The 2025 National Bible Bee Competition has officially arrived! Not only is this an exciting time for contestants and their families, but many alumni look forward to it, too! We wanted to share some testimonies from our Alumni Service Team members, who tell us below why they enjoy coming back to NBBC even after aging out of the competition.
Rachel Sheppard
“As an alumna, I keep coming back to the National Bible Bee Competition because it’s more than just an event— it’s like a spiritual retreat. Each year I return, I’m able to rekindle old friendships and spark new ones. I also love getting to serve new families and contestants, helping them feel welcomed and supported so hopefully they can have the same experience at NBBC that I have always had. There’s something so special about stepping away from the noise and stressors of everyday life and being surrounded by people who have a mutual love for God’s Word. The NBBC always renews my passion for Scripture study and memorization and encourages me to deepen my knowledge of God’s Word so I can continue to make Him known.”
Angel Martinez
“After competing in Bible Bee for 5 years and aging out last year, knowing the time, effort, and diligence that goes into competing has given me the blessed opportunity to help and encourage participants not only during the Summer Study and Nationals Seasons, but also, Lord-willing, in person at the NBBC. The crazy thing about the NBBC is that there are hundreds of families attending who all have the same mindset: To know God’s Word and make Christ known to others! I am looking forward to meeting old friends and making new ones and supporting and cheering on all those attending. Just as Psalm 34:3 says: “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together!”
Rachael English
“There are so many reasons I keep coming back to the National Bible Bee! The fellowship, the intense Scripture recitation, and the fun moments watching semis and finals are just a few. But probably the most important reason I come back, for myself, is because of the lasting impact the National Bible Bee has had on me. My view of Scripture memorization and the importance of spending time in God’s Word completely shifted after just a few years of participation. And as an adult I still do my best to keep a habit of memorizing and studying Scripture. Now that I’m an alumni, I want to bless new and returning participants by helping them get excited about studying God’s Word. I want them to see that the Bible is not simply words but the living Word (Hebrews 4:12). And in the midst of a lot of pressure during the competition, I want to give them space to relax and enjoy fellowship as well.”
Kailyn George
“After everything that the National Bible Bee has done for my spiritual walk (and the spiritual journey of my entire family), it has been such a blessing to give back to them as an alumnus! Getting to help other contestants study God’s Word, encouraging families in scripture memory, and helping with Nationals planning on the Alumni Service Team has “overflowed my cup” just as much as being a contestant myself years ago.
From the first year we ever went to the National Bible Bee (2017), I think my family immediately knew that this was going to be something we could just never stop going to! The way that each person I’ve seen and met through this organization has lifted each other up in encouragement, prayer, and fellowship is unlike any group I’ve ever been a part of. God has brought me so many “forever friends” and mentors through this competition, and I am so thankful for it. I hope I can continue to be part of the National Bible Bee competition in any way I can for as long as God will allow!”
Philip Minica
“I participated in the National Bible Bee for 12 years, and although for the first few years I didn’t really understand the importance of it; later on I grew to see it as one of the biggest Godly influences in my life. I’ve learned so much from the [National] Bible Bee over the years, from all the books I studied, to the hundreds of verses that I memorized; God still brings those verses to mind when I need them the most, and I know that nothing can take that away from me!
When I aged out, I knew I wanted to come back, I knew I wanted to help this amazing organization in whatever way I could. So one year I came back as a judge, and then last year and this year I was accepted to the AST. I love each year that I come back as an alumni! Just seeing all the happy faces and hearing the word of God from all the young people. It is truly an experience like no other, and I just thank God that I can help in this small way!”
Faith Anema
“I came back to serve on the AST this year! Although I aged out in 2022, I still really enjoy coming back to serve! While I was in Bible Bee, some of the most influential people that kept me going, encouraged me to study, and challenged me to grow were all Alumni. From video calls that helped me study to hand written notes, I knew that I could always turn to them for encouragement. Now that I have aged out, I want to return and be that same encouragement for other contestants still in the competition. I love investing in the younger generation and encouraging them to grow in their faith through the knowledge of Scripture gained through the National Bible Bee!”
Emma Fernandez
“I am so grateful for the impact that the National Bible Bee Competition has had on my life, both in my 12 years participating as a contestant and during the last two years as an alumna. The countless hours of studying and memorizing God’s Word as a participant have taught me so much about God’s character and helped me to further understand Scripture. I know my personal relationship with the Lord would look a lot different now if I had not experienced the fruit of digging deep into the Word through the National Bible Bee. Attending the competition is always a highlight of my year—not only am I refreshed by the proclamation of so much Scripture and the genuine spiritual joy and heart of the attendees, but I also look forward to sweet fellowship and seeing many incredible friends that I have made during my years at the National Bible Bee Competition. I am so thankful for the godly friends and influences the Lord has provided me with through the summer study and competition! The insights, prayers, and bunches of laughter shared at NBBC are unforgettable.
Coming back after aging out in 2023 is an incredible experience. I am grateful to return to NBBC as a member of the Alumni Service Team both this year and last. When I was a contestant, so many of those who inspired me in my studying and while competing were alumni. Those memories are close to my heart and have stuck with me, and now, I am so blessed to have that opportunity to come back as an alumni and contribute in a similar way. It brings me so much joy to continue to be a part of the National Bible Bee, whether through helping at local host groups or serving at NBBC. I plan to continue to come back and serve in any capacity, as long as I can!”
Anabel Chen
“There are so many ways to stay involved in the [National] Bible Bee as an alumna after “aging out” of the competition phase. It could be helping at a local host group, listening to contestants recite their verses, sharing about the program in the local community, and more. But the most exciting and meaningful way, to me, is attending the National Bible Bee Competition. It’s the perfect opportunity to be renewed by what the Bible Bee stands for, to reconnect with fellow alumni, and to give back to the next generation of contestants.
Each year at Nationals, alumni gather for a special “Alumni Gathering,” where we get to catch up with old friends and hear what God has been doing in each other’s lives. At the same time, we have the joy of welcoming and encouraging the newest group of alumni who are just aging out of competition. Singing hymns together, laughing over games, and sharing memories remind us of the sweet fellowship we’ve built through this community.
My childhood was deeply shaped by the [National] Bible Bee. From the outside, it can seem that impact ends when you’re too old to compete. But it really doesn’t. The habits and love for Scripture stay with us: recalling verses throughout the day, memorizing a passage during a short break, prioritizing time in the Word, creating different bible reading and memorization challenges, and building friendships grounded in Scripture. Every time we come together at Nationals [NBBC], we get to share how that journey looks like for each of us personally and encourage each other to keep living out what we learned during those years of study.
It’s also such an honor to see the next generation of contestants thriving and growing in their knowledge of God’s Word. Whether it’s helping direct contestants during the event, serving on the AST, or assisting with judging, it’s a joy to invest in them, while knowing how great of an impact the word of God will have in their lives just like it did in ours.”
Maret Haab
“The National Bible Bee has been a huge part of my life ever since I was about 7 years old. I’ve learned so much about God’s word, grown in my memorizing and studying skills, and also made so many lifelong friends through it! These benefits continue with me even now that I’ve aged out. This is my first year as an alumna, but I can’t imagine not coming back to Nationals. The whole week is incredibly encouraging. Fellowshiping with other believers, hearing God’s word proclaimed, and connecting with dear friends are all very special parts of the week, whether you’re a contestant or not! Plus, I have 2 sisters and many friends who are still competing, so cheering them on is also lots of fun. Nationals is definitely the biggest highlight of my year for so many reasons, and I’m really looking forward to going back now that I’m on the other side of the competition.”
Written by NBB Alumna: Emma Fernandez
