This year’s National Bible Bee season is quickly approaching, and that means that it’s time for local hosts to sign up for a summer of special community as another season of studying God’s incredible word begins! Whether you are a family new to the National Bible Bee or have participated for several years, there is a place for you as a local host, gathering with local families to make an impact in striving “to know God’s Word and make Him known.”
While signing up as a host may be daunting, it is a wonderful opportunity to grow in the Lord and serve your community. The National Bible Bee provides many tools and an online community to get you started and build a community with other hosts who are always ready to help and encourage you!
Here are some testimonies from members of the 2025 Alumni Service Team highlighting their favorite memories and experiences from either being a part of a host family and helping to lead groups, or participating as a contestant. May these testimonies be a blessing and encouragement to you!
“My family started [National] Bible Bee when I was 7 years old. At the time, we had no idea how it worked – how to study, how to prepare, or what to expect. We were also unsure whether we could actually memorize that many verses! But our wonderful hosts patiently guided us, answered all our questions, and inspired us with their love for God’s Word. The weekly meetings quickly became one of my favorite parts of the summer! I especially loved the fun Bible games, the verse recitations, and most of all, meeting other kids who also loved God’s Word. Through those host group gatherings, I met some of my now best friends.
The [National] Bible Bee didn’t just give us a study guide and verses to memorize – it gave us a community where we could grow together in our understanding and love of Scripture. As I grew older, I began helping out with the local group – leading quiz games and answering questions from new families. Now that my sister is a [National] Bible Bee host, I support her as much as I can. It’s a full-circle moment for me, and I’ve come to see just how impactful hosting can be. You never know how a simple welcome, a fun activity, or a word of encouragement can plant a lasting seed in a child’s spiritual journey.
Hosting is such a special way to serve your community, and I wholeheartedly encourage you to pray about it! It’s a meaningful way to help the next generation build a strong foundation – one that is deeply rooted in the Word of God.” – Anabel Chen
“My first and only host was my mom, who started a host group in southeast Missouri in 2018; our second year doing [National] Bible Bee. Our first time hosting was a bit of a struggle. We were so excited about the possibility of gathering a group of believers who had the same desire to dig into God’s Word as we did. But our first year ended up only being our family and a couple of other kids. It felt quite discouraging at the time.
Over the years, however, God has proven to us that our efforts would not be in vain if we waited patiently on His timing. In a few years, He has expanded our group to having 60+ participants one year. Because of that, we’ve enlisted help from other parents and alumni who have a heart for serving these participants in the way that they were served through the National Bible Bee. I feel so blessed by each of these moms, dads, and friends who have led me through my [National] Bible Bee journey and have encouraged me through the scripture. As a participant, it meant the world to me to have hosts who not only cared about God’s Word, but about my own spiritual well being. The friendships I also made through my local host group are friends who I have kept long after my time as a participant has been over, and it is a joy to now lead new groups of young people through [National] Bible Bee studies alongside those faithful friends. I definitely would not be where I am in my spiritual walk if it were not for [the National] Bible Bee and the wonderful people God gave me through my local host group!” – Kailyn George
“Just two little girls in their yellow t-shirts sitting on the back pew of an unfamiliar church, shy and nervous at one of their first [National] Bible Bee local meetings. And this summer, we’ll be in a chapel again when I get to be one of her bridesmaids! Many of my favorite memories of NBBC local meetings involve my dear friend Anna, who I met in 2012 at a local meeting. Our mothers met first and then had us sit together, where we became best friends and competed together for several years. From the first summer where we both placed in our division’s top three at our local group to going to nationals in Tennessee together, from playing Jeopardy-style games at local meetings to square dancing at nationals in Florida – it all started with someone being willing to host and bring us together! Having a host group to meet other participants helped make it not just about competition but more about the fellowship. Reciting our verses together and studying Scripture in the summers built a foundation for a friendship that blossomed into praying for and encouraging each other throughout college, despite no longer being close in proximity. The hosts’ and parents’ investment in us as children has had a beautiful return in the form of long-lasting friendship that continues to glorify God!” – Julia Cagasan
“One thing I love about our host group is the really wonderful atmosphere + fellowship we have. While we all definitely study for the competition side of [the National] Bible Bee, we also do a lot of fun activities and games together. For most of our group activities all three divisions work together, so it’s also really fun to be able to interact with all different age levels. Even the parents love to join in sometimes! We also have parents and alumni ask the contestants their memory passages each meeting. I love that all the families in our host group really enjoy hanging out together each time we meet. I also love that we have some participants who have been competing in the National Bible Bee for many years, and others who are quite new to it all, so there’s quite a mix! It’s neat to be able to encourage younger participants each year. I’m so thankful for the fellowship we are able to have each summer over God’s word.” – Maret Haab
Written by NBB Alumna: Emma Fernandez
