The National Bible Bee …
The stakes are high. Every year since 2008, nearly 6,000 American elementary and high school children have pitted themselves against each other in a spelling-bee-style competition known as the National Bible Bee. For several months, students participate in online tests and exams in the hope of being selected as one of 300 children and youth to compete in the November finals in Nashville, Tennessee. The hugely popular Scripps National Spelling Bee awards the national spelling champion $35,000. Prize money at the National Bible Bee outstrips this award. Top place in the senior category of the National Bible Bee is $100,000, and the total prize money at the event is $260,000.
Imagine being a ten-year-old contestant: You walk up to the microphone and look at the moderator who asks you to recite 1 Timothy 2:9-11. You have more than 2,000 memorized verses buzzing through your mind, but you can’t stall. You know if you pause for longer than ten seconds, you’ll be eliminated. One wrong word when you recite the text – eliminated. So, you recite the text slowly and clearly, take a deep breath, and wait for the judges to nod. If you get the nod, you’ll return to your seat with the other finalists and prepare yourself for the next round.
Many are asking why the organizers of the National Bible Bee are doing what they’re doing. Phil Vischer, a Bible Bee presenter and co-creator of the Veggie Tales cartoons, says, “These kids are learning the Bible so they can live Christianity well.”
Some of my Christian peers can recite, from memory, several texts from the Bible. Many Christians I know can only recite a verse or two. Nine-year-old Olivia Davis, winner of the 2011 primary division, says, “If young people all did Bible Bee, we could change the country forever!” Can memorizing the Word of God lead to cultural change from sea to sea? Maybe! The Bible teaches us that when our hearts and minds are full of good things, our words and actions will be good (cf. Luke 6:45). So I’m with Olivia, dreaming about what could happen if young and old people started memorizing Scripture.
[Source for information on the National Bible Bee: The Globe and Mail. Monday, November 21, 2011]
Ready to see the next generation of Bible memorization champions? Visit the National Bible Bee Gameshow website.
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Summary
The National Bible Bee is a high-stakes competition where children and teens compete by memorizing Bible verses for a chance to win significant prizes, including a top award of $100,000. Since 2008, over 6,000 students have participated each year, with the finals held annually in Nashville, Tennessee. Beyond the competition, organizers aim to foster deeper engagement with Scripture, hoping memorization could inspire cultural change and help participants live out their faith more effectively.
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