“Present Bible,” Belinda Stroud said. At once, the attentive students on stage placed their hands securely on their Bibles, one hand resting on the top, the other hand supporting the Bible from underneath. With concentrated facial expressions, they waited patiently for Stroud’s next instruction.
“Baptism,” she enunciated.
“Start.” Simultaneously Bibles were vigorously opened, quicker than most in the audience could even blink. Pages were swiftly and skillfully turned. One student speedily stepped forward after his finger landed on the correct verse, well ahead of the eight-second time limit. Several other students stepped forward not a second later.
“Time.”
This was just one of the many scenes June 24 at Meadow Brook Baptist Church, Birmingham. The church buzzed with activity as visitors from 11 states assembled for the ninth annual National Invitational Youth Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament.
Hosted by the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), the event showcased state Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament winners competing for the national title in their respective category: Youth Bible Drill (grades 7–9), High School Bible Drill (grades 10–12) and Youth Speaker (grades 10–12).
The afternoon officially kicked off with a welcome by Sonya Tucker, an associate in the SBOM’s office of Sunday School and discipleship, followed by an opening prayer led by Meadow Brook Baptist Pastor Ron Sumners, a video welcome by SBOM Executive Director Rick Lance and a time of congregational praise and worship.
The competition began with presentations by three of the nine youth speakers.
“Our student speakers write a four- to six-minute speech,” explained Maria Brannen, state missionary in discipleship ministries for the Georgia Baptist Convention. “They develop that speech and then they spend many hours practicing [it].”
The speakers delivered speeches on topics such as “The Truth Will Set You Free” and “God Is in Control — But Do I Have a Choice?”
According to Brannen, many speakers present their speech not only to their church but also to other area churches.
“It’s not just an opportunity to say a speech, but it’s a true opportunity for them to minister, to be able to share their faith through that,” she said. “We are blessed each year to hear the faith expressed from the student speakers as they share what God has laid on their hearts through their speeches that they have written.”
Bible Drill rounds were interspersed between the speaking rounds. Drill participants were guided through a number of categories, including the Identifying Verses Drill and the Doctrinal Drill.
Brannen, a former Bible driller and speaker herself, said drill participants memorize books of the Bible. Many of them practice their drill skills on a daily basis.
Leslie Haynes, a member of Meadowbrook Baptist Church, Oxford, won the national High School Bible Drill title. She just completed 10th grade, and this marked her seventh year competing in Bible Drills.
Haynes explained that as soon as the verses are made public, she begins to memorize them as quickly as possible. Her coach then has her practice drilling in four-second increments — half the time allotted in competition.
Haynes said she did not feel any anxiety during the national drill and added how much she enjoyed participating.
“I enjoy every minute of it, and I’m grateful that the Lord has given me the opportunity to hide His Word in my heart,” Haynes said.
Her father, David Haynes, said, “We told her whether she won or not, it’s her character that we’re interested in. She’s very compassionate, very diligent, very determined and she loves the Lord.”
Kevin Boles, youth ministry strategist for the Louisiana Baptist Convention and chairman of the National Invitational Tournament Procedural Team, said the caliber of students who participate each year amazes him.
“They’re passionate about God’s Word, they’re passionate about telling His story and they’re passionate about demonstrating … what God has done in their life,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege of seeing at least two generations of students go through Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament … and it’s amazing to see how often they reflect back on their lives as … participants.”
Following the competition was a time of fellowship during the evening banquet. Everyone then returned to the sanctuary for the awards presentation. Each participant received a commemoration award, and perfect score winners received an additional award. Engraved, silver trophies were given to first and second place winners in each category.
Brannen said the leaders are proud of the participants for sharing their faith in such a powerful way and added that some later become ministers or serve in missions.
“To me, it’s just a blessing in the audience to be able to be a part of it and to listen to them,” she said. “Yearly I just look forward to [the event] because I’m inspired each year as the students share their faith.”
Next year, the event will celebrate its 10th anniversary at First Baptist Church, Brunswick, Ga. Tucker said around the first of August, the new cycle of information for 2012 will be posted online at www.alsbom.org/bibledrills.
Boles divulged there is already talk of bringing back alumni to the 2012 event.
“It’s going to be a terrific time of celebrating,” he said.
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