Bible Reading Marathon in 2016 on Tama County Courthouse Square in Toledo, Iowa. Chronicle / News-Herald file/John Speer

2016 was the first year that the Bible was read from Genesis to Revelation in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties! Thousands participated by reading aloud at County Courthouses.

In 2017, the reading was expanded to our cities/towns. In Tama County it was read in all twelve towns. In 2018 the vision has been given to be obedient to 2 Chronicles 7:14 “Then if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” We are to come together at our Tama County Courthouse in Toledo on July (7 month) 14 at 7:14 a.m. and read assigned chapters. Assigned chapters have been given to all 99 counties and as they are read simultaneously at each courthouse. We will thus complete the reading of the whole Bible in the State of Iowa. Please come to the Tama County Courthouse on July 14, at 7:14 a.m. and join us in reading or just listening and ending with a time of prayer. Bring your lawn chair, Bible and arrive at 7:00 a.m. for opening remarks and prayer so we can begin the reading at 7:14 a.m.. In case of rain, we will meet at the Tama Meskwaki Celebration Assembly Church at 900 E 5th St, Tama, IA.

Various individuals and churches in Tama County also read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation completing it by the 4th of July.

Our nation is adrift and needs everyone’s participation in this endeavor to fight in this spiritual battle. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” The Word is alive. It speaks. Isaiah 55:11 “So shall my Word be that goeth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” These scriptures give us a few reasons why we need to read the Word of God. This spiritual battle is raging over this nation, over the church, and over people. Sometimes we just want to be comfortable and not keep pressing forward. But we must keep fighting. Reading the Bible is our offensive weapon. It tells us that in Ephesians 6 to take up “the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God” (Eph 6:17b) By reading the Word and reading it aloud the truth is just too much for the enemy to handle. Come and join us July 14, 2018 at 7:14 a.m. at the Court house in Toledo.