In what has become a tradition in cities across Alabama, churches around the state came together to participate in the 2016 Bible Reading Marathon in early May. Leadership teams coordinated with area churches in each city to gather a long list of volunteers. Those volunteers took turns reading the Bible aloud in public venues, sharing the Word of God to gatherers and passersby in a meaningful and memorable way.
The marathons in Alabama were held in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Montgomery, Troy and Ozark. The event kicked off May 1 and culminated on the National Day of Prayer on May 5.
“I think it’s a fabulous event — it’s a great comfort to all of us,” said Jessie Chestnut, a member of Bethel Baptist Church of Collegeville, Birmingham, and one of this year’s Birmingham Bible Marathon directors. “It’s a fantastic thing for people to do, both believers and nonbelievers, and it’s a great outreach and outlet.”
The Birmingham Bible Reading Marathon has been going strong for more than a decade and was held at the familiar Southside Baptist Church, Birmingham, attracting a diverse group of participants. About 80 area churches participated in the event in some capacity. Volunteers with no church affiliation also were included in the event. The marathon is an open event that invites churches of all denominations to participate.
‘To honor God’
Sheila Wright, a member of Liberty Park Baptist Church, Birmingham, served as co-chair of the Birmingham marathon this year. “Since the reading is without commentary, it is the only event that I know of where believers of different denominations, cultures, races and backgrounds can come together in perfect unity to honor and glorify God,” she said.
“And since we read outside instead of within the walls of the church, we have an opportunity to share God’s Word with those passing by who otherwise may not hear it.”
This year’s closing event in Birmingham was a special one, with the final hour of the marathon consisting of readings from Psalms. The readers were accompanied by a violinist and guitarist, and there also was a volunteer signing the Bible to the deaf as someone read aloud. To conclude the marathon, a “shofar” — an ancient horn used for Jewish religious ceremonies — was blown, and Scott Guffin, pastor of Liberty Park Baptist, led the group in a prayer.
Meanwhile in Tuscaloosa, a much newer event was underway. It was their second year to participate in the Bible Reading Marathon, which was held in front of the First Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, chapel.
Greg Rogers, coordinator of the Greater Tuscaloosa Bible Reading Marathon and a member of Vineyard Community Church, Tuscaloosa, said, “About five years ago my son and his wife told me about the Bible Reading Marathon in Birmingham, and I was intrigued that they were able to coordinate a 90-hour public reading of the Bible.
“I continued to find out information as to how to coordinate the event and we decided to start with the first one last year.”
The 2015 event in Tuscaloosa began without all the volunteer reading slots being filled, but by the end of the event, people from 40 congregations participated.
This year a new element of the marathon was a National Day of Prayer event held across the street from the Bible Reading Marathon location. As the Bible Reading Marathon concluded, prayer time at the Tuscaloosa County Courthouse began, creating a segue into the National Day of Prayer.
Also in its second year, the Montgomery Bible Reading Marathon kicked off its 2016 event with a prayer breakfast May 5. During the meal, Mayor Todd Strange invited participants to make their way to the steps of the Capitol for the marathon.
The Montgomery event, which took place May 5–8, was organized by His Vessel Ministries, a local nondenominational group that provides Christ-centered teachings through events like Bible instruction, discipleship trainings and special events.
Humbling moment
Jo Hancock, director of His Vessel Ministries, said, “The Word of God is the most powerful thing of which we have access. Reading the Word aloud fills the atmosphere above us with this power and covers us with an ambiance of peace. As one reader from last year’s Bible Reading Marathon commented, ‘Hearing the spoken Word of God echoing down Dexter Avenue was a very humbling moment that I will remember forever.’”
Ozark’s Bible Reading Marathon has been taking place for more than a decade. Held on the grounds of the Dale County Courthouse, approximately 16 churches and religious organizations participated.
Kimberly Bartley, ministry assistant at Dale Baptist Association, said, “It is a chance for us to share the Word of God with our community, and we believe it is more important right now than ever before.”
Troy’s Bible Reading Marathon was in its 10th year and included a celebration of music with five groups and individuals singing. Nearly 400 readers from area churches, both Baptist and others, participated in the Troy marathon. The event concluded at noon on the National Day of Prayer with music by Sheila Jackson and a special address from Luke Lane, pastor of First Baptist Church, Troy.
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