Bible Across America

I don't know why I am just learning about this, but I think it's an amazing project. Bible Across America is a one-of-a-kind, cross-country promotional tour honoring the 30th anniversary of the New International Version (NIV) translation, the most trusted, most read Bible available today.

The Bible is America's favorite book of all time. And because of its accuracy, clarity and literary quality, the NIV has become the most successful Bible translation of all time. Zondervan believes that a completely handwritten version of the NIV Bible by people from all across our country will help America rediscover the Bible in a fresh, new way. That's just what this project is about - America handwriting the Bible.

Bible Across America is a 15,000-mile journey that will directly reach 90 cities in 44 states during the course of five months. The bus tour will launch from Zondervan's headquarters in Grand Rapids, Mich. and will conclude in San Diego at the 2009 National Pastor's Convention. The tour will travel across the country in a luxury motorhome, generously donated by Spartan Motors, and will feature a traveling exhibit of NIV history, as well as writing stations and a video journal booth to chronicle people's experiences. They are currently making stops at churches, universities, retail stores, American landmarks and special events between September 30, 2008 and February 11, 2009. See how behind I am on this announcement? More than 31,000 people are being invited to contribute a verse to complete an entirely handwritten Bible - America's NIV.

Writers of America's NIV will pen a single verse on actual thin-stock Bible paper. Each verse and each page will be published together as a complete America's NIV Bible available in stores nationwide. The Bible will include an unprecedented index of 31,173 contributors, one for every verse of the Bible. Zondervan plans to create two original editions. One original transcript of America's NIV will be offered to the Smithsonian Institution and the second will be auctioned off to benefit the International Bible Society in support of their Bible translation and distribution efforts around the world.

If you wonder where the bus has been and where it's going, you can click here. Although I am honestly not sure if it's too late to request a stop, there's still a spot online to give it a try. Click here to request a stop in your area. Oh, and if you have nothing better to do, you can check out real time GPS tracking of the bus.