Children develop Bible knowledge, skills

The competition is not as intense, but the goal is just as important for participants in the Children’s Bible Drill.

Here, pint-sized versions of their older, more knowledgeable peers show they also know the importance of remembering God’s words.

Information distributed by the State Board of Missions office of discipleship/family ministries defines the goals of the Children’s Bible Drill as “to help children increase the knowledge of the Bible, develop skills in effectively handling the Bible and begin developing memory skills.”

“They don’t get that in any other activity the church does, said Wanda Mason, a member of Orchard Baptist Church, Mobile, who works with children competing in the Bible drill. “For me, it’s extremely important,” Mason added.

Participants in the Bible drill are in grades four through six, with children encouraged to be a part of a children’s department in Discipleship Training.

Bible knowledge

Children are responsible for three areas of Bible knowledge, with the King James and New International versions as referencing:

Names of the books of the Bible in proper order, with children able to locate them.

Memorization of verses and their references included in a study leaflet provided to students.

Memorization of titles and references to the key passages in the leaflet, with students able to locate their references in the Bible.

“I think this is the only activity where children learn the Bible,” Mason said.

She said students are responsible for learning 25 verses each year. In addition, they must also memorize 10 key passages and their location, relating to major events of the Bible such as the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ birth and death.

“It’s important for kids to know God’s Word,” she said. “To see the accomplishment from beginning to end is just amazing.”

Like older Bible drill participants, students compete both in their church, followed by competition against children who are members of other churches in their associations.

The competition differs, she said, in that students then go to district competition with students from several associations, rather than competing in statewide competition.