Bible Drill and Speakers

As you are preparing for a new school year, begin making plans for your new year in Bible Drill. Here are 5 tips to assist you.

1. Determine when, where and how to meet in this socially distanced world. Download our free ebook that shares strategies for Bible Drill to take place at home, online, at church, or outdoors. We have also provided a sample verse schedule/checklist for Children, Youth, and High School Drillers.

2. If you are a new Children’s Bible Drill leader, you’ll want to download and look over 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.

3. Be flexible in how you do Bible Drill this year. With families, churches, and communities at varying places on the spectrum of whether to meet in person, virtually, or outdoors, flexibility is the key as we minister to drillers and families. You may have some who are fine meeting in person, while others feel the need to meet virtually/at home. 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.

4. Utilize new resources this year in teaching Bible Drill:

• This month Alabama Baptist Bible Drill is releasing an at home piece for Children’s Bible Drill that contains a family devotion along with a fun activity for each verse. Once it is released, it will be available for download on our website.
• Suggestions in our new ebook for fun Bible Skill games you can use when meeting online or outdoors. (Not familiar with zoom? Read the online section in our ebook for more details.)
• Use the Verse Ring cards 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.

5. 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.

What is your favorite tip for your new Bible Drill year in 2020/2021?

During 2020, we have discovered new ways of connecting and doing ministry in the midst of a pandemic – in a socially distanced world. This includes Kids Ministry and specifically Bible Drill. Alabama, North Carolina and Georgia collaborated and created a new resource for Bible Drill leaders: 4 Ways to do Bible Drill in a Socially Distanced World. This resource includes an A, B, C, D strategy and creative ideas for doing Bible Drill.

The Four Strategies for Doing Bible Drill are:

• A- At Home (Additional resource to be released later this month)
• B- Be Online
• C- Church
• D- Discover the Outdoors

We will be highlighting some of these strategies in the upcoming weeks. You can download the entire free ebook below:

What creative ideas are you using to do Bible Drill in your church?

Make plans to join us for this Bible Drill webinar hosted by the Alabama State Board of Missions. We will share about some new resources for Bible Drill!

4 Ways to Teach Bible Skills in a Socially Distanced World (Children) Tuesday, August 4, 7:30-9 pm (6:30-8 pm CST) Come and learn about four ways you can teach Bible skills in a socially distanced world: at home, online, at church or while discovering the outdoors. Session leaders include Belinda Stroud, state missionary for childhood discipleship; Maria Brannen with Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers, Inc; and Deborah Robson with North Carolina Baptist Bible Drill.

To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fGcC8oi9RXK6Upq6mg870g

Today, we are recognizing 7 outstanding students in Youth Bible Drill. These students memorized 30 verses and developed their Bible Skills to be able to find any book or scripture passage in 8 seconds. In this unprecedented time, they participated in their Regional and State Drills via video. Their level of commitment and excellence shone through as each one obtained a state perfect score of 300 from our team of judges. Since we held our State Drill via video submissions for 2020 instead of in person and were unable to count bonus points to determine a state winner, we formed a special 300 Club. These students will receive a perfect score award, an additional certificate recognizing them as a member of our 300 club, and a $100 college scholarship. The students receiving the honor of being a 300 club member are:

Warren Baptist Church – Emily Pugh and Claire Pugh (pictures unavailable)

Join me in congratulating these Youth Drillers!

This month, we held our 2020 High School State Bible Drill via video. Students who scored 270 or higher at the Regional Level were eligible to participate in the State Drill. With the pandemic, we shifted our recognitions for 2020. Traditionally, we recognize our top scorer as our State Winner at our in-person drills. Since we held our State Drill via video submissions for 2020, and were unable to count bonus points, we formed a special 300 Club. The students who achieved a perfect score (300) from our team of judges will receive a perfect score award, an additional certificate recognizing them as a member of our 300 club, and a $200 college scholarship. Six High School Drillers received this honor:

Join me in congratulating these amazing drillers!

Looking for something creative for the kids in your family or church to do this summer? Georgia Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers Inc is sponsoring an essay contest. There will be a Preteen Division (completed 4th and 5th grades) and a Middle School Division (completed 6th-8th grades). The winner of each division will receive an award, a $50 cash prize and their essay will be featured on our website and in the Christian Index.

The topic for the Preteen Essay is “My Favorite Bible Verse/Passage.” Preteens are to share why the verse(s)/passage is their favorite and what it means to them. The essay is should be 250-300 words in length.

The topic for the Middle School Essay is “What I learned about God/my faith while we sheltered in place.” Middle School Essays are to be 400-500 words in length.

The deadline to submit the essays is July 31st. Coming this fall, we are offering an Essay Contest for High Schoolers and College Students.

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.

Join me in congratulating Lexie for being our 2020 Student Speakers Competition Runner-up! For more information on the Student Speakers Competition, you can visit our webpage: https://bibledrillandspeakers.com/student-speakers-competition/

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.

Join me in congratulating Ellie for being our 2020 Student Speakers Competition Winner. For more information on the Student Speakers Competition, you can visit our webpage: https://bibledrillandspeakers.com/student-speakers-competition/

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.  

Give Now www.gbfoundation.org/rogers-scholarship-fund

To impact the next generation through the ministry of Bible Drill and Speakers donate here.

A special thank you to the Georgia Baptist Foundation for their assistance in highlighting the Jenny Rogers Scholarship.