Submitted by philip on Fri, 05/02/2014 – 10:11
Participants in the State Bible Drill practice before competing. First Baptist Pineville hosted the event which drew students from throughout the state.
By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff WriterPINEVILLE – Chaz Morgan believes in a day when scandals and cover-ups are too common for elected officials, that adopting biblical qualities such as honesty, humility and prayerfulness could lead to statesmen once again leading the nation.
“Time does not change the Bible and its principles are never out of date,” said Morgan during his speech at the recent state Bible Drill Speakers Tournament. “The need for political leaders to be honest, steadfast, sober, prayerful and humble does not diminish even though leaders increasingly disregard these attitudes.
“Statesmen embrace these qualities; politicians ignore them,” he continued. “Who is leading our nation today?”
For his speech entitled “Politicians or Statesmen,” Morgan won first place in the recent tournament at First Baptist Pineville.
A member at Woodlawn Baptist in Baton Rouge, the 11th grader received a $4,500 annual scholarship to Louisiana College.
The other two 11th grade competitors in the speakers tournament both earned scholarships to LC. They were Ben Stogner, First Covington, and Lexie Barkley, Dunn, Dehli. Stogner will receive a $3,500 a year scholarship and Barkley a $2,500 a year scholarship.
The winner in the 10th grade Speakers Tournament was Robert Belmont, First Covington.
The winner in the 12th grade Speakers Tournament was Caroline Camp, First, Covington; Camp will represent Louisiana Baptists at the National Invitational Tournament for Youth Speakers in Helen, Ga.
The speakers tournament was held in conjunction with the annual Louisiana Baptist Bible Drill.
“The students that participate in Youth or High School Bible Drill in their local church are some of the most amazing students in our Louisiana Baptist churches,” said Kevin Boles, Louisiana Baptist Convention youth ministry strategist. “After overseeing the state tournament for almost 20 years now, I continue to be humbled by the biblical knowledge and spiritual depth of these students. Much of that is due to the faithful adult leaders who have invested in their lives.”
Seventh grade winners were: Jacob Bridges, New Chapel Hill, West Monroe; Paige Freeman, Lakeshore, Monroe; Chloe Whitehead, First, Gonzales; and Jonah Brown, First, DeRidder.
Eighth grade winners were: Abigail Araki, Grace Memorial, Slidell; Katelyn Engen, Alpine First, Pineville; Quinn Campbell, First, Gonzales; Joshua Wilhelm, First, Gonzales; Hunter Thomas, Dunn, Delhi; Haley Thiels, Kingsville, Ball.
Ninth grade winners were: Kendra Wilson, First, Lafayette; Bennett Garbarino, First, Lafayette; Julianna Schober, Heritage, Shreveport; and Kelli Hemphill, East Winnfield, Winnfield.
A drill-off was held, composed of nine of the 9th grade participants with the highest overall scores to determine the overall winner. The drill-off participants were: Kendra Wilson, First, Lafayette; Bennett Garbarino, First, Lafayette; Julianna Schober, Heritage, Shreveport; Kelli Hemphill, East Winnfield, Winnfield; Laniey Gamble, First, Gonzales; Joseph Garbarino, First, Lafayette; Hunter Davis, Woodlawn, Baton Rouge; Lakyn Haag, Kingsville, Ball; Justin Lombardo, First, Covington.
Schober won the drill-off. She will represent Louisiana Baptists at the National Youth Bible Drill Tournament in Helen, Ga.
The tenth-grade winner was Benjamin Haines, Heritage, Shreveport.
The top three winners in eleventh grade received scholarships to Louisiana College. They were: Chaz Morgan, Woodlawn, Baton Rouge, who received a $4,500.00/year scholarship; Lexie Barkley, Dunn, Delhi, who received a $3,500.00/year scholarship, and Paige Nevels, Oak Grove, who received a $3,500.00/year scholarship. Barkley and Nevels both tied for second place.
The twelfth-grade Bible Drill winner was Christian Thompson, Goodwill, Oak Grove.
The twelfth-grade National Bible Drill winner was Kimberly Lanier, Westside, Moss Bluff. Lanier will represent Louisiana Baptists at the National Invitational Bible Drill Tournament in Helen, Ga.
La. Bible Drill
winners turn in ‘most amazing’
performances