GREENSBORO — $2,500 isn’t bad for a day’s work — especially for middle school and high school students.
BSC photos From left, Eesim Oon won Youth Bible Drill; Megan Russell won High School Bible Drill; and Brian Carter won the Youth Speakers’ Tournament. The three were among the 20 students from 18 churches across North Carolina who competed May 16 in Greensboro. |
The highest scorers in the May 16 North Carolina Finalist Tournaments for Youth and High School Bible Drill and the Youth Speakers’ Competition each received a $2,500 scholarship to the college of their choice. This is the first year the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (BSC) has awarded this scholarship.
Twenty students representing 18 churches participated in the tournament at First Baptist Church in Greensboro. To be eligible for the Finalist Tournament each student had to win at the church and association level, as well as at a state level tournament.
Eesim Oon of Bethesda Baptist Church in Yates Association came in as the top scorer in the Youth Bible Drill. Oon, an eighth grader, has been drilling since fourth grade. Oon, who began Bible Drill when friends from her homeschool group asked her to join them, practices with friends and at church, but mom has also been a big help.
“She’s not only been teaching and helping, but she’s been encouraging us so much,” Oon said.
Megan Russell, representing Salem Baptist Church in Raleigh Association, won the High School Bible Drill in a drill off. Russell is a sophomore who began drilling in fourth grade.
During the fall and winter, Bible Drill practice is held every day at Salem Baptist and Russell misses very few sessions. Tricia Russell, Megan’s mother, helps Megan when she asks, but Megan is an experienced driller who takes initiative to practice on her own and at church. “She has some amazing leaders,” Tricia said. “They have made it fun.”
Brian Carter’s speech on the purpose of the church earned him first place in the Youth Speakers’ Tournament. He explained how the church must lead by example and meet spiritual and physical needs in order to carry on the work of the Lord.
Nine years ago Carter started Bible Drill after seeing another church do a drill demonstration that sparked his interest. Cathy Jones, Carter’s Bible Drill leader at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Eastern Association, works with Bible Drill students because she enjoys “seeing the work of God coming to fulfillment in their lives.”
Oon, Russell and Carter will represent North Carolina at the National Invitational Youth Bible Drill and Speakers’ Tournament June 20 in Covington, La.
For more information visit www.ncbibledrill.org, e-mail Jeanie Whitehead at [email protected] or call (800) 395-5102 ext. 5652.