Adam
Adam was the first man.
Eve
Eve was the first woman and the wife of Adam.
Cain and Abel
These brothers, sons of Adam and Eve, gave us the first sibling rivalry – and the first murder.
Noah
Noah was the builder of the great ark that saved humans and animals from destruction when a global flood covered the earth.
Abraham
The father of the Israelite people, Abraham left his home country and moved his family and belongings to an unfamiliar land that God promised would someday belong to his descendants. His son Isaac was born when he was 99 years old.
Sarah
As Abraham’s wife, Sarah gave birth to Isaac when she was 90 years old.
Isaac
As the heir to Abraham’s estate, Isaac carried on the family legacy of God’s promises being fulfilled. He married Rebecca who gave birth to Jacob and Esau.
Jacob
The son of Isaac, Jacob tricked his twin brother Esau out of his rightful inheritance, and later changed his name to Israel. The twelve tribes of Israel came from Jacob and his wives Rachel and Leah.
Joseph
As Jacob’s favoured son, Joseph became the victim of his brother’s jealousy. His family faked his death and shipped him off as a slave to Egypt, where he eventually rose to a position of power and influence. His extended family later moved to Egypt due to a famine and lived there for many years.
Moses
Raised in an Egyptian home after his mother sent him down the river in a basket, Moses eventually led the Israelites out of Egypt after a series of confrontations with the Pharaoh. He then led them toward the Promised Land, gave them the Ten Commandments and taught them God’s laws.
Aaron
The first High Priest of Israel, Aaron was Moses’ brother and helped him speak to the Pharaoh using his great eloquence.
Joshua
Joshua, one of Moses’ most trusted leaders, went on to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land after Moses died.
Rahab
A prostitute who lived in Jericho, Rahab hid a couple of Israelites who were spying on the city in anticipation of conquering it. She made a deal with them to not be killed in the battle, and later joined the Israelite camps. Rahab was an ancestor of Jesus.
Gideon
God used a timid man named Gideon to lead a very small army in defeating an enemy nation called the Midianites. It’s from this biblical character that we derive our organization’s name.
Samson
Samson was known for his long hair, his mighty strength and his weakness for beautiful women. He was used by God to defend His people against the Philistines, but ultimately met his demise when he fell in love with a woman who tricked him into revealing the secret to his strength.
Ruth
Another ancestor of Jesus, Ruth’s story teaches us about loyalty, faith and love.
Samuel
The prophet Samuel anointed the first two kings of Israel and also served as their advisor.
Saul
Saul, the first king of Israel, rose from simple roots to rule over his people. He grew increasingly mistrustful of a young man named David, however, and eventually committed suicide during a battle.
David
A shepherd as a boy, David grew to become one of the most well-known and beloved kings of Israel. He was a song writer, a warrior and one who the Scriptures say was a “man after God’s own heart.” David was also an ancestor of Jesus.
Solomon
One of the sons of David, Solomon had a reputation throughout the land for great wisdom, wealth and power. He also finished the first temple in Jerusalem.
Esther
Esther, a Jewish woman, won a contest of sorts (though not voluntarily) to become queen of Persia. Her story of courage and loyalty is the basis for the celebration of Purim in Jewish tradition.
Jonah
As a prophet to the kingdom of Israel, Jonah is known for being swallowed by a fish when he tried to run away from what God required of him.
Daniel
At a young age Daniel was carried off to Babylon where he was trained in the service of the court. One of his core characteristics was his unwillingness to compromise his religious beliefs to satisfy the Babylonian laws. Daniel also became famous for interpreting dreams and rose to become one of the most important figures in the court.