Winners of the State Bible Drill held at Calvary Baptist Church on Saturday, April 18, pose for a photo.
The State Bible Drill competition held at Calvary Baptist Church in Little Rock concluded with excitement, encouragement, and well-earned recognition on Saturday, April 18, for students who committed themselves to studying and memorizing Scripture.
Bible Drill is a discipleship tool for teaching children and youth God’s Word. Children and students can develop strong Scripture memory skills while learning the books of the Bible and key biblical passages.
The State Bible Drill is the culmination of months of memorization and practice calls by the students and their leaders. The competition involves knowing where to find specific Scripture passages based on a one-word descriptor and quoting multiple verses.
In the children’s division, students earning the designation of state winner for high accuracy included Cason Carozza of Grandview Baptist Church in Berryville, Lawrence Stromberg of Rudd Baptist Church and Eli Smith of First Baptist Church in Hot Springs.
In the youth division, Charley Ann Carozza of Grandview Baptist Church in Berryville placed second, while Sawyer Arnold also of Grandview Baptist Church took first place. Arnold will represent Arkansas at the national Bible Drill competition in Brunswick, Georgia.
In the high school division, Juliette Stromberg of Rudd Baptist Church placed second and Aubrey Lee of Grandview Baptist Church in Berryville finished first. Because participants may compete only once per division at the national level, Stromberg will advance to represent Arkansas.
Participants were reminded that memorizing and applying Scripture is a lifelong foundation – one that extends far beyond the competition setting.
State Bible Drill Coordinator Emily Smith noted that while the honor is significant, the true value remains in the spiritual growth each participant has experienced.
The event wrapped up with group photos, final acknowledgments, and a closing prayer. Smith thanked Calvary Baptist Church for hosting, along with judges, parents, and leaders who supported the students throughout their journey.
As families and participants prepared to return home, the message remained clear: the impact of learning Scripture goes far beyond competition – it shapes lives.
For more information on Bible Drill and how to implement it, visit absc.org/bibledrill.
