Several area residents plan to take turns reading the Bible outside the Benton Courthouse from Thursday through Sunday, and they invite others to join them.
The gathering is a response to the call from Gov. Terry Branstad for Bible reading at Iowa courthouses in June and July.
“The reading is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. on Thursday June 30, and is scheduled to end Sunday July 3, at 4 p.m.” says Rev. Jared Cline, the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Vinton. “Each person may sign up for 30 minutes to 1 hour of reading. So far we have around 20 people who have expressed interest. We plan on reading on the courthouse lawn.”
The group had to get permission from county leaders, and also provide proof of liability insurance. They accomplished that on Tuesday.
“Our goal is to read from Genesis to Revelation (beginning to end) from the protestant Bible in front of the Benton County Court House in three days,” said Cline. "I think the timing intentionally precedes the 4th of July as a statement and reminder of the Christian foundations of our nation.”
Members of several area churches have signed up; Cline says there is space for more volunteers.
The readers will take a break between midnight and 4 a.m. each day.
In calling for the Bible reading at courthouse in all of Iowa's 99 counties, Branstad wrote:
"I, Terry E. Branstad, governor of the state of Iowa, do hereby encourage all Iowans to join in this historical Iowa 99 County Bible Reading Marathon to take place June 30 through July 3 in front of all 99 courthouses and, furthermore, encourage individuals and families in Iowa to read through the Bible on a daily basis each year until the Lord comes."
Those wanting to sign up should call Cline at (801)-662-9612 or by email jared@firstbaptistchurchvinton.com.
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