Believers exercise their rights to “Let Freedom Ring”.

USA (MNN)–Hundreds of believers are meeting on the West Front of the U. S. Capitol today to read the entire Bible aloud and without commentary for 80 continuous hours.

It’s a Bible Reading Marathon, one of many being held. The event is held primarily in conjunction to the National Day of Prayer in the United States, but has grown internationally, as a stand of solidarity for the church.

Since 1990, the largest and longest running Bible Reading Marathon (BRM) takes place on the front steps of the White House in Washington DC.

People from all sorts of backgrounds and nationalities come to our nation’s capital to share in God’s unity by reading the Bible together. Read aloud, the reading of the Scripture from Genesis to Revelation takes approximately four days.

It is often timed to culminate with the National Day of Prayer because “All of the volunteers that are standing here feel that we’re a living embodiment of Isaiah 55 where God declares that His word will go forth and accomplish the purpose that He purposes”, says event Director Mike Hall.

The timing is aimed at preparing the heart for what God will do next, and encouraging people to read their Bibles more.

It’s also an exercise in freedom, a theme echoed by the NDOP’s theme, “Let Freedom Ring”. Hall explains, “It is a group of volunteers, Christian volunteers who come together to read through the entire Bible on the west lawn of the United States Capitol. This is the 15th year we’ve done that; we’re standing here, exercising our First Amendment rights, freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, and most important of all, freedom of religion.”

Hall says that’s where the partnership with Bible Pathway Ministries becomes invaluable. The history of the two groups followed the same path toward a common goal.

In February of 1989, Dr. John Hash, founder of Bible Pathway Ministries, met with Dr. Jerry Wiles, President of Bible Pathway Ministries at that time, and members of the staff to share his vision to enlist one billion people to read through all the Bible.

The first Bible Reading Marathon took place on January 1, 1990, at precisely 12:01 am — on top of the Mount of Olives — where a small group of believers began reading through the Bible.

At the same time, similar Bible Reading Marathons were held in Berlin and Bucharest … all to awaken a global response to the desperate need for a return to reading the Word of God.

Bible Reading Marathons have been held in such far corners of the world as Canada, England, France, Germany, India, Holland, Hungary, Mexico, Nigeria, New Zealand, Peru, Sweden, and Russia. They have also been held throughout the United States — in town squares, on county courthouse steps, and at state capitols.