Praise God by Studying His Word
My name is Carolyn Murdock. Biblical Champions is my passion. I love children and
strive to see them grow in the Lord. I am married, retired, and have one son. Both my husband and son are very supportive of my passion to equip children with the Word of God. I have had a full career of working in which I acquired much knowledge and many technical skills. God is using them in this ministry. At this time, I am enrolled in Epic Bible College to empower Biblical Champions with God’s Word.
I believe that planting a strong understanding of God’s Word in children’s hearts will help them stand firm in today’s society. My mission is to make God’s Word clear and accessible to children by engaging them at their level. I do this through interactive Bible games, scripture memorization challenges, and group discussions that connect biblical lessons to real-life situations. These activities capture their interest and encourage meaningful growth in their faith.
By establishing a nonprofit (501(c)3) organization we are able to apply for grant funding and for donors to be able to get tax credit. Biblical Champions is in compliance with State and Federal regulations.
Conception
The concept for Biblical Champions originated during my son's participation in the Academic Olympics at Elk Grove Unified School District. As I sat in the bleachers observing the preparation for distribution of gold, silver, and bronze medals for students' academic accomplishments, I was inspired to develop a similar initiative focused on celebrating Jesus. Rather than being a competion, Biblical Champions adopts an inclusive approach aligned with recognizing each individual's unique knowledge of God’s Word. Therefore, equipping children with God’s Word to handle life’s challenges. Each participant is awarded a gold, silver, or bronze medal according to their personal achievements, not solely those of the top 3 performers. This format encourages engagement with scripture and minimizes competive pressure. Participants study fundamental Biblical teachings such as the Beatitudes, Ten Commandments, Fruit of the Spirit, and more, instead of standard academic subjects
My mind was set to make this program available to all children around the world. In 2022, this goal was realized when Karlene Jones partnered with me to offer the program in Costa Rica during a mission trip with Grace Church and the Omega Task.
Executive Board
Founder / Chief Executive Officer
Carolyn E. Murdock
Board President
Tina Benoit
Chief Financial Officer
Gerard Murdock
Missionary Liaison and Press
Public Relations, Marketing Officer
Karlene Jones
Members
Sallie Delores Roberts
Dana Williams
Vision
The Vision of Biblical Champions is to
1. Teach the Bible basics to children in weekly Zoom classes and during
Sunday School.
2. Hold an annual climax for children to recite what they have learned and be awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals based on their individual achievements. (place link to details on annual event here)
3. Encourage all churches to accept invitation to annual event by registering their children to participate.
4. Rotate location of annual event, throughout the city, (state, country), in order for parents to share in transportation to annual event and to maximize participation of children. Therefore, some years when event is held at another church, children in that neighborhood can walk to the event. This would open the door for partnership between churches (to work together). It would entail the host church to provide a location only. Everything else would be hosted by the Biblical Champions Organization.
5. Continue the missionary work of Biblical Champions, which is to instill God’s Word into the hearts of all children worldwide.
History
- TIMELINE -
In 1997, the vision inspired Carolyn Murdock to implement the annual Biblical Champions event. In 1998 the first annual was held at Genesis Church. In approximately 2011, churches in the greater Sacramento area were invited to participate. In 2018, Pastor Ellington encouraged Carolyn to write an instruction manual, which was completed with Copyright in June 2020. In approximately 2019, the prospect to expand to another state was noted. In 2020, the name was changed from Biblical Olympics to Biblical Champions due to a cease to desist for trademark of the word Olympics. In 2021, Carolyn’s son Shaun Murdock, established an additional component, the Biblical Champions Savings Seed to encourage financial literacy and motivate children to save for higher education and career opportunities. With the generosity of her son, Shaun, and her cousin, Sandra Tufts, every year this program awards three children (one in each age group K-2nd, 3rd-6th, and 7th-12th) a $500 CD in the child’s name for the best essay and speech on the annual topic. That same year, the logo was approved as a registered trademark. In 2022, a partnership was formed with Karlene Jones, Grace Church and the Omega Task to have the Biblical Champions program held in Grecia, Costa Rica during their mission trip. Praise God!
- ESTABLISHMENT -
The vision was conceived in the late 1990’s by Carolyn after son, Shaun, participated in the Academics Olympics at the Elk Grove Unified School District. The World-Wide Sports Olympics and the Special Olympics further inspired Carolyn. Her goal is to make the Biblical Champions a worldwide event. The concept of establishing an event to praise God by studying His Word was approved by the Founder of Genesis Church, Dr. Robert Porter. In approximately 1998, the Biblical Champions event was held in front of the church congregation. The vision of the Biblical Champions event was realized. Beverly Johnson hosted a talent show, which was necessary for the program to flow while scores were tallied for the awards ceremony. (Carolyn emphasized Dr. Robert Porter’s motto “bring two” during her speaking time.) The Biblical Champions event was a huge success! Carolyn was extremely excited especially since her first attempt to hold a church-wide Biblical Champions event on a Saturday afternoon failed. It ended during set-up when she realized the vision was clear only to her. Not giving up, she returned to the drawing board to improve the format and set-up procedure. Armed with an improved setup process and a team of many members of Genesis volunteering, the Biblical Champions event continued to grow and be refined church wide. This teamwork completed the Biblical Champions creation. The Biblical Champions event continued to be held annually at Genesis Church in the Children’s Ministry. The format was similar to the Sports Olympics e.g., “challenges were held” for the children to display what they had been taught during Sunday mornings at Children’s Church. These challenges were for children to:
1) Display Sword Drill, an exercise to use the Bible as a tool to find, read, and memorize scriptures;
2) Recite from memory the pledge to the Bible, the Christian Flag, the pledge of Allegiance; and
3) Learn the Bible Basics: Ten Commandments, Beatitudes, Fruit of the Spirit, Scriptures, and answer a Bible Quiz based on annual scriptures.
The children received points for their knowledge of each challenge. Each child received a gold, silver, or bronze medal based on their individual score. The decision to award each child rather than the top three scoring children was easy for Carolyn to make because she knows God gives the gift of salvation to everyone.
- INVITATION TO THE GREATER SACRAMENTO AREA CHURCHES -
In 2011, Carolyn was inspired to call Pastor Tecoy Porter and ask for approval to expand the Biblical Champions with an invitation to the greater Sacramento area churches. After prolonging an approach to Pastor Tecoy, she recalls that built up excitement overwhelmed her, and she finally called him. One day on her way home from work she stopped next to the park behind her house and called him. He listened carefully and understood. Her lack of courage stemmed from the thought that elation would limit her ability to explain briefly and clearly. But God! In that conversation he gave his approval, and the rest is history. The Genesis Church Biblical Olympics event was established community wide. It continues to happen as a meaningful community event today. In addition to sharing God’s Word, Biblical Champions is sharing pictures, photo album and video, and social media by having parents sign photography/video release forms, which gives their approval.
PRAISE REPORT
Vision further realized in June 2022 by Biblical Champions program held internationally in Grecia,Costa Rica in partnership with Karlene Jones.
Ways to Volunteer
We’re always grateful for individuals who want to share their time and talents with us. Your support helps us make a lasting difference, whether behind the scenes or on the front lines of our events.
ADMINISTRATION SUPPORT
Help our team with essential office and communication tasks such as clerical work, data entry, scheduling, and emailing. Your organizational skills and reliability will keep our operations running smoothly and efficiently.
EVENT & FUNDRAISER ASSISTANCE
Be part of the excitement during our Annual Climax Event and Fundraiser Benefits! Volunteers assist with event setup, guest registration, ushering, logistics, and more. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet people, have fun, and see your efforts make a visible impact.
We believe every volunteer plays an important role no matter the task. Your time, energy, and enthusiasm help strengthen our community and bring our mission to life.
Components
The Biblical Champions Program
Biblical Champions is designed to foster a deep understanding of Biblical principles among children. The program structure includes an annually updated study guide featuring essential elements such as the Beatitudes, Books of the Bible, a ten-question Bible Quiz, Fruit of the Spirit, documentation of four acts of kindness, ten scriptures, the sword drill (use of finding scripture in the Bible), and the Ten Commandments. Children receive the study guide at the start of the year and participate in instructional sessions via Zoom every Tuesday and Sunday School throughout the year on 5th Sundays. Each year, the study guide is revised to update the scripture memorization topic, which also includes the Savings Seed topic and the ten Bible Quiz questions.
Annual Climax
There is an annual climax, which is the highlight of the program. It gives the children an arena to fellowship and praise God on their level (it includes play). They recite what they learned throughout the year to a facilitator, and the audience of family, friends, and community. The climax also includes a day of fellowship for everyone in attendance. The children receive lunch, and gift bags filled with Bible paraphernalia (Bible journals, Bibles, Bible activity books), a few school supplies, and a few fun things. Awards are announced and children receive their medals, certificates, and gift bags. Medals are retrieved in order to be engraved with their names; then returned to them a couple weeks later during Awards Ceremony at their home church.
Savings Seed
Biblical Champions Savings Seed is the financial incentive component to encourage financial literacy and motivate children to build savings for higher education and learning opportunities. This is a challenge to motivate children to obtain results by applying themselves. Selection of one child in each of the
three age groups (K-2nd grades, 3rd-6th grades, and 7th-12th grades) will be announced two weeks after event to allow for review of submissions. The award is a $500 CD Account opened in the child’s name. The criteria to earn this award is to:
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Participate in current Biblical Champions event and earn a gold medal.
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Complete four Acts of Kindness (community/family service). Form must include description of the service that was performed and be submitied on annual event day.
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A one-page essay on annual Biblical Champions Savings Seed topic/scripture must be submitted by annual event day. (Essay must be 1 to 2 pages for 9th – 12th graders)
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A one-minute video of speech on annual Biblical Champions Savings Seed topic/scripture must be submitted by annual event day. Speech must be two minutes for 9th – 12th graders. (Include brief introduction of yourself and recap of topic.)
Requirements
Essay must be one full page.
*For grades 9th – 12th it must be between 1 to 2 pages.*
Essay Points
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What does this scripture mean to you?
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Name 3 examples of how God supplies your needs?
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What is the difference between his riches, and our riches?
Note:
Riches can also be interchanged with the word resources. Three additional questions for grades 9th – 12th
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What does it mean to have available resources and how does it help you to make sure that you have resources ready to manage your needs?
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How are you managing your resources to ensure your needs are met?
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What do you do to add to your resources?
Speech Points
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Introduce yourself (Name, age, school & grade, what do you want to be when you grow up).
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If awarded the savings seed, what is your plan for making it grow?
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What are your personal goals for your savings seed?
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Additional commentary of the essay topic/scripture and what it means to you.
DO NOT READ THE ESSAY WORD FOR WORD.
*Reading of the essay alone will be grounds for elimination from consideration for the top prize.*
Zoom Classes
The Word is shared and reinforced during weekly virtual sessions on Zoom every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., ensuring consistent engagement and access. Register to attend zoom classes by emailing for a zoom class link. biblebasics@biblicalchampions.com
