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| Fourteen-year-old Isaac Ward, an AG Bible Quizzer, was the Junior Winner of the 2009 National Bible Bee and a $50,000 scholarship. |
Isaac Ward, a national Teen Bible Quizzer from First AG of Binghamton, New York, is the Junior Winner of the first annual "National Bible Bee."
Isaac, 14, son of Hank and Annette Ward, won a $50,000 scholarship for taking first place in the 11- to 14-year-old age category in the contest, which was held November 5 and 6 in Washington, D.C.
The National Bible Bee is a motivating Bible memory competition for children and youth from 7 to 18 years of age. More than 17,000 contestants signed up to participate in the event, according to the Bee's Web site.
In September, approximately 340 Local Bible Bee contests were held across the U.S. The 100 highest scoring contestants in each age bracket were then invited to participate in the National Bible Bee.
Of the 300 students participating in the National Bible Bee, 20 students in each age division moved on to semi-finals. Then, seven contestants from each group of 20 moved to the final round. Tiebreaker rounds were held until there were three contestants in each age category.
Isaac's older sister, LaJoie, 18, also competed in the Bible Bee. She finished in the top seven finalists of the Senior Division.
Both children have been involved in Teen Bible Quiz (TBQ) and have competed at the National Level. LaJoie has been in TBQ for six years and has gone to four National TBQ Finals, while Isaac has been involved in TBQ for the last five years and has gone to two National Finals.
Isaac and LaJoie, who were both home schooled, started preparing for the contest in July, once the National Teen Bible Quiz competition was finished. Isaac kept up with school work and studying for AG Bible Quiz while memorizing for the Bible Bee. LaJoie was a full-time student at Broome Community College, a lifeguard, and a math tutor during much of the preparation period.
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| Issac's older sister, LaJoie Ward, also an AG Bible Quizzer, placed in the top seven of the Senior Division at the National Bible Bee. |
Through the AG's Teen Bible Quiz, Isaac has memorized entire books of the Bible, including James, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, Mark and parts of Romans and Acts. He is currently memorizing 1 and 2 Corinthians for Teen Bible Quiz. LaJoie memorized 13 books in AG Bible Quiz before finishing her quizzing career at National Finals in July of 2009.
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"For Isaac, it actually becomes easier for him to memorize Scripture because he has been memorizing Scripture for several years. In other words, the discipline and training makes it easier once you do it for the Lord and in the power of the Spirit," says Bernie Elliot, National Bible Quiz Coordinator. "Hiding God's Word empowers one to become the individual God wants us to be and do what God wants us to do. Also, for Isaac, he has encouraging parents who love their children and the ministry of Bible Quiz."
"It's easier to memorize Scripture in Bible Quiz," Annette says, "because the quizzers memorize an entire book or books, and the passages flow together. But in this contest, you have to recite the passage by a reference, since the verses were taken from many different books of the Bible."
Annette also mentioned how, unlike Teen Bible Quiz — which is a team competition — the Bible Bee relies on a single contestant to come up with the right answer. In Teen Bible Quiz, only one book, or a group of small books is memorized at a time, containing anywhere from 600-1000 verses.
"The Bible Bee was more intense. The contestants had to be familiar with six books of the Bible and memorize 1,500 verses," Annette says. "At one point they were called upon to recall 20-verse-long passages."
As part of the National Bible Bee, each contestant was required to take written and oral tests, in which they were asked Bible knowledge questions and required to recite Bible passages from memory. Students studied hundreds of multiple-verse passages of the Bible in order to prepare for the contest.
The Ward family heard of the Bible Bee through a friend and "World Magazine," and both children decided to register for the contest. According to Annette, Isaac just wanted to try out the contest this year. "He definitely wants to do it again," she says. "In the midst of the competition, before we knew final scores, I asked him if he wanted to participate again next year."
Isaac, who will compete in the Senior Division next year, said, "Yeah, I think I will." LaJoie, who is no longer eligible to compete because of her age, continues to memorize Scripture independently, and is currently studying the books of 1 and 2 Corinthians.
Annette says the National Bible Bee has benefitted both of her children. "I've seen wonderful growth and spiritual impact on their lives through this contest."
"My daughter always says 'There are two things you can take with you from this world: People you've brought to the Lord, and The Word,'" Annette says. "Even before my kids were involved in Teen Bible Quiz, we made an effort to encourage them to memorize Scriptures at home."
Contest or no contest, they will continue to do just that.
For more information on the National Bible Bee, click here. To learn more about Teen Bible Quiz, click here.
