Public Bible Reading has an impact on the community

John Desser opened the ninety hour Bible Reading Marathon by reading from the Torah! Photo courtesy/ Loudoun Awakening

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" - Matthew 7:24.

Loudoun Awakening hosted the 9th annual Bible Reading Marathon (BRM) on the Loudoun County Courthouse grounds in Leesburg. The public reading began Saturday at noon, April 30, 2016, at the Loudoun Awakening tent positioned on North King Street on the north side of the Law Library patio. The readings will proceeded until midnight each evening and renewed at 6:00 AM each morning until Thursday, May 5th, when the marathon concluded at noon, to coordinate with the Leesburg National Day of Prayer at the very same location.

The call was to read the Bible from cover to cover (Genesis to Revelation) over the week-long event. During the six day-five night 90 hour readings, participating Marathoner's came from many countries and read the Bible in various languages. This Bible reading event provided the opportunity to pray and worship with people and families while accomplishing their business in downtown Leesburg.

Organized by the interdenominational group Loudoun Awakening, participants publicly read the entire Bible, from beginning to end.

Bible readers believe that the Bible has a special power beyond the emotional effects of the words on the page.

Readers claim this is God’s word. His word is truth, and truth being proclaimed over the land is valuable. It is a yardstick for people to know the difference between right and wrong according to God’s word.

Readers have often cited Nehemiah 8 in the Old Testament, where the priest Ezra read the Law of Moses to the Hebrew people that were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

Public Bible reading has an impact on the community because God’s word is powerful. God’s word says it will never come back void.

The Word is alive - it comes alive in you as you read it. It changes people. How can you not read the scriptures and just fall in love with what God is telling you? The word of God bears fruit in people’s lives.

Many non-believers have come to the tent sensing that God is calling them personally. They felt the call is real. This is the power that is not understood about the word of God. God can pierce the heart with his love and by the power of His Word.

One Bible reader said that we have the answer for a hurting, dying world - it’s found in the written word of God. It alone has the power to bring hope to the hopeless, to heal, to transform lives and to provide instruction for righteous living. It humbles all of us to reflect on the love and faithfulness of God. Our hearts break for all who do not know of His love for them.

Often Bible readers remain after they have completed their scripture to fellowship. This brings people who normally wouldn’t come together, together according to Bible Reading Marathon Coordinator, Gwen Armstrong. “We’re splintered off into all these denominations. We have core beliefs that we can come into agreement about. We let little things divide us. We’re not supposed to be squabbling with each other over stupid stuff,” Armstrong said.

Bible readers acknowledge that in God, we are all equal, and that God’s love is the greatest love of all.

For more information about future Bible Marathons, contact Gwen Armstrong, Bible Reading Marathon Coordinator, at biblereadingmarathonleesburg@gmail.com.

2016 Bible Reading Marathon Schedule:

Saturday, April 30 from 12 p.m. (noon) - 12 a.m.
Sunday, May 1 from 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Monday, May 2 from 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Tuesday, May 3 from 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Wednesday, May 4 from 6 a.m. - 12 a.m.
Thursday, May 5 from 6 a.m. - 12 p.m. (noon)

Note: The entire Bible was completely read by 9 am Thursday morning just before the National Day of Prayer. The Bible Reading Marathon Coordinators thank all of you who participated. The Lord bless you and and keep you. May His face shine on you.

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