With spring just around the corner, Bible Drill is in full force for hundreds of students across Alabama.
A ministry undergirded by Alabama Baptists’ gifts through the Cooperative Program, Bible Drill gives students in grades 4-12 the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the Bible through memorization, application and discipleship.
In the coming months, students from more than 80 churches throughout the state will compete in church and associational competitions. The winners will move on to regional competitions in April.
To help students and leaders prepare for Bible Drill competition, the State Board of Missions recently held its annual Bible Drill Retreat. Centered on the theme “Reelin’ in God’s Word,” the retreat focused on the endurance of scripture taught in 1 Peter 1:25.
Around 160 students gathered at Shocco Springs on Jan. 25-26 to ready themselves for this year’s drills. Using a variety of activities, including crafts and games, students learned how to memorize their verses and apply what they’re learning in their daily lives.
Rusty Chastain, a Bible Drill coordinator for Huffman Baptist Church in Birmingham, said the retreat has always been his favorite weekend of the year. Having worked with Bible Drill since 1987, Chastain said it is gratifying for him to see students take God’s Word seriously.
“Kids get so excited to learn their Bible verses and books of the Bible,” Chastain said. “I enjoy seeing how proud they are of themselves and how they are hiding God’s Word in their hearts.”
Samford University student Ellie Morris, a former Bible Driller, said Bible Drill still impacts her life today. She helps coach at Meadow Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham and attended the retreat to help teach high school students key Biblical passages they need to learn before their associational conferences.
“Bible Drill was a great way for me to memorize God’s Word,” Morris said. “The verses I learned still impact my daily life and make it easier to live out my faith. In fact, I’m even on a Bible Drill scholarship at Samford right now.”
For more information on Bible Drill, please contact State Missionary Belinda Stroud at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 271, or (334) 613-2271, bstroud@alsbom.org.
