Introducing The National Bible Bee
To Madison

     The Shelby Kennedy Foundation is excited to introduce the first-of-its-kind annual National Bible Bee, a motivating Bible memory competition for children and youth from seven to 18. The goal of the Bible Bee is to build Godly character in young people by calling them back to the lost discipline of Scripture memorization. Most people are familiar with the Scripps National Spelling Bee, where youth compete annually in the Nation's longest-running educational contest. While it is certainly beneficial for our children to commit the spelling of words to memory, imagine how much more life-changing it will be for them to memorize the Word of God.
     Local Bible Bee Contests will be conducted throughout the United States on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009. One hundred finalists from each of three age categories will then advance to the National Bible Bee for a two-day, world-class competition which will be held in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 5–6, 2009.
     The First United Methodist Church in Madison will be hosting a local contest on Sept. 12, at 361 SW Rutledge St. Interested contestants and their families may find out more about the Bible Bee Competition by using the Bible Bee Web site www.bible bee.org in order to learn more about this local contest. Contestants may also call Ruth Ann Latner at 973-6295 or send an email inquiry to madisonfumc@embarq mail.com.
     Official enrollment in the Bible Bee is handled online at www.biblebee.org. An associated enrollment fee of $20 is collected to help cover the administrative costs associated with the National Contest. There is a reduced fee scale for families with multiple contestants. Enrollment closes on April 30.
     The Bible Bee Competition will distribute more than $260,000 in prize money with $100,000 being awarded to the first-place winner of the top age category.
     The long-term vision of Bible Bee Competition is to equip children and youth to be bold ambassadors for Jesus Christ to the next generation.

Madison County Bible Reading
Marathon To Begin Monday

     The Second Annual Bible Reading Marathon, sponsored by the Madison County Ministerial Association, will be held on April 13-17, Monday evening through Friday morning, at the Gazebo, Four Freedoms Park.
     The event will open with a time of worship and reflection. Lou Miller, Superintendent of Madison County Schools, will be the speaker. This will begin at 5:30 p.m., April 13, followed by the beginning of the Bible reading at 6 p.m.
     Interested persons who wish to participate in the reading are encouraged to call one of the three following numbers: 973-2547, 971-5585 or 973-6295, giving a preferred 15-minute time, along with an alternative time and date.
     On Friday morning, April 17, there will be a time of corporate celebration at 7 a.m., with Rev. Sim Alexander, President of the Ministerial Alliance, speaking. Breakfast will be served at this time, compliments of Jim Catron and Rep. Leonard Bembry.
     The public is invited to share in this event.

Madison Encouraged To Participate In Bible Reading Marathon

     The Second Annual Bible Reading Marathon, hosted by the Madison Ministerial Association, will be held April 13–17.
Opening ceremonies for the Marathon will begin promptly, with Lou Miller, school superintendent of Madison County, beginning the reading.
     According to Jean McWilliams, coordinator of the event, local churches, businessmen and interested individuals will participate by starting to read in Genesis, the first book of the Bible, and then reading publicly and continuously in 15-minute segments through the last chapter of Revelation, the final book of the Bible. Last year, it required approximately 90 hours to complete the Bible reading.
     McWilliams noted that the purpose of a Bible Reading Marathon is to create an awareness of reading the only God-inspired guide for successful living. An open invitation has been extended to those in the county, as well as in surrounding areas, who wish to participate.
     Billed as an interdenominational event, all churches, Christian groups and individuals are welcome to take part. Churches are encouraged to take blocks of time where members can read consecutively and are urged to sign up early in order to reserve their times.
     McWilliams also noted that, last year, there were many participants from the majority of churches, school groups, families and other organizations.
     Those interested in participating in any part of the event are welcome and may contact one of the numbers listed below anytime. Please give a name, call-back number, preferred 15-minute time and an alternative time to avoid duplicating times.
     Contact 973-2547, 971-5585 or 973-6295 for more information.

Midway Church Of God Announces Altar Rush 2009

By Jacob Bembry
Greene Publishing, Inc.
     Midway Church of God will present Altar Rush 2009, beginning Monday evening, March 23, and ending Friday evening, March 27.
Bishop Mike Carson, Jr., is the pastor of Lafayette Church of God, located just north of Nashville, Tenn.
     Bishop Carson is in tremendous demand as an exciting international revivalist. He has appeared as a guest speaker on TBN, Dove Channel, Lamb’s Broadcasting, as well as his own TV and radio broadcast.
     Bishop Carson has served as the state evangelist for the Church of God in Tennessee, and currently serves as chairman of the Evangelism and Home Mission Board for the Church of God in Tennessee.
     This will be Carson’s fifth year coming as an evangelist to Midway Church of God. The congregation, young and old alike, enjoy his wit and his compelling presentation of the gospel message.
Three young men, collectively known as A Reason to Believe, will accompany Mike Carson to Lee. According to the band’s Web site, www.areasontobelievemusic.com:
     “Reigning from their stomping grounds of Live Oak, and presently residing in Lafayette, Tenn., A Reason To Believe blends an array of country, blues, jazz and rock music in creating their signature, pop rock sound.
     “Embarking upon their musical journey as a youth group band, Richard Banks (lead vocals/guitar), Justin Underwood (drummer), and Kevin Szortyka (bass) have been playing together for the past three years. Influenced by God, as well as various industry artists, who include Matchbox 20, Dave Mathews Band and John Mayer, A Reason to Believe released their debut EP January 2008. Here Comes the Rain was produced by Ken Michaels as a seven-track compilation in Live Oak.”
     Everyone is encouraged to attend and invite friends to Altar Rush 2009 at Midway Church of God in Lee. Services begin at 7 p.m. each evening, March 23–27.
     Midway Church of God is located at 2485 SE Midway Church Rd., just off CR 255, south of I-10, Lee exit, or just off Hwy. 53, south of I-10, Madison exit.

Brian Free & Assurance Return To Madison!

An award-winning quartet, Brian Free and Assurance, will be in concert at Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Madison on Thursday, March 12, starting at 7 p.m. A $7 donation is requested at the door, and a free-will offering will be received during the concert.
Brian Free and Assurance makes their home in Douglasville, Ga., and brings much class and experience to the stage. Many remember Brian Free from his days as the tenor singer with the nationÕs No. 1 quartet, Gold City. During his tenure with Gold City, he was the featured vocalist on many hit songs, such as ÒIn My Robe of White,Ó ÒJohn Saw,Ó ÒI Think IÕll Read it Again,Ó and many more.
Since joining Gold City in 1982, Free has been on the forefront of gospel music and is the most award-winning tenor singer. He has been honored as the Singing News Fan AwardsÕ Tenor Singer of the Year a record-breaking eight times.
Since the formation of Assurance, the quartet was voted Horizon Group of the Year in 1994; and their album, For God So Loved, was voted Favorite Album of the Year in 1998. Recently, at the Southern Gospel Music Fanfair, Brian Free and Assurance was voted Favorite Quartet, Free was voted Favorite Tenor, and the groupÕs ÒLive In New York CityÓ was voted Favorite Video of the Year.
The group consists of tenor vocalist Brian Free, baritone vocalist Derrick Selph, lead vocalist Bill Shivers, bass vocalist Jeremy Lile and drummer Ricky Free.
Brian Free and Assurance has had a lot of success with their recent release to radio, ÒPraying Man,Ó which is No. 6 on the Singing News Top 80 Charts. Their latest album, Real Faith, features new songs, such as ÒPraying Man,Ó ÒSave Me a Seat,Ó and many others that are fan favorites.
For more information on Brian Free and Assurance, please visit www.brianfreeandassurance.com.
For additional information on the concert, please call (850) 464-0114 or (904) 472-7865, or visit www.northfloridaconcerts.com.