Fresh Church in Windhoek, Namibia recently hosted a Bible Reading Marathon in which 102 people teamed up to read the whole Bible out aloud over approximately 91 hours.
Exhausted but elated Fresh Church pastors Jaco Pretorius and Elsabe Horn said in an interview afterwards that they will definitely do another marathon next year but they will plan the timing more carefully — their inaugural event finished at 1am on Sunday July 27, giving them only hours to rest before their regular Sunday service.
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The event, in which Christians from various churches took turns reading through the Bible, was an answer to prayer for Illona de Wit of Kariega (Uitenhage), South Africa, who has been challenging other churches to host Bible Reading Marathons since she pioneered her first one in 2018. She told Gateway News that she and “our church community are full of anticipation for our 9th Bible Reading Marathon which will take place from 29 October 2025 until the 1st of November 2025 at Spirit Reign Ministries in Kariega”.
“Every year we have annual readers who contact us months in advance to reserve their reading slots. This initiative creates a hunger for God’s Word among all participants. We hope that more churches will become part of this initiative by organising their very own independant marathons,” said Illona.
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You may call or WhatsApp Illona at +27 73 350 699 or Elmarita at +27 72 357 2829, or email Illona at info@brm-sa.co.za, for free Bible Reading Marathon resources of for advice on how to start your own event.
Kareedouw in the Eastern Cape — one of the first regions in SA to respond to Illona’s challenge to churches — is preparing for its fourth Bible Reading Marathon at the town’s NG Church from October 14 to 18. The event will be again jointly hosted by Church at Tzitzikamma and the NG Church, Kareedouw. For more information on the Kareedouw event call Antoinette Botha at +27 71 248 7028.
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Meanwhile, Pinkster Gemeente Jehova Jireh in Brakpan took up the challenge again this year, holding their third Bible Reading Marathon from May 26 to 29, reading through the whole Bible in 73 hours and 59 seconds. This dedicated Bible-reading congregation may be hosting their fourth marathon later this year. Contact Pastor Neels Potgieter at +27 82 974 1170 for more information.
The recent historic Bible Reading Marathon in Namibia united the Christian community in focusing on God’s Word, with participants aged from 10 to 78, and reading streamed live to homes around the clock for three and a half days. In what was seen as approval from Heaven, Windhoek received welcome, unseasonal rain during the time of the marathon.
Here are some brief, testimony statements from some of those who participated, reading in Afrikaans or English in 15, 30 and 60 -minutes slots:
- “Werklikwaar- daar is net een manier – dit is Christus.
- Om so in stilte te lees is ongelooflik… Wat ‘n heilige ervaring.
- As jy die Here raadpleeg gaan Hy voor jou uit!
- Gehoorsaamheid is vir die Here belangeriker as enige offer…Dankie vir ‘n mooi inisiatief. Mag Sy Woord nie leeg terugkeer nie.
- Dit het vir my baie beteken- was ‘n groot voorreg om deel te wees van hierdie wonderlike inisiatief… Sal defnitief in die toekoms weer wil deel wees.
- Om die Bybel hardop te lees is ‘n ander belewenis. Ons / Ek doen dit te min! Dankie Fresh Namibia vir julle gehoorsaamheid.
- Dit was ‘n voorreg. Ek het die Here se nabyheid ervaar.
- Dat al gaan ons deur als wat ons maak voel daar is geen hoop nie- dat God in beheer is. Dat mense soos Job als verloor het en steeds ‘n doel gehad het in God se oë.
- Die enigste wysheid wat saak maak is om vir God te ken in alles.
- Ons moet God altyd gehoorsaam en hom ons 1ste prioriteit maak.
- Dat die Here baie regverdig is, en herinner my oor die groot prys wat Jesus betaal het en dat hy vir ons genade bewys!
- God hoor ons en Hy kom sy beloftes na. Wat ‘n “awesome” ervaring!
- Konflik is deel van ons aardse lewe. Ons moet bid dat die Here ons daardeur lei sodat ons Sy wil doen. Dit was ongelooflike Christelike ervaring.”
For more information, contact Fresh Church pastors Jaco Pretorius at +264 81 418 8759 / pieterjacopretorius@gmail.com or Elsabe Horn at +264 81 701 8260 / elsabehorn4@gmail.com
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