Actress Candace Cameron Bure and House Speaker Mike Johnson are among hundreds of influential voices participating in America Reads the Bible, a weeklong public Scripture reading aimed at reigniting a national commitment to God's Word.
Held at the Museum of the Bible, the marathon event features nearly 500 faith leaders, public officials, and Christian figures reading the Bible aloud from cover to cover over the course of seven days. The initiative, spearheaded by Bunni Pounds and her organization Christians Engaged, seeks to "call the American people back to daily Bible reading for the well-being of our country."
Speaking at the opening celebration, Johnson shared a deeply personal story that shaped his lifelong trust in Scripture. He recalled how his father, a firefighter, suffered catastrophic injuries in an explosion and was given only a 5% chance to live.
"When I was age 12, I got down on my face before the Lord, and I pleaded for the life of my father," Johnson said. "He spared my father's life... and he went on to live another 30-plus years."
The experience, he explained, made the truth of Proverbs 30:5-"Every word of God is true"-come into "vivid focus," cementing his confidence in the reliability of Scripture.
Bure also delivered a powerful testimony, describing how reading the Bible chronologically multiple times has transformed her life.
"I cannot imagine a day going by without it. I need it. I want it. I crave it," she said. "The Bible is the greatest love story you will ever read."
The actress acknowledged that her faith has come at a cost professionally and personally but remains unwavering in her commitment. "Do those things matter more than my relationship with God?... I will choose Him every single time," she affirmed.
Other speakers, including David Barton, highlighted the historical influence of the Bible on American founding documents, noting that a significant portion of direct quotations in early writings trace back to Scripture.
Meanwhile, Billy Hallowell emphasized the importance of biblical literacy in navigating modern cultural and spiritual challenges, describing the present moment as a "spiritual battle" requiring clarity and discernment grounded in God's Word.
As the readings continue daily from morning to evening, organizers say their ultimate goal is not simply participation but transformation-calling individuals and the nation as a whole to rediscover Scripture as a source of truth, hope, and renewal.
"This book... is connected to a God who's alive," Pounds said in closing. "He loves you, and He's really all you need."
