The regimen differs only slightly from question to question, only changing based on the type of drill.
“Attention.” Eagerly, the students snap to a rigid stance.
“Present Bibles.” Nervously, they place their Bibles in the palm of one of their hands, the other atop their Bibles.
And so it went, April 29, as 32 youth in grades 7-9 from across the state participated in the state Youth Bible Drill at Eastmont Baptist Church, Montgomery.
Ashley Lane, 15, of Cottage Hill Baptist Church, Mobile, took top honors after a day of competition which also included five students from across the state participating in the state Youth Speakers Tournament.
Diana Lambeth, 15, of First Baptist Church, Flomaton, was the first place winner in the speaking competition for her presentation on “Being Certain in a World With No Absolutes.”
But while the competition had the flavor of a spelling bee or scholars’ bowl, Terry Brown, an associate in the State Board of Missions office of discipleship and family ministry, said the impact of the Bible drill is more significant.
Eternal truth
“It’s more important,” Brown said, stressing the knowledge students learn of the Bible through competition is crucial when they go out into the world.
“What is important — when these kids get out of the watch care of their parents, get out of the watch care of their Bible drill leaders … and they’re faced with a situation where the world presents its view — they have God’s Word, they have God’s knowledge, they have God’s truth in their hearts,” Brown said.
“Sooner or later, the world’s going to come against them, and if they can stand and face the world and say ‘Let me show you eternal truth,’ then we’ve done well in Bible drills,” he added. “And that is the goal of Bible drills.”
Brown identified five segments in the Bible drill — locating books of the Bible, locating Scripture, identifying verses and their location based on a quoted portion, a doctrinal drill and location of a verse based upon a question.
This year was Lane’s third year to participate in the Bible drill competition, agreeing it is important in helping him learn the Word of God. Lane said he also enjoys the fellowship that comes through participating in the Bible drill.
Commenting on her presentation, Lambeth said it is important Christians remember there is only one true doctrine — the Word of God.
“Sometimes, Christians today — especially between different churches — will try to make up what they believe is right according to what they want, and I believe it’s really important that we look to the Bible to find our truths and not what we desire for our opinions,” she said after her speech.
Scholarship winners
Winners of the Alabama Youth Bible Drill will receive scholarships good at the state’s three Baptist colleges — University of Mobile , Judson College and Samford University — that range in value from $2,000 to $2,800, based on how many years the youth has participated in the Bible Drill.
The top five participants in the Youth Bible Drill receive certificates that cover the cost of registration, room and meals for Discipleship Training Youth Week at Shocco Springs.
The drill is sponsored by the State Board of Missions’ Discipleship and Family Ministries Department.
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