New generation of Alabama Baptist youth faces familiar Bible drill charges

Attention. Present Bibles. Start. These familiar commands, somewhat evolved, have resounded through churches for decades as children and youth have participated in Bible drills designed to bore God’s Word into their hearts and souls.
   
Despite their age, these commands apparently still resonate with Alabama youth and children. Just say these words and as many as 550 children statewide who participate in drills will spring into action, Bibles in hand.
Recently 44 seventh- to ninth-graders from across Alabama spent most of Saturday, May 3, looking up Bible verses and reciting them. These achievers were from 130 Alabama churches that participate in Bible drills. The finalists represented the best of the best, chosen from among the 62 youth who participated in District Bible Drills, to compete in the State Bible Drills conducted at Heritage Baptist Church in Montgomery.
   
Meanwhile, another eight youth in 10th to 12th grades competed in a Speakers’ Tournament conducted in conjunction with the State Bible Drills.
   
Bonnie Mullis, who serves as the state Bible drill coordinator and called the commands during the competition, has spent 20 years involved in Bible drills, in itself a testament to the relevancy of the program. “Once you get started on Bible drill, you get hooked. It’s wonderful to see God’s Word transform lives.”
   
While Alabama retains a strong Bible drill program, Mullis’ desire is to see it continue to grow. Updating curriculum and promotional materials is one of the tasks Mullis tries to stay focused on all year long. For example, she is exploring ways to use computer technology in the Bible drill program and methods to recognize commitment to the program.
   
Children who have been in the program for three years are now being awarded medallions during district drills. Ninth-graders who have participated all six years are awarded trophies.
   
Yet other rewards of Bible drill are nothing new.
   
Mullis can give chapter and verse referencing plenty of examples of youths who relate to her how the verses they learned through Bible drill saw them through a particular situation.
   
While presiding over a recent drill in Tuscaloosa Mullis was trying to calm a group of nervous children when one of them recited Psalm 56:3, a verse leaned through Bible drill: “When I am afraid, I will trust in You” (NIV).
   
State winners receive significant financial rewards in the form of scholarships to state Baptist colleges including Judson College, Samford University and the University of Mobile. Winners with one year of participation are eligible for $2,400 scholarships. Winners with two years of participation receive $3,000 scholarships. Winners with three years of participation receive  $3,600 scholarships.
   
Winning first place this year was Michelle Hopkins of Whitesburg Baptist Church, Huntsville. Second place went to Russ Stokes of Tallassee First Baptist Church, and Ginny Lou Henley of Whitesburg took third place.
   
As this year’s winner, Hopkins will represent Alabama for the first time in the National Bible Drill June 13 in Atlanta at the Georgia Baptist Convention, a prospect that has not just Hopkins excited but her parents, too.
   
Second- and third-place winners are sent to Student Life camp at Shocco Springs Conference Center.
   
Hopkins, a ninth grader who is home schooled, has participated in Bible drill for six years. In addition to her weekly skills training sessions at church, to prepare she regularly recites verses to her brother Daniel at home, and she looks up 33 verses a day from every other book of the Bible called by her mother.
   
Although this is her final year in Bible drill as a participant, Hopkins wants to help with youth Bible drill next year. Her brother Daniel will be enlisting as a seventh grader. “It will be fun coaching him.”
   
While Bible drills employ a list of simple commands — “Attention,” “Present Bibles,” “Start” — there’s nothing simple about the demands they make. There are five kinds of Bible drills, including locating books, Scripture searching, identifying verses, doctrinal drill and Bible answers.
   
Children who participate successfully all three years as fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders will learn 25 verses a year for 75 verses of Scripture, 10 key passages and all the books of the Bible.
   
Once they hit seventh grade, however, the demands increase. Youth learn 30 verses a year to end up with a treasure trove of knowledge that includes 90 verses. Bible drillers who have been at it all six years will have learned 165 verses. In addition, youth have only eight seconds to complete a specific Bible drill.
   
A panel of judges keeps track of individual scores. Youth are awarded points for every round successfully completed. Points are deducted when mistakes are made, which participants themselves often draw attention to by raising their hands.
   
“That always means a lot, to know that honesty is there,” Mullis said. Bible drillers score bonus points for being the first to step forward after finding the verse, a key to gaining an edge over stiff competition at the state level. “Many, many, many of them will not make a mistake.”
   
Jesse Lee Mitchell, 15, represented his church, Locus Fork Baptist, at the state competition. When Mitchell found a Scripture and was asked to call it out, he did so in a booming voice. “When I get up in front of somebody and say His Word, I want to say it with such loudness and enthusiasm.”
   
Students aren’t the only ones who are committed to the program. Susan Maxwell has led youth Bible drill for her church, Leatherwood Baptist in Anniston, for the past six years, compelled by “the conviction that we need to have the Word of God in our hearts.”
   
Maxwell describes Bible drill as “a structure that helps. It’s a good goal to work toward.”