A total of 230 children representing 58 churches competed at the South Carolina Baptist Children’s Bible Drill April 25 at four churches across the state: St. Andrews Baptist, Columbia; Southside Baptist, Florence; First Baptist, Simpsonville; and First Baptist, Anderson.
Students in grades 4-6 were quizzed in four areas: key passages, quotations, completion of verses, and book location. They took part in local church and associational Bible drills before attending the state event.
Cindy Morris, SCBC children’s ministry group director, said Bible drill not only gives children a good foundation for biblical knowledge, but also helps with character building. An honor system is used, and children are encouraged to acknowledge when they make a mistake.
Donna Spearman and Gwen Eargle, from Sandy Level Baptist Church, Blythewood, served as leaders at the St. Andrews event. Spearman said she “got hooked” when her son Marion, who recently was named assistant director of White Oak Conference Center, began participating as a child. Eargle said she enjoys “watching the children memorizing God’s word and seeing it put into practice.”
Caroline Perez, state coordinator and a member of Southside Baptist Church, Florence, said there were 43 sixth-graders participating who received three-year participation medallions. “All the participants are already winners, and their efforts will bear spiritual fruit throughout their lives,” she said.
Bible drill training is offered in the fall by the state convention, and throughout the year for individual churches as well as associations. For more information, contact scbibledrill@scbaptist.org. – SCBC