by David and Barbara Rowley

Scripture Scholarship is a faith-based program where camp-aged youth memorize a book of the Bible (1 John, James, selected passages of similar length) and earn a week of camp for their effort.  It is faith-based as the scholarships come from money gifts from the congregation.  If there is a shortage of funds, the amount given is divided and given towards the cost of camp for those who complete the requirements.  If there is a surplus of funds, it is set aside for the following year.  Each year, our number has grown in those completing the requirements; and each year, the full camp costs for the Scripture Scholars have come in completely.  We have seen large numbers succeed and go to camp.  Adults participate by becoming proctors who listen to the verses and by giving as God directs them.  Many adults have also begun to enter the program themselves for the benefit of Scripture memory and to encourage the youth by working with them toward the same goal.

The process for the Bible memory is precise in order to maximize true Bible memory.  As verses are memorized by chapter, the context is not disrupted.  Scripture Scholarship concludes with a review week where one whole chapter, usually chosen by a random draw, is the last required week to pass.  The youth who complete the requirements remember these verses for years and know the verses in context.

Records are kept of all participants, and rewards are given at the end for the highest positive scores.  Points are deducted for each error; but points can be earned by reciting definitions, doing extra work, and reviewing a chapter already completed.  Halfway through the fifteen or sixteen weeks, we give a week off and throw a party for those who have made it halfway, in order to give them a rest and encourage them.  During this party,  we have a fun quiz on the material already accomplished, which awards extra points to their overall score for each correct answer.

First, second, and third places are given for the best positive scores.  For these places, we award prizes such as Bibles, Christian bibliographies, or concordances.  We give a t-shirt, with a special design relating to the book they memorized, to each one who finishes.  Recognition and awards are given the Sunday night after the completion of the program.

Included on the next several pages is the material on 1 John which was our first year of Scripture Scholarship.  Since then, the youth have done James, the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), assorted Psalms, 2 Timothy, Philippians, and selected passages from Romans.