Jones County will be participating in what is now being called a Worldwide Bible Reading event that will take place in every time zone next week.
The Bible reading will take place in front of the Jones County Courthouse July 14 at 7:14 a.m., once again led by Debra Hall. George Sheffield will lead a time of worship beginning at 7 a.m. prior to the Bible reading. This year is the eighth year for Jones County’s participation and the ninth year for the event.
The annual event was previously known as the Statewide Bible Reading. Last year all 159 counties in Georgia joined the effort along with 26 states and more than 31 nations across the globe. The number of counties participating this year has not yet been determined.
Hall is dedicated to help spread the word of God and leads several events in Jones County each year. The foundational scripture for the Bible reading is 2 Chronicles 7:14.
“I f my people, who are called by my name,will humblethemselves and pray and seek my faceand turnfrom their wicked ways, then I will hearfrom heaven, and I will forgivetheir sin and will healtheir land.”
The way the Bible reading works is the scriptures from Genesis to Revelations are divided in chapters among the counties, and the entire Bible will be read that morning in Georgia during that hour.
Hall said the local reading will take approximately 45 minutes to give people the opportunity to attend and still make it to work on time.
Hall suggests attendees bring their lawn chairs to be comfortable during the reading. She said some families bring a blanket and sit on the lawn, and some others stay in their cars with the windows down.
Hall said she became the leader for Jones County through her relationship with Jerri Turk, who is the statewide leader. She said they met during the Bible Reading Marathon and became friends after attending many of the same events.
When the Statewide Bible Reading started in Georgia, Turk called Hall. She said the effort started in Iowa nine years ago and keeps growing.
“The Bible reading is a good way to testify how you feel about the word of God. It can make an impact because it’s a statement that you are not ashamed of your faith,” Hall added.
The leader noted that the Founding Fathers were not ashamed of their faith, which is the reason for the existence of the Constitution. She recalled that Billy Graham said the Bible is the constitution for Christians.
“We may not always do what it says, but there are consequences,” Hall said.
Hall said she likes the timing of the event because children are out of school, which makes it a family-friendly event. She said there are no signups, and anyone is invited to show up and be a part of the worldwide event.
“I hope local churches and their leaders will support this. It’s an important event,” she stated.
