“America Reads the Bible” will take place April 18 through April 25 in Washington, D.C.
What would it look like if an entire nation paused…
just long enough to breathe again…
and come back to God’s Word?
Not privately.
Not individually.
But together.
Because for many, life has been loud.
Distracting.
Uncertain.
And maybe… that’s exactly why this moment matters.
That question didn’t begin as a movement.
It began as a moment.
And sometimes… that’s all God needs.
The Moment That Sparked Everything
Inside the Museum of the Bible, surrounded by the story of Scripture, something unexpected happened.
Not a plan.
Not a strategy.
A moment.
For Bunni Pounds, founder and president of Christians Engaged and the visionary behind “America Reads the Bible,” what should have been just another visit became something deeply personal.
“I just started crying… and I really felt like the Lord said, ‘This is the problem… they don’t know who they are,’” Pounds said.
It wasn’t strategic.
It was spiritual.
The kind of moment you can’t manufacture.
The kind that reaches past your thoughts… and straight into your heart.
A realization so many of us can relate to:
We’re searching for identity…
while drifting from the very place it’s found.
And in that moment, a question formed:
What if we came back?
All of us.
Together.
A Vision Bigger Than One Person
At first, Pounds didn’t think she would be the one to lead it.
“I thought maybe I could pass this idea off to somebody… there’s no way in the world I’m going to do this,” she said.
She knew how big it sounded.
How unlikely it felt.
And yet… she couldn’t shake it.
Because when God places something on your heart, it doesn’t just go away.
It stays.
It stirs.
It calls you forward.
And step by step, what started as a quiet prompting became a bold act of obedience.
Only God Could Do This
What began as one quiet yes…
quickly became something no one could control.
Doors opened.
People said yes.
Provision came.
What followed is something few could have orchestrated:
- Nearly 500 leaders participating
- More than 120 ministries united
- Voices from across faith, media, and government
- A continuous public reading of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation
And it all started… with nothing.
“Only God can speak to 122 ministries to get on board with anything. That’s a miracle,” Pounds said.
Because when something like this comes together—across denominations, across influence, across differences—it’s not strategy.
It’s God.
A National Moment Set in Motion
“America Reads the Bible” will take place April 18 through April 25 in Washington, D.C.
The week begins with an opening night gathering on April 18, followed by seven days of continuous Scripture reading at the World Stage Theater inside the Museum of the Bible.
Participants will read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation—out loud—throughout the week.
The event will be open to those attending in person and streamed nationwide through Great American Pure Flix, allowing people across the country to take part.
Set against the backdrop of America’s 250th anniversary, it is bringing together pastors, ministry leaders, public officials, and voices like Candace Cameron Bure, Cameron Arnett and BJ Arnett—all united around one purpose:
To read the Word of God—out loud—over a nation.
This isn’t just another event.
It’s a moment many believe we may never see again.
One Week. One Nation. One Word.
At the heart of this movement is unity.
Not uniformity.
Not perfection.
But unity.
“This is a unifying moment… we just read scripture together,” Pounds said.
No commentary.
No debate.
Just the Word of God—spoken and heard.
And not just the easy parts.
This is about the full story of Scripture—the truth that shapes identity, purpose, and direction.
Why This Moment Matters
And maybe this is where the story meets you.
Because this is happening at a time when so many people are searching:
For direction.
For stability.
For hope.
“We have a leadership crisis… we need a new generation grounded in the Word of God,” she said.
Because when everything around us feels uncertain…
God’s Word remains steady.
The Power of Simply Showing Up
For anyone who feels unsure where to begin, Pounds keeps it simple:
“Just open up the Book of John… just start somewhere,” she said.
Not perfect.
Not polished.
Just willing.
Because something happens when we open God’s Word—even when we don’t fully understand it.
It speaks.
It shifts.
It transforms.
Lives Already Being Changed
Even before the event begins… lives are already being impacted.
Not on a stage.
Not in a spotlight.
But in everyday lives.
“This has changed our whole marriage,” she shared.
That’s the ripple effect of obedience.
It never stops with just one person.
A Vision That Reaches Generations
For Pounds, this calling is deeply personal.
“I want to be… 90 years old… with my Bible open… tears coming down my face that I still love Jesus,” she said.
You can almost see it.
A quiet room.
An open Bible.
A life that stayed anchored.
On the Ground
I’ll be there in Washington, D.C., representing K-LOVE—bringing you these moments firsthand and sitting down with voices like Candace Cameron Bure, Cameron Arnett, and BJ Arnett as they share why this movement matters now more than ever.
The Takeaway
Maybe that’s the invitation in all of this.
You don’t have to have it all figured out.
You just have to be willing to say yes.
Because one moment of obedience…
one step of faith…
Can ripple farther than you ever imagined.
Maybe it doesn’t start with a nation.
Maybe…
it starts with you.
How to Be Part of It
To hear more and follow along with “America Reads the Bible” happening April 18 through April 25, or to watch the livestream, visit:
americareadsthebible.com
pureflix.com
Crystal Thornton is a national news and public affairs anchor.