| Challenges, Encouragement and That First Meeting |
2009-01-25 |
“Isn’t this great!” Sue Eckert shouted to her family, waving one of Bible Bee’s featured ads. As a mother who greatly values God’s Word and teaches her seven children to do the same, she was excited to read about this competition that shares those values—ones she feels are greatly needed in the lives of children today. Reading about the Bible Bee renewed hope in her soul. Sue feels people truly want a revival in Bible memory and Bible knowledge, two areas the Eckert family have long made a priority. Years ago, under the direction of Sue’s husband, the family began memorizing books of the Bible, verse by verse. Since then, Bible memory has become a family heritage. Although Sue pictures herself as more of a visionary than an administrator, when she recognized that God was prompting her to fill the need for a Local Planning Committee chair in her area, there was no hesitation. As she explained at the committee’s first meeting, as LPC chairman, she is “responsible for supervising the committee, giving guidance, and being a liaison to the Bible Bee Headquarters.” But Sue recognizes prayer and planning are crucial as well. So far, the greatest challenge Sue has faced has been finding local coordinators to join her in this endeavor. While many of those she has told about the Bee have been eager to enroll their children in the contest, they have been reluctant to volunteer to become one of her much-needed contest coordinators. Encouragement in this beginning phase of contest preparation has come in several forms: Already, Sue has met a number of enthusiastic, zealous women through her efforts to promote the Bible Bee. Having only lived in Libertyville (Illinois) for about two and a half years, making these new, godly contacts has been an unexpected gift. Sue was blessed to have a good friend share the cost of registration with her; she also received a five hundred dollar donation from a generous Christian businessman in the area; on top of that, a local church has kindly offered the use of their facilities for the Local Contest free of charge. Sue hopes to be able to take advantage of this offer, but with the size of their contest yet to be determined, she will have to wait to see whether the facility will be large enough to accommodate all of the contestants who enroll. Sue desires for the Local Contest to be an encouragement to families who believe that God’s Word is important enough to be studied. The Bible Bee will provide extra motivation for contestants to study and apply God’s Word, but on a larger scale, she sees the Bible Bee as a national public statement that Christians believe Bible literacy is valuable. Her hope is that young people will come to view Bible memory and Bible knowledge as a normal part of life, instead of treating their Bibles as something only to be pulled out at church or used in the privacy of their homes. With the first meeting behind her and the second one fast approaching, Sue offers a few recommendations to those who are planning that first meeting. Read the manual to educate yourself and prepare for the inevitable questions! Invite everyone you can think of, and make it known that help is needed. But, most importantly, “Believe that the Lord is going to honor whatever efforts we make to extol His Word.” Truly believing God’s Word is a treasure, she cites Matthew 6:21, Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. And isn’t that the whole idea? |
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