| National Bible Bee | |
|---|---|
| Motto | "Family Discipleship, One verse at a time."[1] |
| Headquarters | Wilmington, Ohio |
| Region served | United States |
| Executive Director | Mark McMahan |
| Parent organization | The Shelby Kennedy Foundation |
| Website | biblebee.org |
The National Bible Bee is a Bible quiz held for the first time in 2009 by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation. The competition starts with local contests across the United States. The top 100 contestants from each age group (Primary, ages 7-10, Junior, ages 11-14 and Senior, ages 15-18) advance to the National level. In 2009, the national level was held in Washington, D.C. on November 5–6, 2009.[2] More than $260,000 in prize money is awarded. The winner in the Senior age category wins $100,000, the second placer in the Senior age division wins $25,000, and the third placer wins $15,000. In the Junior Age division, The first placer wins $50,000, while the second placer gets $20,000, and the third placer gets $10,000. In the Primary age division, The first placer wins $25,000, the second placer gets $10,000, and the third placer gets $5,000. [3] The organization claims that this is the "largest prize of any academic competition of its kind".[4]
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The National Bible Bee is sponsored by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation.[5] Shelby Kennedy, who died of cancer at the age of 23, spent all of her life studying the Bible. After her death, a non-profit ministry, The Shelby Kennedy Foundation, was established in her name to commemorate her by encouraging children and youth to memorize Scripture.[6]
While the National Bible Bee promises large cash prizes for at least nine of the top-place finalists,[7] Both local and national competition will involve oral and written tests.[8] The Bee has the larger goal of encouraging young people in the Christian faith, such as by becoming more biblically literate. Their website states, "The vision for the Bible Bee is to encourage parents as they disciple their children through in-depth study of the Word of God, Scripture memorization, and prayer."[9] The organization also has a statement of faith stating a set of fundamental doctrines for Christianity[10]; though this statement is not made a requirement for competition, the contestants and their families must agree not to dispute any of the doctrines in any stage of competition.[8]
Competition is divided into local and national levels. Local competition is not administrated directly by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, but rather by separate entities known as Local Planning Committees. Though these committees are not legally related to the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, they are the only source of finalists for the national competition. The highest-scoring hundred contestants in each age category proceeds to the national competition, which in the inaugural competition year was held at the J.W. Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C.[11]; the 2010 competition was held at the Marriott Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center in Schaumburg, Illinois.[7] The 2011 Bible Bee was held in Nashville, Tennessee.
Eligibility for the National Bible Bee is restricted to United States residents, including residents of the District of Columbia and children of U.S. Armed Forces personnel stationed overseas. Close relatives of members the Shelby Kennedy Foundation or others who have worked on the contest content are allowed to compete; however, they may not win prize money at the National Bible Bee Contest.
Contestants are divided into three age groups: primary (ages 7–10), junior (ages 11–14) and senior (ages 15–18).[12]
The Bible Bee's competition material includes both memory work and an in-depth study on a selected book of the Bible.[13]
Contestants are required to memorize 250 verses for Primaries, 500 verses for Juniors, and 800 verses for Seniors. In oral competition the contestants must recite the passage word-for-word from any of five approved English versions (KJV, NKJV, New American Standard Bible, NIV, English Standard Version). Points are deducted for extra or omitted words. In addition, comprehension of these verses is tested in a multiple-choice written test.
In 2009, all the contestants were to study Genesis, 1&2 Samuel, Matthew, Acts, and Romans.
From 2010, all contestants receive the Sword Study Handbook, which is a study guide for a single book of the Bible. Comprehension of this book of the Bible is tested on a written test. Parents receive a Parent Handbook, which contains guidelines for helping their children study that book of the Bible.
The Bible Knowledge book for 2010 was Colossians. [14]
The Bible Knowledge book for 2011 was 1 Peter. As of 2011, The contestants who advanced to Nationals were given a new book of the bible to study, which was announced when the National competitors were announced. In 2011, this book was 2 Peter.