Glenwood Christian Fellowship faithfully reads the Bible cover to cover

By Linda Linonis | April 9, 2011 at 12:00a.m.

By LINDA M. LINONIS

boardman

For members of Glenwood Christian Fellowship, “The Bible in 90 Days” program was a revelation.

For some, it was the first time they had read the entire Bible. For others, it was reading with new appreciation buoyed by supplemental videos and small group discussions.

For participants, it was taking comfort in reading familiar passages such as “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want” from Psalm 23 or “To everything thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” from Ecclesiastes 3. And it was reading passages that were completely unfamiliar.

Church members used the New International Version and the youth, Action Bible, which was enhanced by detailed illustrations.

The Rev. Nathan Doyle said “The Bible in 90 Days” is another way to “engage members.” He came across the program, which looked “intriguing."

He said he began hinting at the project last fall; the reading began Jan. 2 and concluded April 2.

Pastor Doyle explained he linked the idea of a New Year’s resolution to reading the Bible so members would resolve to complete the project. “So often, resolutions fizzle out,” he said. “I think positive peer pressure helped,” he said of those involved.

This Wednesday, the fellowship will share a cake to celebrate their accomplishment.

He said the fellowship is affiliated with Primitive Methodist and has about 45 members and an attendance of about 120 on Sundays. For the reading project, 75 adults signed up. Also participating were about 10 fifth- through 12th-graders and about 15 children from 3 years old to fourth grade.

The pastor said reading the Bible into Lent was a good preparation for Easter. “It was like running a marathon,” he said. That’s because participants read about 12 pages a day.

The series also used a video supplement then members had small group sessions on Wednesdays after the family night dinners and women’s small groups on Thursdays moderated by Carol Doyle, the pastor’s mother.

For Curt Heaberlin, a member since June, the experience “changed his life” and was one of “personal growth."

He said he was motivated to “keep reading and studying.”

Heaberlin said reading the Bible “brought an awareness” about how inconsequential the stressors of everyday life in comparison “to the big picture of how we serve God.”

Heaberlin said a routine was necessary for him to accomplish the task. The owner of two dogs said he routinely walks his pets in the morning and evening and after the second walk would settle to read the Bible. “I gave up that TV time,” he said. He said he thought about time is squandered and how this hour or so of reading was beneficial.

Lynne Mullins, one of the children’s Sunday school teachers, said she undertook the Bible reading project as a “tribute to my earthly father and my heavenly Father.” Her late father, John Vujcec, would have been 81 on April 2, the day the reading project concluded.

She noted “The Bible in 90 Days” has two built-in grace days if one should get behind. A chart starts at Day One and lists the reading, Genesis 1:1 to Genesis 16:16, and so on.

Mullins said reading the Bible is experiencing how “God’s word revives us.” She said she could “sense the Holy Spirit” as she read the passages, “the inspired word of God.”

But, she pointed out, the Bible also contains “drama and intrigue” that “makes for interesting reading.”

Stephen Bartley, a 19-year-member, said he had read the Bible before but now that he’s older “could see new things” because this time it was more of a study. “It renewed my faith,” he said.

Bartley said he also appreciated the lessons of life in the Bible and how they can help one make good choices.

Heather Doyle, the pastor’s wife, is coordinator of Kids Club on Wednesdays. She said adults read the Bible to children and some read it themselves. “They definitely got a big picture of God’s love,” she said, adding that the children “did pick it up and remembered stories.”

Megan Bartle, 10, said she liked reading “about everything, especially the story of Easter.”

Alycia Rowe, 9, agreed, saying that she liked the stories and learned about obeying God. The story of Adam and Eve was one of her favorites.

Marissa Geiss, 7, also appreciated the stories as lessons. She especially like the tale of deliverance of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.