For four solid days, May 5-8, someone was stationed at the front steps at Alabama’s State Capitol building in Montgomery, reading the Bible, nonstop.
Coinciding with the National Day of Prayer, the Montgomery Bible Reading Marathon brought the opportunity to cloak Alabama’s seat of government with the word of God, Mike Cleland said.
“This is something we do for the National Day of Prayer,” said Cleland, principal engineer for Power Delivery Distribution Management Systems at Alabama Power’s Corporate Headquarters in Birmingham.
It took 400 volunteers about 90 hours to read the entire Bible, taking turns in scheduled, 15-minute readings. Throughout the four days, there was a constant stream of folks – young and old, from all walks of life – signing in at the green tent Cleland helped install on Dexter Avenue. All of the available reading slots were reserved by the start of the marathon, and would-be readers were on a waiting list.
Montgomery Bible Reading Marathon takes God’s word to Capitol steps from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
The event kicked off at the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast Thursday morning, May 5, at the Alabama Activity Center. About 400 people were greeted by Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, with an Alabama Supreme Court justice leading in prayer.
“We sang ‘Amazing Grace’ and then walked to the Capitol,” Cleland said. He was among the throng that walked Dexter Avenue to state headquarters, with many kneeling to pray at the bottom of the Capitol steps.
Attendees prayed for the country and Alabama, its leaders and residents. Cleland said that reading the Bible aloud serves multifold purposes.
“We believe that, when the word of God is read, it doesn’t return void,” he said. “Those words are with power, and that power can’t be squashed. In today’s world, we need the positive message. We like to see the body of Christ, whatever denomination, to be involved.”
Six years ago, Julia Cleland was among the directors who formed the Birmingham Bible Reading Marathon. Four years into her work with the Birmingham group, Julia Cleland said, “I felt the Lord leading me to Montgomery, to the Capitol. I prayed and felt it was time to move.”
Two years ago, she helped establish the project in Montgomery. In 2015, she drove to Montgomery nearly every week to help in planning. Julia Cleland dreams of establishing Bible reading marathons in locales as far away as Rhode Island.
“Our heart is that every city would want to do this, and if there’s anyone who catches this vision for their city, we would help,” Julia Cleland said. “I believe that God had the people of Montgomery hungry to have this happen. I have a passion for God’s redemptive power, and his plans are greater than our minds can conceive. He allowed us to do his will.”
As one would expect, Cleland said, the event takes days of planning and lots of hard work. He does whatever necessary to help, including assisting volunteers on how to sign up on a web program to schedule Bible reading appointments. The couple, who live in Jefferson County, were in Montgomery three days to assist with the project.
“God has started a powerful work with many Christ-centered organizations, churches, and civic and government leaders,” said Cleland, who took a few vacation days so he could take part in the activities. “We have taken part in other Bible reading marathons. Normally, there is a director and two monitors at all times. I put up tents, get ice and drinks for the people.” Groups assisting included His Vessel Ministries, the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, National Day of Prayer activities, First Baptist Church of Montgomery, Fresh Anointing House of Worship and Montgomery House of Prayer, among others, which made the event a huge success.
Cleland feels a spirit of peace as he hears the reading of God’s word, and believes that listening allows him to learn more.
“As I get older, I find I get more out of it and retain more as I listen to others read,” said Cleland, who has worked at Alabama Power for 50 years.
Folks come from all over to help read. This year, for instance, the granddaughter of Strange read, as did the son of a Montgomery County commissioner. During the 2015 Bible Reading Marathon, Cleland met some of Alabama U.S. Sen. Jeff Session’s staff.
“In Montgomery, you never can tell who will come up to read, or just pass by and say hello,” he said. “I enjoy meeting the different people who come to read. It’s real interesting to know, sometimes, that you don’t have anything in your hand, but you can just be a friend or confidant when it’s needed.”
For Cleland, there’s no book as compelling as the Bible, and his favorite Scripture – 2 Corinthians 5:21 – says it all: “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Cleland believes that reading the word of God aloud brings a change in the atmosphere, allowing positive change to occur.
“Montgomery is a city that’s really changing for the better,” Cleland said. “It’s a beautiful city.”
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