WASHBURN – After receiving first place honors at the Missouri Youth Bible Drill in Trenton April 9, 14-year-old Lacey Reeves took center stage at the National Invitational Bible Drill Tournament June 17 in Colleyville, Texas.
“I was placed in the middle of the drillers, number 8 of 11, and the judge was directly in front of me,” said Reeves, member of Prairie Hill Baptist Church here. “It’s pretty nerve-wracking and before I go up there I’m afraid I’ll forget everything I know. But thankfully we always pray that our nerves and hands would be steady before we start. That helps a lot.”
It certainly did in Colleyville. Reeves went on to complete a perfect drill, taking third place overall in the national contest.
“The only thing I did wrong was I didn’t have my hand flat against my Bible the entire time. Sometimes there was a space,” Reeves said. “That’s how close the competition was.”
The purpose of the Bible Drill program, which is available for children, youth (completed 7th through 9th grades) and high school students, is to help increase a young person’s knowledge of the Bible, develop skills in locating books and key passages, and memorizing the books of the Bible, verses and key passages.
“Not only has Lacey memorized and become familiar with God’s word, but she truly has it tucked safely in her heart,” said Jerry Williams, pastor at Prairie Hill. “I think it’s vitally important that churches provide opportunities for children and youth to work on something that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. What’s great about Bible Drill is that the more they study and learn, the more they want to know. We don’t give kids enough credit or God enough credit for his work in them. Watching them have a love and desire to learn God’s word is exciting.”
Sheri Reeves, Lacey’s mom, agrees. She said the world tries to shift a family’s focus from the things of God to sports, peer acceptance and even academics.
“It’s the decisions our kids make for God that will have the most impact in their lives,” she said. “If we can get our kids more involved in the Bible, the straighter their paths are going to be. God has blessed our family beyond words and I couldn’t be prouder.”
Lacey has even used her Bible knowledge as an evangelism tool at her school. If anyone has a question about the Bible, they come to her.
“One day in history class I started saying the books of the Bible in order and everyone kept wanting me to do it again,” she said. “If someone asks me how I know God is real, I can pull verses that I’ve learned and show it to them. I also think I will be able to recognize if something I’m doing is wrong quicker. I have a problem with pride, but the verses about pride come to me when I need them.”
To learn more about involving the young people in your church in Bible drill, contact the Missouri Baptist Convention at 1.800.737.6227.