Bible Reading Marathon to hit nation's capital

Bible Reading Marathon to hit nation's capital

The Holy Bible will be read aloud from cover to cover in 90 continuous hours at the U.S. Capitol later this month. The "U.S. Capitol Bible Reading Marathon" kicks off on the last Sunday of April.

From April 29 - May 3, people from more than 100 different churches will be gathering -- rain or shine -- at the west side of the Capitol to read portions of the Bible around the clock. The Marathon began in 1990, when it was founded by Dr. John Hash. In January of that year, Hash and other Christians had read through the entire Bible while in Jerusalem -- an exercise that prompted them to take the idea to America's capital.

Washington pastor Michael Hall, who is organizing this year's marathon, says participants will not be espousing any particular religion, but just reading God's Word with the knowledge that it will not return void. He shares that critics of the event who argue it violates the supposed "separation of church and state" fail to realize the very freedoms the Bible readers enjoy are a benefit to them as well.

Like those critics, "we also are celebrating our First Amendment rights -- freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and freedom of religion," he states, adding that few nations in the world have such freedoms. The event, he asserts, is an incredible testimony to visitors from around the world.

"We stand on Isaiah 55:11, where we believe God's Word is going forth across the nation," says Hall. "It's a spectacular place to read; we're reading right at the seat of the nation's power. And we believe God's Word transforms anyone who listens to it. We invite people to come and read, to come and listen, to come and pray."

According to Hall, 90 non-English translation Bibles will be available at the event so individuals visiting from around the world will be able to read in their own language.