Youth Speakers Tournament

Youth Speakers’ Tournament is designed to challenge teenagers to express their faith verbally. Youth grow spiritually when engaged in the research, study, prayer and practice of preparing a speech. Speakers will be ready to stand for Christ in church, school, community and work.

Eligibility

Youth Speakers’ Tournament is for youth in grades 10-12 who are active members of a cooperating N.C. Baptist church. No exceptions are made to this requirement. Youth may participate in either/both the speakers’ tournament and High School Bible Drill in a given year, presenting an original speech based on a topic from the list that year. The state winner from each state location will be invited to the state finalist tournament.

Finalist Tournament

The Finalist Youth Speakers’ Tournament selects the speaker who will represent North Carolina at the National Youth Speakers’ Invitational sponsored by the Southeastern Discipleship Group of cooperating Baptist state conventions. The winner of the Finalist Youth Speakers’ Tournament may not participate in future Finalist Youth Speakers’ Tournaments. Only those finalists prepared, if they are the winner, to represent North Carolina at the National Youth Speakers’ Tournament should attend the finalist tournament. The finalist state winner will be awarded a $2,500 scholarship to any college of their choice.

As a Southern Baptist preacher’s daughter, Deborah Robson grew up in different parts of North Carolina. She graduated from Gardner-Webb College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary with a master of divinity in Christian education. Before joining the Baptist state convention in November 2009, she taught in public school and worked as a full-time children’s minister. She also served as the director of two weekday preschools and home schooled her children.
Deborah has always had a passion for Bible Drill and encouraging others to learn God’s Word in their hearts and minds. She currently serves on the National Invitational Tournament of Drills and Speakers leadership team. She enjoys spending time with her family, going on mission trips, camping and fishing. Deborah and her husband, Tim, have two children and live in Kannapolis.