As America celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, a dynamic event was rolled out this spring to help people engage with God’s Word. It’s called “America Reads the Bible.”
More than 400 Christian leaders, elected officials, and entertainers read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation in 7 days.
“We believe the Word of God, simply read and listened to, can transform hearts, families, communities, and nations,” said Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged and the visionary behind America Reads the Bible. “We’re inviting Americans to listen or read aloud together in a powerful act of unity and faith for our 250th Birthday of America.”
The opening ceremony for the sacred event was a star-studded gathering, live-streamed on April 18 at 7 PM Eastern from the National Community Church in Washington, D.C.
Bill Abbott, President and CEO of Great American Media, said, “America Reads the Bible is a reminder that the values and freedoms we cherish didn’t appear out of nowhere; they were shaped, in many ways, by the Word of God.”
Then the full Bible reading took place April 19–25 from the World Stage Theatre at the Museum of the Bible, where more than 100 national ministries and 475+ national leaders read the Bible aloud.
Among the political leaders in attendance:
Amb. Mike Huckabee, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, Sen. Jim Banks of Indiana, Rep. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Rep. Jodey Arrington of Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, Rep. Eric Burlison of Missouri, Rep. Michael Cloud of Texas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, and Rep. Greg Steube of Florida.
Hundreds of Christian leaders were also in the group, including:
Dr. Ben Carson, Franklin Graham, Jonathan Cahn, A.R. Bernard, John and Lisa Bevere, Ryan Bomberger, Michele Bachmann, William Federer, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, Dr. Jack Graham, Dr. Alveda King, Eric Metaxas, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, and Nick Vujicic.
And the celebrity element of Bible-readers includes Chonda Pierce, Kathy Ireland, Patricia Heaton, Candice Cameron Bure, Jen Lilley, Kevin Sorbo, Colton Dixon, John Cooper, Danny Gokey, Kim Walker-Smith, Meredith Andrews, Leeland Mooring, and Jennie Lee Riddle. Also among the list of creatives – Dallas Jenkins, Andy Erwin, Nathan Gamble, Todd Terry, Brett Varvel, Julia Reilly, Ashley Wood, Laura Osnes, and Butch Hartman.
In March, Christians Engaged founder Bunni Pounds told the National Religious Broadcasters meeting that she hopes the cover-to-cover Bible reading from the nation’s capital will help rouse an “apathetic church.”
“Wouldn’t it be awesome if our national leaders from all spheres of influence, demographics and denominations would humble themselves in front of the American people and tell them that their dependence is in the Bible? And then call the American people back to discipleship and Bible reading?”
According to a 2024 American Bible Society survey, only 1 in 4 Americans reads the Bible at least once weekly.
“We’re binge-watching Netflix and Amazon Prime and playing games all the time,” Pounds lamented, “and not living our calling.”
Christians Engaged says the event had an aim beyond a mere public witness: “to reconnect leaders and citizens with the transformative power of Scripture. In every generation, revival and renewal have been sparked not by policy or popularity, but by a return to God’s Word.”
“When the Bible is read, people are changed. And when people are changed, nations can be healed.”