Bible Drill

Sarah, Zech, and Isabella all participate in a program at church called "Bible Drill". It is a program that teaches them to memorize the books of the bible and passages in the bible. They have to memorize tons of scriptures each year. As they are learning, they are also learning how to use their "sword" (the Word of God is likened as a Sword).

Zech and Isabella are in the regular bible drill. They have to find their books and passages and recite their versus all in 10 seconds. If you were to hold your bible out with two hands (closed) and someone else with a timer randomly picked a book in the bible and had you find it in 10 seconds could you? They have 4 drills. One of them is the caller will tell them a reference and then they have 10 seconds to remember the verse and step across the line. If they are called upon they will have to say the reference and then the verse and repeat the reference again. You are allowed up to 12 errors to go on to Associational drill and then 8 errors to go onto state. Zech had 1 error and Isabella 2. This is Isabella's first year, but last year of regular bible drill for Zech. His goal is to make perfect at state! Go Zech and Isabella. This Sunday is our associational drill and the weekend after Easter is the state drill.

Sarah is involved in the Youth program. It proves to be much more difficult in it's scoring. They are scored on how still they stand, whether or not they only look at the judge (that is what they want), if they can prove by tipping their hands and bibles that they really found the scripture verse, recite their verses, who steps across the line first, and so on and so on. Many things receive points. They have to memorize the books of the bible as well and find them in 8 seconds. They also have to find random passages in the bible as the caller recites it to them and they have only 8 seconds to find that passage. Three other divisions are identifying verses, doctrinal verses, and bible answers. All three divisions have to be memorized completely. They are called upon by any number of words within the passage and given a "start" and the youth have to find it in 8 seconds and have their index finger upon that verse. Two of the divisions allow the children to read the passage (even though they have memorized it) from the bible, and one division asks them to recite it from memory. We only have 3 youth in this bible drill because it is very difficult and many drop out before the end. All three did exceptionally well in the church drill. Sarah in all her practice never made it past 208 points (180 is necessary for church, over 200 is necessary for associational, and over 280 is necessary for state, 300 is perfect). Sarah scored in the church drill 293!!!!!! 7 points away from being perfect!!!! She was smoking up there she was going so very fast.

We still have associational drill this coming weekend to get past, but all three passed the church drill with flying colors! We are so very proud of all three because they have worked tremendously hard in this program!

After associational the regular bible drillers go on to state. Although in the same place and at the same time, Sarah's bible drill is only regional, after that she can go to state. Only 2 children from each region advance to state.