Bible Drill students memorize, internalize Scripture

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DALLAS—Memorizing Scripture helps a person retain biblical teaching for the rest of his or her life, insisted Dickie Dunn, discipleship specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. In that case, a group of young people has built quite a foundation of biblical principles that can guide their lives.

Capping off statewide Bible Drill and speakers’ competitions that encompassed more than 1,000 students, a select few rose to win the titles of best in their areas.

Winners of the Texas Baptist Bible Drill and Speakers’ Tournament, who will represent Texas at the National Invitational Tournament are (left to right) Jessie Price from First Baptist Church in Atlanta, senior high drill; Sherissa Blender from Lakeview Baptist Church in Mathis, youth drill; and Christa Juneau from Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cleveland, Speakers’ Tournament. They are pictured with Dickie Dunn, discipleship specialist with the Baptist General Convention of Texas. (PHOTO/Keith Lowry)

Sherissa Blender of Lakeview Baptist Church in Mathis won first place in the youth Bible Drill competition. Yana Genke of First Baptist Church in Tenaha and Silas Henderson of First Baptist Church in Atlanta tied for second place.

In the high school Bible Drill competition, Jessie Price of First Baptist Church in Atlanta won first place. Faith Walters of First Baptist Church in Albany earned second place.

In the high school speakers’ competition, Christa Juneau of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Cleveland won first place. Lauren Mandaville of First Baptist Church in Seguin won second place. The top five finishers each earned a scholarship to a Texas Baptist university.

The first place finishers in each category will advance to the national competitions June 24 in Birmingham, Ala.

Dunn, who facilitates the competitions, praised the work of the winners and noted all the students who participate in the effort benefit from the work they put into it. Practicing for the competitions brings families together around Scripture. Families memorize Scripture together, and the practice reinforces the importance of faith in a person’s life.

Former contestants tell Dunn the verses they memorized as youth regularly come back to them as adults, guiding their decisions, thoughts and actions. In nine years of competing, students will memorize 400 to 500 Bible verses.


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“I think it is probably the finest disciple-making process we have for children and youth today because it teaches them how to fulfill the Great Commission. They become witnesses. They become models. They become disciples,” he said.

“For these young people, I see the discipline of committing God’s word to memory. As it says, that will not come back void. That will be with us always.”

Ten students won the inaugural Ellen Battles Lighthouse Award, which celebrates young people who have participated in the competitions from fourth grade through high school. The award is named in honor of Battles, who has been involved in the competitions 32 years.

The winners were: Walters; Price; Juneau; Cody Welch of First Baptist Church in Bryan; Timothy Mills of First Baptist Church in Cleveland; Amanda Campbell of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Ennis; Briona Keith of First Baptist Church in Comanche; Nathan Byrd of First Baptist Church in Comanche; James Smith of First Baptist Church in Comanche; and Shawnnice Davis of Mount Hebron Missionary Baptist Church in Garland.

 


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