Jennifer Phillips
LBC Public Relations
What is love? Some people define love using colorful words, and others cannot
even begin to explain an emotion so great in character.
What is love? Some people define love using colorful words, and others cannot
even begin to explain an emotion so great in character.
Courtney Collins acknowledges love can be many things. “But,
love, true love, is God looking down from heaven and saying that he loves the
very people who crucified his son, Jesus,” Collins reminded persons during
her speech at the recent Louisiana Baptist State Speakers Tournament.
Because of her thoughts and the presentation of her speech,
“Through the Eyes of My God,” Collins was awarded first place, with
399 points, in the speakers tournament, held earlier this month at Louisiana
College in Pineville.
By winning the competition, Collins received a $4,500 scholarship
per year to Louisiana College. She is a member at Woodridge Baptist Church in
Shreveport.
“While I was considering my topic, I remembered Romans
8:38-39 that talks about the love of God,” Collins said. “The verse
inspired me to write my speech and inspired me to really think about the meaning
of love and how it gets misconstrued by many people.
“A lot of my preparation was done through prayer, because
I felt God had to really be with me 100 percent in writing my speech,”
Collins explained.
Joseph Odenwald from First Baptist Church of Ferriday, placed
second in the state tournament, collecting 387 points. As a result, he received
a scholarship of $3,500 per year to Louisiana College. His speech was entitled
“Just Trust.”
Kelly Relaford of Ingleside Baptist Church in Shreveport took
third place in the tournament with 383 points. She received a scholarship of
$2,500 per year to Louisiana College. Her speech was entitled “Why I Believe
What I Believe.”
Louisiana College President Rory Lee presented the awards to
the trio of Louisiana Baptist students.
“The scholarship was a bold step on the part of Dr. Lee,
and it is great that he is willing to help young people attend Louisiana College,”
said Kenneth Mooney, Louisiana Baptist director of discipleship development.
“I see participation growing every year because of the scholarship, and
it is a great way to draw students to the college.”
Participants in the speakers tournament are critiqued
on content, composition and delivery. Mooney noted the speakers must prepare
their own speech, but they may receive assistance from adults in delivery techniques
and writing skills. A speech must be presented in four to six minutes, and all
of the sources must be correctly cited in the written version. Participants
chose topics from a list that is determined each year by tournament officials.
“The Youth Bible Drill instructor for our church, Betty
Wells, helped me with my speech,” Collins said. “I rehearsed for months
and presented the speech to my church on one occasion.”
The speakers tournament is held in conjunction with the
annual Louisiana Baptist Bible Drill. Dozens of children and youth from across
the state participate in that competition each year.
Twelfth-grade winners of that also receive Louisiana College
scholarships.
Tracy Michel from First Baptist Church of Kenner, received
a scholarship of $4,500 per year to Louisiana College as the first-place winner
of the 12th-grade Bible drill with 108 points.
Rebecca Price from East Winnfield Baptist Church in Joyce,
won second place in the grade division and received a scholarship of $3,500
per year with 107 points.
Becky McCartney from Emmanuel Baptist Church of West Monroe,
won third place with 106 points and received a scholarship of $2,500 per year
to the Louisiana Baptist school.
“The skill level of these young adults improves from year
to year,” Mooney said. “This is definitely a Hallmark moment in these
students lives and something that they will learn from and remember for many
years to come.”
This years Bible Drill competition had a total of 587
participants statewide. The number included 217 children who made it to the
state event earlier this month, 179 youth and 10 speakers tournament participants.
Seventh-grade Bible drill winners were: Jeremy Grow from Oak
Park Baptist Church in New Orleans; Elaina Cooley from First Baptist Church
of Anacoco; Krysta Wingerter from First Baptist Church of Gonzales; Emily Schober
from Heritage Baptist Church in Shreveport; Matthew Muse from Melbourne Baptist
Church in Transylvania; Logan Whittington from First Baptist Church of Kilbourne;
David Suh, from Korean Baptist Church in Baton Rouge; Caleb Wood from Clark
Springs Baptist Church in Eros; and Jeffery Williams from Woodland Hills Baptist
Church in Shreveport.
Eighth-grade Bible drill winners were: Brandy Adcock from Unity
Baptist Church in Oak Grove; Mary Johnson from Williams Boulevard Baptist Church
in Kenner; Courtney Mott from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Shreveport; Casey McGrew
from Bonita Road Baptist Church in Bastrop; Emily Kiel; and Seth Taylor from
Crews New Salem Baptist Church in Montgomery.
Ninth-grade Bible drill winners were: Amanda Muse from Melbourne
Baptist Church in Transylvania; Glen Melancon from First Baptist Church of Gonzales;
Anna Hutto from North Acres Baptist Church in Minden; Joy Lukachick from First
Baptist Church of Gonzales; Jessica Shelton from First Baptist Church of Kilbourne;
Rebecca Burgett from Grace Memorial Baptist Church of Slidell; Holly Andrews
from Bonita Road Baptist Church in Bastrop; Daniel Herring from Beulah Baptist
Church in Oak Grove; Kelli Grubbs from Emmanuel Baptist Church in Shreveport.
In a drill-off, Muse placed first, followed by Hutto and Grubbs
in a tie for second place. The winners will represent Louisiana Baptists in
national Bible drill competition later this summer.
There was a tie for 2nd place; the winners were: Anna Hutto
and Kellie Grubbs.
Overall 10th-grade Bible drill winners were: Courtney LeBlanc
from Williams Boulevard Baptist Church in Kenner; Emily Beaugh from First Baptist
Church of Youngsville; and Doyle Sandifer, Joyce Morgan and Katie Morgan, all
from East Winnfield Baptist Church in Joyce.
The 10th-grade winners all received scholarships to attend
the annual Louisiana Baptist Youth Evangelism Celebration.
Overall 11th grade winners were: Joshua Vines from East Winnfield
Baptist Church in Joyce; and Jessica James from Atlanta Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Both winners received scholarships to attend the Louisiana
Baptist Youth Evangelism Celebration later this year.
The 10th-grade speakers tournament winners were: Deana
Apple from Ingleside Baptist Church in Shreveport; and Crystal Robinson from
New Zion Baptist Church in Oak Grove.
The 11th-grade speakers tournament winners were: Julia
Cryar from Ludington Baptist Church in DeRidder; Judith McDaniel from Beulah
Baptist Church in Oak Grove; and Caleb Smith from Temple Baptist Church in Winnsboro.