Kaitlyn Vredevoogd, 14, from Lake City (Michigan) Christian Reformed Church, recently qualified and competed in the National Bible Bee. Of the 5,654 competitors nationwide, only those with the top 100 scores in each age group moved on to nationals. Kaitlyn qualified in the junior division for those ages 11-14.
National Bible Bee qualifier Kaitlyn Vredevoogd
To qualify, Kaitlyn had to memorize over 500 verses and study the book of 1 Peter this past summer, and then compete in a local bee at the end of August. The local bee, hosted by her church, included both a written part testing her knowledge of the book of 1 Peter and an oral part requiring her to recite verses from memory. To compete at nationals, Kaitlyn had to memorize another 200 verses and study 2 Peter.
“I get goose bumps when I think of what God can do with those 700 verses that Kaitlyn knows,” said Amy Vredevoogd, Kaitlyn’s mother. “We’re proud of Kaitlyn, and we’re also just as proud of our boys and the other kids who didn’t qualify who competed at our local bee. Even if you just learn one verse, God can use that.”
Also qualifying for nationals from Lake City’s local bee was Zachary Baas from Hopkins, Mich. Although neither Kaitlyn nor Zachary made it to the top 15 for semifinals at the National Bible Bee in Nashville, they both felt they did their best and enjoyed the family discipleship celebration surrounding the competition.
“For me the highlight was meeting people who had been studying the same books of the Bible and memorizing the same verses as me,” said Kaitlyn.
The Bible Bee is put on annually by the Shelby Kennedy Foundation, whose focus is family discipleship through Scripture memory, Bible study, and prayer.
About the Author
Daina Kraai is the Banner's regional news correspondent for classes Muskegon and Northern Michigan.
