Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament have been part of Belinda Stroud’s life for just about as long as she can remember. She grew up participating in both activities in her hometown of Gadsden and is now active on the organizational side. Not only does she act as the Bible Drill leader for her home church, Meadow Brook Baptist, Birmingham, but for the past five years Stroud also has held the title of statewide Bible Drill consultant and director of the state Bible Drill retreat.
“Belinda’s passion for knowing and using God’s Word, her love for teaching children and youth the truths of God, and her experience and skill for coordination and promotion blend together to make her such a wonderful asset to our state Bible Drill ministry,” said Sonya Tucker, an associate in the office of Sunday School and discipleship for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “We are so grateful to have her coordinate Bible Drill and Speakers Tournament regional and state events and the Alabama Bible Drill retreat.”
For Stroud, helping children learn Scripture is something that has given her a sense of joy and fulfillment. She’s been excited to see participation grow in recent years as well, attributing the increase to leadership across the state.
“In Alabama we have lots of leaders with Bible Drill strong in their hearts,” she said. “They have worked to create different Bible drill events in their areas, and so the program grows year after year as more and more leaders feel called by God to be a part of it.”
Carole Trimble, who works with the Bible Drill group at her church, First Baptist, Pelham, said she loves being a part of this journey with the participants and watching them learn more about the Bible and make links between different Scriptures.
“Sometimes learning verses in Sunday School can be disjointed, and Bible Drill can be a way to bridge the gap and hook everything together,” Trimble said. “They piece it together, especially the fourth- and fifth-graders, and my favorite thing is watching the kids’ faces light up when they realize that a verse they’ve known for years is actually a part of a larger story.”
When it comes time for association-wide competitions and for the Bible Drill retreat, Trimble’s and Stroud’s paths cross. Trimble said she’s grateful for the coordination that Stroud brings to the events.
“Belinda is the ultimate organizer, which really speaks to my heart,” Trimble said. “She’s been involved in [Bible Drill] as long as I have, and since we usually have the associational drill at our church she and I work together to get things set up. I know when Belinda is behind it, everything will be in place.”
Stroud enjoys the planning process, and especially likes when it’s time to reconnect with Bible drillers from around the state at the retreat. Each year the retreat is given a theme, and this year’s retreat — to be held Jan. 25–26 — has a theme of “Under the Big Top with God’s Word.” Stroud said they expect around 400 participants to attend the event, held at Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega — which will be transformed into a circus, complete with a Christian magic show.
“It’s always fun to see drillers from around the state at the retreat,” Stroud said. “They’ve become good friends in the past few years. We have a national winner from the year before last and we have a second place winner who will be in attendance this year. Those youth come back to help lead the retreat and teach others. They’re a great group of kids.”
For more information about the Bible Drill retreat, visit www.alsbom.org/upcoming-events/bible-drill-retreat.
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