President Trump and 500 others including many of America’s most prominent Christians have been taking part in a marathon reading of the Bible all this week, in an event billed as encouraging a “return to the spiritual foundation that has shaped our country.”
The America Reads the Bible event — with each participant reading a passage aloud — has been live-streamed from the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C. and other locations.
Each participant reads for just a few minutes, but collectively they will complete every chapter and verse of the Bible.
“It started out as an idea, then became a secret memo to myself with a million-dollar budget, and here we are,” Bunni Pounds, who organised the event, told CBN News.
“With almost 500 readers, 122 ministry partners, members of the administration, and now the President of the United States reading, it really is an amazing story.”
THE PASSAGE THE PRESIDENT READ
The president pre-recorded a passage from 2 Chronicles 7:11-22 for the event.
It included from 7:14: “If my people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and I will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Bunny Pounds noted that the passage has for decades been a major theme at annual National Day of Prayer events and that organisers invited the president to read from it.
The Bible is “indelibly woven into our national identity and way of life,” President Trump said in a statement commemorating the event.
He cited historical figures such as the Puritan leader John Winthrop as “imploring his fellow Christian settlers to stand as a beacon of faith for all the world to see.”
OTHERS WHO TOOK PART IN THE BIBLE READING:
From his administration, six cabinet-level members — including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio took part.
Six governors and 20 members of the US Congress, including Senators Jim Banks, Ted Cruz, Joni Ernst and James Lankford and Governors Greg Abbott, Ron DeSantis and Sarah Huckabee Sanders were among the readers.
Several pastors including Franklin Graham, Sammy Rodriguez and Nick Vujicic took part as did influential Chrisitian podcasters and authors Eric Metaxas and Allie Beth Stuckey.
Hollywood and entertainment figures on the roster included Candace Cameron Bure, Dean Cain, Dallas Jenkins, Jen Lilley, and Kevin Sorbo.
INSPIRED BY THE STORY OF NEHEMIAH
Organiser Bunni Pounds, the founder and president of Christians Engaged, said America Reads the Bible was inspired by the story of Nehemiah and is intended to draw America back to its “spiritual foundations” ahead of the nation’s historic 250th anniversary.
She says the event is not simply reading the Bible, but about reflection and reconnecting faith with public life.
“Faith without works is dead, We need the word first to bring faith into our life,” she explained.
“The presence of God can be felt all over this museum,” she said, describing emotional moments as some readers became overwhelmed while reading.
TESTIMONIES FROM THE BIBLE READERS
Actress Candace Cameron Bure, the event’s national spokesperson, called it one of the most impactful experiences of her career.
House Speaker Mike Johnson read from Genesis during the opening and shared his personal testimony.
During his speech, he recalled a famous saying that “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
“There would be no America without the Bible,” said Michele Bachmann, Dean of Regent University’s Robertson School of Government.
“It is the foundation and it’s important that we reacquaint ourselves with its principles.”
Activist, author, politician and niece of Martin Luther King Jr., Alveda King, echoed that message, calling the Bible “a gift from God” and “a roadmap” for life.
UNITED STATES PREPARES TO CELEBRATE ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY
The timing of the Bible reading event was intentional as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary — offering a moment to reflect on the role faith has played in American history.
It comes just weeks before a May 17 event called a National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving to be held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
It’s the climactic event of America Prays, a project President Trump announced last year in conjunction with America 250, calling for prayer for the country and to “rededicate ourselves to one nation under God.”
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