USA
16th Annual Bible Spelling Bee Championship Held in Naperville: In a heartwarming display of faith, community, and academic excellence, the Indo-American Christian Children of Chicago and North America (ICCCNA), in collaboration with Calvary Indian Church, hosted the 16th Annual Bible Spelling Bee Championship at Calvary Indian Church in Naperville, Illinois.
The event began with a solemn opening prayer and inauguration by Pastor Munidhar Biruduganti, followed by a scripture reading from Mrs. Christina Biruduganti. Uplifting praise and worship was led by Brother James, setting a reverent tone for the day’s festivities.
This year’s competition made history on multiple fronts. For the first time, the judging panel was composed entirely of women, led by Mrs. Rita Nalini Paul, a former radio announcer and TV host. She was joined by Judge Kamohelo Setloboko and Judge Sharon Rose, both graduate students at Moody Bible Institute; Judge Jessica Joel from Wheaton Bible College; and Dr. Reena Polepaka.
The Bible Spelling Bee reached a record 24 rounds before a champion emerged, marking a new milestone in the competition’s history. Another remarkable feature was the introduction of a Special Needs category, reinforcing ICCCNA’s commitment to inclusivity.
This year’s event drew 47 participants, ages ranging from 4 to 85, representing diverse churches across Greater Chicagoland and Illinois. Contestants were grouped by age, and the winners were:
- Group 1 (4 and under): Neetu Paul (Barrington, IL)
- Group 2 (5–7): Ruth John (Naperville, IL) – after 24 competitive rounds
- Merit Winners: Shalom Kolagani, Joshua James ($25 gift cards)
- Group 3 (8–11): Swastik Pahuja Reanne Jayakar (Naperville, IL)
- Merit Winners: Reanne Jayakar, Lukos Stephen, Esther Stephen, Jeremy James
- Group 4 (12–15): Saanvi Pahuja (Naperville, IL)
- Merit Winner: Yizrael Stephen
- Special Needs (12–15): Noah Polepaka (Barrington, IL)
- Group 5 (16–19): Samuel Biruduganti (Naperville, IL)
- Group 6 (20 and above): Mrs. Urmila John Gollapalli (Chicago, IL), age 85
Contestants showcased their biblical knowledge by spelling challenging words such as “Ecclesiastes,” “Beelzebub,” “Laodicea,” “Zerubbabel,” and “Mahershalalhashbaz.”
Dr. Regi Paul, Founder and Executive Director of ICCCNA, emphasized the mission behind the championship:
“The Bible Spelling Bee is designed to build Bible literacy among children, youth, and adults. In today’s age of technology and social media, it is vital to equip individuals with the knowledge of right and wrong through the Word of God.”
He noted that the competition not only improves reading, writing, and critical thinking skills but also deepens scriptural understanding by referencing over 2,500 Bible words directly with passages from the Bible.
The program was smoothly coordinated by Mrs. Anjana Devi, who served as emcee. A dedicated team of volunteers managed registration, logistics, and prizes. Mrs. Kethaki Paul and Mr. Saurabh directed technical support (audio/video), and Mr. Vikas Sukh served as the official photographer.
The event concluded with a closing prayer by Pastor Munidhar Biruduganti, followed by the distribution of trophies, medals, and certificates to all participants.
