying in a small Church Drill (limited to 10 or less). These drills may have to be scheduled on different days and only drill 3-5 at a time with no family in the audience because of the need for judges/and caller. Option: Limit drillers to 3-4 per drill and livestream a church drill.
Qualifying in a Church Drill using technology.
Children’s Drillers qualify at the Associational Level by one of these options:
Qualifying in an Associational Drill under normal circumstances before Covid-19 impacted schedules.
Qualifying in a rescheduled Associational Drill if time and circumstances allow. We realize that this may not be an option for some associations.
Qualifying by applying Associational standards to the church drill. Any children’s drillers who scored 16 at the church level may advance to the State Drill.
Qualifying by participating in a second drill at your church. (It is recommended to limit attendance as described above with Church Drills) This drill is designated as an Associational Drill, using different “calls” and applying the Associational standards to advance.
Register qualifying Children’s Bible Drillers online and designate the date you will conduct the “State Drill” at your local church. Use this link:
Once you have registered the names of your children’s drillers, click the link to pay your registration fees.
You will receive a copy of the Regional Call sheet by email, 24-48 hours before the date of your Church Drill. (Important: If you have not paid your registration fees, you will not receive the call sheet.) This call sheet is to only be viewed by the caller, Bible Drill leader, and judges. It cannot be used for a practice drill.
Conduct the State Drill at your local church.
Schedule a date
Enlist a caller, timer, and 3 judges
Use the call sheet provided by Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc.
Email our office the results of the drill using this form
In light of recent CDC, state and national announcements, and with last night’s declaration of school closings through April 24th, we are canceling all of our onsite Regional Bible Drill and Student Speakers Competitions. We will move to our remote/video plan for 2020 Bible Drill and Speakers in Georgia as mentioned in our earlier post:
Children’s Bible Drillers will participate in a State Drill at their local church with guidelines/materials provided by Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc. Churches have through May 31st to conduct the State Drill at their church and to submit the names, scores, and 3rd year Bible Drill award recipients to us. This deadline will be extended if needed.
Youth and High School Drillers will participate in their Regional Drill via video with guidelines/materials supplied by us to their church. Bible Drill Leaders will submit a video of the drill to us for scoring.
Speakers – Speeches will be submitted via video along with a copy of their written speech. Our judges will score it based 50% on delivery and 50% on written content. There will only be one level of scoring for speakers. The speaker with the top score will be our State Winner.
The cost to register for regional competitions for each driller/speaker will be $10. The remote registration fee will cover partial cost of administrative expenses, certificates/awards, and shipment expenses. Member churches who contributed $250 or more to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc., earlier this year will receive special instructions to register each driller at a 50% discount.
We are still hoping to have a State Youth/High School Drill on our original date of May 9. June 20 is our back-up State Drill date if needed due to Covid-19 issues.
Over the next few days, we will release a series of articles on our website/blog for each age group with specific details regarding hosting your Children’s State Drill at church and Youth/High School Drills Speeches via video.
Get immediate updates from our website by entering your e-mail address on our main webpage.
Thank you for your patience and gracious consideration as events in our state and country are unfolding on a daily basis. Please understand that we may have to make additional future adjustments.
We are pleased to announce that scholarships will be awarded for Youth, High School and Student Speakers Winners in Georgia this year. With the cancelation of the 2020 National Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament, Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Student Speakers, Inc. will award a $500 college scholarship to each of our three 2020 state winners. Earlier this week, the Nationals Committee decided that the 2020 National Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament would be canceled due to the ongoing concern surrounding COVID-19. The majority of State Bible Drills across the country have been cancelled or postponed.
In addition to these one-time $500 College Scholarships to our Youth/High School Bible Drill and Speakers Winners, we have college scholarships awarded each year to High School Bible Drill and Student Speakers Winners. The Waldo and Sarah Woodcock Scholarship is awarded to our High School Bible Drill Winner each year. Our Student Speakers Winner receives the Jenny Rogers Memorial Scholarship and the runner-up also receives a smaller scholarship from this fund. If a Student Speaker Winner chooses to attend Brewton-Parker College, Shorter University, or Truett McConnell University, they will receive an additional $4,000 scholarship to be awarded in increments of $1,000 per year.
Due to the Coronavirus, we find ourselves in unprecedented times. In addition to national/state guidelines and regulations, we also realize that each family, church, association, and community has different circumstances. We recommend that you follow the advice of your pastor, association, local government leaders and medical advice when making a determination regarding your option for a church and/or associational drill.
If a Church or Associational Drill has been canceled due to the Coronavirus, we recommend the following:
Reschedule the drill if time and circumstances allow. We realize that this will probably not be an option for many churches or associations.
Hold a small church drill (limit to 10 or less). You may have to schedule on different days and only drill 3-5 at a time with no family in the audience because of the need for judges/and caller. Option: Limit drillers to 3-4 per drill and livestream your church drill.
If an Associational Drill is canceled: Under these special circumstances of the coronavirus, drillers can advance to the Regional/State Drills under one of these options:
Apply the Associational standards to your church drill. Any children’s drillers who scored 16 at the church level may advance to the State Drill. Youth/High School Drillers who score 225 or more may advance to the Regional Drills.
Host a second drill at your church (limit attendance as described above) and designate it as your associational drill, using different “calls” and applying the associational standards to advance.
If you had a church drill scheduled later and are unable to host a small church drill, contact us at bibledrillspeakers@gmail.com.
Please keep in mind small groups of 10 or less, social distancing, and good cleaning/disinfecting procedures.
At this point, we have not canceled any of our Regional Drills. We’ll make individual Regional Drill locations final decisions closer to the dates.
In the event Regional/State Drill Events are canceled:
Children’s Bible Drillers will have the option to attend a later Regional/State Drill (if this option is available) or participate in a State Drill at their local church with guidelines/materials provided by Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc., with an extended timeframe.
Youth and High School Drillers will have the option to attend a later Regional/State Drill (if this option is available) or local churches will conduct the Regional Drill with guidelines/materials supplied by us and submit a video of the drill to us for scoring.
Speakers – Speeches will be submitted via video along with a copy of their written speech and have our judges score it based 50% on delivery and 50% on written content.
Registration for Regional Drills will now probably not open until the first week of April. We may only open an event or two at a time in order to closely monitor the current situation and make the best decisions possible. Get immediate updates from our website by entering your e-mail address on our main webpage.
If we are able to host our Regional Drills as planned, the cost per driller/speaker to register will be $20. If we move to the remote/video option, the cost to register for each driller/speaker will be $10. (The remote registration fee will cover partial cost of administrative expenses, certificates/awards, and shipment expenses.). Member churches who contributed $250 or more to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc., earlier this year will receive special instructions to register each driller at a 50% discount.
We are still hoping to have a State Youth/High School Drill on our original date of May 9, but are also looking at a possible back-up date in June that we will announce in the near future.
Thank you for your patience and gracious consideration as events in our state and country are unfolding on a daily basis. Please understand that we may have to make additional future adjustments.
Please continue to prepare for Bible Drill and Student Speakers. While Regional/State drills and competitions (if needed) may be in a different format such as a remote format possibly using technology, the Drills and Competitions will continue. We’ll provide future updates no later than April 2 regarding Regional/State Drill dates and locations.
Thursday, April 23, 2020 – Warren Baptist, Augusta
Sunday, April 26, 2020 – FBC Douglasville
Schedule for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday Drills
3:30 pm – Registration for Children’s Drills
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Children’s Drills
6:30 pm – Registration for Youth/High School Bible Drill and Speakers
7:00 pm – Youth/High School Bible Drill/Speakers Competition Begins
Schedule for Sunday Drills
1:30 pm – Registration begins for Children’s Bible Drill
2:00 pm – Children’s Drills begin
3:00 pm – Registration for Youth/High School and Speakers
3:30 pm – Youth/High School Bible Drill/Speakers Competition Begins
Please Note: Churches will receive their Assigned Children’s Bible Drill Times after they register for Regional/State Drills.
* To qualify for the Regional/State Drills – Children’s Drillers must score 16 or higher, Youth/High School Drillers must score 225 or higher
Saturday, May 9, 2020 – State Youth/High School Bible Drill and Student Speakers Competition – First Baptist Church, Loganville
June 18-19, 2020 – National Youth/High School Bible Drill and Youth Speakers Tournament – Dallas Baptist University – Dallas, Texas
Registration for Regional/State Drills Coming Soon! Registration fee is $20 per Driller or Speaker for the 2020 Children’s State Drills and Regional Youth/High School Bible Drill and Student Speakers Competition.
Churches donating at the Member of Bible Drill Fellowship Level for Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc ($250) will receive a 50% discount on the registration fees for each driller and speaker at the Regional/State Drills if the donation is received by January 31, 2020.
This month we are beginning a new year, a new decade, and in the process of developing a new ministry with Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers. We would like to ask you to join us for 10 days of prayer January 22-31. If these dates don’t work for you and/or your church, feel free to adjust them. Download this prayer guide below and print it out (double-sided). We recommend to print it on card stock. Use it for your personal use and/or to distribute to your church family.
Photo taken of Waldo & Sarah Woodcock and Dennis Rogers several years ago.
Yesterday we celebrated the life of Waldo Woodcock – a life-long champion for Bible Drill and Student Speakers in Georgia. I first met Waldo Woodcock when I was in Children’s Bible Drill. During my teenage years, as a Bible Driller and as a Speaker, Waldo Woodcock had an impact in my Discipleship Journey. As a State Missionary, he faithfully served – championing the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts and sharing our faith. He retired in 1996 after serving for 28 years as a State Missionary in Discipleship Training at the Georgia Baptist Convention. In March of 1998, before I began at the Georgia Baptist Convention, Waldo Woodcock, called me at the church where I was serving on staff and encouraged me with my upcoming journey of serving as a State Missionary with the responsibility of Bible Drill. For many years after his retirement, Waldo continued to serve as a Bible Drill judge and presider.
Earlier this year, Waldo called me from the Georgia Baptist Retirement Community where he lived in Waycross and expressed his support and encouragement for our new Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Student Speakers, Inc. ministry. He was pleased that this vital ministry to our Georgia Baptist churches was going to continue!
Waldo made a difference in so many lives and invested in multiple generations through Bible Drill and Speakers. I am thankful to have been impacted through his life and ministry.
This week our Youth and High School Drillers are having their Bible Drill Christmas Party and we were looking for a fun, Bible Drill Christmas Game to play at the party.
Thank you to LifeWay Kids for sharing a customizable Christmas Bingo template that can be used for a Bible Drill Christmas Activity. To download the template, click this link for the article sharing the Christmas Tree Bingo Board: Christmas Bingo
Items needed:
A copy of the Christmas Bingo Card for each driller
Permanent Marker (ultra fine point)
Christmas Candy (We like to use Christmas M&M’s)
Bible Drill Card
Prepare:
Print out a copy of the Bingo Board for each driller
Using the permanent marker write Bible Drill references in each square. (Make each card individually so that the references are in a different square on each card)
Put Christmas candy in a small cup for each driller to use as the markers for their card
For Children’s Bible Drillers:
Call out the underlined portion of the card (like in a completion drill) and the drillers must put the candy marker on the correct reference.
For Youth Bible Drill:
Call out a phrase of an Identifying verse, a Doctrinal Statement, or a Bible Answers Question and the youth must put the candy marker on the correct reference.
For High School Bible Drill:
Call out a Key Biblical Passages statement or a What We Believe Question. Drillers must put the candy marker on the correct reference. For the rest of the squares – you may want to repeat some (that is what we did) or come up with your own options of what to put in the remaining squares.
We’d love to hear what Christmas Bible Drill activities you are using for your group.
Seeing millennials, Gen Xers, and Boomers investing in the Next Generation through Bible Drill this month during our October Challenge has been a blessing. To hear from a former driller from a few years ago about their gratefulness for Bible Drill and to see what God continues to do through this ministry is incredible.
Our October challenge is to raise $1,500 for the ministry of Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Student Speakers, Inc. Due to the generosity of former drillers, speakers, parents, leaders, and Bible Drill Champions, we are half-way there. A big thank you to to everyone who has donated this month!
If you would like to be a part of the October Challenge, there is still time to donate. During this challenge, we are encouraging Bible Drillers, former Bible Drillers and Speakers, parents, and other Bible Drill champions to donate $10 or $20 this month to invest in the discipleship and Biblical literacy of the next generation of kids and students through Bible Drill and Student Speakers. You can donate by clicking this link: Donate
For the month of October, we would like to raise $1,500 for the ministry of Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Student Speakers, Inc. We are encouraging Bible Drillers, former Bible Drillers and Speakers, parents, and other Bible Drill champions to donate $10 or $20 this month to invest in the discipleship and Biblical literacy of the next generation of kids and students through Bible Drill and Student Speakers. You can donate by clicking this link: Donate
Will you take the challenge to do one of the following?
Collect your change for the month of October and donate to Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc.
Donate the amount you would spend on coffee in a week
Donate $10 or $20
Encourage your friends and family to match what you donate
The ministry of Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers has transitioned to a separate non-profit ministry and is led by a team of individuals from across our state that is committed to investing in and nurturing the next generation of kids and students in Biblical literacy and scripture memorization. LifeWay Research shared in the book Nothing Less – Engaging Kids in a Lifetime of Faith by Jana Magruder that the number 1 predictor of Spiritual Maturity as Young Adults is regularly reading the Bible as Kids. Through Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc, we will continue to provide resources and events/Drills to encourage a love for God’s Word and a growth in Christian Discipleship.
The main difference is that if you measure from the front to the back of the Bible across the pages (or at the spine) – the new Bible measures about 1 inch whereas the current ESV Bible Drill Bible we have used measures about 1 1/2 inches. The layout and page numbers are the same. There are no wording changes.
For the 2020 Bible Drills, we will use the current ESV Drill Bible (ISBN: 978-1-4335-2204-8) and the new ESV Bible (ISBN: 978-1-4335-6343-0).
I hope your Bible Drill year is off to a great start!
Even though, it’s fall, it’s not too early to begin planning for your drills next Spring. Here are four tips to assist you.
(1) Mark your calendar for the 2020 Regional and State Drills. These can be located on your state website usually on the Bible Drill page and/or events page. The 2020 Regional/State dates and locations for Georgia are:
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 – Tom’s Creek, Martin
Thursday, April 16, 2020 – FBC Douglas
Sunday, April 19, 2020 – West Rome Baptist
Monday, April 20, 2020 – FBC Lawrenceville
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 – FBC Cochran
Thursday, April 23, 2020 – Warren Baptist, Augusta
Sunday, April 26, 2020 – FBC Douglasville
Saturday, May 9, 2020 – State Youth/High School Bible Drill and Student Speakers Competition – First Baptist Church, Loganville
(2) Contact your association for the date and location of the Associational Drill and mark your calendar. If you are responsible for planning the Associational Drill, set your drill date 1-2 weeks before the date of the Regional/State Drill that churches in your association will attend. This will allow the churches to time to register for Regional/State Drills (if this is required in your state.)
(3) Schedule your church drill 1-2 weeks before your associational drill. Make sure to check with your church office/leadership team when scheduling the church drill in order to avoid any church scheduling conflicts. This is a great time to fill out any facility paperwork your church may have.
(4) Communicate the drill dates with your church families via e-mail, text updates, flyer, announcements, etc. Encourage parents to mark the dates on their calendars now and make plans to be at the drills. Make each date a big deal by celebrating before or after the drill with refreshments, ice cream, Chick-fil-a meal, or your own special traditions.
(5) Make sure you don’t miss any Bible Drill updates. Follow our blog by entering your e-mail on the right toolbar. This will ensure you receive the latest Bible Drill updates by e-mail as soon as blog articles are posted. While you are on our website, make sure to check out the extra tabs with additional Bible Drill information.
